Friday, November 18, 2011

Mysteries of life...

And in my case not so sweet, since research into my previous reports shows that this newest problem was actually old.
But what changed, you so boldly ask; I know you didn’t but if you did, wait… I will tell you whether you really want to know what the heck or not…yep, that’s me the QUEEN OF TMI!

Back to my not normal blood-work… a year ago July my TSH, determining thyroid workings, was already at 5.25 but those norms ranges were 0.34-5.60, but it was called an ultra test then and I am not sure if that makes a difference or not …
“It can measure lower levels of TSH. It is not any extra help in diagnosing a thyroid problem. It can be useful in monitoring treatment of an existing thyroid problem, especially with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). It is sometimes known as "3rd generation" TSH. It's really not something that you need to know/worry about as a patient - it's a technical thing.

"Normal" is defined as the range covering 95% of a healthy population. The range will vary depending on the analytical method used, for technical reasons. You need to refer to the range that came with your test results. The debate around TSH ranges is really about what constitutes a 'healthy' population - i.e. what results should be included when they decide the range.” Found by me and written by an unknown source online that works in a lab and answered someone else same question.
… and this last one was 5.590 with if you recall a norm range of 0.450-4.500 not done at the same labs, one was a hospital, the first one and the most recent was done at a lab that, that is all they do…hmm.. Confusing, Huh?
Meanwhile within my paragraph of an explanation of my last January’s MRI it states that there seems to be a flattening of the pituitary gland within the sella, curious then and now and so I looked it up… which is what is called ‘empty sella syndrome’

“Empty sella syndrome is a condition in which the pituitary gland shrinks or becomes flattened.
Causes
The pituitary gland is a small gland located at the base of the brain. It sits in a saddle-like compartment in the skull called the "sella turcica," which in Latin means "Turkish saddle."
When the pituitary gland shrinks or becomes flattened, it cannot be seen on MRI scans, giving the appearance of an "empty sella." This is referred to as empty sella syndrome.
The pituitary makes several hormones that control the other glands in the body, including the:
• Adrenal glands
• Ovaries
• Testicles
• Thyroid
Primary empty sella syndrome occurs when a hole in the membrane covering the pituitary gland allows fluid in, which presses on the pituitary.
Secondary empty sella syndrome occurs when the sella is empty because the pituitary gland has been damaged by:
• A tumor
• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
Empty sella syndrome may be seen in a condition called pseudotumor cerebri. This is a condition seen most commonly in obese women.
Symptoms
Often, there are no symptoms or loss of pituitary function.
Patients with empty sella syndrome may have symptoms caused by a partial or complete loss of pituitary gland function. For more information, see hypopituitarism.
Hypopituitarism
Hypopituitarism is a condition in which the pituitary gland does not produce normal amounts of some or all of its hormones.
Causes
The pituitary gland is a small structure that is located just below the brain. It is attached by a stalk to the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls its function.
The hormones released by the pituitary gland (and their functions) are:
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) -- stimulates the adrenal gland to release cortisol; cortisol helps to maintain blood pressure and blood sugar
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) -- controls water loss by the kidneys
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) -- controls sexual function and fertility in males and females
• Growth hormone (GH) -- stimulates growth of tissues and bone
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) -- controls sexual function and fertility in males and females
• Oxytocin -- stimulates the uterus to contract during labor and the breasts to release milk
• Prolactin -- stimulates female breast development and milk production
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) -- stimulates the thyroid gland to release hormones that affect the body's metabolism”

All this information is courtesy of: A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health and Medline Plus and information site.
Research is something I do enjoy, but if a little knowledge is a dangerous thing than I am GUILTY IN A BIG WAY!
Of course I am not a doctor or a nurse or lab technician by any means, way, shape, or form, just a person who wants to know some things about her own information that seems to have more going on at times than what the ones who know explain… or maybe not…
Asking questions used to be my MO, modus operandi, way of doing something, but for some unknown reason it is more difficult to do when you go in blind with abstracts given to you as why and that for this reason you must do this, hmm?
Gosh, it only seems to come to my wee mind now, I seem to be losing the battle of being better informed at least about myself, and I can think of only one thing to say…
I DON’T LIKE IT!
Any ideas will be most helpful and welcomed.
I do have one caveat from yesterday… I was given a prescription to see in 83 days for more blood-work, that makes it in February, how my newest medication, Levothryroxine 25 mcg, for the thyroid issue is working.
The reason the odd amount of days is because the nurse said I should have it done before I reorder my prescription to make sure it is working right, since I might need a higher or lower dose or something like that she said, I forget…who knows, who cares… oh wait … I do!
And I am due at the end of January for my yearly cranial MRI and that should help both my MS and the pituitary issue answers.
So now it is all up to me having patience… well we all know how I am with that, ha!
On that note of what I try to do for myself but cannot seem to get it right…
Allow me to be the first to wish you all a very happy good night and ask you to kindly count all your blessings and to kindly share your overages and we will too!
And next time please be here or be square, ya hear?

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