Guest guest Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Hi ! I don't have a chemical answer to your question, but I thought you could use a virtual *hug*. Also, this is what my endocrinologist told me about depression-- he said that T3 does improve mood, but my secondary problem with depression (as he described it) probably has everything to do with just the fact of being sick. This may not help you much, but I have been meditating every morning, and I have found that it improves my ability to function throughout my day by degrees. How does one meditate? You sit in a comfortable position in a quiet room (you can meditate anywhere, but I haven't tried that yet.). Next, you try to focus your thoughts into some sort of single thought, then you repeat that thought until everything else in your mind recedes. Sometimes its harder than you think. The single thought I use is " happiness " on the in-breath and " wellness " on the out-breath. The most I can do this for is ten minutes, and the least I do it for is five. It may seem kind of airy-fairy but I have really found it to work. My thoughts go out to you... Best wishes-- Courtenay. Could somebody please explain to me what it means when the Free T3 level is above range? Does the Free T3 indicate the amount of T3 that is circulating in your blood, meaning that the cells are not able to absorb it? So perhaps, in the future, as my cells begin to heal, that number might go down as I am able to absorb more of it? Also, I thought T3 was the hormone that was most useful in the brain for improving mood. If that is so, why am I still feeling so much depression? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Hi ! I don't have a chemical answer to your question, but I thought you could use a virtual *hug*. Also, this is what my endocrinologist told me about depression-- he said that T3 does improve mood, but my secondary problem with depression (as he described it) probably has everything to do with just the fact of being sick. This may not help you much, but I have been meditating every morning, and I have found that it improves my ability to function throughout my day by degrees. How does one meditate? You sit in a comfortable position in a quiet room (you can meditate anywhere, but I haven't tried that yet.). Next, you try to focus your thoughts into some sort of single thought, then you repeat that thought until everything else in your mind recedes. Sometimes its harder than you think. The single thought I use is " happiness " on the in-breath and " wellness " on the out-breath. The most I can do this for is ten minutes, and the least I do it for is five. It may seem kind of airy-fairy but I have really found it to work. My thoughts go out to you... Best wishes-- Courtenay. Could somebody please explain to me what it means when the Free T3 level is above range? Does the Free T3 indicate the amount of T3 that is circulating in your blood, meaning that the cells are not able to absorb it? So perhaps, in the future, as my cells begin to heal, that number might go down as I am able to absorb more of it? Also, I thought T3 was the hormone that was most useful in the brain for improving mood. If that is so, why am I still feeling so much depression? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 My guess is that you have low cortisol and therefore have developed T3 resistance. If you have adrenal fatigue, then T3 cannot get into cells and builds up in the blood. This would result in you not feeling well and also in depression. When It happens to me, I get morose and hopeless feelings and fatigue, sometimes shakey muscle movements, weakness, and headache. This can happen by making a recent thyroid dose raise that wipes out your adrenals, having a recent stressfull event, or having a recent illness like a cold of flue or intestinal upset. If your overall thyroid dose is below about 4 grains, then it is most likely low cortisol that is the cause. The healthy thyroid makes about 4-1/2 to 5 grains a day (this varies a lot among people). You cannot overdose on less than your healthy thyroid would make because your body adjusts thryoid output down by whatever you are taking less than it needs. So, if your dose is a typical meager, less than about 3 grains, the problem is adrenal most likely. A few other health issues can also make the body unable to use T3. One is anemia and low iron. Another is a too low of carbohydrate diet. Another is protien levels that are too low. But, by far the most common cause is low cortisol. Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Thanks for your reply, Tish. I'm sure you're right about the cortisol and iron. My last ferritin was 15. And I'm only taking 5mg of hydrocortisone a day. I'm having terrible stomach problems with iron and with the hydrocortisone in the evening, even if I take omeprazole, which I have been doing faithfully for months. It's aggravating, but I had 2 ulcers last year and don't want to go there again. I'm looking around for Ferrochel iron chelate (heard it was easier on the stomach), but still taking my liquid iron, but have cut it down to 1/2 tsp. every other day. I also recently had a dose increase. Went from 90mg Armour to 105mg two weeks ago and now up to 120mg so it all makes sense. Since I can't tolerate the hydrocortisone in the evening, would it make sense to try taking 2 doses of 2.5mg twice a day for a total of 10mg a day, rather than 1 dose of 2.5mg twice a day for a total of 5mg? What do you think? Thank