Hey PS Sistas!!

I need some assistance interpreting some blood test results. They were just awful, and changed so quickly it is very disturbing.

The first question is about thyroid. I am not sure if our test results are the same in Canada as the US....but here goes.

TSH...............1.22 Range...0.30 - 6.20 mU/L


Thyroxine Free.........8.8 Range...8.0 - 26.0 pmol/L

T3 Free..............4.6 Range...3.8 - 6.0 pmol/L

Everything appears to be in range and the doctor didn't think there were any issues. What do you think??

Next, cholesterol is thru the freaking ROOF!! I mean, how does that go up so FAST!! My last test was right on the borderline of the high end of normal...in Canada that measures as 5.0, I think the corrolating number in the US is 200. If that math is right, mine would be 316 in US numbers. I mean sheesh, I might as well just stab myself in the heart and be done with it!! Triglycerides are SO HIGH that an LDL reading couldn't even be done....and HDL measured .77! (Maybe 30 in US?) Doc wants me on Lipitor, but not until we do a retest on Monday. Apparently all the tests were considered "speciment lipemic".

Under "Electrolytes everything was in range except Chloride, which was very slighly elevated (range 98 - 108, I was at 109). I don't even know what all that means!!

Calcium was low.....2.09 Range...2.15 - 2.7 mmol/L
Aspartate Aminotransferase....56 Range... 7 - 40 U/L
Alanine Aminotransferase.......62 Range... 0 - 45 U/L
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase....88 Range... 5. - 36 U/L

Again, don't even know what most of those are, but other than calcium they are way high!! What does it mean???

Fasting glucose was 6.5 Range... 3.3 - 6.0 mmol/L

That is a little high, but I didn't actually go the 12 hours without eating, went about 9. I don't know if this will make a difference or not but I have to do a glucose tolerance test on Monday.

I know a lot of these issues are from all the weight I have gained in the past year. I must get a handle on the weight, lose some and start exercising a whole lot more than I have been.

Hi Kathie,

Just looking at your blood test results:

Aspartate Aminotransferase....56 Range... 7 - 40 U/L
Alanine Aminotransferase.......62 Range... 0 - 45 U/L
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase....88 Range... 5. - 36 U/L

I just looked these up and they are tests to screen your liver for disease. What is the dr. saying about this?

Do the 2 hour Glucose Test on Monday for the sugar, that'll determine for sure if you have Impaired Glucose Tolerance or if you are actually diabetic. I have Impaired Glucose Tolerance and had to drastically change my diet to low carb. Wait to get the results.

Just wondering if the hormones you're taking has any impact on any of your test results. Are you on any other meds? Check that out to see if they could skew the results of your blood work in any way.

Please keep us posted.

Hugs,
Karen

Oh, and the cholesterol and tryglycerides, you need to drastically chang your diet and take fish oil. It all has to do with the carbs and what happens to them in your body.

See this site: http://www.healthy-heart-guide.com/lowerin...glycerides.html

What have you been eating lately? Take a look and if there's a bit of junk in there, eliminate it like sugar, white flour, pasta, all the heavy carb stuff and have them recheck it in 3 months before going on Lipitor. My cholesterol is in the 240 range. Last year it was 299 but I ate like 18 eggs in 2 weeks prior to the test - I made a batch of custard and the reicpe called for 9 eggs...I ate 2 batches of it in 2 weeks and that's what elevated it cause it was like 240 a month before. My tris are good though so I won't take any Lipitor.

Hugs,
Karen

I suspect the prometrium might be the culprit affecting the liver, so I am going to stop taking it orally, switch to vaginally and see how that goes.

I really didn't think my diet was THAT bad, but apparently it is!! We are retesting on Monday to see if any of those numbers change.

Thanks for the regarding those tests I didn't know about...liver. Interesting. It is rather amazing how everything can go to hell in a year.

