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Sick daughter goes undiagnosed

Posted by ghennel @ghennel, Nov 15, 2019

My 26 year old daughter has had on going health problems since her teens. She has been from doctor to doctor and no once can seem to pinpoint what is wrong with her. She weights 89 lbs, can't gain weight, has chronic pain in her abdominal area and a small mass that can be felt. She has had 4 MRI's which found nothing. She lives in Arizona and was in the Scottsdale Mayo ER, they thought it was an ovary or endometriosis and they did an ultrasound, blood work and pelvic exam. Found nothing, sent her home but told her to come back if things got worse. They never get better. I wish they would have looked further to see what the problem really is if it isn't female issues. She is so slim you can feel there is something going on, a mass. She also gets chronic inflammation in her rib cage on one side, on and off. No one can explain that either. Her blood work shows she produces very little progesterone. No one really has done anything to address that. Her diet is very limited because she gets ill very easily. She gets night sweats that soak her sheets just about daily. She runs low grade fevers frequently. She has had many tests done over the years, and while things may come back "slightly" off, no one has a diagnosis or explanation for why she is chronically sick. The chronic pain is affecting her mental state as well. She can barely function enough to keep a part time job. Her income level is low so she could never pay out of pocket to get diagnosed by Mayo. Her government insurance policy that she pays for doesn't want to approve many tests or specialists. Even when they do, they are mediocre and all they want to do is give her pain meds and anti nausea. She does not take the pain meds and the anti nausea just provides a bit of relief. She needs a diagnosis, not meds that cover up symptoms. What is causing all of this? I wish she could afford to go to Mayo to at least get a diagnosis. She is deteriorating and no one helps her. We do not know what to do. I am her mother and I live in Wisconsin and do what I can to help her keep afloat. At 89 lbs she is frail and dragging herself through her days not living life. I am scared for her. I wish I could find her some help.

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80rosy | @80rosy | Nov 29, 2019
In reply to @ghennel "She did have her thyroid checked thoroughly. It was slightly off, however she is not producing..." + (show)
@ghennel

She did have her thyroid checked thoroughly. It was slightly off, however she is not producing progesterone. They are trying to address that and think if they can get her hormone levels corrected it may help correct the thyroid. It very well could be an enlarged lymph node, it comes and goes when she is having a "flare up". No one will check into it far enough to really find out what is going on. They all feel it, I can feel it, then it gets dismissed. Lupus was checked off the list, so she isn't dealing with that. I do believe it is autoimmune due to the fact she goes through flare ups. She feels very dismissed and ignored by the health professionals she has seen. It will take an outstanding facility and set of doctors to diagnose her. Too bad great health care is only for the wealthy these days.

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Sorry to hear undiagnosed, I know it's frustrating. I have graves diease it's in remission for the time being but I do have other mystery illnesses that I'm working on because it doesn't seem the medical doctors understand. Test you may want to look at DNA sometimes can give a clue, genvoa nateval test, 24 hour cortisol salvia test most insurance will cover these test the problem is getting a doctor to order them. My mystery illness has something to do with oxalates once I changed to a lowering oxalate diet I went in remission with my graves plus even thou I've been on a lowering oxalate diet for two years my genvoa test says I'm still high oxalate so I do have gentic that show this also. Then my DNA says mthfr gene mutation my genvoa nateval test shows my vitamin Bs glutathione alpha lipoic acid are all low or deficient I'm working on these issues it not that easy because I have reactions to some of the supplements, the coritsol test can tell alot what's going on stressing the body and adrenal. What was her thyroid test numbers hopefully they tested tsh ft4ft3 t3 t4 rt3 trab tsi tpo selenium iodine levels iron/ ferritin. I'm still looking for a doctor that can help me my functional doctor just handed me my test and told me she doesn't treat issues like mine.

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2 replies
80rosy | @80rosy | Nov 29, 2019

Also look online for organizations that help people with medical test doctors meds.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 29, 2019
In reply to @80rosy "Sorry to hear undiagnosed, I know it's frustrating. I have graves diease it's in remission for..." + (show)
@80rosy

Sorry to hear undiagnosed, I know it's frustrating. I have graves diease it's in remission for the time being but I do have other mystery illnesses that I'm working on because it doesn't seem the medical doctors understand. Test you may want to look at DNA sometimes can give a clue, genvoa nateval test, 24 hour cortisol salvia test most insurance will cover these test the problem is getting a doctor to order them. My mystery illness has something to do with oxalates once I changed to a lowering oxalate diet I went in remission with my graves plus even thou I've been on a lowering oxalate diet for two years my genvoa test says I'm still high oxalate so I do have gentic that show this also. Then my DNA says mthfr gene mutation my genvoa nateval test shows my vitamin Bs glutathione alpha lipoic acid are all low or deficient I'm working on these issues it not that easy because I have reactions to some of the supplements, the coritsol test can tell alot what's going on stressing the body and adrenal. What was her thyroid test numbers hopefully they tested tsh ft4ft3 t3 t4 rt3 trab tsi tpo selenium iodine levels iron/ ferritin. I'm still looking for a doctor that can help me my functional doctor just handed me my test and told me she doesn't treat issues like mine.

