Re: Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

[Guest guest]

I am new to the board and am going to an endo in San for evaluation on Monday, the 18th. My TSH has been suppressed for several years after being very ill from chemical exposure (formaldehyde) in a new manufactured home we were living in temporarily. My T3 and T4 were all fine but I had a very suppressed TSH. I was going to Jan 's Dr. (excellent doctor) and he was not very concerned about my TSH level, just other levels and HOW I WAS FEELING. I did well. I went to him for over a year.

My husband and I recently moved to Kerrville and due to the distance, I changed to a family practitioner here who likes alternative medicines and who prescribes Armour. I really like her. However, my temperature has been running very low for me the past two years...about 97.2. I had gained 20 lbs. during the illness and though I exercise 4-5 times a week, do weight training, eat correctly, I could not get off the weight except for a few pounds. This is most frustrating, as you all well know.

Anyway, my new doc (in early July) decided to put me on the Syndrome T3 protocol to try to get my temperature closer to normal. I researched it on their web site and agreed to try it. I followed it precisely for 5 weeks (was off my 2 grains of Armour and 1/4 grain of Unithroid). It was a disaster. My temperature fluctuated from 96.4 to 97 and only went back to 97.2 after the T3 was finished. Plus I felt pretty awful - tired, etc.

However, my lab tests showed my TSH to be a tad higher (.153) but T4 was very very low and thyroxin level almost nonexistent. Now I am being evaluated for anterior pituitary problem on Monday or whatever else this could all be. I certainly regret trying the protocol but cannot undo it.

I am back to 1.5 grains of Armour. Was on 2 but started having tiny irregular heartbeats, and a feeling of something in my throat when swallowing. They are improved but still present.

Any comments or ideas? I know this chemical damaged my immune system as I went to the Center for Immune, Environmental and Toxic Disorders in Houston, was evaluated, had 48 IV treatments of gamma globulin and was on a strict eating plan for over a year. Three years ago before the diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Demylenating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), I was almost unable to get out of bed. Dr. in Houston helped me immensely. Thank God for insurance as med bills were over $300,000.

That's about it. Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts. I've often wanted to post with this group but the story is so complicated. Thanks in advance for your help or ideas......

Nanette, Kerrville, Tx

Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

Well this is a new problem for me - it's usually the opposite problem - very light, and very spaced out. But has been fairly regular now for 5 or 6 years every 26, sometimes 28 days. BUT the last three, 23 days, then 20, then 16 days. So do I get concerned now, wait and see, or make a doc appt? It all may just be a "re-adjustment" phase - who the heck knows.......I am 43, my T3 is high, but until I get retested in December for possible Thy-Cancer they want to keep me somewhat over medicated to suppress my TSH (tho it's been suppressed the last year anyway, they want to insure it stays that way). So could that be causing it?? I am at 2 grains of Armour, if this could be it, I may just send Dr. Petak a fax asking to reduce the Armour and add some T4 to keep the suppression, but reduce the T3. In July when he ran the last set of tests - he did run all my pituitary/female hormones and all were finally (they for years had been on the low side due to the pit tumor) back in mid-normal range with the exception of the prolactin and it was finally without meds just over range - lowest it's been without meds - still a little high but not alarminly high anymore. The meds did shrink the tumor to only 2mm so it was considered a success. Just wondering is too much T3 can cause frequent periods or if I may have another problem (which I don't want, I think I have enough to deal with now as it is, lol).Janie

[Guest guest]

Janie. I started out being hyperT/Graves and was diagnosed in Nov/Dec 2001. I had always had normal periods with very few fluctuations. I was 47 when I was first diagnosed, and just celebrated my 49th birthday since diagnosis. Last Nov and Dec after being on Methimazole and Atenolol for almost a year straight, with no reductions in meds, I was hypoT. Around Nov and Dec of 2002 I started having abnormal cycles. It might be every 17 or 18 days, then it went to every 2 months, and I might go for 8 or 10 days, as opposed to my normal cycle which was 5 days, max. If you could only see my calendar at the office, it's quite interesting looking. lol. I just had a d & c done because they found I was not shedding the lining of my uterus as I should, and naturally, they want to be sure there is no cancer. I just got my test results today and everything is clear of abnormal cells, although I do have fibroid cysts, which they discovered in March of this year. The good news is, I have no cancer. The bad news is, the d & c is not going to cure the erratic cycles, which I'll just have to wait out now. One thing my dr did mention was that while I was bleeding more (in June and into July my period was over 23 days long) that she checked me for anemia. At this point, we'll just have to wait and see how it goes, but we're all thinking that since I'm now hypoT as my blood tests show, that this is one of the after effects. If it clears up, which I am not so sure it will do, it'll be a miracle.

