Need To Find A 'dr. House'

[lauriel234]

My daughter, 19, has been sick since April. Her first symptoms were hot flashes, weight gain (now up to 50 lbs.), shortness of breath, not sleeping (have tried Ambien, Lunestra, Rozeram) even with the pills (currently waiting to get in sleep study). Additional symptoms now include: rapid pulse/heart rate (EKG normal) and chest pain. She's had many blood tests, which show low progesterone (took her off birth control pills, now hasn't gotten period in 2 months), high liver enzymes, low iron. Her body is not absorbing vitamins/minerals - very low in D, B12, folate, zinc, selenium. Currently taking these vitamins, plus probiotics & digestive enzymes to bring up levels. Has been tested for thyroid problems (blood tests normal), but still believe this is related to thyroid. She suffers from depression & chronic tension headaches & takes prozac and depakote.

Any suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated. We're both running out of ideas and patience. Don't know what to do next.

[georgie]

Go to www.stopthethyroidmadness.com You should find most of your answers there. Go to the link that says 'site map' to be put to the second page with a whole page of links. Is she Celiac ? I was unsure if she was gluten-free or not.

[ravenwoodglass]

Is she gluten free? How much depakote is she taking? Are they testing her levels and doing other blood work at least once a month? When I was on it I was checked every 2 weeks. Have you checked with each refill that the depakote is gluten-free? With liver issues you need to think about a talk with her doctor to see if there is another med she can go on. Depakote has a lot of adverse effects and can be toxic especially with the liver and that could be contributing to the problems.

[lauriel234]

Go to www.stopthethyroidmadness.com You should find most of your answers there. Go to the link that says 'site map' to be put to the second page with a whole page of links. Is she Celiac ? I was unsure if she was gluten-free or not.

yes, she is celiac. misdiagnosed for about 8 years. gluten-free since 2002.

[lauriel234]

Is she gluten free? How much depakote is she taking? Are they testing her levels and doing other blood work at least once a month? When I was on it I was checked every 2 weeks. Have you checked with each refill that the depakote is gluten-free? With liver issues you need to think about a talk with her doctor to see if there is another med she can go on. Depakote has a lot of adverse effects and can be toxic especially with the liver and that could be contributing to the problems.

yes, she is celiac. gluten-free since 2002. she is taking 250 mg. depakote once a day. she was just tested a month ago & her levels were fine. now another doctor did more blood tests & levels were high. i don't know if both liver tests were testing for same things.

[minton]

Open Original Shared Link

try to get accepted here

[lauriel234]

Open Original Shared Link

try to get accepted here

thanks for the info - very interesting