Guest guest Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Just the TSH does not tell us much, except that that is probably all the doc is looking at. Not a good sign. Does she know that you still are not feeling any better?Natasha Holden wrote: bump natashalamar wrote: I went to the doctor Monday for my 8 week follow-up and here are the results:On May 10th:TSH 8.102 (0.35-5.5)After 8 weeks of 75mcg Synthroid:TSH 0.496 I believe the same scale. She is mailing the results to me.They are keeping me on the same prescription. What do you all think? I swear she said she was going to test the Free T3s and T4s, but I am guessing the nurse just didn't tell me. That's why I asked them to mail the results. I was pretty shocked that it went down that much. As far as symptoms, I haven't seen much change, so I am guessing it will just take a while.Thanks,Natasha __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Yes, I tried to tell her that I wasn't feeling better and I even have some new or worsening symptoms. She just said that the levels are showing normal and that the meds should help, not make it worse. That kinda brought up a red flag for me. I didn't like being dismissed like that. Anywho, I am looking at the docs on the website. Do you have a Houston-area doc that you really like? I really trust your opinion. Thanks in advance, NatashaJan wrote: Just the TSH does not tell us much, except that that is probably all the doc is looking at. Not a good sign. Does she know that you still are not feeling any better?Natasha Holden wrote: bump natashalamar wrote: I went to the doctor Monday for my 8 week follow-up and here are the results:On May 10th:TSH 8.102 (0.35-5.5)After 8 weeks of 75mcg Synthroid:TSH 0.496 I believe the same scale. She is mailing the results to me.They are keeping me on the same prescription. What do you all think? I swear she said she was going to test the Free T3s and T4s, but I am guessing the nurse just didn't tell me. That's why I asked them to mail the results. I was pretty shocked that it went down that much. As far as symptoms, I haven't seen much change, so I am guessing it will just take a while.Thanks,Natasha __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Hi Applegirl, I was excited to read your post due both to your good progress and your use of PS for the corisol. I have tried to find posts from someone who is taking this stuff for cortisol problems, but no luck. I had hoped it would "even out" cortisol output so it's not low in AM but high in PM. Now, after reading your post, I wonder if it's the culprit. PS takes a few weeks to work as I understand it and supposedly makes the pituitary axis more sensitive to ACTH--that is, your body won't release as much cortisol in response to the ACTH your pituitary sends out. I didn't know if this would makes things better or worse overall, but maybe for you it is making things worse. If your cortisol is getting lower, that would explain your feeling worse the past few weeks. Of course, maybe you are just one of those people who need to have their free T3 and T4 a bit over range. Have you had labs again? Maybe you could discuss stopping the PS. It will take a few weeks, I think, to stop working. You could see if that alone improves you before adjusting Armour. Then you would know if that is the culprit or not. I Hopefully someone else with more experience will chime in here. Kathleen Latest labs Hi everyone. I thought I had found a good doctor here in Amarillo, but I wanted to wait and see if things continued to go well before recommending him to others. He diagnosed me with hypothyroidism, perimenopause and low cortisol through a saliva test. Here are the blood labs I have had up to now.8/21/06 (done through an online service)TSH 1.870 uIU/mL 0.350 - 5.500Free T4 1.22 ng/dL 0.61 - 1.76Free T3 2.8 pg/mL 2.3 - 4.22/23/07 (through doctor)TSH 0.80 mIU/mL 0.34 - 5.60Free T4 0.91 ng/mL 0.58 - 1.64Free T3 3.96 pg/mL 2.5 - 3.94/16/07 (through doctor)TSH 0.03 mIU/mL 0.34 - 5.60Free T4 1.20 ng/mL 0.58 - 1.64Free T3 3.77 pg/mL 2.5 - 3.9After my initial tests, the doctor prescribed 0.5 GR of Armour for 2 weeks, then increased to 1 GR for 2 more weeks, then he checked my labs again. When those results came in, he kept me on 1 GR, which seemed to keep my symptoms under control. He also had me start on a progesterone cream for the perimenopause, and had me take 100 mg of Phosphatidyl Serine for 2 months for my low cortisol levels. Over the past 3 weeks, I have started to have symptoms again, and feel like I am quickly slipping back to where I was before I started the Armour. The doctor checked my labs again on 4/16/07, but he decided not to change my medication. Can you give me some input as to if I need to find another doctor?Thank you all,applegirl No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/776 - Release Date: 4/25/2007 12:19 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Did you take your meds before the blood draw? If so how long? You are probably undermedicated. Have you asked him for an