Daily Column

April 6, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
After reading your article about thyroid malfunction and its influence on mental health, I had to write.

In 1991, my husband started complaining about being foggy-brained and lethargic. His doctor ordered tests and found that he had extraordinarily high levels of calcium in his blood. He told us that this was a sign of cancer or a malfunctioning parathyroid gland.

After further tests, they found that my husband had tumors on his parathyroid gland which were immediately removed at the Cleveland Clinic. After the surgery he was back to normal. His specialists told us that untold numbers of people with this condition end up in mental hospitals because the high calcium level causes them to seem insane. [Read more...]

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Cold Nose Can Have Many Causes

March 14, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Do you have any idea why my nose gets very cold on occasion? It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, IT’S REALLY COLD.

DEAR READER:
Oddly enough, there are several possibilities. One is the weather, since the nose is most often unprotected when we are out of doors in cold weather. Then there’s the possibility of a viral respiratory tract infection, Raynaud’s (a disorder of the small blood vessels associated with poor circulation), hypothyroidism (reduced functioning of the thyroid), the natural aging process, and more.

Return to your physician to request a simple blood test for hypothyroidism. Perhaps you have a low-grade viral infection or symptoms of Raynaud’s. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

January 26, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am writing in the hope that you can help me and my daughter. She was told she has pituitary thyroidism but no one seems to understand what it is. She is 67 years old and has been a registered nurse for 23 years. At one time, hospital staff asked her to volunteer for research but she refused, saying she didn’t want to be a guinea pig.

She is repeatedly sent to mental institutions. From what I have read, I understand that doing bizarre things to one self is caused by the disorder. I know she is not insane and hope you can help us.

She is only on one medication, Tegretol for grand mal seizures.

DEAR READER:
You don’t say whether your daughter has too much or too little thyroid hormone, therefore I must generalize. [Read more...]

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Are Symptoms Caused By Meds?

January 10, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Six months ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, for which I have been on Synthroid. My biggest concern is hair thinning, to the point of having to use a hair piece and wig at times. Further, I have nightmares and want to know when they will stop.

I am on a diuretic and Timolol for my glaucoma, Zocor for high cholesterol readings and Ativan for sleep. I’m also on a daily multi-vitamin, kelp 150 mg daily, 2 fish oil tablets, a 400 IU cod liver oil tablet, four calcium with D pills, magnesium, an 81 mg aspirin, 1,000 mg niacin, and Echinacea. My doctor doesn’t endorse vitamins but I’ve taken them for 60 years. I’m told I look 55 and attribute that to good genes.

DEAR READER:
Hypothyroidism presents when an individual has an under-active thyroid gland. Most cases are caused by the gland itself; however, certain diseases and some medications can decrease thyroid function.

Symptoms vary, but hair loss and thinning are common. Weight gain, cold intolerance, fatigue, brittle nails, elevated cholesterol levels, depression, a slowed heart rate, and swelling around the eyes are often reported.

Now, let’s take a look at a few of your medications. Timolol can cause depression, glaucoma, cold hands and feet, cardiac arrhythmias and nightmares. Synthroid therapy can be responsible for hair loss early on, but ordinarily levels off once the system adjusts to the medication. [Read more...]

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