Hormonal/female issue?

[nadira]

I'm a caucasian 22 year old female. I am concerned about the size of my areolas, which in the last few years have grown extraordinarily.
Over the past 4 years I have had several symptoms:
-areola growth combined with decrease in breast size (areolas are now 2inches in diameter, bra size changed from 36b to 32c)
-weight loss without exercise (145 pounds to 128 pounds. with exercising body is toned, weight doesn't change)
-fine, light hair (parents both have dark hair, one medium, one coarse)
-brittle and fragile fingernails and toenails
-strong sensitivity to cold (uncontrollable shivering and teeth chattering in weather below 60f even with appropriate clothing)
-cracked/dry/peeling heels even in the summer months (previously my heals were smooth even in the winter dryness)

my gynecologist told me that the areola size was normal, but my mother's are much smaller than my own and I only noticed the increase in size in the last few years so it doesn't seem to be genetic. I assume the decrease in breast size is related to the loss in weight. Probably unimportant: I switched from ortho lo to a monophasic oral contraceptive because the ortho lo didn't work right and led to frequent breakthrough bleeding even after the third month of use. Also probably unrelated: since I was young I've had what was diagnosed as keratosis pilaris on the back of my arms. It's a pretty strong case, but neither of my parents have it and that's supposed to be genetic.

Could this be a thyroid disorder? Or some other hormone problem? The symptoms seemed like it, but the thing is... half of them fit with hyper and the other with hypo. What else could it be? My breasts seem to be regressing in development, except for the increase in areola size.

[aquila]

Yes, I would get checked for thyroid issues.

As far as genetics, there is something called a "de novo mutation," meaning "it's happenig for the first time." You might be the first person to have a genetic problem in your family. It happens.

[Helene99]

Have you had a blood work done? I would suspect iron deficiency - weight loss, brittle nails, sensitivity to cold, skin and hair problems just to mentions a few (of your symptoms).

[nadira]

hm. I was born with an iron deficiency, actually. but I've donated blood twice (had to stop because it made my eyes and ears go dark/silent both times) and both times I passed the iron test (though I did take a multivitamin). And when I was little I was chubby... it would be weird to redevelop a deficiency around age 18, wouldn't it? It should have happened when I hit puberty.

maybe I'll have the doctor check for both. I'd rather have the test be accurate than start taking vitamins now just in case. That way I'd know for sure; I can't do multivitamins since they make me nauseated and so I'd rather avoid supplements.

I had a lot of bloodwork done a few weeks ago (I had a peritonsillar abscess that was a complication of mono and it was obstructing my airway with 6ccs of pus so I had to go to the ER), would they have tested iron or hormone levels with that? I know they gave me a pregnancy test, which was silly, so maybe they test for everything anyone could possibly have in a developed nation?

[Freddd]

I'm a caucasian 22 year old female. I am concerned about the size of my areolas, which in the last few years have grown extraordinarily.
Over the past 4 years I have had several symptoms:
-areola growth combined with decrease in breast size (areolas are now 2inches in diameter, bra size changed from 36b to 32c)
-weight loss without exercise (145 pounds to 128 pounds. with exercising body is toned, weight doesn't change)
-fine, light hair (parents both have dark hair, one medium, one coarse)
-brittle and fragile fingernails and toenails
-strong sensitivity to cold (uncontrollable shivering and teeth chattering in weather below 60f even with appropriate clothing)
-cracked/dry/peeling heels even in the summer months (previously my heals were smooth even in the winter dryness)

my gynecologist told me that the areola size was normal, but my mother's are much smaller than my own and I only noticed the increase in size in the last few years so it doesn't seem to be genetic. I assume the decrease in breast size is related to the loss in weight. Probably unimportant: I switched from ortho lo to a monophasic oral contraceptive because the ortho lo didn't work right and led to frequent breakthrough bleeding even after the third month of use. Also probably unrelated: since I was young I've had what was diagnosed as keratosis pilaris on the back of my arms. It's a pretty strong case, but neither of my parents have it and that's supposed to be genetic.

Could this be a thyroid disorder? Or some other hormone problem? The symptoms seemed like it, but the thing is... half of them fit with hyper and the other with hypo. What else could it be? My breasts seem to be regressing in development, except for the increase in areola size.