Since I started out being on Methimazole (30mgs) for a year almost straight, I'm sure I am hypoT, and whether I'm in remission is yet to be seen. I'm sure that they'll require me to have more tests ran to get my Graves antibodies checked before they try to take me off the Methimazole, as I'm only on 5 mgs daily now. While I'd love to say this is the first time the erratic periods have plagued me, it's not. When I was 15 years old, I had a period every 2 weeks. I did end up anemic and of course, putting a young girl on birth control pills back then literally sent my mother into orbit. rofl. But, that is what they offered to me at that time. I just remember being glad that I had something to stop it with! Now I am entering what they call perimenopause which just really makes me happy *not* lol. If you can find a Gynecologist who is involved in fertility, that might give you better insight into what is going on. I just know that until Dr Dummie made me hypo, this hadn't been a concern for a great number of years for me. I'm hoping it evens out as hysterectomy doesn't sound like much fun at all (and it's been mentioned lately). :-(

Sandy~Houston

Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

Well this is a new problem for me - it's usually the opposite problem - very light, and very spaced out. But has been fairly regular now for 5 or 6 years every 26, sometimes 28 days. BUT the last three, 23 days, then 20, then 16 days. So do I get concerned now, wait and see, or make a doc appt? It all may just be a "re-adjustment" phase - who the heck knows.......

[Guest guest]

> The meds did shrink the tumor to only 2mm so it was considered a success.

>

Hi Janie,

I don't have the answer to your question, but I'm wondering how they

diagnosed your pituitary tumor. Was it from a prolactin reading, or

something else? A friend of mine told me I should get that checked, b ut

I've already had an MRI of the brain. Of course, they weren't looking for

that then, and the doctor said it was a completely different process.

Thanks.........

Curious Bobbi

[Guest guest]

> However, my temperature has been running very low for me the past two

>years...about 97.2.>

Is this normal with hypo? I just got a new ear thermometer, and was

testing it after lunch, and it said my temp. was 97.1! It warned me that

that was too low......duh.

Very interesting............I don't think it's ever been that low before.......

I'm going to do the morning test tomorrow, see what comes up.

Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

Bobbi,

Taking temps in the ear are going to read lower than those taken under

the tongue and using a digital thermometer, well, they are just NOT

accurate. The best way to track basal temps for thyroid and ovulation are

to use a mercury thermometer under the tongue....

Check some one else's temp using the same thermometer, in the ear and see

what you get for a reading.

Topper ()

http://toppertwo.tripod.com

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 19:27:05 -0500 Bobbi Chukran

writes:

> > However, my temperature has been running very low for me the

> past two years...about 97.2.>

> Is this normal with hypo? I just got a new ear thermometer, and

> was

> testing it after lunch, and it said my temp. was 97.1! It warned me

> that

> that was too low......duh.

> Very interesting............I don't think it's ever been that low

> before.......

> I'm going to do the morning test tomorrow, see what comes up.

> Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

I also had a huge exposure to formaldehyde (new carpet), a neurotoxin

exposure (flea bomb) and ten years exposure to nasty chemicals in a

printshop (solvents, etc.). I KNOW that all that is the reason why I'm the

way I am today. No doctors believe it, though. I'm glad that you were

able to get a diagnosis, Nanette. I haven't been able to.

Bobbi C.

