HELP ME FIGURE OUT BLOOD WORK!!!! PLEASE!

[CaraDouglas]

DHEA - 507 HIGH
BIOTIN VIT B7 - 179 LOW
H. PYLORI - 1.28 HIGH
VITAMIN D- 15.7 LOW

WHAT DOES THIS POINT TO?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Excessive alcohol intake, hepatitis, kidney disease, certain medications, disorders of adrenal gland etc can all cause hypoglycemia. It can also be caused by poor eating patterns. Rarely is it caused by insulin secreting tumors called insulinomas. These can secrete huge amounts of insulin after food and a person can suffer from hypoglycemia despite eating.
I think you should discuss these possibilities with your doctor. It is difficult to comment beyond this. A comprehensive investigation is required keeping all the points in mind.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[CaraDouglas]

Meals are a fix but only for a short time. Then it's back to woozy dizzy and sometimes panic that i'll pass out. What causes this blood sugar drop if not food?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Low blood sugar can cause dizziness. This will not go away if the blood sugar remains low. Hence eat well and see. Also as I mentioned earlier it could be due to cervical problems. The cause of low blood glucose should be found out. Commonest cause is poor diet. Also there are several self testing kits in the market to test your blood glucose. Monitor the blood glucose before and after a meal. Keep a record and discuss with your doctor.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[CaraDouglas]

Ok so went to the doctor and everything looked fine. Then I get a call today that my blood sugar was 35. She was sure that this was causing the dizziness but didn't seem concerned told me to eat fruit and scheduled a follow up physical 3 weeks from now.

I've eaten fruit and sugar it doesn't help. What can cause this!?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
There is a chance that you have compression of the spinal nerves in the cervical spine region. This can happen due to overuse of computers, work involving straining of neck, canal stenosis, bone disease, spondylosis, poor posture etc. A few neck exercises, or chiropractors can help relieve the pain and pressure, even dizziness. A MRI of the cervical spine may ne required. Please consult a neurologist.
Hope this helps. Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[CaraDouglas]

Now i have an extreme tightness and pain in my neck when i press on the base of my skull. It gets tighter by the day and some facial pressure with dizziness that keeps me in bed. I can cope with it but it feels like I'm walking on a cloud. What is wrong with me? DR on monday but i have a feeling im still not getting answers. Could this be sinus relatred?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
It is difficult to comment without examination.  Lump behind the ear could be an abscess, folliculitis, lipoma (localized collection of fat), an inflamed lymph node or a neurofibroma (localized harmless swelling in of nerve and connective tissue). Foreign body in the ear, infected wax, perforation of the ear drum with internal ear infection can all cause ear discharge and also lump. The lymph node could also be swollen if you have dandruff, chest infection, tonsillitis or pharyngitis, or if you have tooth problems.
Since the lump is there for 6 months ideally you need not worry. You should worry only if the size increases, there is pain, change in color or if the lump bleeds. Having said this, I would also say that get it examined once by your PCP.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[CaraDouglas]

Hi it's been a while since I've posted and my symptoms have become livable. But I have a risen hard bump right behind my ear. It's been there for about 6 months it hasn't changed in size or shape but it hasn't gone down either. Could this be related to a parathyroid or adrenal issue? I lost my insurance and cant afford to explore.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

This type of finding could be just incidental. This is also seen in a person who has repeated sinusitis or repeated throat infections.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted.

[CaraDouglas]

OK so went to the neurologist and all the tests aren't back yet but my brain MRI was ok. results: Normal MRI of the brain mild paranasal sinus mucosal thickening and adenoidal hypertrophy.

Does that mean anything?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Thanks for keeping me posted.

If you felt better on drinking coke, it means you had low sugar or low blood pressure. Both should be looked into. Please get them checked and please let e know the result.

[CaraDouglas]

I've tried believe me but doctors seriously wont listen to me. I'm 24 and my bloodwork is fine. If I walk into a doctor and tell them I think I have squamous cell lung cancer they are going to roll their eyes and send me home. My white cell count is normal meaning if I want a chest exray i pay out of pocket which I dont have hence why most people with lung cancer aren't diagnosed until it's far too late. I am seeing the neurologist on friday if I get the same treatment from him as the others then i have to just give up and whatever this is is just going to disable me. I just wont be able to get out of bed anymore.

I can say though that I felt literally ready to go to the er I was so dizzy and tired I couldn't get up then I drank a can of coke and I felt about 50% better. My eyes could focus and I could actually stand. I'm wondering if this means it could be blood sugar related. diabetes or hypoclycemia.

If I had cancer wouldn't a blood test be somewhat indicative? The only test I haven't run is blood glucose. Is it worth just picking up a meter?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Please do not panic. Calmly sit down and write your medical history---which symptoms came first and what medications you took, what happened next, etc. Along with the report you posted earlier and dizziness, do you have any other symptom? When do you feel dizzy? While walking, driving or----? Dizziness is also caused by many ear disorders like Ménière's disease, superior canal dehiscence syndrome and labyrinthitis. Alternatively it could be due to paraneoplastic syndrome, with excess production of some hormone related to some cancer. “Hypercalcemia in breast cancer and lung cancer (typically squamous cell) due to the production of PTHrP (Parathyroid hormone-related protein). SIADH associated w/ lung and CNS malignancies, typically small cell. Ectopic ACTH secretion associated with small-cell lung cancer, carcinoid tumor, thymoma and other cancers.” Refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraneoplastic_syndrome

You can seek the opinion of another medicine specialist along with consultation with a neurologist. I think you should discuss these possibilities with them, especially if you have other symptoms. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted.