increase? applegirl016 wrote: Hi everyone. I thought I had found a good doctor here in Amarillo, but I wanted to wait and see if things continued to go well before recommending him to others. He diagnosed me with hypothyroidism, perimenopause and low cortisol through a saliva test. Here are the blood labs I have had up to now.8/21/06 (done through an online service)TSH 1.870 uIU/mL 0.350 - 5.500Free T4 1.22 ng/dL 0.61 - 1.76Free T3 2.8 pg/mL 2.3 - 4.22/23/07 (through doctor)TSH 0.80 mIU/mL 0.34 - 5.60Free T4 0.91 ng/mL 0.58 - 1.64Free T3 3.96 pg/mL 2.5 - 3.94/16/07 (through doctor)TSH 0.03 mIU/mL 0.34 - 5.60Free T4 1.20 ng/mL 0.58 - 1.64Free T3 3.77 pg/mL 2.5 - 3.9After my initial tests, the doctor prescribed 0.5 GR of Armour for 2 weeks, then increased to 1 GR for 2 more weeks, then he checked my labs again. When those results came in, he kept me on 1 GR, which seemed to keep my symptoms under control. He also had me start on a progesterone cream for the perimenopause, and had me take 100 mg of Phosphatidyl Serine for 2 months for my low cortisol levels. Over the past 3 weeks, I have started to have symptoms again, and feel like I am quickly slipping back to where I was before I started the Armour. The doctor checked my labs again on 4/16/07, but he decided not to change my medication. Can you give me some input as to if I need to find another doctor?Thank you all,applegirl Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Jan, Do you have any thoughts on the PS affecting her cortisol levels? If her cortisol is too low, wouldn't that also possibly make her feel worse after increasing the Armour dose? Just trying to learn here... Thanks, Kathleen Re: Latest labs Did you take your meds before the blood draw? If so how long? You are probably undermedicated. Have you asked him for an increase? applegirl016 <applegirl016> wrote: Hi everyone. I thought I had found a good doctor here in Amarillo, but I wanted to wait and see if things continued to go well before recommending him to others. He diagnosed me with hypothyroidism, perimenopause and low cortisol through a saliva test. Here are the blood labs I have had up to now.8/21/06 (done through an online service)TSH 1.870 uIU/mL 0.350 - 5.500Free T4 1.22 ng/dL 0.61 - 1.76Free T3 2.8 pg/mL 2.3 - 4.22/23/07 (through doctor)TSH 0.80 mIU/mL 0.34 - 5.60Free T4 0.91 ng/mL 0.58 - 1.64Free T3 3.96 pg/mL 2.5 - 3.94/16/07 (through doctor)TSH 0.03 mIU/mL 0.34 - 5.60Free T4 1.20 ng/mL 0.58 - 1.64Free T3 3.77 pg/mL 2.5 - 3.9After my initial tests, the doctor prescribed 0.5 GR of Armour for 2 weeks, then increased to 1 GR for 2 more weeks, then he checked my labs again. When those results came in, he kept me on 1 GR, which seemed to keep my symptoms under control. He also had me start on a progesterone cream for the perimenopause, and had me take 100 mg of Phosphatidyl Serine for 2 months for my low cortisol levels. Over the past 3 weeks, I have started to have symptoms again, and feel like I am quickly slipping back to where I was before I started the Armour. The doctor checked my labs again on 4/16/07, but he decided not to change my medication. Can you give me some input as to if I need to find another doctor?Thank you all,applegirl Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/776 - Release Date: 4/25/2007 12:19 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 Hi Kathleen, My cortisol was incredibly high in the morning, and then low the rest of the day. I took the PS through January and February. He only wanted me to take it for a couple of months. The last labs I had done on April 16th would have shown the PS being out of my system completely. I'm not sure if it helped me or not, because the PS is soy based, and I am allergic to soy. Figures, huh? Thanks so much for your response. Applegirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 Hi Jan, I did take my Armour the day of the test. I took it about 8 am, and the blood draw was around 2:30 that afternoon. I was looking to increase my medication, but the doctor said no. He said my TSH was " really low " , and the other levels were at the top end of the range, so he wasn't going to change anything. I was really disappointed when I realized that he was not going to go by my symptoms. He seems somewhat knowledgeable about thyroid conditions, but I believe he may not know as much as I wanted to give him credit for at our first appointment. Thanks for your reply. Applegirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 I have no experience with PS and do not know how it is supposed to work. Kathleen wrote: Jan, Do you have any thoughts on the PS affecting her cortisol levels? If her cortisol is too low, wouldn't that also possibly make her feel worse after increasing the Armour dose? Just trying to learn here... Thanks, Kathleen Re: Latest labs Did you take your meds before the blood draw? If so how long? You are probably undermedicated. Have you asked him for an increase? applegirl016 <applegirl016> wrote: Hi everyone. I thought I had found a good doctor here in