Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with hormone

Dealing with a possible growth hormone deficiency

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:44:45 -0800

Our son may have growth hormone deficiency. The endocrinologist has recommended some additional testing, and the process sounds terrible. Has your child been through this? Can you tell us how it went? Are there alternatives? Our three year old son is very short for his age (off the bottom of the standard growth charts). After a recent visit to the endocrinologist, it looks like he's going to need additional testing. The testing methodology sounds gruelling -- no food after midnight through the duration of the test, which will start early in the morning and last around six hours. That's six hours with an IV and his arm immobilized. But wait, there's more! If he is diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, he's apparently in for a regimen of daily injections. Every time I think about this I get upset. He's only three!

Have you had to shepherd a child through this diagnosis? Can you offer any tips for making the processing as bearable as possible? Are there any alternatives that the doctor hasn't mentioned?

Obviously the diagnosis is important. If he does have an actual deficiency it could have a significant impact on his health. I'm just afraid of traumatizing the little guy. Thanks for your help!

How can I shorten my period naturally?

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:11:47 -0800

Is there a way to shorten my period that does NOT involve birth control? I have a period that lasts seven to nine days, seven if I'm lucky. At least three to four of those days are quite heavy. It's a huge pain, for reasons detailed under the cut. Would weight loss work? Diet? Increased exercise? Ancient herbal secrets? Is there anything, anything at all? Has anything caused a permanent shortening of your cycle? The heavy seven-to-nine day period has been the norm since I hit puberty, minus the time I was on birth control. Three to four of that is extremely, change-a-heavy-flow-tampon-every-hour-or-two heavy. Another three to four is moderate flow. I get one or two light days on a good month. It is a pain--it's expensive as I go through pads and tampons like mad. The heaviness is a deterrent to my sex life, since neither of us are keen on doing it under an endometrial waterfall. It provides a week of constant worrying about leakage. And due to the length combined with the need for the pad-tampon duo, I don't get as aired out as I should and develop a monthly yeast infection at least halfway through.

My total cycle length is anywhere from 30-32 days. While on birth control, it shortened to 28 days, with a four-day period of light to moderate flow. I was very pleased, just not with all of the negative effects of it. I have tried multiple forms of hormonal birth control and all have caused problems, so I'm not looking for that answer right now.

I would like any suggestions, even wacky ones, of ways to shorten my cycle naturally. Weight loss, diet, herbal remedies, whatever. Please, I'm desperate!

Is there an OB in the house?

Anonymous — Fri, 04 May 2007 05:50:05 -0800

Is a dropping progesterone level, if everything else looks good, seriously bad news? *posting anon for work-related reasons*

My wife is currently 7 weeks pregnancy, and for the first time her
progesterone dropped instead of rose, from 17.9 last week to 16.1 this
week. Our doc assures us that a one-time drop isn't worrisome, and
that 16.1 is still a fine level.

But.

Of course, the wife is worried about the drop. Everything is fine
otherwise: heard a heartbeat, seen good bloodflow, etc. If next week
doesn't show an increase, he will put her on a supplement. Has anyone
been through this, and can give us some advice on dealing with the
unknown?

Experiences and Information on Hyperthyroid aka Grave's Disease

barnone — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 21:00:37 -0800

I've just been diagnosed as severely hyperthyroid, also known as Grave's Disease. I'm under the care of about 6 physicians, but want to know some more subjective information. Is there a really great book? A great tip for sleeping with my head raised on pillows? Other experimental or experiences you can pass my way would be great. Some background information: I'm a female in my 20s, with a bit of a history of thyroid problems on both sides of the family. This went undiagnosed for 8-12 months until it basically exploded into the beginnings of a thyroid storm. I'm now on Tapazole and a betablocker (for the first month) and have several GPs, specialists, opthamologists and family working with me, treating me, keeping me under medical care. I had almost all of the symptoms, but not much orbitopathy (buggy eyes). We're going the drug route (and vitamins, including selenium, which may or may not be connected to thyroid levels) until it either doesn't work or surgery or radioactive iodine becomes necessary. I'm actually feeling better in some ways (emotionally, academically) but in others my levels have dropped (energy, hemoglobin, etc.) - again, the doctors know and are constantly monitoring this.

I'm wondering a few things:

a) Can you recommed a good book or two on the subject? Some look woefully out of date, and many websites have agendas, incorrect information or are extremely dense in medical notation. Something between these two extremes would be great.

b) Can you point me in the direction of medical or other literature on the side-effects of radioactive iodine? That seems to be one of the more prevalent treatments in the US, and the connections with opthamopathy startle me and make it more of a last-option approach than my doctors. I need to be well-informed when discussing this with them.

c) What have been your experiences? How do you feel, based on whatever choice you made (drugs, surgery, iodine) and what would you do differently? I know it's subjective, based on medical information and personal decisions, but just knowing what made someone choose one route over another is helpful to me. It lets me think of consequences and benefits that I might not have anticipated.

d) I'm continually making a list of questions to ask my doctors, but I'm obviously missing some. What kinds of things should I be worried about or on the lookout for?

e) Other than selenium, what are vitamins, important minerals or other acids that I should be taking?

Thanks in advance; this is my sock puppet account because I don't want this information linked to my personal name at this point.

Vomiting - hormones etc

andrew cooke — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 11:30:44 -0800

Can someone please point me to a discussion of what happens in your body (focussing on hormones and associated chemistry) when you are ill. I'm curious why you/how you feel so good after (is that feeling similar to heroin?) and so bad before (particularly the sweating and feeling of coldness) vomiting. If it makes any difference, assume food poisoning [no more inside, since 3am last night].