> Hello and Welcome Nanette You just brought another wealth of

>information to this site because you are a living proof of the damaging

>effects of chemical exposure. Wood panelling and wallboard I believe

>have the formaldehyde, and, as it breaks down, releases these substances

>into the environment. Actually, noone should be exposed to the stuff,

>but, as you know, some people's immune system has unbelievable

>reactions. I've heard good things for some people on the 's

>Protocol, and then others it did not work for.>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Bobbi, for your reply. It's impossible to stay completely away from chemicals. I never dreamed the damage they could do. I'm sorry you could not get the help you deserve. I thank God for Dr. and his expertise. I need to reread some of your posts to understand your current situation.

Take care.

Nanette

Re: Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

I also had a huge exposure to formaldehyde (new carpet), a neurotoxinexposure (flea bomb) and ten years exposure to nasty chemicals in aprintshop (solvents, etc.). I KNOW that all that is the reason why I'm theway I am today. No doctors believe it, though. I'm glad that you wereable to get a diagnosis, Nanette. I haven't been able to.Bobbi C.> Hello and Welcome Nanette You just brought another wealth of>information to this site because you are a living proof of the damaging>effects of chemical exposure. Wood panelling and wallboard I believe>have the formaldehyde, and, as it breaks down, releases these substances>into the environment. Actually, noone should be exposed to the stuff,>but, as you know, some people's immune system has unbelievable>reactions. I've heard good things for some people on the 's>Protocol, and then others it did not work for.>

[Guest guest]

My endo is a reproductive endo and while I have a gyn I pretty much only

use him for the annual pap - I don't really feel like I would want him to

"handle problems" and if that is what this is the start of and I need a gyn

in the opinion of my endo - then I'll be gyn shopping. I've wondered about

fibroids as several have mentioned that but I don't really have any cramps

or real heavy bleeding or anything like that. Just increased frequency so

far which to me is enough of a pain in the _*s.

Janie also in Houston (well actually Spring)

Sandy wrote:

Janie. I started out being hyperT/Graves and was diagnosed

in Nov/Dec 2001. I had always had normal periods with very few fluctuations.

I was 47 when I was first diagnosed, and just celebrated my 49th birthday

since diagnosis. Last Nov and Dec after being on Methimazole and Atenolol

for almost a year straight, with no reductions in meds, I was hypoT. Around

Nov and Dec of 2002 I started having abnormal cycles. It might be every

17 or 18 days, then it went to every 2 months, and I might go for 8 or 10

days, as opposed to my normal cycle which was 5 days, max. If you could

only see my calendar at the office, it's quite interesting looking. lol.

I just had a d & c done because they found I was not shedding the lining

of my uterus as I should, and naturally, they want to be sure there is no

cancer. I just got my test results today and everything is clear of abnormal

cells, although I do have fibroid cysts, which they discovered in March

of this year. The good news is, I have no cancer. The bad news is, the

d & c is not going to cure the erratic cycles, which I'll just have to

wait out now. One thing my dr did mention was that while I was bleeding

more (in June and into July my period was over 23 days long) that she checked

me for anemia. At this point, we'll just have to wait and see how it goes,

but we're all thinking that since I'm now hypoT as my blood tests show,

that this is one of the after effects. If it clears up, which I am not

so sure it will do, it'll be a miracle.

Since I started out being on Methimazole (30mgs) for

a year almost straight, I'm sure I am hypoT, and whether I'm in remission

is yet to be seen. I'm sure that they'll require me to have more tests

ran to get my Graves antibodies checked before they try to take me off the

Methimazole, as I'm only on 5 mgs daily now. While I'd love to say this

is the first time the erratic periods have plagued me, it's not. When I

was 15 years old, I had a period every 2 weeks. I did end up anemic and

of course, putting a young girl on birth control pills back then literally

sent my mother into orbit. rofl. But, that is what they offered to me

at that time. I just remember being glad that I had something to stop it

with! Now I am entering what they call perimenopause which just really

makes me happy *not* lol. If you can find a Gynecologist who is involved

in fertility, that might give you better insight into what is going on.

