Random high and low test results over the last year- mirena? Carpal tunnel?
43/f with mirena x3 over 15 years, no bleeding. Physically active. Healthy BMI. Hydrate a lot. Healthy diet.
About a year ago, I was changing psych meds (worked off low dose SSRI over months, started low dose adhd meds prior) and everything was great until it wasn’t. My heart rate would jump from 55 to 100 when standing or just randomly. A “zing” feeling up neck to behind ear. A feeling like vertigo (had labyrinthitis twice 15 years ago— similar in a way but not on stairs). Left arm would feel heavy at times. Fatigue. Feeling dizzy when standing and like I pass out for half a second (people have noticed). Forearms and inner elbow super itchy without rash. ANA: 1:160 one year ago. ANA 1:320 6 months ago. Negative for Lymes (I hike a lot). Severe androgenic alopecia onset age 19, but plantar palmer psoriasis at the same time. Have lost most body hair which is incongruent with AGA. But diffuse areata was ruled out with biopsy, though excellent derm suspected it. Hair changed texture last couple years.
Heart was cleared last summer. Started low dose SSRI again, and anxiety has settled.
Rheum ran a variety of basic tests in the fall and eos was 5.9% at one point, but everything else was normal. Eos is now normal at .3 (I think they used different measurements). Allergist said no real allergies (surprising— as a kid, pediatrician said my dark under eye circles meant I had allergies).
Started figuring out when my period was since fall when I started getting cramps every 2-3 weeks for 5-8 days. Had not had cramps prior while on mirena. Anxiety spikes before cramps. Prior to birth control, period was heavy and erratic. Latest mirena inserted 2 years ago. Basically no testosterone. Obgyn ran some tests in fall. DHEA-s low 37; insulin high 38. Insulin last week is 5.
Routine blood work last week and she ran iron panel. Rechecked two days later and consistent results so she ordered more tests. Waiting on genetic test for hemochromatosis but 23andme said negative for two main variants. Northern euro ancestry, no known family history. Stopped multivitamin 7 days prior to tests. No supplements. Very little red meat in diet. No alcohol for ten years but drank regularly prior.
This week’s iron results (she said liver looks good which she said is reassuring):
UIBC : 105, 108
Iron saturation : 60, 57
TIBC : 264, 249
Iron serum: 159, 141
Ferritin : 187, 173
Could the mirena explain all or most of this? Will the “hemochromatosis mutation” only check for the main two variants that 23andme already checked, or all? Many in our family have the enlarged knuckles on pointer/middle finger with age. I assume I have carpal tunnel from work. I’ve always had normal results for regular tests until this year. I wind up waiting so long to see a specialist just to find out they aren’t the right specialty, it’s stressful. Plus, until my current GP and obgyn (who are both WONDERFUL!), everyone said it was all anxiety. I understand none of these results are critical, but my overall wellbeing is suffering and I would like to connect the dots.