Re: Long term ATD use -- rare danger-To Elaine

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the info, Elaine - I'll check into those tests if my

leg flares up again.

I developed the leg clotting problems 10 years before I ever started

taking ATDs.

The development of the thrombosis problems was attributed to estrogen-

bomb birth control pills of the late 60's. Confirmed by several

doctors at the time, but that doesn't mean much in my book anyway.

Chris

------------------

> Hi Granny,

> Because antiphospholip syndrome (the major cause of deep vein

thrombosis) is

> another autoimmune disorder that may occur in conjunction with

autoimmune

> thyroid disease, I think a full work-up for antiphospholipid

antibodies,

> anticardiolipin antibodies, DVVT, Factor V Leiden mutation, etc (a

full

> work-up) are needed before anyone can definitively attribute the

ATD to the

> problem. Granted, she did have the positive P-ANCA and symptoms of

vasculitis

> at one time, but I'm not certain that this is related to the

pulmonary

> problems.

> For anyone who is interested antiphospholipid syndrome is a hot

topic right

> now. This year we added 6 new coagulation tests for diagnosing it.

I know of

> several people on this board who have this syndrome along with

their GD. This

> syndrome is the number one cause of miscarriages and strokes in

young women.

> It also causes pulmonary emboli. A search on www.google.com for

> antiphospholipid syndrome offers some worthwhile reading.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks again, Elaine -

That's good to know about that estrogen connection. I stopped those

BC pills after one year - when several knots began to show up on my

left leg - and never took them again.

I was in and out of hospitals with phlebitis (inflammed, clotted

surface veins) and given heparin while hospitalized. My worst

problems with the clotting were when I was giving birth. Then they

put me on all kinds of junk, which concerned me as I was nursing.

After a DVT episode (deep vein thrombosis) I was placed on coumadin

when released from the hospital. I chose to take dicumarol because

coumadin made me nauseous. They said I would have to take this for

the rest of my life. Wanna bet? After a year I ventured to dump the

dicumarol and started aspirin therapy, which has kept me clot-free

for many years now.

If I can wrench one of those antiphospholipid Ab tests out of

anybody, I will. It's like pulling teeth just to get a TSI......

Chris

-----------

> Interesting, but some of the people who had estrogen related

clotting

> problems were later found to have certain risk factors such as

> antiphospholipid syndrome. It would be good if your doctor ordered

an

> antiphospholipid antibody test. While this disorder is reported to

be

> under-diagnosed, treatment is simple, either daily aspirin or

heparin

> depending on the severity. Seems it would be a good thing to know.

>

>

>