I just know that until Dr Dummie made me hypo, this hadn't been a concern

for a great number of years for me. I'm hoping it evens out as hysterectomy

doesn't sound like much fun at all (and it's been mentioned lately). :-(

Sandy~Houston

-----

Original Message -----

From:

Janie Skipper

To:

Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Sent:

Thursday, August 14, 2003 9:50 AM

Subject:

Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

Well this is a new problem for me - it's usually the opposite

problem - very light, and very spaced out. But has been fairly regular

now for 5 or 6 years every 26, sometimes 28 days. BUT the last three,

23 days, then 20, then 16 days. So do I get concerned now, wait and see,

or make a doc appt? It all may just be a "re-adjustment" phase - who the

heck knows.......

Yahoo! Groups

Sponsor

ADVERTISEMENT

[Guest guest]

They first did a blood test for prolactin (that was after I tried to get

pg and never did) and found it was high and the usual cause for elevated

prolactin is a pituitary tumor so they went looking for it - they did a CAT

Scan then - back before MRI's. They found it. and as we say the rest was

history. Several drugs were tried first, the first one had very awful side

effects for me anyway I've dealt with it for over 12 years and we finally

found one that worked for me. Fortunately in this time it never got big

enough I had to face surgery - that was my biggest fear.

The MRI is very specialized, a MRI of the brain will not pick it up, it

has to be of the pituitary itself with and without contrast. The pituitary

is very small - the size of a lima bean - the tumor in most cases are even

smaller. Although they are small they can wreck havoc as in the cases of

Cushings, Acromegaly (giantism), prolactinoma (what I have), to name a few.

If you want more information on pituitary tumors a good website is www.pituitary.org.

Let me know if you have anymore questions, I'll be happy to answer if I can.

Janie

Janie

Bobbi Chukran wrote:

> The meds

did shrink the tumor to only 2mm so it was considered a success.

>

Hi Janie,

I don't have the answer to your question, but I'm wondering how they

diagnosed your pituitary tumor. Was it from a prolactin reading, or

something else? A friend of mine told me I should get that checked, b ut

I've already had an MRI of the brain. Of course, they weren't looking for

that then, and the doctor said it was a completely different process.

Thanks.........

Curious Bobbi

[Guest guest]

Yes, we tested them against our mercury thermometers and our digitals at our

facility, as well as axillary and orally, and they were never near accurate,

just more convenient. We got rid of all of them (ear therm).

Re: Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

> Bobbi,

>

> Taking temps in the ear are going to read lower than those taken under

> the tongue and using a digital thermometer, well, they are just NOT

> accurate. The best way to track basal temps for thyroid and ovulation are

> to use a mercury thermometer under the tongue....

>

> Check some one else's temp using the same thermometer, in the ear and see

> what you get for a reading.

>

> Topper ()

> http://toppertwo.tripod.com

>

[Guest guest]

Back in May thru June of 1998, the Mexican fires poured across the state of

Texas, bringing with them mass poisoning. I don't think we'll ever know

what all was in the smoke from those fires. I had been feeling relatively

well, energetic, was a jogger, and fairly healthy, doing pretty well on my

original dose of levoxyl. I had a habit of leaving my window up at night,

though we were all told to stay in out of it as much as possible. I never

realized what an impact it would have on my health. About mid June of that

year, while this was going on, I woke up as usual for the day with just a

slight earringing (which we know can be related to many things, including

thyroid). I was off that day, and later in the morning one of my daughters

called me. Her voice sounded like a little girl's to me, and I remember

that I was quite amused, thinking " Maybe she's a little depressed today and

has sort of reverted to a child stage " , or something like that. Then,

during the conversation, gradually her voice reverted to something like a

" Duck " voice. I was very bewildered and thinking that I was finally

flipping out. I told her what I was hearing, and I think SHE thought I was

flipping. After we hung up, I went and turned on the radio for some music,

as was my usual custom (music has been always very important in my life).

