Weight gain

[Dee1956]

Hi my sister recently had blood work because she has gained a lot of weight.  She started working out, nothing is working.  I told her to get her thyroid tested.

I got her numbers and am hoping someone can help.

Her TSH          1.15
Thyroxine         6.8
Free Thyroxine  .93
T3                      107     range .3 to 4.2

I don't know if important but her estriadol is high for a 54 year old woman, the doctor said it was like a 27 year old
Her platelets are high
She was deficient in Vitamin D though now 39 range 25 - 50  I told her it needs to be higher but good for someone who was very deficient 6 months ago.
Her protein is on the low end 6.4  range 6 to 8.3

Thank you to anyone who can advise, I appreciate, Dee

[Dee1956]

Thank you again, she was very deficient in her Vitamin D last year, it is closer to normal, still not high enough but at least she is aware.  She has suffered from two kidney stones in the last year.
I emailed her what you had said about the testing not being correct.
Thanks again, Dee

[Barb135]

:-)

[Barb135]

Dee, sometimes, there's more than one parathyroid involved, and the patient has to carefully watch calcium levels after surgery.  Please make your sister knows this and questions her doctor(s) about the use of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D... Vitamin D is necessary for the proper absorption of calcium, however, from my reading, it's typically contra-indicated in the case of hyperparathyroidism...

Please be sure that your sister questions all of this and fully understands how to use these supplements, because vitamin D may also have a bearing on thyroid health, plus magnesium is important for muscle/joint health.

And yes, don't forget that she does need the proper thyroid tests...

[Dee1956]

Thank you so much Barb! I really appreciate your help.  I just found out they want to remove it right away.  Thanks for reminding me they are  going to have to look at her thyroid since she still needs correct testing for that.
Again, thank you so much, I am so glad she did not give up.  This problem sounds serious.

[Dee1956]

Hi Bar, as far as I know they are going to remove it.
She just found out yesterday and sent me the diagnosis.
I have read a little about it,
Thank you so much!

I really appreciate
Dee

[Barb135]

Please keep me posted on the progress and while I'm far from an expert regarding parathyroid, I'll be happy to help research for you...

[Barb135]

..

[Barb135]

Hi Dee...A parathyroid adenoma is a benign tumor... the  fact that it's ectopic means that it's not in a normal position.  The parathyroids are, typically, located behind the thyroid gland and they control the use of calcium.  An adenoma leeches calcium from your bones, which accounts for the high blood calcium levels.  

Ectopic parathyroids can be located further up in the neck or down in the chest.

You can find more information here:  
http://www.parathyroid.com/parathyroid-adenoma.htm

The parathyroids control calcium movement within the body, which controls electrical impulses.  This does explain a lot of her symptoms, but does not explain away possible hypothyroidism, so that should not be allowed to go by the wayside, as her thyroid levels were too low in the ranges.  It also does explain away possible peri-menopause.  

What treatment protocol has the doctor recommended?  These adenomas don't go away or become smaller on their own; the offending parathyroid must be removed.  If the doctor says otherwise, find another doctor...

Persistence does pay off...

[Dee1956]

Hi my sister was just diagnosed with, she had a nuclear imaging test.  I'm hoping this will explain much of her symptoms.

ectopic parathyroid adenoma

[Dee1956]

Thank you so very much, I really appreciate you taking the time to write to me with this information.
I know she is about to tear her hair out
Dee

[flyingfool]

Just another thing to put into the mix although I have some doubts that it may be the culprit but it could be contributing to the mess.

And that is estrogen dominance can bind or inhibit thyroid metabolism.  It is stated that she had high estriodol. But that doesn't mean that it is dominate.

estrogen has to be in balance with Progesterone. And usually estrogen dominance is really more of a case of low Progesterone.  Estrogen dominance from what I understand can more frequently happen as approaching or post menopause.  With her age of about 50 she would definately be in the zone nearing menopause.

As barb stated. It may make sense to have all her sex hormones tested to see about the balance of progesterone and Estrogen as well as testosterone.

Just something to consider.

[Barb135]

Were there no progesterone or testosterone tests done?

