HELP with Endocrine System

[Delta18]

I hate this system. Always have and always will. I was wondering if anyone else shares my sentiments about it and managed to ace their classes. I am currently in an LVN program and we are going to take 5 weeks to cover it. I need to digest and remember all the crap that this system takes. I've heard that neuro is a nightmare too. Are their any recommendations regarding study materials that I can use to help cut down on the "clutter". Much appreciated to the learned folk who are done with what they needed to accomplish! Thanks ahead of time!!!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Most of the Endocrine system is of opposites; such as hypo and hyperthyroidism, Cushings and Addison's disease, and such (it's late, so, I don't have many details off my head). Most textbooks have them listed around each other. If you write notes pairing them together, you can see what is opposite of each other. For example hypothyroid- things slow down, they are cold, overweight, slower metabolism, are depressed. Hyperthyroidism is that they are heat intolerant, skinny, have big eyes, dry skin, are irritable, etc...

[Pipsqueak, ADN]

I'm with you on this one, I hate studying endocrine!

Try this site out..........helps to keep it simple

(well as simple as one could possibly make endocrine)

http://endocrineweb.com/

[jadu1106]

maybe this may help:

this is from umich08 in the nclex forum:

myxedema/hypothyroidism: slowed physical and mental function, sensitivity to cold, dry skin and hair

graves’ disease/hyperthyroidism: accelerated physical and mental function; sensitivity to heat, fine/soft hair

thyroid storm: increased temp, pulse and htn

post-thyroidectomy: semi-fowler’s, prevent ncek flexion/hyperextension, trach at bedside

hypo-parathyroid: cats – convulsions, arrhythmias, tetany, spasms, stridor (decreased calcium), high ca, low phosphorus diet

hyper-parathyroid: fatigue, muscle weakness, renal calculi, back and joint pain (increased calcium), low ca, high phosphorus diet

hypovolemia – incrased temp, rapid/weak pulse, increase respiration, hypotension, anxiety, urine specific gravity >1.030

hypervolemia – bounding pulse, sob, dyspnea, rares/crackles, peripheral edema, htn, urine specific gravity

diabetes insipidus (decreased adh): excessive urine output and thirst, dehydration, weakness, administer pitressin

siadh (increased adh): change in loc, decreased deep tendon reflexes, tachycardia, n/v/a, ha; administer declomycin, diuretics

hypokalemia: muscle ewakness, dysrhythmias, increase k (raisins, bananas, apricots, oranges, beans, potatoes, carrots, celery)

hyperkalemia: murder – muscle weakness, urine (oliguria/anuria), respiratory depression, decreased cardiac contractility, ecg changes, reflexes

hyponatremia: nausea, muscle cramps, increased icp, muscular twitching, convulsion; osmotic diuretics, fluids

hypernatremia: increased temp, weakness, disorientation/delusions, hypotension, tachycardia; hypotonic solution

hypocalcemia: cats – convulsions, arrhythmias, tetany, spasms and stridor

hypercalcemia: muscle weakness, lack of coordination, abdominal pain, confusion, absent tendon reflexes, sedative effect on cns

hypomg: tremors, tetany, seizures, dyrshythmias, depression, confusion, dysphagia; dig toxicity

hypermg: depresses the cns, hypotension, facial flushing, muscle ewakness, absent deep tendon reflexes, shallow respirations, emergency

addison’s: hypona, hyperk, hypoglycemia, dark pigmentation, decreased resistance to stress, fractures, alopecia, weight loss, gi distress

cushings: hyperna, hypok, hyperglycemia, prone to infection, muscle wasting, weakness, edema, htn, hirsutism, moonface/buffalo hump

addisonian crisis: n/v, confusion, abdominal pain, extreme weakness, hypoglycemia, dehydration, decreased bp

pheochromocytoma: hypersecretion of epi/norepi, persistent htn, increased hr, hyperglycemia, diaphoresis, tremor, pounding ha; avoid stress, frequent bating and rest breaks, avoid cold and stimulating foods, surgery to remove tumor