Re: Androgen Insufficiency - Dusty and Chelle

[Guest guest]

I didn't realize these symptoms could be related to

thyroid, Dusty. My TSH is 1.3, which they say is in

the normal range. My T3 and T4 are average.

Chelle, I've had so many tests it's almost

embarrassing. It's bad when you get to the point of

hoping they'll find SOMETHING just to justify the

expense! Do you take anything for your cholesterol?

(I'm on my second week of Lipitor, yuck.)

My adrenal workup included a 24-hour urine collection

and bloodwork for for 17OHP (normal), cortisol (high

normal), prolactin (normal) and ACTH (high normal). I

also had an MRI of the adrenals to rule out tumors.

Oddly, my blood calcium is high, despite having

osteopenia. If my ACTH were higher, they'd call it a

parathyroid problem.

I'm learning that it's possible to have abnormal test

results, but if they don't fit any recognized disease

pattern or reach an alarming level, doctors dismiss

your symptoms. As Dusty said, it's subclinical. But,

IMO, most doctors regard " subclinical " as " normal. "

Zig

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[Guest guest]

Zig how much higher would ur ACTH have to be.... where are you in the range?Is there anything on PUBMED or Medscape which indicates that a slowly failing parathyroid would have "xxxxxx" tests results and "xxxxx" symptoms? Maybe you could ask the doc to treat you with a low dose of whatever it takes to address failing/failed parathyroid?DustyZigmissus wrote: I didn't realize these symptoms could be related tothyroid, Dusty. My TSH is 1.3, which they say is inthe normal range. My T3 and T4 are average. Chelle, I've had so many tests it's almostembarrassing. It's bad when you get to the point ofhoping they'll find SOMETHING just to justify theexpense! Do you take anything for your cholesterol?(I'm on my second week of Lipitor, yuck.)My adrenal

workup included a 24-hour urine collectionand bloodwork for for 17OHP (normal), cortisol (highnormal), prolactin (normal) and ACTH (high normal). Ialso had an MRI of the adrenals to rule out tumors.Oddly, my blood calcium is high, despite havingosteopenia. If my ACTH were higher, they'd call it aparathyroid problem. I'm learning that it's possible to have abnormal testresults, but if they don't fit any recognized diseasepattern or reach an alarming level, doctors dismissyour symptoms. As Dusty said, it's subclinical. But,IMO, most doctors regard "subclinical" as "normal."Zig __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Oops! Dusty, in my last post, I confused ACTH

(adrenocorticotropic hormone) with PTH (parthyroid

hormone). I totally blame this on hormonal brain fog.

Chelle, the parathyoid is a gland located behind the

thyroid. Its job is to regulate calcium. Wikipedia has

a decent article on it at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parathyroid

In diagnosising parathyroid conditions, apparently

it's the ratio of calcium to PTH that's important.

Bone loss is also taken into consideration. (I have

ostopenia of the spine.) For instance, primary

hyperparathyroidism requires high PTH and high

calcium; hypothyroidism is the opposite.

My calcium is 10.6 (normal is between 8.4 and 10.2),

and my PTH is 36, which is only slightly above average

in a 15-75 range.

ACTH is a pituitary hormone. Normal ranges for this

are between 5 and 25. Mine is 20.

One more opposite symptom: Chelle, you say you're

losing your hair--well, ever since menopause (and an

ovary removal) I've been growing it in places I don't

want! (Thank you, testosterone and DHEAS.) If it

weren't for my trusty tweezers, I'd be working on an

impressive moustache!

Zig

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[Guest guest]

Actually according to my doc, I have male pattern baldness due to my testosterone use! I'm not certain I believe that, but losing the hair on my head was attibuted to that. Otherwise, I still am (always was) a fairly hairy gal. I will be 60 in April and I still have to shave my legs every 4 days or so, have to shave my underarms still and have plenty of pubic and arm hair as well.Zigmissus wrote: Oops! Dusty, in my last post, I confused ACTH(adrenocorticotropic hormone) with PTH (parthyroidhormone). I totally blame this on hormonal brain fog.Chelle, the parathyoid is a gland located behind thethyroid. Its job is to regulate calcium. Wikipedia hasa decent article on it at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ParathyroidIn diagnosising parathyroid conditions,

apparentlyit's the ratio of calcium to PTH that's important.Bone loss is also taken into consideration. (I haveostopenia of the spine.) For instance, primaryhyperparathyroidism requires high PTH and highcalcium; hypothyroidism is the opposite. My calcium is 10.6 (normal is between 8.4 and 10.2),and my PTH is 36, which is only slightly above averagein a 15-75 range.ACTH is a pituitary hormone. Normal ranges for thisare between 5 and 25. Mine is 20.One more opposite symptom: Chelle, you say you'relosing your hair--well, ever since menopause (and anovary removal) I've been growing it in places I don'twant! (Thank you, testosterone and DHEAS.) If itweren't for my trusty tweezers, I'd be working on animpressive moustache! Zig__________________________________________________