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Archive through October 14, 2005

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Dec. ~ 2006 Feb.: Health Center: Misc. Health Questions: Archive through October 14, 2005 users admin

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Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Sorry Sill for not providing any input but I had nothing to add lol. But if you're not in pain.... just making funny noises with your neck? :-)

Mameblanche
Member

04-13-2005

Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 12:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
SillyC said: I've never been too into Chiropractors either, especially after working for one.

LOL

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 1:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
Our joints are cushioned and lubricated by sinovial fluid. Bubbles form and pop in this fluid when the joints are stretched, causing the sound. A popular urban legend is that cracking can cause arthritis. However, several studies have determined that there is no correlation between frequency of arthritis and tendency to crack knuckles or other joints.

it may be annoying, but there really isn't a problem.


Sillycalimomma
Member

11-13-2003

Friday, October 07, 2005 - 7:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sillycalimomma a private message Print Post    
thanks. Guess i'll just have to learn to deal with it.

Isatoi
Member

07-20-2005

Friday, October 07, 2005 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Isatoi a private message Print Post    
I have a question to throw out at you.
Last night my 15 year old son came to me and DH and showed us a swollen Lymph node in his groin region. Sent him to the dr. this AM and the doctor could find no cause for the swelling. He ordered tests, blood and xrays. The xrays were of his Femur and the groin and his abdomen. I am extremely worried because he asked about cancer running in the family. I can find nothing on the internet that reflects lymph swelling to anything EXCEPT cancer. Any suggestions on what I might look up to brace myself for something other than the million articles I have just read on cancer that is scaring the peewadding out of me.
Thanks in Advance
Lisa

Babyruth
Member

07-19-2001

Friday, October 07, 2005 - 11:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyruth a private message Print Post    
One cause of the groin lymph node swelling in teens is a mononucleosis infection. I assume the doc is considering that possibility. Did your son see a pediatrician?

Buttercup
Member

09-10-2000

Friday, October 07, 2005 - 12:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Buttercup a private message Print Post    
Does anybody know how a torn esophagus can be "fixed"?

Isatoi
Member

07-20-2005

Friday, October 07, 2005 - 1:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Isatoi a private message Print Post    
Yes, Doctor....He ruled out throat infection.
Says it is normally an infection in that general area. His is actually in the upper portion of his thigh in that crease more than the actual groin. I am so scared.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Friday, October 07, 2005 - 10:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Isatoi, I had a swollen lymph node in my groin about fifteen years ago, and the doctor asked if I had cats. I did. I think I probably had cat scratch fever, also called cat scratch disease.

Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 8:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ginger1218 a private message Print Post    
my sister had swollen lymph nodes in her groin and in her armpits, and it turned out that she had an infected hair follicle. She was tortured for years by that. I think it is called hydraginitis

Isatoi
Member

07-20-2005

Monday, October 10, 2005 - 9:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Isatoi a private message Print Post    
Thanks for all the info guys...Blood work and xrays have ruled out infection. We are going to see a surgeon Tomorrow...

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Monday, October 10, 2005 - 1:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Good luck, Isatoi and son.

Isatoi
Member

07-20-2005

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 12:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Isatoi a private message Print Post    
OK, once again back from the surgeon and no definite. Taking him for an MRI in the morning.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 1:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Well rats, Isatoi. Wishing you and ds good luck.

Nynana
Member

05-31-2005

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 2:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nynana a private message Print Post    
Isatoi,

Lots of prayers being said for you and your son.

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 2:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Anyone know anything about subclinical hypothyroidism? I just got results back from some blood tests that show my TSH level at 4.2 (generally, it should be below 3.0) and my doctor has advised that I start taking levothyroxine sodium, which synthetically replaces the thyroid hormone that is low. She gave me samples of Synthroid, but my research so far does not make me feel warm and fuzzy about it.

Apparently Synthroid has had a history of quality problems involving the potentcy of the drug. Therefore, if I do choose to go on this medicine, I will probably either seek a generic solution or another, more reliable brand.

I really don't like the idea of taking medication every day, ostensibly for the rest of my life, but so far I haven't found anything that would indicate there's any other way to deal with this problem. There really aren't any noticable symptoms, although I can identify some of the things on the list, which I just figured were part and parcel of getting older. :-)

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this situation. :-)

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 3:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism last December. You have a very good doc cause most don't know that the levels were recently changed. I take both Synthroid and Armour Thyroid because I wasn't converting the T3 to T4 as well on just the synthroid. It's usually the Armour that you read about being unstable, but there are tons of anti synthroid sites out there so take them with a grain of salt. There is a feeling of it being a mass conspiracy by the pharmaceutical companies to sway docs towards syntrhoid...i don't really care, I just want to feel better.
It's a delicate balance finding just the right dosage and you will more than likely have to adjust it a couple of times.
I feel so much better, it's just amazing.