Amarillo, but I wanted to wait and see if things continued to go well before recommending him to others. He diagnosed me with hypothyroidism, perimenopause and low cortisol through a saliva test. Here are the blood labs I have had up to now.8/21/06 (done through an online service)TSH 1.870 uIU/mL 0.350 - 5.500Free T4 1.22 ng/dL 0.61 - 1.76Free T3 2.8 pg/mL 2.3 - 4.22/23/07 (through doctor)TSH 0.80 mIU/mL 0.34 - 5.60Free T4 0.91 ng/mL 0.58 - 1.64Free T3 3.96 pg/mL 2.5 - 3.94/16/07 (through doctor)TSH 0.03 mIU/mL 0.34 - 5.60Free T4 1.20 ng/mL 0.58 - 1.64Free T3 3.77 pg/mL 2.5 - 3.9After my initial tests, the doctor prescribed 0.5 GR of Armour for 2 weeks, then increased to 1 GR for 2 more weeks, then he checked my labs again. When those results came in, he kept me on 1 GR, which seemed to keep my symptoms under control. He also had me start on a progesterone cream for the perimenopause, and had me take 100 mg of Phosphatidyl Serine for 2 months for my low cortisol levels. Over the past 3 weeks, I have started to have symptoms again, and feel like I am quickly slipping back to where I was before I started the Armour. The doctor checked my labs again on 4/16/07, but he decided not to change my medication. Can you give me some input as to if I need to find another doctor?Thank you all,applegirl Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 Hi Applegirl, Oh, okay then about the labs. The one person I know of who said it helped her had adrenal insufficiency. I assume she got too high at night, because she was able to sleep through the night (for the first time!) after taking the PS several weeks. I guess if it helped you, your cortisol labs would reflect that. Did you ever get them tested again afterward? Too bad you are allergic to soy, though. I avoid soy because I apparently can't digest it very well and it makes me congested. But that's only if I eat or drink it. The small amounts in pills doesn't bother me. Kathleen Re: Latest labs Hi Kathleen,My cortisol was incredibly high in the morning, and then low the rest of the day. I took the PS through January and February. He only wanted me to take it for a couple of months. The last labs I had done on April 16th would have shown the PS being out of my system completely. I'm not sure if it helped me or not, because the PS is soy based, and I am allergic to soy. Figures, huh?Thanks so much for your response.Applegirl No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/776 - Release Date: 4/25/2007 12:19 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 Please write him up in the database before you kick him to the curb. I thought your levels looked awfully high for that tiny dose of Armour. In the future, try to get your blood drawn first thing in the morning and take your meds after. It will not affect your TSH either way, but you will get a more accurate picture of your Free T3 and Free T4. applegirl016 wrote: Hi Jan,I did take my Armour the day of the test. I took it about 8 am, and the blood draw was around 2:30 that afternoon.I was looking to increase my medication, but the doctor said no. He said my TSH was "really low", and the other levels were at the top end of the range, so he wasn't going to change anything. I was really disappointed when I realized that he was not going to go by my symptoms. He seems somewhat knowledgeable about thyroid conditions, but I believe he may not know as much as I wanted to give him credit for at our first appointment.Thanks for your reply.Applegirl Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 Hi Kathleen, My adrenal surge happened about 3 or 4 am, and then I crashed for the rest of the day. Most evenings I was asleep on the couch for anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. My doctor has not retested my cortisol levels, so I don't really know where they stand right now. I have tons of food allergies, and soy is my biggest problem. The pills caused me to have excema, as well as some congestion, but it wasn't too much to deal with for a couple of months. Applegirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Hi applegirl, Just jumping in to say that I take PS (300 mg), too, because saliva tests showed that my cortisol was in " normal " range during the day but about 800% over range at night. I've noticed two things: 1) if I take the PS in the afternoon or evening, I am pleasantly awake all night. Then I found some information on line that said it should be taken early in the day. And that works for me. 2) where I am in my menstrual determines whether or not the PS works. If I am pre-menstrual, it doesn't work. My major symptom is an increasing heart rate as I was falling asleep, followed by very unrestful sleep. I also need progesterone to sleep moderately well. PS itself it not supposed to lower our cortisol directly, rather it makes our bodies more sensitive to cortisol our body produce. Then, in one of those complex hormonal feedback systems our bodies seem so found of, when the body " senses " that enough cortisol has been produced and begins producing