Re: Advice please on Saliva test results/some results in

[Guest guest]

The reason I mentioned stiffness of the neck in particular was

> because this in conjunction with light sensitivity and flu symptoms and

> a rash might have been symptoms for meningitis, but since your daughter

> has been like that for 3 months now this is unlikely.

Dear and All,

Thank you for your reply - the mention of meningitis always makes me go cold as

my daughter had this when she was 6 weeks old. Not an experience I would like to

repeat.

I am still waiting for the Thyroid results - hopefully they will be in this

coming week. There are some vitamin & mineral results in:

Vit D3 58(12-83)

Cu 729(535-962)

Zn 10.8 (7.5-16.3)

Mg 52 (36-70)

Se 0.21 (0.14-0.47)

Are these OK?

Can't see a result for B12, but, the report says to supplement by an extra

500mcg per day. Folate not directly measured either.

This was an Optimal Nutrition test, so I also know that she needs some amino

acids and a particular fatty acid and CoQ10.

Extra Selenium is recommended as well.

I have rung the hospital, my daughter has been graded as'soonish'!!

There is an 11 wk waiting list for this clinic, but, the consultant is wanting

to find time for an extra clinic and my daughter would be seen then - all being

well end of Feb, beg March.

My daughter had a routine eye exam this week and I asked if they could check her

peripheral vision - this was inconclusive, but they carried out two tests/photos

of the optic nerve. They found an abnormality on the left optic nerve - the

side my daughter gets the worst pain - this could be compression of the nerve.

They are writing to the GP and letting me have a copy to take to the consultant.

, my daughter has always been puffy and slightly over weight. Her body

shape looks more like that of Cushing's rather than anything else, though her

appetite is not very big these days. She doesn't seem to be putting weight on at

the moment. She put alot on when she was smaller, then for about 3 years stayed

stable, then she started steadily gaining weight for no apparent reason. I guess

we will just have to wait & see.

In spite of the worry about all of this, I feel that this time I am really going

to get my daughter the help that she needs.

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

....the mention of meningitis always makes me go cold asmy daughter had this when she was 6 weeks old.....

I think we may have just stumbled upon the answers to a lot of questions......I have googled the `after effects of Meningitis' and found plenty which may apply to your daughter's case.

http://www.meningitis.org/disease-info/after-effects

It is just possible that many of her signs and symptoms are related to her neonatal meningitis. (- down to her current eye problem). However, at least half of the symptoms mentioned for after effects of meningitis coincide also with signs and symptoms for Hypothyroidism....

So I then googled `hypothyroidism resulting from meningitis' and this very interesting article came up. (see "secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism")

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=sIJETX3z_4IC & pg=PA272 & lpg=PA272 & dq=Hypothyroidism+as+a+result+of+meningitis & source=bl & ots=w_lEenukox & sig=ZoxG_OqxHUuQDXOmv2uxDGt5MuA & hl=en & ei=RXtOTbzHDsnDhAfB8I3wDg & sa=X & oi=book_result & ct=result & resnum=10 & sqi=2 & ved=0CFkQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage & q=Hypothyroidism%20as%20a%20result%20of%20meningitis & f=false

In support of the above article..... - I don't know if you have heard of Dr. Gordon Skinner, who is a virologist and also a thyroid specialist (although not an endo); he also happens to be one of our medical advisors. In his book "Diagnosis and Management of Hypothyroidism" (excellent, btw, and very amusingly written) he states that in his opinion viral and/or bacterial infections account for the highest proportion of hypothyroid patients and that often the infection is the cause for hypothyroidism developing later in life.

He says for instance (quote):

It is generally held that chronic continuance of virus infection is largely responsible for myalgic encephalopathy although I have never identified the evidence for this theory/hypothesis. The simpler explanation is more likely that the thyroid gland is damaged by the original infection particularly if located in or around the pharynx and the patient has thus insufficient functioning thyroid tissue to maintain a euthyroid state. The patient may compensate for some time, perhaps decades, until a further infectious episode or other insult finally tips the balance and he/she becomes clinically hypothyroid...... (unquote)

.....my daughter has always been puffy and slightly over weight. Her bodyshape looks more like that of Cushing's rather than anything else, though herappetite is not very big these days. She doesn't seem to be putting weight on atthe moment. She put alot on when she was smaller, then for about 3 years stayedstable, then she started steadily gaining weight for no apparent reason.

The above points towards Hypothyroidism. According to her salivary adrenal profile I would not expect Cushing's to be on the cards, and from your description I do no longer think that 's is a contender either (although that does not exclude that she may have extremely low adrenal function). Although not impossible, it would be unlikely for a primary addisonian* patient to be overweight. It seems more plausible that her puffiness might be explained by myxedema due to Hypothyroidism. Things will hopefully become clearer once you have the thyroid panel results back.

