Re: and others---here's my theory about my problem--Comments??

[Guest guest]

The adrenals are the major hormone producers after the ovaries have

declined in their production following menopause. So, if the

adrenals are stressed, they cannot make hormones, estrogen,

progesterone, testostrone and others as ovarian function declines.

Low progesterone and estrogen are quite common in adrenal fatigue.

Women who have had total hysterectomies have been found to have 1/2

of the normal DHEA production, and Testosterone is very low along

with the other hormones. This is why hysterectomy is an option for

breast cancer. It is acknowledged that the adrenals play major role

in hormone production in women, especially after menaopause. They

are in a feedback loop with the ovaries and are often overburdened

at menopause in their attempt to replace the hormones the ovaries

are no longer making.

Both my estrogen and progesterone went to next to nothing when I

started thyroid treatment and had terrible adrenal issues. I lost my

cycle completely for several months. Prior to thyroid treatment, I

had estrogen off the top of the charts and low progesterone.

Progesterone is lost in hypothyroidism due in part to the ability of

the adrenals to use it to make cortisol. Demands for cortisol in

hypothyroidism are very high. Another thing that depletes

progesterone is the effect of hypothyroidism on the brain, which in

turn causes a shortening of the Leuteal or progesterone cycle so

that progesterone does not rise in the system untill later than it

should and it rises to a lower level than it should. Estrogen goes

high in hypothyroidism due to greater amounts of estrone being made

in tissues to deal with the damage being done by low thyroid

function. Estrogens are a stress hormone used by the body to help

cells stay hydrated when they are damaged or sick.

I did not replace any estrogen as I had estrogen dependent uterine

fibroids. I refused my doctor's request that I take it. I also did

not use progesterone because for some reason I had developed a

sensitivity to the creams and they made me sick. But, after about a

year, everything seemed to have normalized a lot and I only now have

occasional days in the month when I know they are too low and it

just interferes with my sleep a little. I am 51. So, I think with

proper thyroid treatment, eventually the hormone situation gets

better.

Circulating thyroid hormone controls the size and output of the

adrenals. So, if hypothyroidism has gone on a long time or if you

have been undertreated a long time, the adrenals become weak and

cannot function to full capacity. Often you can get by like this

because the breakdown and removal of these hormones is also slowed

in hypothyroidism due to everthing being slowed down. But, the

moment you give thyroid, things begin to move more normally and

hromones will leave the system at a faster rate. This is when the

low hormone and adrenal issues will show up. Because the adrenals

are weak they cannot meet the needs of the body that has been moved

to a higher metabolic rate with thyroid and therefore needs more of

everything. Losses from the system are increased also, making it

doubly hard for the adrenals to keep up. So, very often many

hormones decline quite low in early thyroid treatment.

Tish

[Guest guest]

The adrenals are the major hormone producers after the ovaries have

declined in their production following menopause. So, if the

adrenals are stressed, they cannot make hormones, estrogen,

progesterone, testostrone and others as ovarian function declines.

Low progesterone and estrogen are quite common in adrenal fatigue.

Women who have had total hysterectomies have been found to have 1/2

of the normal DHEA production, and Testosterone is very low along

with the other hormones. This is why hysterectomy is an option for

breast cancer. It is acknowledged that the adrenals play major role

in hormone production in women, especially after menaopause. They

are in a feedback loop with the ovaries and are often overburdened

at menopause in their attempt to replace the hormones the ovaries

are no longer making.

Both my estrogen and progesterone went to next to nothing when I

started thyroid treatment and had terrible adrenal issues. I lost my

cycle completely for several months. Prior to thyroid treatment, I

had estrogen off the top of the charts and low progesterone.

Progesterone is lost in hypothyroidism due in part to the ability of

the adrenals to use it to make cortisol. Demands for cortisol in

hypothyroidism are very high. Another thing that depletes

progesterone is the effect of hypothyroidism on the brain, which in

turn causes a shortening of the Leuteal or progesterone cycle so

that progesterone does not rise in the system untill later than it

should and it rises to a lower level than it should. Estrogen goes

high in hypothyroidism due to greater amounts of estrone being made

in tissues to deal with the damage being done by low thyroid

function. Estrogens are a stress hormone used by the body to help

cells stay hydrated when they are damaged or sick.

I did not replace any estrogen as I had estrogen dependent uterine

fibroids. I refused my doctor's request that I take it. I also did

not use progesterone because for some reason I had developed a

sensitivity to the creams and they made me sick. But, after about a

year, everything seemed to have normalized a lot and I only now have

occasional days in the month when I know they are too low and it

just interferes with my sleep a little. I am 51. So, I think with

proper thyroid treatment, eventually the hormone situation gets

better.