Jump to this post

@80rosy, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You may wish to connect with others living with Graves disease in the Endocrine System group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/diabetes-and-endocrine-problems/

In particular, you might be interested in this older discussion:
- Thyroid disease's impact on other conditions https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/subclinical-hypothyroidism/

Are your other illnesses endocrine related?

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1 reply
80rosy | @80rosy | Nov 29, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "@80rosy, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You may wish to connect with others living with Graves..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@80rosy, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You may wish to connect with others living with Graves disease in the Endocrine System group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/diabetes-and-endocrine-problems/

In particular, you might be interested in this older discussion:
- Thyroid disease's impact on other conditions https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/subclinical-hypothyroidism/

Are your other illnesses endocrine related?

Jump to this post

I'm still trying to understand, but with my test results I see I'm high on citric acid I don't eat any citric acid or very little. This might be why my T4 is low, I feel I need a reserching at NIH to help me.

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ghennel | @ghennel | Nov 30, 2019
In reply to @80rosy "Sorry to hear undiagnosed, I know it's frustrating. I have graves diease it's in remission for..." + (show)
@80rosy

Sorry to hear undiagnosed, I know it's frustrating. I have graves diease it's in remission for the time being but I do have other mystery illnesses that I'm working on because it doesn't seem the medical doctors understand. Test you may want to look at DNA sometimes can give a clue, genvoa nateval test, 24 hour cortisol salvia test most insurance will cover these test the problem is getting a doctor to order them. My mystery illness has something to do with oxalates once I changed to a lowering oxalate diet I went in remission with my graves plus even thou I've been on a lowering oxalate diet for two years my genvoa test says I'm still high oxalate so I do have gentic that show this also. Then my DNA says mthfr gene mutation my genvoa nateval test shows my vitamin Bs glutathione alpha lipoic acid are all low or deficient I'm working on these issues it not that easy because I have reactions to some of the supplements, the coritsol test can tell alot what's going on stressing the body and adrenal. What was her thyroid test numbers hopefully they tested tsh ft4ft3 t3 t4 rt3 trab tsi tpo selenium iodine levels iron/ ferritin. I'm still looking for a doctor that can help me my functional doctor just handed me my test and told me she doesn't treat issues like mine.

Jump to this post

I don't have her numbers right now, but I know her thyroid is slightly overactive. The theory is that since she produces such little progesterone, it is throwing her entire system way off. Right now the doctor she is seeing is putting her on a hormone therapy, which she will start next week. I don't know if his theory is correct or not. Either way she needs the progesterone. So we will see.

REPLY
1 reply
80rosy | @80rosy | Dec 1, 2019
In reply to @ghennel "I don't have her numbers right now, but I know her thyroid is slightly overactive. The..." + (show)
@ghennel

I don't have her numbers right now, but I know her thyroid is slightly overactive. The theory is that since she produces such little progesterone, it is throwing her entire system way off. Right now the doctor she is seeing is putting her on a hormone therapy, which she will start next week. I don't know if his theory is correct or not. Either way she needs the progesterone. So we will see.

Jump to this post

If her thyroid is showing slightly over active hopefully they will check for thyroid antibodies TSI TPO. Look at stop the thyroid madness online they talk about hormones having an effect on the thyroid. I was missed diagnosed for years.

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ghennel | @ghennel | Dec 8, 2019

I will look that up. Thank you for the info. The doctor she is seeing now did say he thought the hormone imbalance was affecting her thyroid. He is trying to help her get her hormones balanced and then recheck the thyroid. Along with those problems she suffers from horrible digestive issues and problems with inflammation. No one seems to be able to come up with any answers as to what is causing those problems or if it is all related.

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2 replies
80rosy | @80rosy | Dec 8, 2019
In reply to @ghennel "I will look that up. Thank you for the info. The doctor she is seeing now..." + (show)
@ghennel

I will look that up. Thank you for the info. The doctor she is seeing now did say he thought the hormone imbalance was affecting her thyroid. He is trying to help her get her hormones balanced and then recheck the thyroid. Along with those problems she suffers from horrible digestive issues and problems with inflammation. No one seems to be able to come up with any answers as to what is causing those problems or if it is all related.

Jump to this post

I do understand, I was sick for many year's being underweight and fibromyalgia pain kicked in, most doctors thought I was a drug addict and refused to help me. I'm going to see one of my primary doctors soon loaded with test results and my DNA, its a little hell I went through but overall I'm doing better.

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ghennel | @ghennel | Dec 10, 2019

It is awful to feel lousy and have doctors dismiss you. I hope you get somewhere with your primary doctor.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 27, 2019
In reply to @ghennel "I will look that up. Thank you for the info. The doctor she is seeing now..." + (show)
@ghennel

I will look that up. Thank you for the info. The doctor she is seeing now did say he thought the hormone imbalance was affecting her thyroid. He is trying to help her get her hormones balanced and then recheck the thyroid. Along with those problems she suffers from horrible digestive issues and problems with inflammation. No one seems to be able to come up with any answers as to what is causing those problems or if it is all related.

Jump to this post

Hello @ghennel
I was just wondering if your daughter has started her hormone therapy yet? I would like to hear from you again and know if she is doing any better. Will you post an update?

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