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Post by rebecca on Mar 9, 2009 19:10:57 GMT -5
My only head injury was when I ran into a flag pole while running backwards with a kite - OUCH! You gotta laugh at that one. I did hit it hard enough to need stitches and it knocked the glasses off my face and they flew about 15-20 feet. I also just got back my lupus labs and my antithyroid micro A increased dramatically this last summer when I was really sick with this was 279 (<60) and now is 147. It had been anywhere from 25 - 140 since 2003. Do you know anything about these? I also have lost 3 pounds of water since switching from cortisone to prednisone - isn't that curious? Becky
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Post by rebecca on Mar 11, 2009 21:44:06 GMT -5
I now have the last 2 labs - the aldosterone was 2.4 (< 21) and the renin 0.6 . I'm very woozy/dizzy tonight - talked to the endo today and he thinks the growth hormone deficit is a big part of it.....he also said he is used to seeing people that countless other dr's have told them they were depressed, just getting older, etc - but said I am just not responding as well as others have and that I am not typical. Great.....
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Post by fractal1 on Mar 12, 2009 13:32:32 GMT -5
Hi Rebecca, Your aldosterone is crap, and your symptoms reflect this. Did you get electrolytes tested at the same time? You may want to consider florinef. I too am suspect RE low growth hormone. It might be an idea to get this tested. RE lupus. DHEA and androgens are typically low. You might want to get these tested and consider replacement. There is lots of information on its benefits. A friend of mine has lupus and it made a dramatic difference to her sense of well-being. It typically lowers growth hormone replacement requirements in hypopits. Cheers
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Post by rebecca on Mar 12, 2009 23:32:45 GMT -5
sodium and potassium on page one - Na 141m K 4.1 - lowest Na I have had was 138. Where should the aldosterone be? What should the renin be in response to this? Also, DHEA - is that an rx or something you can get at the health store? I will do some more research on that and its relationship to lupus. The growth hormone is documented low and I have started sub q injections. Note my salt and thirst cravings have dropped dramatically since I started on the steroids. I have also lost about 2 pounds in fluid retention since switching from cortisone to prednisone.
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Post by fractal1 on Mar 13, 2009 15:27:43 GMT -5
Hi Rebecca, I would suggest getting electrolytes tested now that you have started HGH and have switched from cortisone to prednisone. Cortisone has 'aldosterone' in it whilst prednisone dose not. The loss of fluid and symptoms you are describing suggest you have very low aldosterone and are not retaining salt. It sounds like you need florinef. BTW is that prednisone or prednisolone? Prednisone is harder on the liver, prednisolone is the preferred steroid of the two. Don't get DHEA from a health store (not the real stuff). You have to get it rx. I started on 15mg. Out of interest, what is your dosing schedule for HGH? I can't quite remember where aldo is meant to be... > 6 rings a bell when blood is drawn upright and fasting salt for 24h. Someone else please chime in if have the exact value. Cheers
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Post by justaustin on Mar 13, 2009 16:43:18 GMT -5
My aldo (after restricting salt and upright for two hours) was 7 (4-31). I agree, your range of <21 is odd. Your aldo result is crap!
Laurie
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Post by rebecca on Mar 15, 2009 13:17:32 GMT -5
mY GH started at 0.2 mg sub q /day - stayed at that dose for a month and then increased to 0.4 mg after having my igf-1 checked. (still low). The endo said that they look at the aldosterone level in regards to the renin level and that if my aldosterone is low then the renin should have been high. I saw a note written by Chris on STTMN site and am going to do some further investigation before my next appt. I have found some articles on low aldoster/low renin but it seems to always be in relation to kidney damage. I know that my chloride level is always slightly elevated and I did see an article related to that and low aldosterone with low renin. Any links or articles would be appreciated.
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Post by fractal1 on Mar 15, 2009 15:08:20 GMT -5
Hi Rebecca, I'm also on 0.4 mg... I had initial insulin problems but they seem to be subsiding. Growth hormone engages renin to retain salt, so renin might have increased somewhat. Elevated/high renin and low aldosterone is observed in primaries (adrenal) and not secondaries (pituitary). All of your symptoms are low aldosterone - you need to investigate this further. In light of your symptoms and experience with switching cortisol meds, perhaps you can suggest a florinef 'trial' might be in order. I am not sure about the article, but will investigate further. If you find it first, please post it here for me. Cheers
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