Kathie,
While your TSH looks good, your free levels of the thyroid hormones don't look so good.

free T4 is only 4.4% of the range when it should be at least half, and preferably in the upper 1/3

free T3 is 36.36% of range, and it should ideally be the upper 1/3 to 1/4

If there is any way to get both thyroid antibody tests done, I would strongly advise it. If they are positive, and you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, then it would explain a lot. Prior to the advent of all these new thyroid tests, high cholesterol was often understood to be a sign of low thyroid and giving thyroid meds would reduce it. I've seen many stories on thyroid groups of people who started thyroid meds and their cholesterol came down to normal. Also, if your thyroid is low, it slows everything down, and can affect liver function.

I agree with the dietary advice given by Karen. Fish oil will really help lower triglycerides, but you do really need to decrease the carbs. And more important than the total cholesterol is the HDL/LDL numbers and ratio. Many people with low cholesterol get heart attacks, and many people with high cholesterol never do. I've read quite extensively on this as DH has a cholesterol problem. There are a couple books you can read by docs who believe that too much emphasis is placed on total cholesterol. Also pantethine has been shown to lower it and DH doctor also wanted him to take it.

I'm not sure thyroid is the total problem, but it could be part of it and is worth checking because if it is a factor, all those other lifestyle changes you make will not work as well as they should, it will be like pedaling uphill. I know some women in the UK with their national health care have had a difficult time when their numbers look 'normal'. Docs aren't willing to say you are hypothyroid unless your numbers are way high, but I don't know how the Canadian system is.

There are also some good herbal preparations that are excellent for liver health and can bring those numbers down.

Are you taking any medications?

Sariah,

I take paxil. I need to research and see if it can mess with liver function...it is either the prometrium or the paxil doing it I am sure. I don't drink.

I am going to go out and get some supplements to help with my particular issues, which seem to be rather a lot!! And here I though I was doing pretty good!

I was curious as to what you think would help the thyroid? I am not sure the doctors would be willing to give me any thyroid hormones, when all the ranges are within normal parameters. I can't help but wonder if I would feel better if the free T3 & 4 were a little higher. Is there anything else out there that could help that doesn't require an Rx?

I am really hoping that my results were skewed because I didn't go the entire 12 hour fasting before I got the test done, more like 8 or 9. I will do it right on Monday. Hopefully some of these results will be better.

Paxil can cause elevated liver enzymes in some people, so you are right, that could be a factor. I know my SIL has been on Prozac for awhile, and periodically the doc will check her liver enzymes.

Wellness Resources website is a great source of information. I've been impressed with the knowledge of Byron Richards, who writes regular articles on various health topics. Here is an article on thyroid http://www.wellnessresources.com/health_to..._metabolism.php and one on Weight Loss and Leptin http://www.wellnessresources.com/health_to...weight_loss.php

If I were not able to get my thyroid meds, I would use his supplements.

Not fasting will not affect the thyroid tests, I'm less sure about the liver tests. But since you fasted 9 hours, I can't think it would make much difference, but ask your doc.

Your T4 is so low that I think you would greatly benefit from a small amount of iodine which is in the thyroid supplements on that website.

Floater, Do you have any dizziness at all now?

I am not dizzy the way I used to be, that is for sure. I will periodically feel dizzy if I am really tired, or really hungry. Otherwise, no, not really.


Today I was looking at Kelp supplements. Would that be the way to go?? Or the ground up bovine thyroid? I have no education in this area, nor have I researched it. I tried to read up on the results I got but found nothing.

I will check out your link Sariah, and thanks for giving it to me.

Did you tell your doctor that you hadn't actually gone the 12 hours fasting? Sometimes foods eaten in close proximity to a blood test can skew the report, when the blood test was supposed to be done fasting.

I have a myriad of blood tests every six months (due to med I'm taking, they check thyroid, liver, cholesterol, etc.) and they emphasize the importance of having all those tests first thing in the AM w/out having eaten anything since dinner, not even letting me have my coffee (that's the hard part) before I get the test done.