[CaraDouglas]

I am seeing a neurologist on the 31st. I'm so incredibly weak and dizzy I can hardly leave the house anymore. I need to lay down frequently through out the day. If I force myself out I get so dizzy it scares me. I dont know what to do I feel horrible all the time. If this neurologist tells me nothing is wrong I'm stopping there and I'm just going to lay in bed forever. There's nothing I can do.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Under the circumstances it will be best to wait for some time and repeat the tests which came positive. Your endocrine has given you clearance ans we must respect the judgment. On MedHelp or any online forum we have the restriction of not being able to examine the patient. We only give suggestions based on the available information. A doctor who is examining the patient is able to gain more information also based on the detailed history he takes apart from the clinical examination.

If a panel of doctors who examined you feel that nothing is to be done it will be best to respect their judgment. Please do not stress yourself out. However there is no harm in repeating the tests later. Maybe you could discuss this suggestion with your doctor and repeat only the abnormal reported tests later.

Thanks for keeping me posted. I would appreciate if you continue to do so. All the best!

[CaraDouglas]

Endo refused to run tests said there was no reason for him to be involved based on blood work.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Yes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is autoimmune and thyroid related. However all your Thyroid hormones including the TSH are in the normal range. Hence, chances of a thyroid involvement is low. Please consult an Endocrine specialist. You need to focus on your adrenal glands and parathyroid glands.
Please let me know if there is any thing else. Please keep me posted.

[CaraDouglas]

After looking into my other blood work it appears it's not normal.

TSH is 2.155 (ref 0.450-4.500)
T3 Uptake is 28 (Ref 24-39)
Free Thyroxine Index is 2.5 (ref 1.2-4.9)
Antithyroglobulin AB 20 (ref 0-40)
Thyroid Peroxidase TPO 10 (ref 0-34)
Thyroxine (T4) 8.9 (ref 4.5-12)
Ferritin 14
FSH Serum 1.1
Antinuclear Antibodies Direct 22
hCG Beta subunit Qnt Serum 2
LH 2.3
Prolactin 7.0


Is this pretty much Hashimotos? It's seems to be autoimmune and thyroid related right?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Yes, an Endocrine specialist will be able to understand the results. I think a repeat test should be done. Surgery is usually the treatment for parathyroid tumors. Please let me know what your Endo specialist says.

[CaraDouglas]

My gyn was totally unconcerned. Every dr. because I'm in my early 20s seems to shrug it off. But will these blood results be clear to the endo I'm seeing next week? I mean based on the results is it pretty obvious I have a parathyroid issue? Is surgery always the treatment or can I take meds to regulate this?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Thanks for keeping me posted.
I am glad I could provide some help. Parathyroid is another gland. It is not same as thyroid. “The parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands in the neck, usually located behind the thyroid gland, which produce parathyroid hormone. In rare cases the parathyroid glands are located within the thyroid glands. Most often there are four parathyroid glands, but some people have six or even eight.”And yes, the throid gland function can be normal when the parathyroid function is abnormal. In your case, entirely based on the report, you have hyperactivity of your parathyroid gland.
“The single major disease of parathyroid glands is overactivity of one or more of the parathyroid lobes, which make too much parathyroid hormone causing a potentially serious calcium imbalance. This is called hyperparathyroidism; it leads to hypercalcemia and osteitis fibrosa cystica. Since hyperparathyroidism was first described in 1925, the symptoms have become known as "moans, groans, stones, and bones." The primary treatment for this disease is the surgical removal of the faulty gland.

Modern high frequency ultrasound can see parathyroid masses, even before they cause high calcium. They are called parathyroid incidentalomas. If a patient has elevated calcium, the ultrasound can be used to locate the abnormal glands. The use of ultrasound guided FNA, and parathyroid hormone washings can confirm the abnormal glands. A blood calcium 15-30 minutes after the biopsy can help determine if the disease is caused by a single abnormal gland or multiple glands.”

Hence you must get your blood calcium level tested and get high frequency ultrasound of your neck done. I think you should see an Endocrine specialist since your two glands that is adrenal gland (present over your kidneys) and parathyroid gland are not normal.

Please let me know if there is any thing else. Please keep me posted.

[CaraDouglas]

also my thyroid levels were supposedly fine. does this make any sense? should i be alarmed?

[CaraDouglas]

Thank you so much! It feels good to finally get answers at least for the better part of a year i've been so ill and because i'm in my early 20s every single doctor (we're talking about 10) told me it was in my head or it was depression or anxiety attacks. At least I know something is going on that can be treated.

Last question: Would the parathyroid not working be hyperthyroid or hypothyroid? I just wanted to do a little research on treatment. Again thanks!!!

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Your thyroid is working ok, but your parathyroid is not, according to your report. I am not sure which age group you are in.

“Typical normal ranges for males are:

Age 18-19: 108-441 ug/dL
Age 20-29: 280-640 ug/dL
Age 30-39: 120-520 ug/dL
Age 40-49: 95-530 ug/dL
Age 50-59: 70-310 ug/dL
Age 60-69: 42-290 ug/dL
Age 69 and older: 28-175 ug/dL
Note: ug/dL = microgram per deciliter

Biotin:

Age 0-6 months: 5 mcg/day
Age 7-12 months: 6 mcg/day
Age 1-3 years: 8 mcg/day
Age 4-8 years: 12 mcg/day
Age 9-13 years: 20 mcg/day
Age 14 -18 years: 25 mcg/day
19 and older: 30 mcg/day”

About H. pylori and Vitamin D, I cannot comment as I am not sure the method used.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Please see your physician at the earliest. It is difficult to say what the reports exactly point to without the clinical co-relation.

Please let me know if there is anything else.