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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by WeeWilly on April 19, 2005, at 15:56:17
I started my spring treatment with Parnate over 2 weeks ago and it is has not been helping much.
I have taken it for 3 months every spring for 10 or 15 years. The last few years it has taken longer to begin working. It has been a fear of mine that one of these years it would not work at all. Maybe that nightmare has arrived. My business(cherry grower) is quite demanding in the spring and if I do not have effective treatment I hate to think of the consequences.
I am trying to see an endocronologist again to try to get an answer for my disorder. I highly suspect I do not produce enough of a hormonal protein called Inhibin. Actually years ago I had it tested 2 or three times and my levels were below what the norm is. At this time they still have'nt identified what ramifications this has. Allthough I am a guy I am interested in studies of menopausle women where they monitor the levels of a number of hormones(estrogen,progesterine,estadiol,terosterone,
inhibin,etc). Inhibin allways is seen to be drastically reduced. They just don't find this significant as yet. More and more in other studies inhibin is being understood to have diverse functions beyong its role in suppressing FSH. One day it will all be put together. I think it is a similar situation that a patient with low thyroid hormone has. Inhibin is the red headed stepchild of the hormonal proteins. A number of factors probably contribute to this but one of the main reasons is that it was isolated at the late date of 1985 or so. Testosterone by contrast was isolated roughly 50 years before this.
A big problem with my disorder is motivation to do anything. I am hopeing I can muster up enough strength to soldier on through my appointments with endocronologist to get an answer if there is one yet. At least I hope to get research endocronologist to consider the possible role inhibin could have on mood and cognition. I have often wondered how many others of you also with mood and cognition problems like mine that have been treating it with AD's, when it should be treated with supplemental hormone. Even as I investigate the possible endocrine cause I will likely keep on the merry go round of psychoactive meds. Its hard to be opptomistic about a solution anytime soon, but I know the answer is out there. Best wishes
Posted by WeeWilly on April 20, 2005, at 14:49:42
In reply to Endocrine,Endocrine,Endocrine, posted by WeeWilly on April 19, 2005, at 15:56:17
I came across a study done at the U of Auckland that identified an abnormality in Inhibin that they suspect is resposible for some cases of (POF) Premature Ovarian Failure. Three fourths of the teenage women who they studied with POF had a problem with an Inhibin gene mutation. These teenagers experienced the classic symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings and infertility. The significane to us I feel is this is the first association of Inhibin and mood problems. This study is in the Nov issue of Human Reproduction. This group is focused on the infertility of this disorder on not so much the mood aspect. Hopefully other research groups that are concerned with the endocrine causes of mood disorders in menopausal women will begin to look at the large decline of Inhibin that is well documented and investigate whether this could be a cause and not an effect. This news is encouraging to me. Anyone else? Best wishes
Posted by WeeWilly on April 21, 2005, at 15:24:59
In reply to New evidence, posted by WeeWilly on April 20, 2005, at 14:49:42
This new understanding has confirmed the suspicion I have had all these years that problems with Inhibin in some people is the cause of their mood disorder. How many of us this pertains to is hard to know at this point. It is possible it is a large percentage of us.
Can you imagine my frustration all these years and even now, to have what I feel is significant evidence pointing at Inhibin as being the cause of my own mood disorder and many of yours, but being continually ignored by reseach scientists working in this area. On top of that those of you who I consider brothers and sisters of mutual suffering ignore me for the most part also.
The amount of time I have put into this quest is unbelievable. I will never benefit monetarily from this. The only thing I will recieve is a chance to live a more or less normal life when treatments become available. It appears that if I do not recieve help in this endeavor, it will be later rather sooner before these appropriate treatments are available to us.
An odd problem exists in medical research in that information in journal articles is often slow to disseminate. What has happened with Inhibin is that as time has gone on and studies have determined it has a more signficant role in the Central Nervous System beyond its original understood role of suppressing FSH, later studies have been conducted without being aware of previous ones. One example is this study published 2 years ago that attempted to develope a mathematical model for the Hypothalimus Pituitary Gonadal Axis. They state that they included all known information of the human HPGA but specificaly say they decided to ommit Inhibin . If researchers of previous studies that have identified Inhibin as being a significant factor in the HPGA were to read of this ommission I am confident they would find this as absurd as I do. Inhibin being thought of as a simple little hormone with a small role seems to perpetuate. Whatever can be done to get all who are in this field of study up to speed with the up to date knowledge of Inhibin is of invaluable importance.
