Re: Hi I am new -been on 50mg thyroxine for 6 months and just doubled it

[Guest guest]

Dear Jane

First, as I read your message, the problem you have first and foremost seems related to your adrenals. Your symptoms do shout low adrenal reserve. To be sure about this, we have a an Adrenal Questionnaire in our FILES in this forum website, so I would complete that and see how you score. It is quite a long questionnaire. Let us know how you score, and if you score high, then the next step would be to get the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile to see where your cortical and DHEA levels are at four specific times during the day. You can telephone or email NPTech Services (again you can see the tests they do and the prices they charge in our FILES - look under NPTech Services) and they will send you a kit which comprises four little test tubes with four straws. You put one end of the straw in your mouth and the other in the testube and you spit down this until you have almost filled the little test tube with your saliva. They send instructions. Try to do this test when you are busy and fairly stressed - remember, this test is to measure your stress levels to see how your adrenals are coping - so don't do it on a Sunday when you might be sitting around, reading the Sunday papers or generally having a relaxing day.

Your hypothyroid symptoms coming back may be caused because your adrenals have been unable to cope with the change in your body experienced through jet-lag and getting over flu. You might do well to buy some Nutri Adrenal Extra to help boost your adrenals meanwhile and you can buy this from www.yournutritionship.co.uk . You start by taking one with your breakfast for a couple of days to make sure you will not have any adverse effects and then add another tablet with your lunch. Never take these after 1.00p.m. as they extra adrenaline might keep you awake. After a couple of weeks or so, you could add another tablet and take this with your breakfast dose. You can add up to 4 if you are not quite there, and you might find occasionally, if you are going through particularly stressful occasion, another tablet will help you get through this fine. However, usually, 3 tablets daily should help somebody in your situation. We will need to wait and see what your 24 hour saliva test results show to see whether you might need something stronger. Have you considered seeing a private doctor who knows about thyroid and adrenal issues?

Your anxiety icold well be an adrenal symptom, not a thyroid symptom

We do recommend that members do not take their thyroxine or other thyroid hormone supplement on the day you have your blood drawn, so you can remember that for the future, but don't worry too much. When the results come in, remember to remind your GP that you had taken double the dose of your L-thyroxine on the same day. I am, however, surprised that your dose was doubled from 50mcgs to 100mcgs. Usually, when somebody is suffering with palpitations and the other problems you have, a doctor will increase it in increments of 25 mcgs. It takes approximately 6 weeks for your body to absorb all the thyroxine, so you may have to wait a while before you feel any positive effects.

Have you had your Ferritin level checked (stored iron) as if this is low, you will not be able to absorb the thyroxine, in the same way as you will not if you have Candida Albicans or, as we are just finding out, you have a high level of mercury in your body. Read the FILE Mercury Thyroid Connection. You should also have your blood tested to see whether you are actually converting the inactive hormone L-thyroxine into the active hormone T3. T3 needs to get into every cell in your body to make it function, but for some people, they don't convert the T4 to T3 through the liver. You need to ask your GP to test your Free triiodothyronine (Free T3 for short).

Taking Selenium is good, but not sure where you have been getting your recommendations that you should take Kelp. Who advised you to do this? People with Hashimoto's thyroiditis should avoid excess iodine from natural sources, such as kelp tablets and seaweed. While some herbalists and vitamin proponents recommend iodine tablets or kelp supplements (which are high in iodine) for people with thyroid problems, you need to be extremely careful about any decision to take iodine or kelp supplements if you are on thyroid hormone replacement therapy. The thinking behind taking iodine or kelp is that in many parts of the world, goitres and thyroid disease are related to iodine deficiency. In developed countries, iodine deficiency is not very common anymore, due to the addition of iodine to salt -- iodised salt -- and other food products. In fact, the most common forms of thyroid disease, autoimmune thyroid diseases like Graves' Disease or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, have nothing to do with iodine deficiency at all. Thyroids are very sensitive to iodine, and you need to be careful about adding too much iodine to your diet as it can irritate or aggravate your thyroid. Most doctors say not to worry about some iodised salt, or the iodine present in a food item such as an occasional sushi dinner, but many alternative doctors advise against taking iodine or kelp supplements for people with autoimmune problems - and as you say your last test showed you tested positive for antibodies, this is you. Can you let us know exactly what antibody tests you had done?

Hope this helps for now, but you need to get further tests done to find out exactly what is going on.

