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Post by crithium on Feb 6, 2009 13:13:22 GMT -5
What are the infections that can lead to hypopituitary? I know that meningitis is listed on several websites but what about other serious infections that land you in the hospital with IV antibiotics? I had an infection 2 weeks after my son was born, they never figured out what it was but listed it as suspected endometritis on my records. I was in the hospital on iv antibiotics for 2 days before my fever finally broke, sent home with more oral antibiotics and then back about 3 weeks later with same symptoms less high fever and given more antibiotics. Would that count as an infection that could damage my pituitary? I'm trying to gather "proof" that I need my pit hormones tested.
Thanks
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Post by fractal1 on Feb 6, 2009 13:29:48 GMT -5
Hi there, If anything, it's more likely that the infection occurred due to low stress hormone as a result of secondary AI. If most of your symptoms developed shortly after giving birth, then it could be due to pituitary destruction resulting from Sheehan's syndrome or lymphoplasmacytic infiltration (lymphocytic hypophysitis). Given the symptoms that you have already listed in other posts, I do not understand why you would need anymore justification. If they are not enough to convince further testing, it's time to find another doc. Cheers
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Post by crithium on Feb 9, 2009 17:48:58 GMT -5
Most of my symptoms started about 18 months after giving birth. Although, ever since giving birth and especially after the infection I never felt quite right. I kept going in to my midwife saying that I didn't fell well, I had a lot of cramping/pain in my abdomen and was tired all the time. Of course I just had a baby so was told that things change and that this would just be my new normal. After I was done breastfeeding my periods started back immediately and seemed like their usual pattern for the first few months and then the started to be different. A lot more cramping/pain and breakthrough bleeding. Then all of my other symptoms started in. I looked at the information I could find on the lymphocytic hypophysitis and it seems possible except for the fact that most of my symptoms weren't significiant until 18months post partum. I had a lot of headaches while pregnant and after pregnancy and remember feeling like I couldn't see as well while pregnant but figured hey, everything gets a little crazy when you are pregnant so I never really said anything about it. But I did find one article that made it sound like after the swell in your pituitary gland subsides it can leave a partially or completely empty sella (mine is partial). So do you think it is possible that the inflamation was present, not so much that it took me in for headaches and vision, but that when it finally subsided that is when the damage started to effect hormones? I just don't want to sound like a dork when I present this as an option. I go back to see my GP next week and want to talk to him about it. I just hope that the physcologist he sent me to hasn't convinced him that I have an axiety disorder that I am in denial about. She wanted to put me on medication so bad she could taste it. Why do phycs think antidepressants are the cure for all unanswered symptoms?
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Post by fractal1 on Feb 10, 2009 14:06:47 GMT -5
Your 'new normal' - how irrisponsible! You have a 'partial empty sella'?! - That's reason enough?! You need to get your scans off your idiot doctor and find another one quick smart. Given this information, they should be testing your pituitary and end hormones - replacing deficient hormones - one-by-one! I've never heard of anyone with empty sella and not deficient in at least one pituitary hormone. Headaches is consistent with LH. If it was LH, the inflammation may still be present though very unlikely. BUT once it has run it's course (i.e. when the inflammation goes away) - you are left permanently deficient in one or more pituitary hormones. There can be differing degrees of deficiency, with losses generally occurring in the following order" ACTH, TSH, LH/FSH, GH and if you're really, really, unlucky antidiuretic hormone (ADH). AndiDs? Because the big companies promote them and doctors can't be bothered doing their own research. Haven't you heard? They're the solution to everything .