If you were to go to a nudist club you would see that areolas are of all sorts of different sizes and colorations not related to breast size. The thin brittle nails, cracked peeling heels, cold sensitivity could be related to nutritional deficiencies, especially b12 deficiency. Certain skin color changes in certain parts of the body can also be caused by b12 deficiencies. As the correct form and brand of b12 matters in this along with other nutritional factors come over to http://forums.wrongdiagnosis.com/sho...682#post137682 and check all your symptoms against our list and lets talk about it. You should see a doc and get tested for thyroid and other hormonal causes.

[richard wayne2b]

Freddd:is there anything that you don't think B12 deficiency causes?

[taniaaust1]

are you saying that in the past 4 yrs your hair has actually changed colour going fine and light in colour???

(i cant remember what it's called.. i havent currently got my college notes with me.. but i know there is a nutritional issue in 3rd world countries in which the children end up with fine light coloured hair due to it). (it wasnt due to B12)

[nadira]

are you saying that in the past 4 yrs your hair has actually changed colour going fine and light in colour???

No, sorry-- it's always been that way. I should have put that in the other category.

[Freddd]

Freddd:is there anything that you don't think B12 deficiency causes?

Hi Richard Wayne2b or not 2b, that is the question,

The short answer is YES! Lots of things.
Now for the long answer. Immediately below this post is a list of symptoms, signs and co-correlates. I’ll tell you how it was assembled after I look at the predicates of your question. My question to you is “Why do you have such a terribly narrow view of what constitutes a functional b12 deficiency?” Elsewhere you asked me approximately how I could see so much b12 deficiency when pernicious anemia is so rare. Let’s first look at a definition of pernicious anemia. From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernicious_anemia
Pernicious anemia (also known as Biermer's anemia, Addison's anemia, or Addison-Biermer anemia) is a form of megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12deficiency, caused by impaired absorption of vitamin B-12[1] due to the absence of intrinsic factor[2] in the setting of atrophic gastritis, and more specifically of loss of gastricparietal cells.
While the term 'pernicious anemia' is sometimes also incorrectly used to indicate megaloblastic anemia due to any cause of vitamin B-12 deficiency, its proper usage refers to that caused by atrophic gastritis and parietal cell loss only.

So what we see is that P.A. is actually a cause of a megaloblastic anemia, not the whole class of b12 deficiency megaloblastic anemias. Further it doesn’t include any of the other many symptoms in blood pathology or any other body systems. I fully agree with you. It is rare. I have only met one person in my life that I know of with P.A. and haven’t run into any at all at wrongdiagnosis of which I am aware. Another cause of selective non-seeing of b12 deficiencies is seeing only one country’s lists of symptoms. The list I have posted below is an international composite made up of at least USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and a few miscellaneous lists as well as symptoms of people that are remedied by b12 plus cofactors. All the lists included were in English. The lists include symptoms, signs and co-correlates such as hypothyroid in which causality is not established. Now it may come as a surprise to you but there is considerable difference in the lists from country to country. Some of the variability appears to be related to which inactive cobalamin is used for supplementation and therapy; either cyanob12 or hydroxyb12 regardless of specific spellings. Further, instead of rolling many different symptoms and variations into one technical line (overloading) that many folks would not understand and that would not be able to indicate something of a progressive nature, I have unpacked and added many variations giving the appearance of redundancy. I’m not done with that unbundling either. I’m seeking the multitude of specific descriptions in order to elicit maximum information. At the moment there are close to 300 descriptions of symptoms, signs and co-correlates. Before it is done the list will be twice as long or there about.

When I say responsive symptoms and signs I mean ones that respond to specific brands of methylb12 and adenosylb12 when sublingual tablets are taken in a specific manner or injected methylb12 on top of a basic nutritional base of vitamins, minerals and fats as well as a second tier of approximately 7 critical nutrients that are cofactors in either the DNA replication homocysteine-methionine loop or in ATP production in the mitochondria or aid in the utilization or transport of the two active cobalamins. Cyanob12 and hydroxyb12 are completely irrelevant in this. Both active cobalamins plus all basic cofactors and all critical cofactors (showstoppers) must be taken to maximize the probability and breadth of healing.