To my horror, the musical notes sounded sour and off-key. The earringing

was still there. I went to bed that night, and when I got up the next day,

I rolled over in the bed, so that my feet could hit the floor squarely

(usual custom). When I sat up, I promptly fell sideways into the floor and

was there before I even knew what was happening. My stomach got so

nauseated all the time when I stood up, and I had to hang onto the wall

everywhere I went. If I kept my head in one position, looking straight

ahead, I could walk without falling over. I called the primary care doc's

office to get in to see them, promptly. I could get hold of none of my

children and noone else to take me, so I had to drive myself. That was

scary because, as I came to a stop at a sign, I had the sensation of moving

backwards, and the road in front of me appeared to roll upward and to the

right. I truly wish that I had gone to the ER instead because all he did

was refer me to an ear doc, who referred me back to him, telling me that I

needed my thyroid labs done. I told him that I had just had my labs done

the month before and they were all " normal " . He did do audiology tests on

me and determined that I had fluid suddenly behind the bones in the inner

ear and gave me antihistamine, flonase, and decongestant. It helped it

clear after a couple of weeks. I went to work like this, gripping the hand

rails and keeping my head pointed straight ahead, so that I wouldn't fall in

the floor. If I'd have looked sideways, it would have been a disaster. I

also took the stuff that is for nausea. The fluid cleared somewhat, but I

have permanent tinnitus that sounds to me like a running faucet in my ears

day and night. I have to have " white noise " to sleep. I truly regret in

the most profound way that these fires ever happened to us because the

primary doc said that they had had 40 something people in their office that

day with falling-down vertigo and ear damage. And noone to sue! One thing

I'm leading up to here is that I believe that my thyroid was damaged even

further. The fluid is long since gone out of my inner ear, but I have never

felt the same as I did before that. I believe that there are so many

everyday chemicals out here that damage our thyroids and the rest of our

bodies in ways that we will never know what it was that hit us. If

something like that could reach the inner ear beyond the tympanic membrane,

just immagine that it could also reach the pituitary, hypothalamus, and

other parts of the brain that run all these important functions in the body.

With no insurance, you do not get the brain scans, etc... that you need,

and, if you work at anything, you are not considered poor enough to get

medical financial help.

Re: Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

> I also had a huge exposure to formaldehyde (new carpet), a neurotoxin

> exposure (flea bomb) and ten years exposure to nasty chemicals in a

> printshop (solvents, etc.). I KNOW that all that is the reason why I'm

the

> way I am today. No doctors believe it, though. I'm glad that you were

> able to get a diagnosis, Nanette. I haven't been able to.

>

> Bobbi C.

>

>

[Guest guest]

> I've

>wondered about fibroids as several have mentioned that but I don't

>really have any cramps or real heavy bleeding or anything like that.

> Just increased frequency so far which to me is enough of a pain in the _*s.>

I have lots of fibroids, including several rare ones (inside the outer

muscles of the uterus). Believe me, if you had them, you'd know it! Most

women have some, they tell me.

Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

>Yes, we tested them against our mercury thermometers and our digitals at our

>facility, as well as axillary and orally, and they were never near accurate,

>just more convenient. We got rid of all of them (ear therm).

Rats! Wish I'd asked you guys first. Wonder if Albertson's would give my

money back?

Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

>Back in May thru June of 1998, the Mexican fires poured across the state of

>Texas, bringing with them mass poisoning. >

Oh ! I can relate to this, because every year that happens, I sit

inside because it chokes me to go out into it. You must live pretty close

to the border........Up here near Austin, the sky was grey for months with

that mess in it and I could barely even go outside.

I griped about it to an online " friend " who lives down on South Padre. She

said I was nuts, and that the people down there " have to eat " , too, and

that I shouldn't be bitchin' about the agricultural fires. Man, was I mad!

Who knows what kind of poisons are in that smoke? It's no wonder that more

kids than ever are being diagnosed with asthma, etc.

Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

> There are some stores I cannot go into becuse of the chemical smell

>of the clothes being so strong. I never thought of the fires causing so

>many health problems. >

Ya know, I can't stand to go into the malls anymore around here. We go to

the movies there, but simply because they are very close to the outside

doors. I've started looking at the thrift stores and Goodwill for cotton

shirts, because I know they usually have been washed a lot, so the extra

dyes and chemicals and stuff are out of them. Either that, or shop by

mail-order for stuff.

You'd think I'd save money, but I can still tolerate the fumes in the

bookstores! LOL!

Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

I live down on the Gulf Coast, and, for some reason, that particular year,

the winds were perfect for sending it straight for us. It hung in the air

every day for months. I haven't seen anything like that here since, except

for our usual dirty smoggy air.

