Live WebChat - NOW - with Dr. Mark Lupo, Endocrinologist

[ChitChatNine]

We'd like to welcome Dr. Mark Lupo, Endocrinologist, as our guest this evening from 5:00-6:00PM EST.  Dr. Lupo will be answering thryoid-related questions which were previously posted by our community members earlier this week.  

After a member-question is posted by Co-CL ChitChatNine, Dr. Lupo will answer the question with a few minutes for member comments and then another question will be posted.

I know we'll enjoy this WebChat and thank Dr. Lupo for his time!  

Let's give Dr. Lupo a warm welcome!

Your Community Leaders
Cheryl, Laura & Stella

[baz5]

Thank you for your time! :)

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

I will go ahead w/ first question as I cannot see live chat/posts.

Low vitamin D is common, would look at PTH & calcium levels first.  Then if normal, consider looking at celiac sprue antibodies.  

[ChitChatNine]

QUESTION #1:

From:  ChitChat9
Parathyroid Disease ?

Dr. Lupo,

In women over 45 yrs old who have been diagnosed with a Vitamin D Defficiency, do you find that most have this defficiency due to "lack of sunshine" without an underlying reason (i.e, parathyroids not working right), or that many who are seen by an Endocrinologist are diagnosed with parathyroid issues causing this defficiency.  I ask this ? because my primary doctor was very quick to diagnose the cause as  "lack of sunshine" even with my history of thyroid cancer.   My Endo took it much more seriously and is ruling out other possible causes (including a repeat serum Vt D test as well as Intact PTH, & rerunning thyroglobulins, etc.), before I start Vit D Treatment.  First labs were Vit D at 9.4

[mommy2two2008]

Can Vit D def. cause a person to tingle in the throat and tongue?  If so, is a safe test theory to take some form of calcium with Vit D OTC?  I have tested my cal 2 times wth my doc.  Last was 9.3.  I know that is a good number.  I get some sporatic tingles, last was Wed, Thurs and Fri.  I took some Caltrate and it stopped after 2 days.  I no longer feel it.  I just wondered if it was coincidence.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

SEE ANSWERS BELOW

First of all...Thank you for your time.  I have a few round about questions.  I have some heart issues in which my HR can run low for days and then drop low along with some really rough chest pains, floaters, blurred vision etc.  Anxiety is not the issue with them.  So I guess this is the one I'm most concerned with.  



I also have really bad muscle spasms threw out my body during the winter months and in the summer I get lightheaded very easy, so in order this is also a concern.  

The the third question is just plain aggravation with Doctors.  LOL Sorry.  Thank you again for your precious time.  Amy



1 a,b.)  I would like to know the relationship between thyroid issues and heart issues?      (Example, angina, PVC's and PAC's, cholesterol increases and hsCRP)
IF THERE IS EXCESS THYROID HORMONE IT WOULD CAUSE PVC AND PAC.  TOO LITTLE WOULD INCREASE CHOLESTEROL.  BOTH CAN AGGRAVATE ANGINA.


2 e.)  The relationship between thyroid and FMS and CFS symptoms?  (PlateletGal could probably word it much better than I.)
THERE IS SOME RESEARCH (NOT IN MAINSTREAM ACADEMIC THYROID) THAT HYPOTHYROID IS ASSOCIATED W/ FM AND CFS SYMPTOMS - SOMETIMES TREATING W/ T3 CAN BE HELPFUL TO THE MUSCLE SYMPTOMS.


3 e.)  Why most Doctors will not run a T3 or FT3 along with the TSH, T4 and FT4?

TSH IS THE STANDARD OF CARE BASED ON MULTIPLE STUDIES. IN SOME CASES T3 LEVELS ARE HELPFUL TO EVALUATE HYPOTHYROID, BUT ARE MOST HELPFUL IN HYPERTHYROIDISM.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

LOW CALCIUM CAN CAUSE THE TINGLING SENSATION -- AND LOW VIT D CAN CAUSE LOW CALCIUM -- THAT'S WHY THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME BENEFIT

SORRY ABOUT THE ALL-CAPS, JUST FIGURED IT WOULD BE EASIER TO RECOGNIZE MY POSTS IN THE THREAD.