Circulating thyroid hormone controls the size and output of the

adrenals. So, if hypothyroidism has gone on a long time or if you

have been undertreated a long time, the adrenals become weak and

cannot function to full capacity. Often you can get by like this

because the breakdown and removal of these hormones is also slowed

in hypothyroidism due to everthing being slowed down. But, the

moment you give thyroid, things begin to move more normally and

hromones will leave the system at a faster rate. This is when the

low hormone and adrenal issues will show up. Because the adrenals

are weak they cannot meet the needs of the body that has been moved

to a higher metabolic rate with thyroid and therefore needs more of

everything. Losses from the system are increased also, making it

doubly hard for the adrenals to keep up. So, very often many

hormones decline quite low in early thyroid treatment.

Tish

[Guest guest]

The adrenals are the major hormone producers after the ovaries have

declined in their production following menopause. So, if the

adrenals are stressed, they cannot make hormones, estrogen,

progesterone, testostrone and others as ovarian function declines.

Low progesterone and estrogen are quite common in adrenal fatigue.

Women who have had total hysterectomies have been found to have 1/2

of the normal DHEA production, and Testosterone is very low along

with the other hormones. This is why hysterectomy is an option for

breast cancer. It is acknowledged that the adrenals play major role

in hormone production in women, especially after menaopause. They

are in a feedback loop with the ovaries and are often overburdened

at menopause in their attempt to replace the hormones the ovaries

are no longer making.

Both my estrogen and progesterone went to next to nothing when I

started thyroid treatment and had terrible adrenal issues. I lost my

cycle completely for several months. Prior to thyroid treatment, I

had estrogen off the top of the charts and low progesterone.

Progesterone is lost in hypothyroidism due in part to the ability of

the adrenals to use it to make cortisol. Demands for cortisol in

hypothyroidism are very high. Another thing that depletes

progesterone is the effect of hypothyroidism on the brain, which in

turn causes a shortening of the Leuteal or progesterone cycle so

that progesterone does not rise in the system untill later than it

should and it rises to a lower level than it should. Estrogen goes

high in hypothyroidism due to greater amounts of estrone being made

in tissues to deal with the damage being done by low thyroid

function. Estrogens are a stress hormone used by the body to help

cells stay hydrated when they are damaged or sick.

I did not replace any estrogen as I had estrogen dependent uterine

fibroids. I refused my doctor's request that I take it. I also did

not use progesterone because for some reason I had developed a

sensitivity to the creams and they made me sick. But, after about a

year, everything seemed to have normalized a lot and I only now have

occasional days in the month when I know they are too low and it

just interferes with my sleep a little. I am 51. So, I think with

proper thyroid treatment, eventually the hormone situation gets

better.

Circulating thyroid hormone controls the size and output of the

adrenals. So, if hypothyroidism has gone on a long time or if you

have been undertreated a long time, the adrenals become weak and

cannot function to full capacity. Often you can get by like this

because the breakdown and removal of these hormones is also slowed

in hypothyroidism due to everthing being slowed down. But, the

moment you give thyroid, things begin to move more normally and

hromones will leave the system at a faster rate. This is when the

low hormone and adrenal issues will show up. Because the adrenals

are weak they cannot meet the needs of the body that has been moved

to a higher metabolic rate with thyroid and therefore needs more of

everything. Losses from the system are increased also, making it

doubly hard for the adrenals to keep up. So, very often many

hormones decline quite low in early thyroid treatment.

Tish

[Guest guest]

I am open to what you are saying, believe me. But I didn't observe

that I have symptoms of low reserve. I have symptoms of an adrenal

gland working too hard during the day thanks to a very low

progesterone level, so I crash when I relax....

But...are you saying that perhaps because I have may have a lowered

adrenal reserve, it takes TOO much effort to keep me going during

the day---thus the crash when I leave the store??

I am going to have to do the ZRT adrenal test!! LOL.

One thing that has always baffled me---I have never had problems

with Armour, which implies that I have no problems with my adrenals.

Additionally, when I did try Isocort for several months, it did

nothing for me. Zilch. And I wonder.......if you suddenly develop a

sluggish adrenal, what will that do with someone like myself who has

done wonderful on 3 1/4 grains of Armour?? Because I see folks who

can't go higher than 1/2 grain without problems due to sluggish

adrenals........hmmmmm

Janie

> Yes, the cortisol would have been formerly high, in the beginning,

but when

> they go caput, they can no longer produce these high levels of

cortisol, so

> come the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, a.k.a., LOW output of

cortisol, after

> the first stage of high cortisol. This is what makes the adrenals

weak, all

> the stress from physical, mental, genetics, environment,

etc.....makes them

> " crash " . I do believe in testing for this, rather than to treat

blindly.

> You may have low cortisol issues, but you won't be that sure if

you don't

> test. I know I haven't done that yet either, but I'm pretty sure

of it.