Re: Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

> >Back in May thru June of 1998, the Mexican fires poured across the state

of

> >Texas, bringing with them mass poisoning. >

>

> Oh ! I can relate to this, because every year that happens, I sit

> inside because it chokes me to go out into it. You must live pretty close

> to the border........Up here near Austin, the sky was grey for months with

> that mess in it and I could barely even go outside.

>

> I griped about it to an online " friend " who lives down on South Padre.

She

> said I was nuts, and that the people down there " have to eat " , too, and

> that I shouldn't be bitchin' about the agricultural fires. Man, was I

mad!

>

> Who knows what kind of poisons are in that smoke? It's no wonder that

more

> kids than ever are being diagnosed with asthma, etc.

>

> Bobbi C.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, , what a story! I too have the constant ringing in my ears. It's so hard to ignore, isn't it?

You're so right on the chemicals, etc. There are chemicals in so many things. There are some stores I cannot go into becuse of the chemical smell of the clothes being so strong. I never thought of the fires causing so many health problems. That must have been very scary for you.

Nanette

Re: Having Frequent Periods - New Problem> I also had a huge exposure to formaldehyde (new carpet), a neurotoxin> exposure (flea bomb) and ten years exposure to nasty chemicals in a> printshop (solvents, etc.). I KNOW that all that is the reason why I'mthe> way I am today. No doctors believe it, though. I'm glad that you were> able to get a diagnosis, Nanette. I haven't been able to.>> Bobbi C.>>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Janie.

I guess my prolactin is normal (it was 7.6). I'm actually surprised this

doctor checked it.

My MRI was specifically to see if I'd had a stroke, so they didn't check

the pituitary.

Thanks for the information!

Bobbi C.

>They first did a blood test for prolactin (that was after I tried to get

>pg and never did) and found it was high and the usual cause for elevated

>prolactin is a pituitary tumor so they went looking for it >

[Guest guest]

It was a laugh a minute.

Re: Having Frequent Periods - New Problem

Wow, , what a story! I too have the constant ringing in my ears. It's so hard to ignore, isn't it?

You're so right on the chemicals, etc. There are chemicals in so many things. There are some stores I cannot go into becuse of the chemical smell of the clothes being so strong. I never thought of the fires causing so many health problems. That must have been very scary for you.

Nanette

[Guest guest]

Hey Top!

That's true..........I do know that it reads about one degree low, so I

could adjust for that. Then if it read high, I'd know that the temp. was

WAY high. I really like the thing, but I'd like it to be accurate, too!

LOL!

Bobbi C.

>You could still use it to check for a fever in someone that is ill...

>just not good for tracking basal temps accurately.

>

>Topper ()

>http://toppertwo.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

They, as I said, can check for fever, but they are just too inaccurate to

check basal temp.

Topper ()

On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 11:31:49 -0500 Bobbi Chukran

writes:

> Hey Top!

>

> That's true..........I do know that it reads about one degree low,

> so I

> could adjust for that. Then if it read high, I'd know that the

> temp. was

> WAY high. I really like the thing, but I'd like it to be accurate,

> too!

> LOL!

>

> Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

>They, as I said, can check for fever, but they are just too inaccurate to

>check basal temp.

Gotcha! Actually, I originally bought it to use on my cats <grin>, but

figured I might as well use it for us, too.......

Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

I always checked my kitties paws... if I could hold a paw and the pads

felt warm.. kittie had a fever.. their normal body temp is 102.. so when

the have a fever it feels pretty hot to us!

Topper ()

http://toppertwo.tripod.com

On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 12:29:06 -0500 Bobbi Chukran

writes:

> >They, as I said, can check for fever, but they are just too

> inaccurate to

> >check basal temp.

>

> Gotcha! Actually, I originally bought it to use on my cats <grin>,

> but

> figured I might as well use it for us, too.......

>

> Bobbi C.

[Guest guest]

>I always checked my kitties paws... if I could hold a paw and the pads

>felt warm.. kittie had a fever.. their normal body temp is 102.. so when

>the have a fever it feels pretty hot to us!

>

That's a good thing to know........I can feel my kitties head and tell

usually, but not always........

Bobbi C.