you. > > My guess is that you have low cortisol and therefore have developed > T3 resistance. If you have adrenal fatigue, then T3 cannot get into > cells and builds up in the blood. This would result in you not > feeling well and also in depression. When It happens to me, I get > morose and hopeless feelings and fatigue, sometimes shakey muscle > movements, weakness, and headache. > > This can happen by making a recent thyroid dose raise that wipes out > your adrenals, having a recent stressfull event, or having a recent > illness like a cold of flue or intestinal upset. > > If your overall thyroid dose is below about 4 grains, then it is > most likely low cortisol that is the cause. The healthy thyroid > makes about 4-1/2 to 5 grains a day (this varies a lot among > people). You cannot overdose on less than your healthy thyroid would > make because your body adjusts thryoid output down by whatever you > are taking less than it needs. So, if your dose is a typical meager, > less than about 3 grains, the problem is adrenal most likely. > > A few other health issues can also make the body unable to use T3. > One is anemia and low iron. Another is a too low of carbohydrate > diet. Another is protien levels that are too low. But, by far the > most common cause is low cortisol. > > Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Thanks for your reply, Tish. I'm sure you're right about the cortisol and iron. My last ferritin was 15. And I'm only taking 5mg of hydrocortisone a day. I'm having terrible stomach problems with iron and with the hydrocortisone in the evening, even if I take omeprazole, which I have been doing faithfully for months. It's aggravating, but I had 2 ulcers last year and don't want to go there again. I'm looking around for Ferrochel iron chelate (heard it was easier on the stomach), but still taking my liquid iron, but have cut it down to 1/2 tsp. every other day. I also recently had a dose increase. Went from 90mg Armour to 105mg two weeks ago and now up to 120mg so it all makes sense. Since I can't tolerate the hydrocortisone in the evening, would it make sense to try taking 2 doses of 2.5mg twice a day for a total of 10mg a day, rather than 1 dose of 2.5mg twice a day for a total of 5mg? What do you think? Thank you. > > My guess is that you have low cortisol and therefore have developed > T3 resistance. If you have adrenal fatigue, then T3 cannot get into > cells and builds up in the blood. This would result in you not > feeling well and also in depression. When It happens to me, I get > morose and hopeless feelings and fatigue, sometimes shakey muscle > movements, weakness, and headache. > > This can happen by making a recent thyroid dose raise that wipes out > your adrenals, having a recent stressfull event, or having a recent > illness like a cold of flue or intestinal upset. > > If your overall thyroid dose is below about 4 grains, then it is > most likely low cortisol that is the cause. The healthy thyroid > makes about 4-1/2 to 5 grains a day (this varies a lot among > people). You cannot overdose on less than your healthy thyroid would > make because your body adjusts thryoid output down by whatever you > are taking less than it needs. So, if your dose is a typical meager, > less than about 3 grains, the problem is adrenal most likely. > > A few other health issues can also make the body unable to use T3. > One is anemia and low iron. Another is a too low of carbohydrate > diet. Another is protien levels that are too low. But, by far the > most common cause is low cortisol. > > Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Cortisol or hydrocortison has a short life in the body and any dose you take will be mostly used up in 4 hours. Most doctors who do this treatment, and people who work with it, tell patients to take a dose every 4 hours about or 4 doses of equal size evenly divided in the day. This is the most effective way to do it according to research. Do not miss doses and be very regular. Otherwise the adrenals can get overly stressed. Also, adrenal support is commonly done in doses of 10 to 20 mg a day. Many people do not get much benifit from 10mg and do best starting at 20 and then tapering down later. The healthy human adrenal makes 35 to 40 mg a day and you cannot overdose on any less because the body drops production by whatever it doesn't need to keep levels in the body right. A solution for the stomach problem is to switch to IsoCort or Nutri+meds. They are easier on the stomach. I could not tolerate Cortef either. I now use IsoCort and dissolve it under my tongue. It is bitter, but I like it. IsoCort contains 2-1/2 mg cortisol per tablet, Nutri+meds adrenal has about 4 or 5 mg. You could also try a synthetic like Prednisone. It is a once a day dose and the dose needed is a lot lower because it breaks down very slowly. Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Cortisol or hydrocortison has a short life in the body and any dose you take will be mostly used up in 4 hours. Most doctors who do this treatment, and people who work with it, tell patients to take a dose every 4 hours about or 4 doses of equal size evenly divided in the day. This is the most effective way to do it according to research. Do not miss doses and be very regular. Otherwise the adrenals can get overly stressed. Also, adrenal support is commonly done in doses of 10 to 20 mg a day. Many people do not get much benifit from 10mg and do best starting at 20 and then tapering down later. The healthy human adrenal makes 35 to 40 mg a day and you cannot overdose on any less because the body drops production by whatever it doesn't need to keep levels in the body right. A solution for the stomach problem is to switch to IsoCort or Nutri+meds. They are easier on the stomach. I could not tolerate Cortef either. I now use IsoCort and dissolve it under my tongue. It is bitter, but I like it. IsoCort contains 2-1/2 mg cortisol per tablet, Nutri+meds adrenal has about 4 or 5 mg. You could also try a synthetic like Prednisone. It is a once a day dose and the dose needed is a lot lower because it breaks down very slowly. Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Thanks, Tish. If I keep having problems with the hydrocortisone I may ask my doctor about trying IsoCort, but I don't know if it decreases antibodies the way that hydrocortisone does. How many tablets do you take in a day? Is that the sheep adrenal? (Baaaaaa) > > Cortisol or hydrocortison has a short life in the body and any dose > you take will be mostly used up in 4 hours. Most doctors who do this > treatment, and people who work with it, tell patients to take a dose > every 4 hours about or 4 doses of equal size evenly divided in the > day. This is the most effective way to do it according to research. > Do not miss doses and be very regular. Otherwise the adrenals can > get overly stressed. Also, adrenal support is commonly done in doses > of 10 to 20 mg a day. Many people do not get much benifit from 10mg > and do best starting at 20 and then tapering down later. The healthy > human adrenal makes 35 to 40 mg a day and you cannot overdose on any > less because the body drops production by whatever it doesn't need > to keep levels in the body right. > > A solution for the stomach problem is to switch to IsoCort or > Nutri+meds. They are easier on the stomach. I could not tolerate > Cortef either. I now use IsoCort and dissolve it under my tongue. It > is bitter, but I like it. IsoCort contains 2-1/2 mg cortisol per > tablet, Nutri+meds adrenal has about 4 or 5 mg. You could also try a > synthetic like Prednisone. It is a once a day dose and the dose > needed is a lot lower because it breaks down very slowly. > > Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Thanks, Tish. If I keep having problems with the hydrocortisone I may ask my doctor about trying IsoCort, but I don't know if it decreases antibodies the way that hydrocortisone does. How many tablets do you take in a day? Is that the sheep adrenal? (Baaaaaa) > > Cortisol or hydrocortison has a short life in the body and any dose > you take will be mostly used up in 4 hours. Most doctors who do this > treatment, and people who work with it, tell patients to take a dose > every 4 hours about or 4 doses of equal size evenly divided in the > day. This is the most effective way to do it according to research. > Do not miss doses and be very regular. Otherwise the adrenals can > get overly stressed. Also, adrenal support is commonly done in doses > of 10 to 20 mg a day. Many people do not get much benifit from 10mg > and do best starting at 20 and then tapering down later. The healthy > human adrenal makes 35 to 40 mg a day and you cannot overdose on any > less because the body drops production by whatever it doesn't need > to keep levels in the body right. > > A solution for the stomach problem is to switch to IsoCort or > Nutri+meds. They are easier on the stomach. I could not tolerate > Cortef either. I now use IsoCort and dissolve it under my tongue. It > is bitter, but I like it. IsoCort contains 2-1/2 mg cortisol per > tablet, Nutri+meds adrenal has about 4 or 5 mg. You could also try a > synthetic like Prednisone. It is a once a day dose and the dose > needed is a lot lower because it breaks down very slowly. > > Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Thanks, Tish. If I keep having problems with the hydrocortisone I may ask my doctor about trying IsoCort, but I don't know if it decreases antibodies the way that hydrocortisone does. How many tablets do you take in a day? Is that the sheep adrenal? (Baaaaaa) > > Cortisol or hydrocortison has a short life in the body and any dose > you take will be mostly used up in 4 hours. Most doctors who do this > treatment, and people who work with it, tell patients to take a dose > every 4 hours about or 4 doses of equal size evenly divided in the > day. This is the most effective way to do it according to research. > Do not miss doses and be very regular. Otherwise the adrenals can > get overly stressed. Also, adrenal support is commonly done in doses > of 10 to 20 mg a day. Many people do not get much benifit from 10mg > and do best starting at 20 and then tapering down later. The healthy > human adrenal makes 35 to 40 mg a day and you cannot overdose on any > less because the body drops production by whatever it doesn't need > to keep levels in the body right. > > A solution for the stomach problem is to switch to IsoCort or > Nutri+meds. They are easier on the stomach. I could not tolerate > Cortef either. I now use IsoCort and dissolve it under my tongue. It > is bitter, but I like it. IsoCort contains 2-1/2 mg cortisol per > tablet, Nutri+meds adrenal has about 4 or 5 mg. You could also try a > synthetic like Prednisone. It is a once a day dose and the dose > needed is a lot lower because it breaks down very slowly. > > Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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