As to cholesterol, mine was 240 and due to other meds I take, the statins were contraindicated. So my GP gave me lots of suggestions to lower it and within three months it came down to the 200 range, and now a couple years later, it hovers around 175. Not hard things, but simple suggestions like:

If you use milk, buy the fat free
Add Omega 3's to your diet (I started adding flax and fish oil)
He did recommend an OTC supplement called Cholesteroff (it's a plant based product)
Cut out meat at some meals and have a vegetarian meal once or twice a week
Don't buy processed foods, try to cook from scratch
Add olive oil to your diet

Floater - When I was on Paxil/Celexa my cholestorol was over 300!!! Plus my liver enzymes where abnormal and I was my sugars were borderline high. . I had all kinds of weird test results while being on SSRIs for 5 years in addition to gaining 50lbs of FLAB!

I've been off of SSRIs for over 4 years and 60lbs less later, I have absolutely no regrets quitting. The rate I was going on SSRis, I would've been on other medicine to control the side effect of being fat.

GTF Chromium is good for two things, according to my doctor: cholesterol and blood sugar.
Both dh and I are taking it now.

You may want to consider adding that.

Fish Oil has already been discussed, but that's an excellent thing to take all around. Not just for your current issues, but it supports healthy brain function too.


Good luck to you. You got some excellent advice here.

starting today I am taking

B100 complex
Chromium
coQ10
Omega 3
Cal/Mag
Vit C
Vit D

Tomorrow morning is the big retest and glucose tolerance test. I sure hope they are a little bit better, I don't want to take statin drugs. I don't get to eat anything else today, and only drink water. And yes I am going to be 100% compliant this time!!

Thanks for the great advice, I am going to implement most of it!

Hi,
I just wanted to say I wish I had some words of wisdom to help you, but I have nothing to add except support. I hope your retest goes well and you have success with the supplements. Keep us posted with the results.

Hi Floater,

Just checking in to see how your 2 hour GTT test went today?

Hugs,
Karen

I had the test this morning. Other than the waiting, it was fine. Oh and the second blood draw the lab tech couldn`t get the vein, poked both arms, then she gave up and got another tech to try. So I have 4 pokes and bruises on both inner arms...but big deal really. The glucose drink is gross, and feels not good on an empty belly.

I am not sure when I will get the results, in a day or two I imagine. I will let you know how that goes.

Just a note, I switched the Prometrium from oral to vaginal and have been having hot flashes, wonder what that means?

How did you feel while taking the test? Years ago I had the same thing and go sooooo shaky. I had hypoglycemia which I was told lasts your whole life, but all the recent years my sugar level is right where it should be. I do, howvern have hypoglycemic moments and know when I went too long without eating. Good luck I hope it all goes well.

Progesterone increases blood sugar, and Vliet uses it with caution, if at all, with women who have known blood sugar issues.

Sariah, what do people do then, if they wish to use estrogen, but still have a uterus?

Enough, I actually fell asleep in my car and had an hour long nap after I drank the glucose crap. So I don`t really know for certain how I felt. I was tired when I got there, so the nap was a wonderful way to kill time.

Hi Floater,
I think it is progesterone that pushes your blood sugar and TRG high, the CHO profile with low HDl and high TRG is in sync with impaired glucose tolerance. I think oral Prometrium is to blame, perhaps switch to vaginal.
In story of BHRT, if they suppose to be natural to our body, they should be deliveted by close mechanism as out endogenous hormones that are made in ovaries. so perhaps vaginal route is more natural than oral and transdermal.
One thing I know from experience, progesterone is any form spiked my blood sugar, bit NO for those with glucose intolerance.
The dietary suggestion also may work, cut drastically on sugars, sweets, starches, and such, and also watch alcohol, booze raises TRG.
HRT can also overburden liver, not only ADs, when liver it overworked trying to clear hormones, it does lousy job on clearing cholesterole and mainly TRG. I think it is not estrogen but mainly progesterone that is really causes most problems, but in general, fast 12 hours, get re-tested and if you have options, try to use vaginal P, oh, never mind, I think you already switched.
See the link, i hope it helps.
http://www.heartuk.org.uk/images/uploads/h...iglycerides.pdf
Hugs,
I.