This definition does produce a broad view of b12 deficiency. Why should people suffer correctable problems to make a definition short? Six years ago at 99.8 my MCV was alerted as it was >96.0. My internist was fit to be tied to find out that my problem had disappeared 5 years later as the warning level had been changed to >100.0. I called the major diagnostic lab. They said that if they alerted half of the tests coming through the lab nobody listened so they set it on a statistical basis. Does this readjustment bother you when hematological standards haven’t changed? The country is slowly becoming increasingly macrocytotic and the alarms keep getting ignored and turned off.

[Freddd]

mouth sensitive to hot and cold
sore burning tongue
beef-red tongue, possibly smoother than normal
sore mouth, no infection or apparant reason
teeth sensitive to hot and cold
canker sores
burning bladder (no UTI)
painful urgency (no UTI)
burning urethra (no UTI)
burning muscle pain
accumulating muscle pains following exertion
sore muscles
lack of muscle recovery after exercise
exercise does not build muscle
extremely sore neck muscles reversing normal curvature of neck
exercise deblitates for up to a week, making things much worse
painfully tight muscles, especially legs
frequent muscle spasms anywhere in body
muscle pain especially around attachment points to bones
Eighteen severely tender muscle spots of FMS
Bursitis
dyspepsia - sick stomach, nausea, regurgitation, vomiting, bloating, not emptying
flatulence
altered bowel habits
abdominal pain
loss of appetite for meat, fish, eggs, dairy, the only b12 contining foods, nutrient specific anorexia
intermittent constipation
intermittant diarrhea
irritable bowel syndrome
Crohns disease (direction of causality if any not established)
Celiac disease (direction of causality if any not established) - gluten sensitivity
Dairy sensitivity
sores, ulcers and lesions along entire GI tract or any part
anorexia
Bullimia
reduced libido - loss of sexual desire
loss of orgasmic intensity
unsatisfying *******
inability to ******
loss and/or change of genital sensations - "gloved" loss of sensation
burning genital skin sensation
unable to become aroused
reduced testosterone
MEN
erectile disfunction
low sperm count
poor sperm motility
Poor sperm quality
Zero sperm count
WOMEN
post partum depression
post partum psychosis
False positive pap smears
menstrual symptoms
Frequent miscarriage
child with neuro tube defects
PMS
paleness
rapid heart rate
heart arythymias
shortness of breath
heart palpitations
weak pulse
congestive heart failure
arteriosclerosis
Widespread pain throughout body
Hypothyroid (direction of causality if any not established)
High homocysteine
High urinary MMA

dizziness - even unable to walk
vertigo

irritable
depression
SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder
mental slowing
personality changes
chronic malaise
poor concentration
moodiness
tiredness
mood swings
memory loss
listlessness
impaired connection to others
mentally fuzzy, foggy, brainfog
psychosis, including many of the most florid psychosis seen in literature, megoblastic madness
Alzheimer's
delirium
dementia
paranoia
delusions
hallucinations
strange "smells" that are not present like linen being ironed, burrnt odors or tidal flats
strange "sounds" that are not present
deja vu experiences
anxiety or tension
nervousness
mania
impaired executive function
cognitive impairment
memory impairment
Hypersensitivity to touch
Hypersensitivity to odors
Hypersensitivity to tastes
Hypersensitivity to clothing texture
Hypersensitivity to chemicals
Hypersensitivity to body malfunctions, symtoms
Hypersensitivity to sounds and noises
Hypersensitivity to light and visual stimuli
Hypersensitivity to blood sugar changes
Hypersensitivity to internal metabolic changes
Hypersensitivity to temperature changes

mild to extremely severe fatigue
continuous extremely severe fatigue
easy fatiguability
severe abnormal fatigue up to and including apparent paralysis leading to death
weakness