Sheila

I first asked my GP to test me for low thyroid in 2005. My result thenwas within the normal range. So I was offered more antidepressants andtold it wasn't my thyroid. They didn't test me for antibodies.When I had my abnormal result my GP maintained that my problem was notmy thyroid but he went along with the consultant's advice to prescribe50mg thyroxine. I also had a positive antibody test.Also at this time my mother finally clued me in on the family historyof hypothyroidism; both my aunt and my grandmother are hypothyroid. Myaunt says she does fine on thyroxine but I am curious to know moreabout Armour and the adrenal stuff and so on.I have read 'Your Thyroid and How to Keep it Healthy - The greatThyroid Scandal and How to Survive it' but I really value first handopinions of people with experience and I would be grateful forany advice or just acknowledgment of my long and rambling fist post.Thank you,Jane

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[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

Welcome to the group!

It is unfortunate that you had the blood test after taking the increased

dose. It is best not to take thyroid meds on the day of a blood test until

after blood had been drawn as this can make the results look higher that

they are leading to undermedication, but this is less pronounced with

liothyronine(T4) than other thyroid meds. As you dose increases you may well

find that T4 suits you perfectly well- it does for many people, but sadly

not all- that's where Armour comes in as it contains all the hormones a

healthy thyroid produces, but does have a slightly higher proportion of T3,

which is the active hormone, than humans have.

You doc is progressing very slowly it is more usual to have retests at 6

week intervals and dose increases until you get very near optimum ( a full

replacement dose is around 125 mcg T4.

Subject: Hi I am new -been on 50mg thyroxine for 6

months and just doubled it

Hi Everyone,

I first asked my GP to test me for low thyroid in 2005. My result then

was within the normal range. So I was offered more antidepressants and

told it wasn't my thyroid. They didn't test me for antibodies.

When I had my abnormal result my GP maintained that my problem was not

my thyroid but he went along with the consultant's advice to prescribe

50mg thyroxine. I also had a positive antibody test.

Also at this time my mother finally clued me in on the family history

of hypothyroidism; both my aunt and my grandmother are hypothyroid. My

aunt says she does fine on thyroxine but I am curious to know more

about Armour and the adrenal stuff and so on.

I have read 'Your Thyroid and How to Keep it Healthy - The great

Thyroid Scandal and How to Survive it' but I really value first hand

opinions of people with experience and I would be grateful for

any advice or just acknowledgment of my long and rambling fist post.

Thank you,

Jane

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I have ordered the Nutri Adrenal Extra and I will stop taking the

kelp. I think I misunderstood what I read about kelp.

I also misunderstood the adrenal part of the book I read. I didn't

think it related to me, but I did the questionnaire as you advised

and it seems I have severe adrenal fatigue.

Do I still need to take the saliva test now I know this? They seem

quite expensive and I would like to start taking the Nutri Adrenal

Extra as soon as it arrives.

If you think it is a worthwhile investment would you able to confirm

which one it is for me please because I wasn't sure when I looked at

the list. Is it the first one - Salivary Adrenal Stress Profile (4

samples : 8am; noon; 4pm and midnight) £69.00?

I would like to see a thyroid specialist as you suggest, do you know

of someone I can see in London?

I don't know what antibody test I had but I can find out more when I

see my GP in a week or so.

Thanks again

Jane

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for your message. I think the slow progress is is due my

diagnosis being 'sub-clinical hypothyroidism'. I have had one blood

test in the last six months which showed a drop in my TSH and my GP

seemed to be satisfied with that.

He was reluctant to treat my thyroid at all because my initial

abnormal blood test results were not far enough out of the normal

range to merit treatment in his opinion.

I expect I will follow the path of adrenal support and Armour. It is a

real comfort to know that you and the other knowledgeable people on

this forum are there to advise sufferers like me as we take these steps.

Jane

[Guest guest]

HI Jane

Considering you have done the Adrenal Questionnaire and scored quite high, I would save my pennies and go straight for the Nutri Adrenal Glandulars and see how you get on. Don't expect miracles overnight, it might take some time and some adjustment of dosage before you start feeling better.

I have sent you a list (privately) of doctors in London who do use combination therapy of synthetic T4/T3 or who use Armour Thyroid - and I hope you find a good one. Unfortunately I know little about their bed-side manner, but if they use the above products, they are more open minded than doctors within the NHS who follow the maionstream treatment protocol.

