posted
Endocrinology is pretty much the only specialty I have yet to explore. Would it help to get an endocrine workup? What would they do for me? Is it endocrinologist who deal with things like adrenal fatigue? Also, do they deal with and test for vitamin deficincies and things like that?
My symptoms are severe fatigue, and severe "drunk" "woozy" feeling that is 24/7, and along with it comes problems with attention span and short term memory. I'm only in my 20s and have had to withdraw from graduate school because of this and have now missed two semesters.
I'm hoping maybe an endocrinologist could find something, my thyroid levels have been fine thus far.
Posts: 306 | From NY | Registered: Sep 2010
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momlyme
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posted
I have wondered about taking my son to an endocrinologist too. His worst symptoms are the same as yours.
I would be interested to hear if anyone has had any successful experiences.
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Well, an endocrinologist is a cut above a regular doctor. I went to one who did not take insurance and he is the one that said, "I think you have lyme disease." He was the first to test me for lyme after 10 years of seeing many other doctors. That's how I got my diagnosis.
If the endo is top notch, great things can happen. (If he doesn't take insurance, that is a good sign he is probably top notch.)
If your lyme doctor is not testing you for things like adrenal fatigue, then you would most likely benefit from seeing a good endo.
The one I saw also tested my vitamin D level and told me it was low and put me on a prescription for vit D that worked quickly (very high dose).
He also told me he believed I would benefit from seeing a psychiatrist--so that I would have an expert trying to help me with my anxiety. He said that regular doctors only know a little about how to help people with this. He gave me the name of a great psych (didn't take insurance) and I was fixed up right away!
As with lyme docs, it will depend on the doc. If the doc you pick knows anything about lyme disease or is at least lyme friendly (rather than lyme hostile), that will be a plus.
If you think your hormones (any of them) may be out of whack, then you want to see an endo.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Camp Other
Unregistered
posted
Agreed with TF there.
And amazingly, hormone balance is important and need to be checked out - not only thyroid but sex hormones as well. They have an influence on the immune system.
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Lymeorsomething
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posted
Yes, it's probably worth going to an endo for a full hormone workup. For me, adding hormones did not help though. It is getting the infectious load down that tends to coax hormones back to normal, both in terms of levels and function.
Good luck.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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seekhelp
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Member # 15067
posted
TF, I'm starting to see the pattern. No insurance acceptance = good doc. Funny. So sad our health care system forces this scenario.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
This may be a stupid question, but how many hormone levels are there? Will they check a lot of different hormone levels in my blood?
Posts: 306 | From NY | Registered: Sep 2010
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TF
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Member # 14183
posted
Here's an overview of the endocrine glands:
There are quite a few of them and each gland secretes hormones that are important to our health.
The endo will decide what tests to do based on your symptoms.
Even vitamin D is considered a hormone, or a precursor hormone, so there is a lot to learn when it comes to how many hormones we have.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Tammy N.
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posted
nybasketball212 -- Suzanne Somers has written a lot of excellent books on the topic. Two that come to mind are "Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones" and "Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness".
Like her or not, her books are good and well-researched. And she's not just writing her opinions. In her books she interviews the top docs in the country on the topic, so you are learning from the best.
There's so much to our endocrine system, with our major hormones and minor hormones, etc. I found these books to be helpful in gaining some understand. In fact, I should re-read them to freshen up.
I, too, am looking for a good, Lyme cognizant endocrinologist. Hard to find!
Take care, Tammy
Posts: 2238 | From East Coast | Registered: Jul 2010
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
This article describes how our endocrine glands could possibly be causing fibromyalgia--a common lyme syndrome.
Burrascano talks about the HPA axis needing to be reset in those with lyme. They are all related.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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However my experience with endos has so far been negative. I contracted thyroid cancer a couple of years ago, and the first guy is very competent at biopsy, diagnosis and surgical follow up. However, he wants nothing to do with anything other that thyroid level monitoring and control with synthetic meds.
Due to changing insurance, I saw a different endo recently. After reading the book above, I hoped she would test and monitor some basic hormones. After all, I am already documented as low in testosterone (on supplemental) and have several problems that night warrant further investigation.
She gave me a cursory exam, dismissed all my problems as related to Lyme and agreed to monitor my cancer follow up, but that was it. No testing, no further investigation.