The most recent studies trying to discover the underlying cause of the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation conclude after failing in their effort, state that some unknown change in the the endocrine sytem is likely responsible. In their studies they monitored the level of countless hormones, but can you guess which one they ommitted? Answer: Inhibin. If a study could be done with Inhibin included I think they would discover that it is the key to understanding this antidepressant event.
Attempting to have an influence on the progress in understanding mood disorders would be a monsterous task if I was not impared with a mood disorder. With my debilitating condition its beyond overwhelming. It appears I will struggle on alone and do the best I can. Best Wishes
Posted by florence on April 21, 2005, at 17:21:57
In reply to No interest or comments at all !, posted by WeeWilly on April 21, 2005, at 15:24:59
I can fully appreciate the research you have done.
I suffered from menstrual migraines for over 25 yrs. One of the top rated headache specialists in the country started me on Prozac: he said I was one of the first people in the country to take it. The research showed a serotonin connection with migraines.
Ten years of trying all ADs- I couldn't take it any more so I went to another toprated gyno. She put me on Lupron shots- approved at the time for prostate cancer patients. It stopped my periods and after 3 months I had no migraines. I went on Lupron another time for 2 yrs and was never the same after I stopped them.
So, I researched tons of info about the hypothalamus-pituitary-axis. Not much luck except for some women who experienced severe problems after taking Lupron.
For me, it was extreme fatigue. After more ADs, menopause specialist, pdocs, etc, ad nauseum. I found this site and info about thyroid medicines and mental disorders.
I am CONVINCED that the Lupron triggered a thyroid disruption. After 10 yrs (last July 2004) I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto's autoimmune thryoid disease. I was always told that my levels were fine. I have since learned to demand a copy of my labs.
Well, the fatigue used to be my only problem but now I have depression big time and I hate the thought of trying another AD- I already did that before being diagnosed with Hashi's.
Since I felt better on the Lupron, I have been trying to find out what is different now...I vaguely remember reading that FSH levels are NOT as high on Lupron as in true menopause.
I transitioned into menopause after my third round of Lupron shots..I feel worse than ever cuz altho my migraines are gone I have fatigue and depression SO bad......
I would love to know more. I am a creative person but I also suffer a lack of motivation...I belong to a thyroid group that would be interested in your Inhibin...and I will post there when I get the strength.
Again, thanks for your research. You seem like me: unwilling to accept the status quo. I don't NEED to be right- but I refuse to accept what I read 25 yrs ago: women will get relief from migraines when they enter menopause.....Well, I refused to wait 25 yrs for an answer.
Sorry to ramble on so.....I'll let you know if my thyroid group has any info
Have you ever had your FREE T3 FREE T4, and THYROID ANTIBODIES tested? Most endos think the TSH is enough and it is NOT. Mine was always within the lab range but no one checked my antibodies for 10 yrs.
Hope you get this post..Florence
Posted by WeeWilly on April 21, 2005, at 22:18:53
In reply to Re: No interest or comments at all !, posted by florence on April 21, 2005, at 17:21:57
I really appreciate your response. So well written and interesting. I can surely relate to your struggle. Right now there is quite a massive amount attention being given by research endocronologists to understand the cause of mood problems in menopausal women. This is because they have come to realize the increased risk of the treatments clinical and in recent trials. The study I mention in my first post allthough its on women with POF, it will give insight to menopause in general. Of course other research endocronologists will have to read it for it to have any impact on their future research. It is not guarenteed that it will get disseminated though.If you find the time read at least the condensed version in Scientific American.com. Google with terms Inhibin, POF, Auckland, DNA, reproduction and you will find it easily. Many hormones diminish as we age Inhibin does also. In the past it could be ignored because it was understood that it was not of significance. A scientist would have to be ill informed or intellectually dishonest to discount Inhibin now. Best Wishes
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