Luv - Sheila

I did the questionnaire as you advisedand it seems I have severe adrenal fatigue.Do I still need to take the saliva test now I know this? They seemquite expensive and I would like to start taking the Nutri AdrenalExtra as soon as it arrives.If you think it is a worthwhile investment would you able to confirmwhich one it is for me please because I wasn't sure when I looked atthe list. Is it the first one - Salivary Adrenal Stress Profile (4samples : 8am; noon; 4pm and midnight) £69.00?I would like to see a thyroid specialist as you suggest, do you knowof someone I can see in London?I don't know what antibody test I had but I can find out more when Isee my GP in a week or so.Thanks againJane

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Sheila, for this reply and the list of doctors.

I am feeling a mixture of depressed and hopeful now, if you can relate

to that.

I feel depressed partly because its a symptom but also because I feel

like I've confirmed that I have quite a serious condition to deal with

now.

On the other hand I feel hopeful because I know what I need to do

about it and I hope that the more I do the better I will feel. Then as

I start to feel better I expect I will be able to do more in terms of

diet and exercise to support my recovery.

At the moment it is all I can do to make it through a week at work and

have had quite a few days off sick. I don't want to take time off

because it is a new job and I like it very much.

By the way I am 36 years old, I just realised I hadn't mentioned that.

Best wishes

Jane

[Guest guest]

Most hypothyroids feel depressed and are told by the doctors they are depressed because their brain is not functioning as it should. This is a chemical problem and is caused because T3 isn't getting through the brain barrier to make the brain function properly. We get short term memory and 'brain fog' and because of that, naturally have feelings of depression. Read my responses to the BTA Statements on why we need T4/T3 combination therapy, and the many references to back up this evidence.

Keep your chin up, you are just on the beginning of the road leading to wellness. You have to take off a few side-turnings before you get to the end of the road, but we will talk you through everything you need to do, so if you get confused - and at times you will, as says "Just Holler"!

Luv - Sheila

Thanks Sheila, for this reply and the list of doctors. I am feeling a mixture of depressed and hopeful now, if you can relateto that. I feel depressed partly because its a symptom but also because I feellike I've confirmed that I have quite a serious condition to deal withnow.On the other hand I feel hopeful because I know what I need to doabout it and I hope that the more I do the better I will feel. Then asI start to feel better I expect I will be able to do more in terms ofdiet and exercise to support my recovery.At the moment it is all I can do to make it through a week at work andhave had quite a few days off sick. I don't want to take time offbecause it is a new job and I like it very much.By the way I am 36 years old, I just realised I hadn't mentioned that.Best wishesJane

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[Guest guest]

> At the moment it is all I can do to make it through a week at work and> have had quite a few days off sick. I don't want to take time off> because it is a new job and I like it very much.> > By the way I am 36 years old, I just realised I hadn't mentioned that.Hi JaneI can sympathise, I am 34 and on 100mcg T4. I just can't wait to get more energy and be able to do my job better and not feel so tired all the time. I'm very lucky, I work for a small company and the MD is diabetic so he is very understanding of endocrine disorders!At my last blood test my TSH had gone up!! I have two weeks before my next bloods and I will be very interested to see how that goes.Forgive me if you mentioned in another post, have you had your antibodies tested?Luv

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Its a bit late to reply to your post, sorry. I haven't been on the

forum for a while.

I have indeed had a positive antibody test but I never got the full

details of it.

This week I got in trouble at work for taking too much time off sick.

I have had five and half days off sick in the first three months of

this new job.

I fell ill (again) last week with a tummy bug which I picked up at

work. Unfortunately my message to say I had been sick all night wasn't

picked up so everyone thought I just hadn't turned up for several

hours. It wasn't entirely my fault but it looked really bad. I went in

for the afternoon because I was so worried about having too much time

off. I have been to work every day since but it has taken me a week to

get over the bug.

I also need to take time off for a complicated root canal at the

moment (teeth grinding at night has damaged my molars) so I am using

up annual leave in half days to attend the dental hospital, rather

than ask to have the time off granted like most people would for the

dentist.

My GP has referred me to a consultant endocrinologist (one from a list

that Sheila sent me) and my appointment is in a couple of weeks. Quite

quick by NHS standards. I will end up taking leave to attend this as

well I expect. It is hard to ask for understanding at a new job when

nobody knows me and I haven't had time to earn any brownie points yet.

So I end up pushing myself extra hard, staying late, delaying my lunch

(bad idea!) eating at my desk and generally overworking to try to make

up for the sick days/appointments. I feel defensive and stressed and

its not easy to make friends in that state.

Feeling a bit sorry for myself as you can see - feels good get it off

my chest.

