Lab Test Results....good and bad news

Post by **Rosie** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:38 pm

I haven't posted in a while, but often read the posts because I still learn a lot of good information.

With all the newbies here, I'll just recap that I was diagnosed with LC in June 2009. I got the Enterolab tests right away, and went on a gluten, diary, soy and yeast free diet that has worked well in controlling my symptoms. It takes a long time for the gut to get back to normal, but I'm making good progress.

Now on to the lab tests from last week.

First the good news with Vitamin D levels. A year and a half ago my level was at 29.5 ng/mL, which put me in the deficient range. I have been supplementing about 6000 U/ day since then, and now am at 78.9 ng/mL. Since I started with the supplements, I haven't had any colds or flu, whereas previously I would get around 3 or 4 a year. So I feel very good about that. And 6000U is not really too much for me, as after 18 months I'm in the high normal range. I might cut back to 5000U, but not any less than that.

The bad news comes from my thyroid tests. It looks like I'm hyperthyroid. 18 months ago, my TSH was somewhat low at 0.28 (normal range 0.4 to 4.6) and my T4 at 1.09 was in the normal range (0.61-1.27). The recent test had my TSH at 0.04 and my T4 at 1.24. That's hardly any TSH being produced, although the amount of T4 is still normal, but high normal and increased from before. My doctor is going to recheck in 6 weeks to make sure that it isn't a lab error. I'm very disappointed because I feel like my LC is under good control, and why should I develop hyperthyroidism? I don't feel very symptomatic, but have been annoyed that I can't seem to put on weight with my LC under control and having a good appetite. Being hyperthyroid would help explain that. But I'm usually cold rather than hot. My pulse tends to be fast, and sometimes I feel a bit "revved up" and have trouble falling asleep. But nothing very dramatic.

There has been a fair amount of discussion about thyroid issues on the Forum because they are a lot more common amongst those with MC. From my research, it looks like I'll need more tests to find out the exact cause, and then some sort of treatment (drugs, radioactive iodine or surgery) to reduce the production of hormone. Usually it means going hypothyroid and then juggling the proper dose of thyroid hormone to add back. I'm sure I'll learn more than I ever wanted about this!

Rosie

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:51 pm

Rosie,

Bummer about the thyroid test results, but that's good news on the vitamin D level, and the fact that it is helping to keep viruses at bay.

With a TSH result that low, one would think that you would have some really noticeable symptoms.

Thanks for the update. That's some very useful information, to discover that 18 months of vitamin D, at 6,000 IU daily, only raised your 25(OH)D level by roughly 50 ng/mL. And please keep us posted on the thyroid issue.

Tex

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:54 pm

Hi Rosie,

That's good news about your D levels for sure but the Hyperthyroidism is indeed a bummer. Personally, I have no experience with this condition other than what I read here from members or research online but there is alot talk about it.

Awhile back, you posted an excellent study that clearly outlines a variety of other autoimmune conditions some MC'rs have that (preceded) their LC or CC DX- yes, it states they all preceded MC. Those included are Crohn's, Celiac, Hashimoto Thyredoiditis, Connective Tissue Disease, Systemic Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren's Syndrome.

Here's the article, plus a couple other links.

http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/11/1351.pdf

[/quote]CONCLUSIONS: There was a higher incidence of histologic findings of lymphocytic colitis in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, although most of the patients were clinically asymptomatic. This finding suggests that lymphocytic colitis may have an asymptomatic clinical course and should encourage further clinical investigations to better anticipate the relationship between autoimmune disorders.

http://www.biomedexperts.com/Abstract.b ... hyroiditis

This disorder is believed to be the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in North America

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashimoto%27s_thyroiditis

I know you like to research.

Take care,

Love, from Fergus Falls

Joanna

Post by **tex** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:17 pm

You know, the high number of asymptomatic cases found in those studies, and the fact that so many of them involved C, rather than D, makes me wonder how long I actually had MC, before my symptoms started.

Tex

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:30 pm

Yes,

It makes me wonder too. I never had constipation, just D. I was DX with CC.

Rosie posted that article on a great thread you started awhile back.

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... sc&start=0

Love,

Joanna

Post by **tex** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:47 pm

I had C most of my life. I can even remember having it back when was 4 or 5 years old.

Love,
Tex

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:12 pm

I didn't know that.

We have a great amount of intellectual property here.

Love,

Joanna

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:09 am

Hi Rosie,

Nice to see a post from you again, although I wish it was with better news.

I was diagnosed hyperthyroid 25 years ago and went for the radio iodine treatment. It worked well for me for a while, but then, as frequently happens, I went to hypothyroid. However, I've never really been bothered with any problems from it, just take the hormone replacement (Synthroid) every morning and am on my way. The worst symptom I suffered when I was hyperthyroid, was bulging eyes from Graves. That was very uncomfortable, but it went away after the treatment - yeah!!!

Wishing you good luck with this - hopefully it was "false" lab readings - keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Love,
Kari

Post by **Rosie** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 pm

Tex, thanks for your kind words. I'll continue to post updates on my thyroid.

Joanna, it certainly seems like those of us with MC have won the "autoimmune lottery".......... I was hoping that with my LC under pretty good control for the past year, other autoimmune problems would disappear too. And that has been the case with my asthma and many other problems, like leg cramps and Raynauds. But evidently healing can take much longer that we hope!

Kari, thanks for the encouraging post about your experience with being hyperthyroid. I'll see what the next test shows and go from there. The support on this forum is amazing!

Of course I have done lots of research on the web about this. I was particularly interested in finding out about what it means to have a very low TSH, but a normal free T4 level without symptoms of hyperthyroidism. There really wasn't much, but persistence pays off and I found a good explanation. Low TSH with normal T4 is called "Subclinical Hyperthyroidism (SCH)". There is a bit of disagreement as to whether SCH needs to be treated, but just carefully monitored. A study showed that only 4.3% of the patients with SCH progressed to overt hyperthroidism. However, with a very low TSH and a T4 level reaching the upper limits of normal, I suspect that I'm heading toward hyperthroidism. And there is one study showing that SCH is associated with bone density loss, not good! So if the next test shows the same or worse, I'll probably need to get some sort of treatment. Here is the url to the report, for those interested.
http://www.jfponline.com/pdf/5506/5506J ... iries6.pdf

Rosie

Post by **tex** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:51 pm

Of course, I'm hypothyroid, (the opposite problem), but it's interesting that my lab markers were also atypical, and they were just the opposite of yours - a normal TSH result, but a Free T4 level that was below range.

My doctor also said that it didn't really need to be treated (because of the normal TSH level), but he was open to trying a starting dose. After doubling the dosage, my Free T4 level is now usually slightly above the lower limit of the "normal" range, and my TSH level is still about mid-way in the "normal" range.

Tex