Floater,
feeling sleepy after sugary drink and carby meal is a sign your blood sugar was on a high side. Ads are also known to impair glucose metabolism, hence, most ppl gain weight on it as it has to be processed by liver also, anythign and everything that impacts liver function can result in impared glucose. Perhaps you can cycle progesterone every 3 monhts instead of taking daily? To think, bioidentical progesterone is not too healthy hormone, as they paint it.
I know one lady who is T2 diabetic, she can't tolerate progesterone in any form and she has uterus, so she is on Estrast, I think, combo pill estrogen and testosterone, she just goes for routine ultrasounds, twice a year. She told me without Estrogen, she can't maintain healthy blood sugar, but Progesterone is big problem.
It is really a pain in a neck with progesterone when one has impaired glucose, estrogen itself actually helps with insulin reistance and glucose metabolism, so sorry, hopefully the vaginal P will work better.
best and good luck,
I.

Ira,

Thanks for the great posts, I was hoping you were going to respond to this, as I know you have some knowledge in this area.

I am going on Friday to find out my results. I am kind of worried that the doctor is just going to prescribe more and more medications, rather than figuring out what is causing it!!!

I mean a statin for the CHO, then another pill to help with the sugar issue....where will it end?? I know that I can't function without the E, and I really am trying to convince the doc into letting me try some T. Now I wonder if the suboptimal T3 and T4 levels might be adding to the issues.

I have already changed my diet drastically, and am taking supplements and exercising.

Does anyone know if vaginal P causes issues with CHO or blood sugar?

Adding more meds to a stressed liver seems like a stupid idea....grrrr!!!

I don't wanna go into the doc's office without some idea of a plan of my own, cuz they will just say...here, take these drugs!!! I need to go in there, armed with information, so the doc will do what I WANT!!

Maybe it is time to wean off the Paxil??? Lordy, I am confuzzled!!

Floater,
Please, wait until the re-test results, and before you take any more medications, post the results on PS and the drugs Rx if any.
You already taking ADs and HRT, this alone is enough buirden to your liver, so let's be prudent. I see it can be frustrating but don't jump into conclusions until you know the tests results are accurate.


Ok, here is on statins: wait for the results, and post all your numbers, even in metric system you need to multiple by 35 I believe, to get US measures, so wait until you get the final numbers, and same with GTT.
The blood sugar and cholesterol go together, it is mainly blood sugar that drives your TRG, and lowers your HDL, so if you address blood glucose, the cholesterol will fall in place most likely.

Re: SUBOPTIMAL THYROID, please, take it easy and be very careful with Armour and other thyroid hormones!!!!

I see lately more and more posts interpreting FT3 and FT4 numbers, and and it worries me. For once, thryoid testing as as all hormonal testing, is just a snap shot, so it varies greately from one hour to another. Secondary the T4 /T3 misinterpretation is very tricky and I would never comment or advise ANYONE on correcting it without really knowing what is going on with thyroid. Based on your TSH, your thyroid is doing fine, and FT3 can be high one minute, and lower another, keep this in mind.

Our hormones work as orcestra, and when we add steroid hormones (HRT) to the orcestra, pretty much all others are impacted, mainly, thyroid, adrenals, insulin, and liver functions.

Please, don't take advise on your thyroid, this "optimal level in the upper 3rd of the range" advise can be very dangerous, there is an array of Thryoid forums and doctors who willingly Rx Armour thyroid, which is active form of thyroid hormone, and equal number of women who shorten their lives and getting into major helath illues because of the Armour and in general, supplementing with thyroid hormones when there is no need for it!.

The labs you had done, were I believe in the morning, you fasted 12 hour prior, and it would be rather strange to see your thryroid levels being all high (FT3 mainly) consider that our body has low temperature in the morning and lower level of ALL HORMONES to begin with, including insulin, hence, they test blood sugar FASTING, to see if there are diabetic tendencies. THyroid regulates energy metabolism, so when there is not energy ( aka food), why would thryoid work to the max? This is another topic, but my take on thyroid is :TSG is still gold starndard, if it is normal, then don't rush to add thyroid hormone supplements unless you looking for more troubles down the road. Thryodi is tightly linked to adrenal functions, if you correct T without addressing adrenal hormones, it is recipe for disaster.