*Just to explain the difference between primary 's and low adrenal function..... Primary AD is an autoimmune disease where autoantibodies target and destroy the adrenal glands, whereas low adrenal function means that although the adrenal glands may be exhausted and no longer able to work sufficiently, they can usually be coaxed back to full function with lots of TLC, supplements and the `tincture of time.' However, if your daughter's extremely low adrenal profile got confirmed by the endo (no doubt they will do their own tests), it might be necessary to also check out her pituitary function, which might necessitate an ACTH stimulation test and/or a brain scan to look for a (benign) tumour on or by the pituitary gland..... but I am sure that the endo will explain it all to you and re-assure you. I am just mentioning this, so you are prepared and won't freak out at the mention of `brain scan' or `tumour'. Pituitary tumours are nearly always benign, but they can be the cause for the pituitary gland sending the wrong ACTH signals to the adrenal glands, which results in the adrenal glands not producing sufficient cortisol, even though they would be capable of producing what is needed if they were fed the correct signals.

With a bit of luck your daughter's adrenals are just exhausted and hypothyroidism will be responsible for all of her symptoms and if so, treatment with thyroid hormones and adrenal support should make a spectacular difference. Fingers crossed that you won't have to wait much longer for this appointment.

Vit D3 58(12-83)Cu 729(535-962) (Copper)Zn 10.8 (7.5-16.3) (Zinc)Mg 52 (36-70) (Magnesium) Se 0.21 (0.14-0.47) (Selenium)Can't see a result for B12, but, the report says to supplement by an extra500mcg per day. Folate not directly measured either.This was an Optimal Nutrition test, so I also know that she needs some aminoacids and a particular fatty acid and CoQ10.Extra Selenium is recommended as well.

Nothing jumps dramatically out at me, but yes, Selenium looks a little low. Selenium is not easy for the body to utilize from sources other than food (Brazil nuts are a good source), and from what I have read, supplements are best absorbed in fluid form. I take this one – 2 drops in water or juice every day. http://www.yournutritionshop.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=214

Her Vit D3 is for my liking also slightly on the low side (should be up the top of ref range) - so might be worth supplementing with 1000 iu per day at least throughout those winter months.

Copper looks ok to me.

Zinc is ok-ish, but could be a little higher.

Magnesium is ok-ish, although I prefer it closer to the upper limit.

B12 is also difficult for the body to absorb and utilize. The best product I know is this one:

http://www.solgar.co.uk/product/vitamin-b-12-1000ug-nuggets-250-E3230.html 250 nuggets

http://www.solgar.co.uk/product/vitamin-b-12-1000ug-nuggets-100-E3229.html 100 nuggets

They are 1000 iu, but I can't see any problem with this dosage, although it does say "for adults", so you better check with your doctor if those would be suitable. I know this particular product to work extremely well and it tastes nice too (raspberry flavour) – you let the nugget dissolve under the tongue .... it brought my own B12 up from around 300 to over 2000 , which is now much too high, but that does not worry me. A lack of B12 can be serious, but - according to Dr. Myhill - the only way to kill a patient with B12 is to drown him or her in it.

Co-Q10 is also a good idea to supplement. It is one of Dr. Peatfield's "must have" recommendations. Lamberts do a good one

http://www.yournutritionshop.co.uk/shopdisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes & sppp=20

You would have to find out which strength is best for a child – for adults it's at least 100 mg, but higher would be better .... I take 200 mg per day.

My daughter had a routine eye exam this week and I asked if they could check herperipheral vision - this was inconclusive, but they carried out two tests/photosof the optic nerve. They found an abnormality on the left optic nerve - theside my daughter gets the worst pain - this could be compression of the nerve.That does sound like a plausible explanation for her headaches and light sensitivity. Changes to eye-sight can be related to after effects of meningitis, but likewise eye conditions are listed as clinical signs for hypothyroidism...... but then, there is very likely a link between the two anyway.

Please do not take this the wrong way, but I am actually hoping that hypothyroidism can be confirmed for your daughter – at least then you would know what you are dealing with and you could change her life around.

Waiting with bated breath for the thyroid results.....

With best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Help - I have just noticed that my previous posting on this thread came out super-large.... no idea why

Does anyone know of a way to bring this over-sized mail back to normal dimensions ??

Many thanks, and apologies for creating this monster-post - I have no idea why it's so blown up.

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Wow, thankyou so much for this. I have always had various discussions with

different medical people who have seen my daughter as to whether any of her

issues have been as a result of the meningitis. The answer has always been no,

but, The Meningitis Trust have always said yes! A link with hypothyroidism has

never until now been suggested and I am quite excited at the thought that this

may very well be the issue here. I can't thank you enough.

Thankyou also for the advice re: the vitamins etc. - I can at least get on with

sorting those while I am waiting for the appointment.

I did find the Vit D3 reults quite interesting as I have been supplementing at a

fairly high dose for several months - I do think that she was quite deficient at

one point.

I will post the thyroid results just as soon as I get them.

With very best wishes,

> I think we may have just stumbled upon the answers to a lot of

> questions......