less. Your adrenal surge sounds different than what I have experienced. But it seems to me that if you already have low cortisol, and taking PS helps your body produce less, conserving it, that would be a beneficial thing. good health to you, kidbobo > > Hi Kathleen, > > My adrenal surge happened about 3 or 4 am, and then I crashed for the rest of the day. > Most evenings I was asleep on the couch for anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. My doctor has > not retested my cortisol levels, so I don't really know where they stand right now. > > I have tons of food allergies, and soy is my biggest problem. The pills caused me to have > excema, as well as some congestion, but it wasn't too much to deal with for a couple of > months. > > Applegirl > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Soy will interfere with your thyroid medication and is unsuitable for hypothyroid patients regardless of allergies.applegirl016 wrote: Hi Kathleen,My adrenal surge happened about 3 or 4 am, and then I crashed for the rest of the day. Most evenings I was asleep on the couch for anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. My doctor has not retested my cortisol levels, so I don't really know where they stand right now.I have tons of food allergies, and soy is my biggest problem. The pills caused me to have excema, as well as some congestion, but it wasn't too much to deal with for a couple of months.Applegirl Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Actually, all my vitamins/supplements claim to be soy free, so I should be okay. Re: Re: Latest labs Soy will interfere with your thyroid medication and is unsuitable for hypothyroid patients regardless of allergies.applegirl016 <applegirl016> wrote: Hi Kathleen,My adrenal surge happened about 3 or 4 am, and then I crashed for the rest of the day. Most evenings I was asleep on the couch for anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. My doctor has not retested my cortisol levels, so I don't really know where they stand right now.I have tons of food allergies, and soy is my biggest problem. The pills caused me to have excema, as well as some congestion, but it wasn't too much to deal with for a couple of months.Applegirl Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/778 - Release Date: 4/27/2007 1:39 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Hi kidbobo, Thanks for the info on PS. I am going to check about having my cortisol levels checked again. I kind of feel like I'm in a holding pattern right now, but hopefully something will change soon, and I can start to get a handle on my condition again. Applegirl > > > > Hi Kathleen, > > > > My adrenal surge happened about 3 or 4 am, and then I crashed for > the rest of the day. > > Most evenings I was asleep on the couch for anywhere from 1 to 3 > hours. My doctor has > > not retested my cortisol levels, so I don't really know where they > stand right now. > > > > I have tons of food allergies, and soy is my biggest problem. The > pills caused me to have > > excema, as well as some congestion, but it wasn't too much to deal > with for a couple of > > months. > > > > Applegirl > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Hi applegirl, Wishing you a good visit with your doc. kidbobo > > > > > > Hi Kathleen, > > > > > > My adrenal surge happened about 3 or 4 am, and then I crashed for > > the rest of the day. > > > Most evenings I was asleep on the couch for anywhere from 1 to 3 > > hours. My doctor has > > > not retested my cortisol levels, so I don't really know where they > > stand right now. > > > > > > I have tons of food allergies, and soy is my biggest problem. The > > pills caused me to have > > > excema, as well as some congestion, but it wasn't too much to deal > > with for a couple of > > > months. > > > > > > Applegirl > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 I will be interested to know how the PS works for you, if you try it. And, of course, I really hope that you feel better soon and get a handle on things. Kathleen Re: Latest labs Hi kidbobo,Thanks for the info on PS. I am going to check about having my cortisol levels checked again. I kind of feel like I'm in a holding pattern right now, but hopefully something will change soon, and I can start to get a handle on my condition again.Applegirl> >> > Hi Kathleen,> > > > My adrenal surge happened about 3 or 4 am, and then I crashed for> the rest of the day. > > Most evenings I was asleep on the couch for anywhere from 1 to 3> hours. My doctor has > > not retested my cortisol levels, so I don't really know where they> stand right now.> > > > I have tons of food allergies, and soy is my biggest problem. The> pills caused me to have > > excema, as well as some congestion, but it wasn't too much to deal> with for a couple of > > months.> > > > Applegirl> >> No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/781 - Release Date: 4/30/2007 9:14 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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