I am very concervative when it comes to MAJOR hormones, as insulin, thryoid, and adrenal, these can impact your health big time, so I would say, let's wait and see.

This is already good, dietary changes are the first step in improving one's health, and supplements as fish oil are useful for TRG. Cut drastically on sugars, processed food, eat lots of veggies, some fruit, lots of lean protein and good fats, EVOO is a must, and don't skimp on the olive oil, LOL, as well as fatty fish even canned sardines are great.


I think progesterone is progesterone, but oral steroids burden liver the most, so perhaps this will be less burden, post your GTT results, and we can take it from there.

Don't take anything right away, just ask the doctor what he (she_thinks) causes your high CHO and blood sugar ( if any), and if you have results from before you started Ads and HRT, then you can compare.
I think Ads are to blame also, they can mess up with blood sugar, but please, don't despare, not everyone with high CHO dies from coronary, and so is with diabetes, if you HAVE IT, I HOPE NOT.
I have T2 and still around, trust me, it is all managable, so I am looking forward to see your blood test results.
best of luck, hugs,
I.

I should have thought of that, don't know how it got past me, but yes, Iradan is right, P can raise havoc with blood sugar. Vliet is cautious with it for that reason.

[quote name='Iradan' date='Apr 23 2009, 01:08 PM' post='280930']


I see lately more and more posts interpreting FT3 and FT4 numbers, and and it worries me. For once, thryoid testing as as all hormonal testing, is just a snap shot, so it varies greately from one hour to another. Secondary the T4 /T3 misinterpretation is very tricky and I would never comment or advise ANYONE on correcting it without really knowing what is going on with thyroid. Based on your TSH, your thyroid is doing fine, and FT3 can be high one minute, and lower another, keep this in mind.

Our hormones work as orcestra, and when we add steroid hormones (HRT) to the orcestra, pretty much all others are impacted, mainly, thyroid, adrenals, insulin, and liver functions.

Please, don't take advise on your thyroid, this "optimal level in the upper 3rd of the range" advise can be very dangerous, there is an array of Thryoid forums and doctors who willingly Rx Armour thyroid, which is active form of thyroid hormone, and equal number of women who shorten their lives and getting into major helath illues because of the Armour and in general, supplementing with thyroid hormones when there is no need for it!.

The labs you had done, were I believe in the morning, you fasted 12 hour prior, and it would be rather strange to see your thryroid levels being all high (FT3 mainly) consider that our body has low temperature in the morning and lower level of ALL HORMONES to begin with, including insulin, hence, they test blood sugar FASTING, to see if there are diabetic tendencies. THyroid regulates energy metabolism, so when there is not energy ( aka food), why would thryoid work to the max? This is another topic, but my take on thyroid is :TSG is still gold starndard, if it is normal, then don't rush to add thyroid hormone supplements unless you looking for more troubles down the road. Thryodi is tightly linked to adrenal functions, if you correct T without addressing adrenal hormones, it is recipe for disaster.
*******************

Iradan,
Obviously you are referring to my posts, and I must ardently disagree with you.

Having a thyroid condition myself, I have a vested interest in all things thyroid or thyroid-related. I do not jump on any bandwagon without thoroughly researching and asking questions. I have spent the past couple years and thousands of hours researching, and while I do belong to thyroid groups, most of my info does not come from them (although there are some very knowledgeable people there) because I find their cookie-cutter approach to be rigid , not allowing for individual differences.

I spent much time poring over medical journals, endocrinolgist website, PubMed. I've read many books by doctors who used to treat by TSH only but found that looking globally at the right thyroid tests and clinical symptoms that they got much better results with their patients over and over. I do not profess to be an expert, I just share what I've learned and what has worked for me, much like everyone else does here.

You say fT3 levels can change from minute to minute, but that is pretty much true of a lot of hormones and chemicals in our bodies, so why test anything at all? The free levels show how much of that hormone is actually useable at that time (the rest being bound) so it's a valuable piece of info that can be used to correlate with symptoms currently being experienced (as part of the global thyroid picture) And it is well know that many people have problems converting the T4 to T3 peripherally, and it is T3 that is the most active thyroid hormone. Even a slight deficiency can cause symptoms, and I just read a paper the other day that said often psych problems are the first sign of a thyroid problem and sub-optimal T3 levels.