sleep disorders
non restorative sleep
lack of dreaming
Night terrors
Prolonged hypnogogic state transitioning to sleep
Sleep paralysis
alteration of touch all over body, normal touch can be unpleasant and painful
alterations and loss of taste
alterations and loss of smell
loss of smell and taste of strawberries specifically
loss or alteration of smell and taste of potato chips specifically
roughening and increased raspiness of voice, mb12 can smooth in mid word
blurring of vision - can be sudden onset and sudden return
dimmed vision - usually not noticed going into it because change can be very slow or present for life
Visual impairment can be seen; ophthalmological exam may show bilateral visual loss
optic atophy
centrocecal scotomata
intolerance to bright light
diminished hearing - gradual onset or present for life, sudden return possible
unclear hearing, garbled
tinnitus - ringing in ears
always feeling cold
intolerance to loud sounds
intolerance to multiple sounds
Brainstem or cerebellar signs or even reversible (with mb12) coma may occur
neural tube defect not caused by folate deficiency or child with it
demyelinated areas on nerves
subacute combined degeneration
axonial degeneration of spinal cord
unsteadiness of gait
ataxic gait, particularly in dark
positive Romberg
positive Lhermittes
neuropathies, many types
progressive bilateral neuropathies
demyelination of nerves - white spots on nerves on MRIs
loss of detail and sensual aspects of touch all over body
paresthesias in both feet - burning, tingling,cobwebs, wet, hairs, pain, numbness, etc
paresthesias in both legs - burning, tingling, cobwebs, wet, hair, pain, numbness, etc
paresthesias in both hands - burning, tingling, cobwebs, wet, hairs, pain, numbness, etc
paresthesias in both arms - burning, tingling, cobwebs, wet, hairs, pain, numbness, etc
Loss of position sense is the most common abnormality (or vibration sense)
Loss of vibration sense is the most common abnormality (or position sense)
Loss of sense of joint position
hands feel gloved with loss of sensitivity
feet feel socked by loss of sensitivity
trembling
neuropathic bladder
unable to release bladder, mild to severe
urinary incontenance - occasionally to frequently
fecal incontinance - occasionally to frequently
sudden electric like shocks/pains shooting down arms, body, legs shooting down from neck movement
standing with eyes closed, a slight nudge or bump causes loss of balance
most patients have signs of both spinal cord and peripheral nerve involvement
The effect on reflexes is quite variable
Motor impairment may range from only mild clumsiness to a spastic paraplegia
clumsiness
slowed nerve impulses
decreased reflexes
difficulty swallowing
brisk reflexes
decreased deep tendon reflex
toes turn up instead of down in reflex to sole stimulation
Positive bilateral Babinski reflex
Foot Drop
impaired white blood cell response
poor resistance to infections
easy bruising
pronounced anemia
macrocytic anemia
megablastic anemia
pernicious anemia
decreased blood clotting
low hematocrit
MCV > 92-94 first warning, MCV > 97-100 alert
elevated MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin)
elevated LDH
big fat red cells (when said this way usually with happy or healthy modifying it completely misinterpreting results of MCV
platelet disfunction, low count
white cell changes, low count
hypersegmented neutrophils
headaches
inflamed epithelial tissues - mucous membranes, skin, GI, vaginal, lungs, bladder
inflamed endothelial tissues - lining of veins and arteries, etc
high CRP without infection
mucous becomes thick, jellied and sticky
dermatitis herpetiformis, chronic intensely burning itching rash
frequent infected follicles
Seborrheic dermatitis
dandruff
eczema
dermatitis
skin on face, hands, feet, turns brown or yellow if anemia occurs
poor hair condition
thin nails
transverse ridges on nails, can happen as healing starts
splits/sores at corners of mouth
Hyperhidrosis
Bariatric surgery
Dilantin and some other medications
Relatives, grandparant, parent, sibling, child, grandchild ever needing b12 shots or supplement
coma
seizures
brain atrophy with ileal tuberculosis preventing b12 absorbtion

STARTING AS INFANT OR CHILD
delayed myelination
failure to thrive
autism
delayed speech
depression
frequent or continuous toncilitis
frequent strep
frequent pneumonia
frequent longlasting supposed viral illnesses that linger and linger and linger
everything goes to the lungs for extended periods
headaches
growing pains
skin problems
dandruff
allergies
asthma
continuous swolen glands in neck
low grade fever for years
Night terrors
Prolonged hypnogogic state transitioning to sleep
Sleep paralysis
seizures
coma