This is probably one of the best sites for info out there http://thyroid.about.com/

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 4:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Texannie. Yeah, I've been reading a lot on that website. :-) It seems that the Synthroid problems were in the late '90s, however the FDA has recently given them some strongly worded rulings, as well, so I guess they're still fighting the PR issue.

I do a lot of transcription of meetings sponsored by drug companies where they discuss various drugs in trial and gaining FDA approval, so I'm not naive about the quest for profit that sometimes supercedes complete, objective medical studies. Bottom line really is that no matter what the drug, there are risks. So, if I do go on medication, I'll be sure to get my levels tested regularly. That's the only way to really tell whether things are working correctly or not.

The rest of my blood work was perfectly normal except for a slighly low ferritin level (easily remedied with an iron supplement) and high cholesterol -- the "good" type is very high, which the doc says indicates I have good genes, so we're going to try diet and exercise first before thinking about any medication. I'm confident that will work since I know how badly I've been behaving in that area recently! :-)

I have had problems lately with concentrating on things, remembering stuff, being tired despite getting plenty of sleep, and noticing some hair loss -- all of which are symptoms associated with hypothyroid.

What kinds of symptoms did you have and how long did it take before you started noticing a difference? She gave me a month's worth of samples. I'm just not sure if I want to take them or do the diet and exercise thing and then see if anything changes in six months. :-)

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 6:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
I did the diet and exercise for a while because my levels kept testing 'within range' cause my doc didn't realize they had changed. I couldn't lose weight no matter what I did. I felt foggy all the time. I could hardly do anything. I would wake up with my kids at 7, get them out the door at 7:30 go back to bed till they got home at 3 and then crash into bed at 8. I was constantly freezing. I couldn't focus, lose weight, ached all the time. It was horrible. My first endo was more by the book so I didn't see results with her when I went in for my 6 week check up. With my next endo who tended to treat the symptoms just as much as the levels (plus he likes his patients between 1-3 and no higher, I started seeing improvement within 2 weeks.
Losing weight is still not easy, but my energy level is so much better.

Nynana
Member

05-31-2005

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 7:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nynana a private message Print Post    
I highly recommend the book Thyroid For Dummies by Dr. Alan Rubin. An excellent and easy to understand book on all things thyroid.

Max, I don't do well on synthroid, I did okay on levoxyl but do best on levothroid <generic> and the price difference between them is quite a bit. Also, if you are in the states, and pay out of pocket, having your doctor write the script for amounts of 100 will get you a price break.

I would also ask your doctor about running the Free T3, Free T4 labs along with the TPO antibodies, or TSH Receptor blocking antibodies. The antibody's test will let you know if you are dealing with autoimmune thyroid disease and if you have the TSH receptor antibody's, they skew the results of your TSH test so will need the Free thyroid hormone testing.

I would recommend taking the replacement hormone, it will make a huge difference in you. If my tsh were 4.anything I would be a slug ;-) And the pain begins to be unbearable when my tsh goes above 1.0

Here is another excellent thyroid site, it started out for graves disease but we deal with all forms of thyroid now. graves is hyper thyroid, until treated...now I deal with hypO for the rest of my life.

forum link



Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 10:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Texannie and Nynana. I've been reading all kinds of stuff online today and this evening. Should have been working on a writing assignment, though!

The more I read, the more I think that I've been experiencing symptoms for about six months or so. Of course, it could be simply because I've been reading so much that I'm projecting, but...

For example: I spent a large amount of money and time with a personal trainer for about six months. In 2002/'03, I had lost about 50 pounds. Then I broke my ankle. Since then, I've "found" all that weight again, plus more and even when I was going to the gym three days a week and working with a trainer, I kept "finding" weight.

I've been having less and less energy in the last six months. I thought maybe it was a bit of depression that made me want to curl up in bed every time I walked past it, but maybe it's something different.

I could swear that my hair is getting thinner in front. No one else seems to notice this, but I do. This started about six months ago.

I forget things like crazy! I figured that was just CRS setting in early (I'll turn 50 in January). Yesterday is a great example. I'm secretary for my bowling league. I spent part of the afternoon making sure I had everything ready for league last night. I put it all into my very organized portfolio and set it on the floor next to the shelf where I keep my car keys. Before I left for the bowling alley, I finished sending out a few emails and making reservations for dinner with friends tonight. Then I breezed out of the house and be-bopped over to the bowling alley (about a 30-minute drive in traffic). I didn't realize until I pulled into the parking lot that I had left the case with all the league information sitting on the floor in my house! ACK! Thank God for the Internet and the fact that I upload standing sheets to bowl.com every week or I would have been totally lost.

I work from home doing editing, writing, transcription and a variety of other things. In the last six months, I've had a REALLY hard time staying focused and on task. I just can't seem to concentrate on anything for any length of time. I figured this was either CRS or some mild depression or something, but. . . (BTW, I've never been much for depression -- occasional blue moods like everyone has, but not really depression, so I'm not sure why I figure I might have that now.)