Never have I said that any level of thyroid hormone 'must' be at a certain level--I have said that most people (which means 'not all') feel better when the levels are within a certain range. And that is backed up by many of the top thyroid docs, my own experience, and that of thousands of other people who were suffering. Of course there are those who do better with lower levels of frees, but there are also those who only feel their best with even higher levels. Nothing is written in stone for thyroid, or for any other health condition for that matter. But we have to make our best judgment based on current research, clinical experience, and individual responses.

TSH is not the gold standard and I have many, many studies and articles to prove that it is only a partial picture, and that in the case of Hashi's that it cannot be relied upon AT ALL. It's like relying on FSH levels to tell you something about your estrogen levels--meaning it tells you nothing about them. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone, and many people have undiagnosed, slightly sub-functioning pituitary. And then there are TSH receptor antibodies (well-documented in the literature) which make it even more unreliable as a sole diagnostic tool. The stories are legion from woman who were miserable when thyroid meds were dosed only according to TSH, but once the free levels were considered and the med dosed accordingly, they improved greatly.

Yes, thyroid is indeed linked to adrenal function, and if one's thyroid output is low, the adrenals will have to take up the slack by increasing levels of cortisol and adrenaline in an attempt to make up for the low metabolism caused by low thyroid. So that puts further stress on the adrenals, then you add peri to the mix, where the adrenals are expected to take over production of female hormones, in addition to playing pinch-hitter for the thyroid, and it's no wonder we're suffering so much through peri. The adrenals simply are not able to take over the function of both the thyroid AND ovaries.

Have you suffered with a thyroid condition? Have you gone for years living a half-life with debilitating physical symptoms on sub-optimal doses of thyroid meds because your doc is so narrowly focused on the TSH that he is blind to your symptoms and other tests that would give him a more global picture? Have you suffered the mental symptoms that come with this, to discover that adding T3 (or Armour) allows you to feel normal and get off the AD's? (well-documented in studies and psychiatric journals) Have you gone on diet after diet, exercised religiously, eaten healthy, only to find you gain weight until the thyroid problem is addressed? And what about the many women who could not conceive for years until a subclinical thyroid deficiency was discovered and corrected and then became pregnant?

I realize you are a minimalist and try hard to address your health issues with natural means, and I fully appreciate that. I too believed in that, and was successful for many years using diet, nutrition, and lifestyle to handle whatever health issues came along. And it worked until the hormone fluctuations of pregnancy, coupled with the thyroid malfunction blindsided me. I was not living, I was existing. Nothing that had worked before was working and it was affecting my life, my marriage, and throwing me into despair of ever feel well and normal. Did I want to take the thyroid med? Absolutely not, in fact, I went through a grieving period, knowing that I would probably have to be on this med for life and it was difficult for me to accept that despite all I had done in an attempt to maintain health, that I had developed this condition that I had no control over.

That said, I am on a minimal dose of thyroid med, far below that advocated on some of the thyroid forums and seem to be functioning quite well. Some days I just cannot believe the difference in how I feel compared to a year ago. Back then, I was convinced I would not improve and that I would probably get worse. I saw no hope.

Are there hard and fast answers and guidelines for determining hormone levels, thyroid levels, or any other medical condition? Of course not. But we can look at the success stores, both individual and clinical, and learn from them. And we can make a good educated guess from reading the medical literature and writings of docs who are having great success with patients. Because when it comes down to it, that's all the docs are doing anyway.

No one should take the advice of just one person, and that includes taking my advice. That would be most irresponsible. I think everyone here is attempting to look at all sides of an issue and are capable of making informed, intelligent decisions for themselves. So from that perspective, I am glad you shared your point of view, it certainly should be considered. But you did directly address my posts, stating why they were wrong and 'dangerous', and I felt I needed to defend and clarify my position and put things in perspective.

You and I are like-minded about many things, and I have learned valuable, interesting things from you and your posts. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.

