Need Some Help, Please!

[Guest guest]

A little background; I am 56 years old, hysto in the late 1980's, no

HRT. I had radiation and chemo in 1998-99 for peri-anal cancer. I was

diagnosed with Hashi's about 5 yrs ago. I tried Synthroid with no

change in symptoms, then tried Armour. I could not tolerate even a

minute amount due to excruciating lower area back pain and other

problems.

I have recently developed a horrible ache across my mid back, just

below the bra strap, as well as across the upper part of the small of

my back (no kidney infection). My primary concerns are high blood

pressure, aching in my joints, bones and muscles, chronic

diarrhea/malabsorption, osteoporosis, thinning hair, dry cracking

skin, fatigue (huge eye bags that are now turning into huge red rings

around my eyes!), insomnia (even with the use of prescription meds),

brain fog/memory problems, unexplained weight gain, husky voice,

nausea especially in the early morning, extreme mood changes mainly

in the past year, cold all the time (low fluctuating body temps),

etc. I supplement with sea salt, vitamins, and extra B's, C, D,

magnesium, selenium and iron.

Of the following tests, the endo said all were " normal " . When I

asked about all of my concerns, he had no answers. He also does not

believe in saliva testing, although when I made the appt, he said

that AF was his specialty.

10/11/2007, Cortisol stim test (Cosyntropin)

11:30 a.m., baseline 8.4 mcg/dL

12:00 noon, 25.5 mcg/dL

12:30 p.m., 27.7 mcg/dL

Reference range 7-9A, 4.0-22.0

Reference range 3-5P, 3.0-17.0

09/24/2007, Dexamethasone Suppression Test (took dex every 6 hrs for

48 hrs, then had blood drawn within 2 hrs of last dose):

11:30 a.m., cortisol, total 0.9 (L)

Range 7-9A, 4.0-22.0

Range 3-5P, 3.0-17.0

FT4: 0.69; range 0.54-1.24

FT3: 327; range 230-420

TSH: 1.75; range 0.34-5.6

TSI: 87; range <=125% baseline

Thyroglobulin Antibodies; high; range <20

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies; high; range <35

07/17/2007; Saliva Testing (Diagnostech)

7-8A; 25, elevated, range 13-24

11-12N, 4, depressed, range 5-10

4-5P, 3, normal, range 3-8

11-12M, 2, normal, range 1-4

Cortisol Burden 34, range 23-42

DHEA, 3, borderline, range 3-10

fTSH, 42, range 26-85

fT4, 0.25, range 0.17-0.42

fT3, 0.29, range 0.28-1.10

I realize this is quite long (sorry), so will only add the following

info:

Aldosterone and renin also tested low.

A1C, 5.5, range 4.2-5.8

FSH, 85.8, range 23-116.3

Potassium, 3.8, range 3.5-5.1

Iron, 56, range 35-150

Vit D, 16.8 (L), range 32-100

B-12, 318, range 211-911

Sodium, 137, range 136-145

I had not taken any sea salt and had restricted my salt intake for

several days before these tests, and most of them (including the

renin/aldosterone) were fasting.

I spoke with a moderator on another forum, and he advised that with

my cortisol stim test more than tripling, it shows I have secondary

AI, and that my low DHEA also supports secondary.

I was not on cortisol replacement when I had problems trying to start

Armour, as I have not been able to find a doc who will prescribe HC.

I have tried PS, and it raised my BP even further.

I have recently moved from North Carolina to Texas (just north of

Austin), and know that I need to find a good doc who will hopefully

accept insurance, if anyone knows of such a person.

I am tired of feeling lousy, and getting worse by the day, and there

must be an answer somewhere. I am also tired of the docs brushing me

off and treating me like I'm a hypochondriac or something! Any

thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!