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Post by crithium on Feb 10, 2009 17:14:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the vote of confindence. I really feel like my problem is low ACTH, I have all the symptoms (recently I even noticed, I think, that my pubic hair is thinning. The hair on my head has been falling out for 8 months but they keep telling me it's becuase I'm stressed. I can't find anything that states your pubic hair falls out when your stressed) I know that my TSH has fluctuated from 2.1 to 1.4 to 2.3 so that is a little confusing because I though that your TSH is low when you have hypopit? Also, my FSH was a "higher than what they would expect for someone my age" so I know that they are restesting that. You are saying though that it can just be one hormone right? Would any other labs be off with low ACTH? My prolactin was 2 points from the bottom of the range (low is 3 mine was 5). I didn't have the others tested. I did e-mail him a while ago and ask about the partially empty sella and why that was not explored. His first response was that if they have no reason to believe that your pituitary is not functioning they don't do anything about it, especially since it was considered an incedental finding. Whatever that means. He then went on to say that if my symptoms were not resolved to my satisfaction by the time they retest next month it would be worth looking into. I think I am just going to have to tell him I am done waiting. It's been 5 months. Close enough right? Thanks again!
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Post by fractal1 on Feb 11, 2009 1:07:37 GMT -5
Yes, it can be just one pit hormone and, if its autoimmune, ACTH is at the top of the list! If your doc eventually decides to test pituitary function the way he should have in the first place, make sure a copy of the results are sent to you - If he finds anything, he won't treat you properly anyway... so you need them for your new doc. Please keep us updated on how you go
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Post by crithium on Feb 18, 2009 13:48:14 GMT -5
So my GP is sending me to a different endo, can't decide if I am excited about that or not but I have to have my vitamin D and parathyroid retested anyway so I would rather start fresh with a new endo then the know it all, why are you wasting my time one I saw last time. I also had a visit with the osteopath who has found low levels of several b vitamins, magnesium, zinc, vitamin A and a few others I can't remember so I will be starting those as soon as all of them get here. I don't know yet what tests will be run but I was wondering if I should wait to start the supplements until I meet with the endo or just go ahead and start? The osteopath said he would retest all my defficiencies in a month and then do a month long saliva hormone test to look those levels. I told both docs about my pubic hair falling out. The osteopath said it could be the b vitamins or low thyroid. My GP said, hair is hair is hair, it falls out one place it will fall out another place. I told him that I thought it was odd that it started so much later than the hair on my head falling out. He seemed to agree that it should be looked into. The thing that made me mad was that when he was putting the order in for the endo appointment he clicked on the reasons for the referral and one was vitamin D defficiency and the other was depressed cortisol. I was like - wait, you are saying I have depressed cortisol but not doing anything about it! SERIOUSLY what is the deal!! I then argued with him a little bit about the anxiety issue the physcologist seems to thing is my main problem and told him that she made me feel awful about my self and I was not going back. He seemed to understand my point, apologized that the visits backfired and said he wouldn't push that issue anymore - Thank God! I did tell my GP that I was seeing the osteopath and showed him the deficiencies that were found that typically lead to anxiety depression symptoms so he knew that I was still addressing them. We came to the mutual agreement that I wasn't going to get written off as having an anxiety disorder so that is good! Sorry so long I needed to vent about a couple of things. I forgot to tell him about the LH thing though Do you think I should bring it up?
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Post by Lethal Lee on Feb 22, 2009 12:53:39 GMT -5
Howdy,
I wouldnt wait to start supplements if you have tested & found a need for them. Who knows how long to get an Endo apppoinment?
Surely the Osteopath can test 25-OH D, Corrected Calcium & PTH?
Pubic hair scarcity is related to Sex Hormones. Likely low/deficient DHEAS & Testosterone. What is your underarm & lower leg hair like? All mine was either gone or greatly thinned. Since optimising Sex Hormones with DHEAS HRT it is returning.
Hypo hair loss is usually Eyebrows, eyelashes & scalp hair. My Brows & lash hair has regrown. Scalp hair is much better but not completely back to normal.
Personally if I was you I would be trying to get the Osteopath on board for treating Cortisol, Thyroid & Sex Hormones if needed. How good is he? Endos I think 99% of the time are a waste of time, money & an exercise in frustration.
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