Geez, I really need to proofread better. THis--"until the hormone fluctuations of pregnancy, coupled with the thyroid malfunction " SHOULD have said "hormone fluctuations of perimenopause"

Kathie, I am so sorry I missed this! I have not been around and I am just now seeing it. Not that I have anything to offer to you, but I do want you to know that I'm thinking of you and hope you get a handle on all this very soon.

Please keep us informed.

Love,

bev

Floater:

((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))

I know you'll find the answer but for now I send you my warnest thoughts!

xp pooks

I was having reactions to sugar and eating when on progesterone. I couldn't tolerate any sugar or alcohol whatsoever. Now that I've been off of it for three weeks things are back to normal, and my dizziness and headaches are gone too. I asked my Dr. the other day about this reaction and he said it was due to my weak adrenal system. I'm positive it was from the progesterone but, could it be that the progesterone causes this due to adrenal problems? In other words, if you had competent adrenals then maybe the progesterone wouldn't cause these side effects?

I've read that P can convert to cortisol, an adrenal hormone, and cortisol increases blood sugar.

Hi Kathie,

Just checking to see how your test came out for the blood sugar.

Hugs,
Karen

Ok, got the test results back today.

All of the liver enzymes were back in normal range except the GGT, but it is lower than it was and doc figures it should go down on its own. I stopped the Prometrium orally as soon as I saw the first set of test results and I seriously wonder if the P is was caused the liver malfunction....it certainly appears that way!!

The CHO has dropped dramatically....from 7.9 to 6.09. Unfortunately that is still a high reading and the LDL/HDL ratio is way off, so doc suggested I go on 20mgs of Lipitor. The pharmacist said I could use 10mgs as that is considered the lowest dose. I filled the Rx....holy crap that stuff is expensive!!! I will probably try it at 10mgs and see what happens.

My glucose test showed a slight improvement in the fasting glucose, from 6.5 to 6.2, however the tolerance portion of the test showed impaired tolerance. I think mine was 8.2 and normal range ends at 7.8. So I am showing a predisposition to diabetes, but if I continue with the lifestyle changes I should be able to overcome it.

The doctor told me to lose weight. I told her I didn't think I was THAT fat, I mean there are many people fatter than I am. She said....No, you aren't that fat, but you are going to have to skinnier than most people because of your predisposition to diabetes. Greaaaat.

I am pleased to see improvement in the second set of tests. I go back again for another blood test in 6 weeks. I hope I can hang in there and maintain these lifestyle changes forever. It isn't easy, and yet, I have to say when you get a wake up call like this, it sure is an excellent motivator. Whenever I have been tempted to stray from the path, I think about those tests and the temptation just dries up and blows away.

Good news Floater!
I have done some reading and it seems that SSRI indeed can causes diabetes or increase risk in suseptable individuals, so it is not only oral Prometirum to blame after all.
I am glad your CHO came down and the liver function better too.
As for the weight gain, it is huge misconception. Neither weight gain, nor weight loss can cause or cure diabetes. There are slim T2 diabetics and morbidly obese non-diabetics, unfrotunately, weight loss did not help me in any way to improve blood sugar, but diet is what makes difference in both blood sugar and cholesterol.
I wonder if you had blood work done before starting on AD, otherwise, it is hard to say, if you had diabetic tendencies or not. Drs attribute all illnesses to weight, but when it comes to diabetes, it many cases is the other way around- being diabetic is what piles on pounds, not extra pounds that always cause diabetes.
Healthy body will just expand number if insulin producing beta cells, in respons for increased demand, but in those with imparied glucose metabolism, it does not happen.
Good luck to you with whatever route you going to take.
Hugs,
I.

Ira,

I did have blood tests done before the ADs and everything was fine...cholesterol was close to the high end of the normal range, and the HDL was still too low, but everything else was totally normal...sugar, liver, everything.

So Paxil could also be hurting me, huh? Crazy. I am afraid to go off of it in fear of returning to the way I was before I started taking it. And the withdrawal process (for some) sounds worse than the condition that got them on the med in the first place. I just can't go back to that place....or a worse place!!