And if you really want to annoy most endos, mention that you are interested in dessicated pig thyroid, rather than synthetic thyroid meds. I've never seen docs jump on the high horse faster in my life.
Never mind that only the USA uses synthetic thyroid meds, and the rest of the world uses dessicated natural products. Even mentioning this as a possibility has greatly offended the 2 endos I have seen.
Bad vibes in both cases.
Posts: 252 | From NJ USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I do think that hormone balance (particularly bio-identical hormones) can make a huge difference. I saw a non-insurance hormone doc in a very well-known practice for several years and the hormones greatly helped my fatigue.
But he missed the Lyme entirely. He was so focused on hormone issues, that he dismissed all my growing autoimmune conditions, bone loss, neuropathy.
When I sought out another opinion on adrenal fatigue, that doctor looked over my symptoms and immediately said "Lyme."
So it entirely depends on the doctor!
I've just found a new hormone doc, who seems young, open-minded and reasonable (immediately recommended natural T3/T4, rather than synthetic). And, amazingly, he takes insurance! So there are some out there.
-------------------- We really know so little about the body and the microbiome. Posts: 261 | From Southern California | Registered: Jan 2011
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Lymeorsomething
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Member # 16359
posted
It depends a lot on your body. The synthetic thyroid meds have worked better for me.
If bio-identical hormones help you feel better, great but that won't be the case for everyone.
When I added hormones apart from usual thyroid meds, they didn't help much. Plus if you're a guy and you add testosterone you're going to wind up with shrunken testicles and reduced fertility.
HCG would be a better experiment.
So there is a lot to consider. My vote would be for hard, long lyme treatment and patience to see if your HPTA will normalize.
It may not fully recover but it's worth a try.
I don't think that it's unreasonable either to suggest that the body may lower certain hormones as defensive posturing.
IMO clearing the infections is the first key.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
My wife was first diagnosed with Hashi Hypo, but she never felt any better. We went another doctor (not an endo)who suspected Lyme and get her tested for Lyme and Co thro' Labcorp. Surprisingly she was positive thro' Labcorp. So he told her that she has to address Lyme and co first, because with an infection in her body she is not responding to her thyroid meds.
Most of her endo visits were scary.
-------------------- LC 7.09 IGG66,41,39 +ve IGM 41,23 +ve 9.09 Fry's and Igenex were -ve 6 mo ABX LC 4.10 IGG66,39,18 +ve IGM -ve Posts: 73 | From Usa | Registered: Aug 2010
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Lymeorsomething
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posted
wifegot, that's a reasonable perspective and one that I would agree with...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Check out "Wilson's Temperature Syndrome"; Wilson's premise is that low body temp (being consistently lower than 98.6) results in a myriad of symptoms.
Posts: 442 | From Biddeford, ME | Registered: Nov 2007
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map1131
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posted
I just started seeing an endocrine doc about a month ago. My primary doc did the thyroid antibodies and determind I have Hashimoto's.
The verdict still out on whether she will be able to help me. I've been hypothyroid for 25+ yr with goiter. She did find a nodule she measured and will watch.
It's not looking cancerous, TG. They took 10 tubes of blood and only had to poke me 4 times. My veins hide since IV abx and my blood is thick, so I drip drip very slow.
So far endo lowered my synthroid???? I'm really questioning that. Everything I've read said lyme patients do beter with more than less.
This doc looked at other hormones by blood. She stated that 24n hr urine wasn't as accurate as blood tests? I'm not sure I'm buying that either.
The great thing she seemed to be half "lyme" smart. She did schooling and residency in the northeast where lyme is very well known.
I liked her and we shall see if she can be of any help to me. I'm hopeful.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Hoosiers51
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posted
nybasketball,
Are you male or female???
I have similar symptoms, and I'd like to know what it is. I am female, so I'm considering low estrogen as a cause, because thyroid meds haven't helped me either, and my thyroid never looked bad on paper anyways.
Also, I am thinking that dysautonomia/POTS could be a big factor. Not enough bloodflow to the brain, because of low blood pressure. I am considering trying Florinef. I dunno.
Cortef may be something to look into. My LLMD will use it on patients in low doses. I haven't tried it yet though. Sigh. Just wish I "knew" the cause, so I wouldn't have to try so many things.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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So sad our health care system forces this scenario.
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