Low hormone level? I have to see an endocrinologist now
 

I don't know if this is good or bad

but I kind of feel like there's still hope

If they can figure out what's "wrong" then perhaps treatment will help get me back to "normal"

any ideas out there?

Hi
did they say which hormone was low?

once a low hormone level is treated correctly, a lot of related health issues frequntly stabilise :)

Usually lo 'hormone' is...
 

the thyroid kind...all I can say is from my experience. Fixing is usually easy...if we've other complications..it can get squirrelly. Be sure your docs get the full general blood tests plus a 'chem 25-27' panel with the thyroid TSH [2 #'s I cant remember now] to boot. This all is fairly standard-to be taken via blood every 3-6-mos or a year...depending on other problems. Be sure YOU get copies! then look it all up...you will be confused, at first, but if you use www.lizajane.org 's charts, it may help you map out where you are in terms of what you have, and where you want to be w/some blood's #'s
I can speak from experience in that thyroid #'s change, and adjustment for my 'hypo-t' have made a world of difference. Hope this helps! - j

If it's the thyroid, as Dahlek mentioned, make sure they get both a T3 (Triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) levels done, a TSH level, as well as a TBG and TBPA (thyroxine-binding globulin and thyroxine-binding prealbumin). There are literally 100s of different hormones at work in your body, so its hard to say which ones.

People with chronic pain issues can often be "out of whack" from the constant stress the body is under, which in turn can cause any one of a number of endocrine issues, from adrenal disorders to extremely low levels of testosterone. Good luck at your appointment and I hope you get some answers soon.

Theresa

Hormones....ug!
 

I have all sorts of health issues.
I began seeing an Endocrinologist when my thryoid shut off.
Apparently....its part of B12 deficeincy that causes your thyroid to fail.
I have whats called auto immune related....Hashi Motos, hypo thyroid problems.
I eat less than half a serving of food a day and still am "fat"!

It's unbeleivable to be unable to lose an ounce of fat no matter how little I eat.
Last October I was in the hospital for 7 days...hooked up to an IV, no food because of my Crohns flare. I gained 9 lbs then:eek:
I'm sure all the glucose in the IV's added loads of calories into my veins.
Now a year later....I still have the extra pounds hanging off my bones.
So unfair! But that goes with low metabolism.
My body temp is always 97* no matter how hot the day is.
My female hormones are really messed up as well.
It's causing my mucas membranes to be very raw and tender....that's all I'll say but you can imagine how painful this is on your private parts....and now has involved my bladder system....my Urethra is inflamed and all the membranes are raw.
I had a wonderful test last Friday..oh it was fun! It was supposed to be a very easy test where they put a camera/scope into your bladder via the urethra....Even though they numbed it up it hurt due to all the bleeding caused from the membranes to be torn. When the numbing wore off it was a very tearful drive home.
It was a lot more fun than the root canal I had this last Monday.
Because of my absorbtion problems I now wear a vaginal Esta Ring.
The only way I can get the hormones into my body.
I'm taking Synthroid 150 mcg a day....but my levels fluctuate daily.
Some times I absorb it just fine, other days I don't.

I'm always being switched to a lower dose, then when the numbers fall/rise I go back up to higher level. Its never a happy medium.
When I can't tolerate cold water, my feet, hands and nose ice cold, they change the dosage again.

This is just so much fun! I've read all the information I could on Mary Shomans Thyroid web site....lots of valuable info.
I do wish my Endo would let me at least try out the Armor pig thyroid, but he claims its too dangerous....what does he know? He's only an Endocrinologist!
I hope you're not having as much fun as I am!
Blessings, cheryl

Oh I feel for you, how miserable! That is one of the most silly things I've ever heard; Armour is dangerous?!?! :eek: THE oldest and most reliable thyroid replacement med around! I've been taking it probably longer than he has been an MD :D

Endo's are notoriously bad at treating TD, ironically, IMHO. Can you try to switch Drs.? If I were as sick as you, I sure would try. $ynthroid sure does not seem to be working for you. Do you know your lab numbers?

You should not have to live this way.

I'm a guy, btw.

I went to the endocrinologist and he said I appear to be perfectly healthy. He asked me a bunch of questions (mostly sexual). He felt my man tits. None of it made sense to him. I'm guessing this might be a thyroid thing. He had me take another blood test with an appointment for next week. He said if it is a hormone/thyroid thing, he said the drugs he can give me will help, but the muscle spasms and such may not entirely go away.

I'll post here again.

I am having the same fun you are
 

Cheryl,
Boy can I relate to you. I am going to Mayo clinic in Minn in January.
I had a thyroidectomy in Nov of 1995 and a hysterectomy in Feb of 1996.
Talk about a hormonal nightmare.
I go through the same thing with the synthroid, 100 mcg. Even with a tsh of 0.02 I have gained 20 pds and next to starving myself there is no way of shedding the pounds. They can't figure it out.
I tried the armour but my levels fluctuated even more. It is so frustrating!!!!!
Who would guess that that tiny butterfly shaped gland controls so much of our metabolism.
All of my endocrine glands have either been removed or compromised.
MG is the thymus, I have an atrophied right kidney, hyper/hypoparathyroidism, no ovaries or thyroid. That just leaves my pituitary, which is the master gland.
After years of declining health, lots of specialists and one medical issue after another, finally............. they have all cried UNCLE and I will go to Mayo to see a neuro Opthamalogist and an Endocrinologist.
My situation requires doctors who can look at the big picture. I have no complaints about my doctors, but specialists deal with their own area and now it is time for the big guns.
They are thinking perhaps a pituitary tumor/Cushing's. I will let them be the judges. I keep trying to figure it out and am driving myself up a wall. So, I will let them poke, prod and test. I am positive they will diagnosis and fix me.
Have they checked your other endocrine glands besides the thyroid? Seems to be the popular first place to check. Do you have any vision problems? A obital pseudo tumor that has not responded to high dose prednisone therapy is what has led them to think more pituitary or endocrine problems. It has been a long road and maybe something I have said may help you and your docs. They are only human and it is funny how the entire body is linked so goofy. You are right, doctors are great but we know our own bodies best.
I wish you the best of luck and it really gets old feeling crummy a majority of the time. This last year has been my worse, but maybe that is meant to be so that I can get to Mayo and be ME again. I am fifty going on 90. LOL
Good luck to you,
Judy