> The xtra cortisol given for treatment simply allows the adrenals

to rest in

> recovery, while it picks up the pace, so that they can build (with

thyroid

> hormone) up again, to handle things normally. It'a vicious cycle

that has

> to be corrected. I was undertreated for thyroid for so long, plus

the

> zillions of emotional stressors that were happening to me over

many yrs,

> that I was bound to have had adrenal fatigue. Who wouldn't, after

all that

> crap? I believe also, that some people were simply born with a

stronger

> pair of adrenal glands that can weather a whole lot more than

other peoples

> glands. Genetics, for that part of it. All these sites on

adrenal fatigue

> talk about the Stepwise fashion of how it all comes into being.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> But...are you saying that perhaps because I have may have a lowered

> adrenal reserve, it takes TOO much effort to keep me going during

> the day---thus the crash when I leave the store??

>

> I am going to have to do the ZRT adrenal test!! LOL.

Yes, that's it. And this may just now be coming on because of the long

struggles you have been going through, both personally, and with the

physical. Thank God you ARE on Armour already, but stuff can happen today,

where it wasn't present yesterday. If I could afford it, I'd do the ZRT

Labs.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tish. I appreciate any response I get to my mystery. I have

been on 5 mg. DHEA via a compounded gel for nearly 2 years. Luckily,

my NP ordered a DHEA test along with all the others a week ago. I

did note that earlier this year, my DHEA was lower than it was a

year ago, which implies that my cortisol is higher---stress. NP has

my labs on her desk today and will get ahold of me. I REALLY want to

know what they showed.

I keep thinking about my strange debilitating reaction to periods

for 25 years, and now this latest ongoing achiness and crashing. I

keep suspecting that I have an unusual sensitivity/overreaction to

my hormones, or to stress.....and that it currently manifests itself

by my adrenals crashing after a full day of work. It's taken me 2

days to recover from the crash of Saturday night. Today is better

than yesterday, but I still feel it.

I just don't think I have adrenal fatigue....yet. It's more like an

extreme overreaction by my adrenals to hormones....and now to

stress....perhaps because my hormones were so low due to peri-

meno......don't know. All a guess and gut feeling.

Also note that I had DEBILITATING reactions to exercise of any kind

all those years I was on T4-only meds---unlike ANYONE I have ever

heard about. Extreme fatigue after exercise, pounding heartrate,

profound insomnia, aches, hot--again like an extreme adrenal

reaction. Wiped out the next day, similar to what I felt yesterday.

And also has similarities to what happens to me with every

period....Armour did not stop that, even though it did stop the

reactions to exercise.

I did order the ZRT adrenal test last night--4 tests during a 24

hour period. I've never felt the need to do it before, but my

curiosity (and misery level) has peaked my curiosity as to what

might be going on!!

Janie

>

> You might consider having a DHEA test, if you haven't already. A

> small amount of DHEA support might raise all the hormones more

> evenly as it is a base material for many. Not, too much DHEA

support

> as excess DHEA is vry often converted to estrogen in women. Most

> tablets today are too high of a dose. I take one 15mg or 25 mg

DHEA

> tablet a week.

>

> Tish

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tish. I appreciate any response I get to my mystery. I have

been on 5 mg. DHEA via a compounded gel for nearly 2 years. Luckily,

my NP ordered a DHEA test along with all the others a week ago. I

did note that earlier this year, my DHEA was lower than it was a

year ago, which implies that my cortisol is higher---stress. NP has

my labs on her desk today and will get ahold of me. I REALLY want to

know what they showed.

I keep thinking about my strange debilitating reaction to periods

for 25 years, and now this latest ongoing achiness and crashing. I

keep suspecting that I have an unusual sensitivity/overreaction to

my hormones, or to stress.....and that it currently manifests itself

by my adrenals crashing after a full day of work. It's taken me 2

days to recover from the crash of Saturday night. Today is better

than yesterday, but I still feel it.

I just don't think I have adrenal fatigue....yet. It's more like an

extreme overreaction by my adrenals to hormones....and now to

stress....perhaps because my hormones were so low due to peri-

meno......don't know. All a guess and gut feeling.

Also note that I had DEBILITATING reactions to exercise of any kind

all those years I was on T4-only meds---unlike ANYONE I have ever

heard about. Extreme fatigue after exercise, pounding heartrate,

profound insomnia, aches, hot--again like an extreme adrenal

reaction. Wiped out the next day, similar to what I felt yesterday.

And also has similarities to what happens to me with every

period....Armour did not stop that, even though it did stop the

reactions to exercise.

I did order the ZRT adrenal test last night--4 tests during a 24

hour period. I've never felt the need to do it before, but my

curiosity (and misery level) has peaked my curiosity as to what

might be going on!!

Janie

>

> You might consider having a DHEA test, if you haven't already. A

> small amount of DHEA support might raise all the hormones more

> evenly as it is a base material for many. Not, too much DHEA

support

> as excess DHEA is vry often converted to estrogen in women. Most

> tablets today are too high of a dose. I take one 15mg or 25 mg

DHEA

> tablet a week.

>

> Tish