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There is a lot of technical debt in treating thyroid problems too. T4 needs to be converted to T3 to stimulate the metabolism; most of this conversion happens i

by tcj_phx 10y ago

There is a lot of technical debt in treating thyroid problems too. T4 needs to be converted to T3 to stimulate the metabolism; most of this conversion happens in the liver. If the patient's liver doesn't work very well (because she's damaged it with cocaine, for example), she can have normal a normal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) level, and normal T4 thyroid levels, but still be hypothyroid. Cholesterol's conversion to pregnenolone requires T3-thyroid and Vitamin A (NOT 'beta carotene', which is a provitamin). By also supplementing Pregnenolone, and maybe progesterone, the patient has a better chance of being able to make Cortisol, if they need it. Also treating with sugar reduces the need for cortisol.

pasbesoin 10y ago
Thank you very much for taking the time to write these comments. I have a friend in somewhat similar circumstances, though she does not appear to be manifesting overt psychosis. Nor do I have full insight into her treatment; however, the ongoing appointments are very infrequent. Hospitalization did give her 6 days with a very well regarded addiction specialist, and the ongoing medications as the result of his prescribing appear to be doing good. Among other things, she's become very consistent about getting good quantities of sleep. She's been a bit worried about her diet and weight gain. Some of the cravings, I now see as potentially lining up with your description. Maybe she can "let this go" for a while, while her body continues to recover and rebuild -- to the extent it can. Any opinion on exercise? She runs extensively, although some new soft tissue irritation is now potentially putting a multiple month crimp in this. That exercise is new in her life, as of a couple of years ago. I hope it is sparking her body's capacity to renew itself.
- tcj_phx 10y ago
  > Thank you very much for taking the time to write these comments. You're welcome, thanks for the feedback. The only thing my girlfriend can do for herself while in the mental hospital is eat sugar for the stress response and caffeine-free coffee for the magnesium & Vitamin B1. The drugs they put her on are known to harm the metabolism, so she's put on a little weight, but sugar is a better source of calories than starch. As for exercise, I think weight-bearing exercise is much more helpful than cardio (which is very stressful). Muscle burns calories; endurance runners waste away. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11589373 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11589373
  - jsprogrammer 10y ago
    According to the USDA nutrient database, brewed coffee has no vitamin B1 and very little magnesium. Can she take a vitamin supplement? Ideally, all her nutrients would be gotten through daily food.
    - tcj_phx 10y ago
      I'm pretty sure there is some amount of B-vitamins in coffee, and some other useful substances. When you're locked up in a mental hospital you're mostly helpless to do anything for yourself. The food is usually pretty bad...
      - jsprogrammer 10y ago
        It looks like only trace amounts of niacin and pantothenic acid [0]. I have no doubt that the food is bad. I just don't want anyone to drink coffee and think that they are getting any type of adequate intake of vitamins. [0] https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/4271?fgcd=&man=&lfacet=&count=&max=&sort=&qlookup=&offset=&format=Full&new=&measureby= https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/4271?fgcd=&man=&lfac...
- DenisM 10y ago
  When it comes to running there is a significant difference between different heart rate zones. Try different once to see if one works better than others. http://anerleybc.org/heart-rate-zones/ http://anerleybc.org/heart-rate-zones/ Also, running can be replaced with cycling as a less damaging cardio workout. Or swimming if possible.

by tcj_phx 10y ago

pasbesoin 10y ago

Thank you very much for taking the time to write these comments. I have a friend in somewhat similar circumstances, though she does not appear to be manifesting overt psychosis. Nor do I have full insight into her treatment; however, the ongoing appointments are very infrequent. Hospitalization did give her 6 days with a very well regarded addiction specialist, and the ongoing medications as the result of his prescribing appear to be doing good. Among other things, she's become very consistent about getting good quantities of sleep. She's been a bit worried about her diet and weight gain. Some of the cravings, I now see as potentially lining up with your description. Maybe she can "let this go" for a while, while her body continues to recover and rebuild -- to the extent it can. Any opinion on exercise? She runs extensively, although some new soft tissue irritation is now potentially putting a multiple month crimp in this. That exercise is new in her life, as of a couple of years ago. I hope it is sparking her body's capacity to renew itself.

tcj_phx 10y ago
> Thank you very much for taking the time to write these comments. You're welcome, thanks for the feedback. The only thing my girlfriend can do for herself while in the mental hospital is eat sugar for the stress response and caffeine-free coffee for the magnesium & Vitamin B1. The drugs they put her on are known to harm the metabolism, so she's put on a little weight, but sugar is a better source of calories than starch. As for exercise, I think weight-bearing exercise is much more helpful than cardio (which is very stressful). Muscle burns calories; endurance runners waste away. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11589373 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11589373
- jsprogrammer 10y ago
  According to the USDA nutrient database, brewed coffee has no vitamin B1 and very little magnesium. Can she take a vitamin supplement? Ideally, all her nutrients would be gotten through daily food.
  - tcj_phx 10y ago
    I'm pretty sure there is some amount of B-vitamins in coffee, and some other useful substances. When you're locked up in a mental hospital you're mostly helpless to do anything for yourself. The food is usually pretty bad...
    - jsprogrammer 10y ago
      It looks like only trace amounts of niacin and pantothenic acid [0]. I have no doubt that the food is bad. I just don't want anyone to drink coffee and think that they are getting any type of adequate intake of vitamins. [0] https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/4271?fgcd=&man=&lfacet=&count=&max=&sort=&qlookup=&offset=&format=Full&new=&measureby= https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/4271?fgcd=&man=&lfac...
DenisM 10y ago
When it comes to running there is a significant difference between different heart rate zones. Try different once to see if one works better than others. http://anerleybc.org/heart-rate-zones/ http://anerleybc.org/heart-rate-zones/ Also, running can be replaced with cycling as a less damaging cardio workout. Or swimming if possible.