Jane

[Guest guest]

HI Jane

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through so much, both physically and emotionally. Can you tell me whether you are taking any adrenal support? It really does help an awful lot if you can get your adrenals boosted, and I am sure your adrenal reserve must be very low. Have you done our 'Adrenal Questionnaire' (you will find it in our FILES) to see how you score. You can also get the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile to see where your DHEA and Cortisol are at four specific times during the day. Let us know how you score.

Have you talked to somebody in Personnel to explain your particular problems right at this moment. I am sure they would understand and try to help you through this. You should not have to take your valuable holiday time to attend medical appointments - after all, they will know that you cannot attend such clinics in the evening and need the time off work to do this.

Luv - Sheila

Hi ,Its a bit late to reply to your post, sorry. I haven't been on theforum for a while.I have indeed had a positive antibody test but I never got the fulldetails of it.This week I got in trouble at work for taking too much time off sick.I have had five and half days off sick in the first three months ofthis new job. I fell ill (again) last week with a tummy bug which I picked up atwork. Unfortunately my message to say I had been sick all night wasn'tpicked up so everyone thought I just hadn't turned up for severalhours. It wasn't entirely my fault but it looked really bad. I went infor the afternoon because I was so worried about having too much timeoff. I have been to work every day since but it has taken me a week toget over the bug.I also need to take time off for a complicated root canal at themoment (teeth grinding at night has damaged my molars) so I am usingup annual leave in half days to attend the dental hospital, ratherthan ask to have the time off granted like most people would for thedentist.My GP has referred me to a consultant endocrinologist (one from a listthat Sheila sent me) and my appointment is in a couple of weeks. Quitequick by NHS standards. I will end up taking leave to attend this aswell I expect. It is hard to ask for understanding at a new job whennobody knows me and I haven't had time to earn any brownie points yet.So I end up pushing myself extra hard, staying late, delaying my lunch(bad idea!) eating at my desk and generally overworking to try to makeup for the sick days/appointments. I feel defensive and stressed andits not easy to make friends in that state.Feeling a bit sorry for myself as you can see - feels good get it offmy chest.Jane

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[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

The questionnaire showed I have severe adrenal fatigue but I got the

tummy bug on the day I started the Nutri Adrenal Extra so I stopped

it. I will start it again now I am over the bug. I have heard that

caffeine stresses the adrenals is this true? I am weaning off it.

Its really awkward at work because my boss and most of my team are in

the US and the HR department in the UK are not really associated with

us. Maybe there is another HR person in the US who I can speak to -

one of my team in the US might know. I am thinking of one person in

particular on my team who has also needed a lot of time off lately. I

will ask him.

Thanks for the suggestion and I will let you know how I get on with

the NAE.

Best wishes

Jane

>

> HI Jane

>

> I am so sorry to hear that you are going through so much, both

physically and emotionally. Can you tell me whether you are taking any

adrenal support? It really does help an awful lot if you can get your

adrenals boosted, and I am sure your adrenal reserve must be very low.

Have you done our 'Adrenal Questionnaire' (you will find it in our

FILES) to see how you score. You can also get the 24 hour salivary

adrenal profile to see where your DHEA and Cortisol are at four

specific times during the day. Let us know how you score.

>

> Have you talked to somebody in Personnel to explain your particular

problems right at this moment. I am sure they would understand and try

to help you through this. You should not have to take your valuable

holiday time to attend medical appointments - after all, they will

know that you cannot attend such clinics in the evening and need the

time off work to do this.

>

> Luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane

Glad you are over the bug, just in the middle of one myself, we hypos

suffer longer as you know:(

//I have heard that

caffeine stresses the adrenals is this true? I am weaning off it.\\

Well done doing that, yes it does stress the adrenals, I still cannot

resist a cuppa T tho but should really. Do you find yourself very

sensitive to coffee? I certainly do.

Anyway nice to see you here and I am sure you will find some valuable

advice and support as have I.

luv and God bless

Dawnx

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn,

I hope you feel better soon. I didn't know about suffering from

illness for longer but it makes sense - I have been taking longer and

longer to get over illnesses for the past few years. I started back on

the Nutri Adrenal Extra today now I am fully recovered from the tummy bug.

I am trying hard to cut down on coffee because I do get quite a strong

effect from it and I know that must be bad for my adrenals. The

problem is that I often feel so tired that I feel like a strong coffee

is the only thing that will keep me going. Oh, the irony.

Thanks for your post. I am so glad to have found this forum.

Jane