The other thing I've been dealing with is pain in my neck, although not in the front of my neck, but on the sides and in my spine area. I'm constantly cracking my neck. I have also noticed that I can feel my thyroid more prominently than I have in the past and manipulate it with my fingers. Doesn't hurt when I do that, but it's weird.

I don't know if these things are all related to the preclinical hypothyroidism diagnosis or not. I think I have more reading to do and some questions to ask my doctor. She's an excellent doctor. The irony is that she's an OB/GYN specializing in infertility. I started going to her when I was still married and we were trying to get pregnant. Never worked, and I finally ended up with a hystectomy, but I kept going to her for my annual check-ups because I like her so much.

Anyway, thanks for the info. It's helpful to hear what others have dealt with. :-)

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, October 13, 2005 - 2:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Max, that is sort of what happened to me. I started feeling badly almost 3 years ago. Then my mom died, then a cancer scare and hysterectomy and just thought it was depression, menopause ect. But I kept not getting better. I really started to feel like a hypochondriac or a mental case!
What I like about my new endo is he manages ALL my hormones/meds (estrogen, bp, thyroid ect). My gyn just did hormones and made note of the fact that I was on thyroid, vice versa with the old endo. I feel like this doc is seeing and treating the whole me. If you have a good doc, she is worth her weight in gold!

Tagurit
Member

04-09-2003

Friday, October 14, 2005 - 4:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tagurit a private message Print Post    
Has/does anyone use Nasonex? If so, how long before you felt any effects? Does it take about 2 weeks?

I was diagnosed by my ENT on Monday with chronic sinusitis. I lost my taste and smell back at the end of June and was always congested. (My doc referred me to him and I had to wait two months for this appointment!)

Anyway, I am on some new antibiotic (of course....has to be the most expensive stuff! lol), Nasonex and he gave me a sample saline mist thingy. Granted I started all this on Monday but I am still feeling stuffy. He said the Nasonex would help with the congestion (help clear it up) but I'm not feeling it and he didn't tell me when I would feel the full effect of it. I know that I have been dealing with a sinus infection for a few months now and shouldn't expect miracles but I am just wondering when I should start to feel like the Nasonex is working.

Nynana
Member

05-31-2005

Friday, October 14, 2005 - 4:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nynana a private message Print Post    
Hi Tag,

Nasonex, Rhinocourt and the others like it work for allergies, I have never heard of them being used for infections...of course it doesn't mean they aren't LOL.

I know I use to get horrible sinus infections once or twice a year and then a new doc in town perscribed me the old sulfa antibiotics. Got rid of it for 5 year then I got another one, went back on the sulfa and have not had another infection since then and the last time I was given that anti-biotic was in 1993! Not everyone can take them, many of the young doctors won't perscribe them, but for *me*, it is the only antibiotic I will take.

Has anyone ordered and MRI on your sinus cavity? The full sinus cavity...because it goes up over the eyes, down the face, around the cheekbones, behind the ears and there is some sinus connection in the back of the head. If this has been going on for months and not getting better, I would insist on an MRI, at least if you have insurance.

Good luck, they are miserable things to have!

Nynana
Member

05-31-2005

Friday, October 14, 2005 - 5:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nynana a private message Print Post    
Max,

Go into the following link, I believe one of the posts in there has a list of "goitergens", these are foods for you to stay away from as they will slow down the thyroid naturally.

http://www.mediboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004549

I know broccoli and cauliflower are both in that category, I just can't remember the others. Another thing to stay away from is anything with fluoride in it. Fluoride will slow the thyroid right down and that is the last thing you need.

>>> have also noticed that I can feel my thyroid more prominently than I have in the past and manipulate it with my fingers.<<<

It is not always the best thing for us to do, palpitate our own thyroids ;-)

Have you had a thyroid ultrasound done on your thyroid? If not, why not?

>>>I don't know if these things are all related to the preclinical hypothyroidism diagnosis or not. I think I have more reading to do and some questions to ask my doctor. <<<

I believe I have bounced between hyper and hypOthyroid since I was a toddler. I had extreme light sensitivity with my eyes, have never been able to tolerate heat <keep my thermostat at 58 in the winter and I live near Buffalo LOL>, weight going up and down like a yoyo, just lots of different signs but never a diagnosis. So you could have been dealing with this for years.

I do hope you will get that book Thyroid For Dummies by Dr. Alan Rubin. It is an amazing book that will jumpstart you in this journey.

When you go to your doctor, take a sheet with all your question on it, take the book <if you own it, you get to mark it all up>. Print up 2 copies of your questions, one for you, one for your doctor and don't let her escape until your questions have been answered.

The *proper* labs to be treated and diagnosed with are the FREE T3 and FREE T4, if they are just using the TSH, you could end up being subclinical for years and feeling miserable.

Take care}