I did wean off it once before and had NO issues at all. So perhaps I can do it again. I wonder if I should switch to St Johns wort? This is all so frustrating!!

I am so sorry you are diabetic Ira, I didn't realize you were until this thread.

I'm happy you got better results. Wow, didn't know that about paxil and the liver and blood sugar either. I guess to get accurate tests you have to be off of everything and get retested to see what the difference is. I'm sure you have relief. I have IGT myself and do the diet thing myself. Lately I've been having a rough time though.

Hugs,
Karen

Floater,
Well, this is a frustrating time isn't it? Not knowing the best route to take it difficult. Maybe your doctor would have an idea of wether you should go off the Paxil or not. If you wind up feeling awful, it may not be worth it. Oh how annoying for you. I hope you get balanced soon. Hang in there.

Karen,

Thank you for the happy thoughts! What kind of diet thingy do you do for the IGT? And what kind of rough time are you having? I am sorry to hear you are having a tough time still....darn it!

enough,

I think the doctor's aren't a lot of help. I have mentioned coming off before and they have not recommended it. I wanted to go off because I was packing on the pounds! Now I think the weight came from oral Prometrium, because since I switched to vaginal I have dumped 7 pounds....granted I have been eating well and exercising...but I don't feel as groggy either. I also had a terrible coca cola addiction, and stopped that immediately upon seeing the first set of blood tests. I probably have added to the glucose intolerance myself by bombarding my body with copious amounts of sugar. I knew it was bad while I was doing it too. So after two days with a massive headache, I am doing fine without my coke fix. I now drink water and crystal light, and a couple cups of coffee a day. Okay, I know I have to watch replacing the coke with coffee!!!!

One thing I have to mention, after all the exercise I have been doing....mostly walking with a little strength training thrown in there, has made me feel so much stronger!!! Now when I move I can actually FEEL the power in my muscles, which was woefully lacking before. It is a very pleasant feeling!!

yes...exercise like walking, pilates, yoga, weight resistance, etc....has awesome benefits. What you do now in your 50's as far as diet and lifestyle, is going to make a huge difference in your quality of life in your 60's and beyond.

Kathie,
I understand, it is hard to get off ADs and BZD, and SSRI are worse in terms of blood sugar and weight gain, perhaps, you can switch to another AD, or try to taper it off, since you doing good with HRT alone? HRT is also know to cause weight gain, it did for me, mainly prometirum to blame, I think, I crave carbs and fat, LOL, and gained 25 pounds from HRT alone.



I hear you, it is frustrating. I never tried St. John Worth, but you know my position on herbs and supplements, just make sure you don't take both.

Perhaps you can just taper off paxil, I think it is the easiest to get off, I am on very low dose xanax and not planing to quit it, but it works differently.

It is hard to deal with menopause, the entire body is impacted.

I am used to the idea with being T2, I just try to control with diet and exercise, and it is getting harder, but I am lucky and don't like/eat sugar, sweets, coke, etc. It is managable, we all have some conditions.

I see you stopped coke, this is really big step, coke has too much phosphoric acid, in addition to cafffeine and sugar, which will leach calcium from your bones to begin with, a big no-no at our age. I see your calcium being on lower side too, so it may be due to coca cola, so congrats on stopping it.

I think you are on your way to better health, Kathie, keep up with diet and exercise, and re-test in 6 months, you will see the difference, I am sure. Just avoid liquid sugar and transfats, no need to cut all carbs, avoiding sweets, soda, candies and such will help to regulate both sugar and cholesterol, no need to cut all carbs, eat healthy carbs in moderation, keep around 100-120 g a day, this is plenty from veggies, fruits, whole grains.

Vaginal progesterone is way better than oral, IMHO, this is the way to administer sex hormones, I have read interesting article written by one doctor, who used BHRT for 20+ years in his practice, his thinking was that HRT should use vaginal route for both E and P, as it is closest to ovarian hormone route, and impacts liver the least.
I am glad that you doing better, just keep up and you will get it under control!Not everyone with IG becomes diabetic, so worry less and be happy.
Best,
I.