Her symptoms and thyroid blood work, indicate hypothyroidism, in spite of the low TSH.  With thyroid hormone levels as low as hers, we'd expect TSH to be higher than it is.  Since it isn't, Central, or secondary hypothyroidism, could be a consideration.  This is when the thyroid actually works fine, but there's a problem with the pituitary/hypothalamus axis, so the pituitary gland is not producing enough TSH to, adequately, stimulate the thyroid.  Make sure she discusses this possibility with her doctor, because many doctor see a normal TSH and automatically assume that all is well, when it's not.

[Dee1956]

I think we need to use my question as what not to do

[Dee1956]

Dear Barb, thank you so very very much.  I'm so sorry this turned in to such a mess, giving it piecemeal was not my intention
Her FSH 5.9 there is a very light chart I think it says this range folliciular phase
Lutteinizing hormone 5 another chart can't read but it says post menopausal are 13 - 51

Sorry range for triglycerides 30 - 150 hers 175

I keep thinking the ranges are close to each other DUH

Also when I had low thyroid, I was like her hot all the time, or easily over heated.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate

[Barb135]

I forgot to mention that she should ask to get tested for thyroid antibodies, to determine if she has Hashimoto's... those would be Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb).

[Barb135]

It sounds like your sister could be dealing with 2 separate issues... let's deal with the thyroid first.

First off, her Free T4 is very low in the range, indicating that her thyroid is not producing adequate thyroid hormones.  Rule of thumb is for Free T4 to be about mid range; your sister's Free T4 is only at 13% of its range, so it's quite understandable why she has symptoms of being hypo...

Unfortunately, Total T3 is considered obsolete and isn't very useful, but it, too, is lower in the range than we'd recommend... Rule of thumb for Free T3 is upper half to upper third of its range.  Your sister's Total T3 is only at 40%... considering that 90-95% of this will be bound by protein and can't be used, it's safe to assume that her Free T3 will be quite low in the range, as well...

Next time she gets blood work, she should insist that her doctor order Free T3, instead of Total T3.

The weight gain is a symptom of hypothyroidism, as is high cholesterol and triglycerides... You have the range for the triglycerides, but no result.  Does she have any other symptoms of being hypo, such as constipation, muscle/joint aches/pains, hair loss, fatigue, facial puffiness, etc?  There are tons more... I'm just trying to think of the main ones I had... lol

High platelet count can be caused by numerous things, including a lot of exercise, stress, infection, inflammation, etc.  You said she's been exercising more; if she has a thyroiditis, she could have inflammation in her body, etc...

Now, for the periods... I'm not sure what you mean by "increasingly worse" - does that mean heavy, frequent?  She could be in peri-menopause, even with higher estradial... Did they check any of her other reproductive hormones, such as progesterone, testosterone, etc?   It's entirely possible to have menopausal hot flashes and still be hypothyroid, for sure.

[Dee1956]

My sister is having increasingly worse periods.  She has a low body temperature 97 and hot flashes, gained 50 lbs.  She has gone from an 8 to a 14 in a short amount of time.
I had hot flashes as well but still had hypothyroid.  I think she has it too but what do I know

[Dee1956]

ugh t3  range 79 - 149 hers 107

[Dee1956]

Platelets 380     range 150-350
Protein 6.4        range 6.0 to 8.3
Cholesterol 279  range 115 - 199
HDL 48             range 40-85
LDL 196            very high risk
Triglycerides   range 30 - 150

Is it the triglycerides that can tell if you are candidate for hear attack

[Dee1956]

Hi giving you best answer while in old forum :)

[Dee1956]

Hi, thank you, Free T4 was  .93 range .80 - 1.80
T3 total 107    range 79 - 149

At 54, she is still having periods and was told her numbers are like a 27 year old and she dropped two eggs just last month.  Do you need that hormone info?

[Barb135]

Sorry you've been sick.  Will wait for further numbers... Hope you get better quickly.

[Dee1956]

Thank you Barb, oddest thing was feeling great when I wrote to you, within a half hour I was having some kind of attack, itching so bad all over, my body covered with welts, could not stand up.  I started taking benedryl, that helped

[Dee1956]

So sorry, right after I asked I had a severe allergic reaction. I've been sick all day. I'll get the #'s. Thank you!