Adrenal questions

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I was investigating adrenal symptoms and don't seem to get much

info. I have noticed lately that many of my hypo symptoms are re-

appearing and I am wondering about the possibility of adrenal

support. I would like to know adrenal symptoms that others have

experienced and what I should be paying attention to, I tend to

ignore everything and tell myself it all goes with being hypo. I

would appreciate any feedback - Thanks in advance!

[Guest guest]

Hey, it's good to talk. No need to apologise and you've expressed

the same frustrations that I feel with the NHS. I'm in a similar

situation to you but I've gone it alone, there's no Dr S from me and

my GP is also ignorant of what I am taking for the same reason that

yours is.

It sounds like your life is extremely demanding and stressful Jen

and it's no wonder that you weren't able to continue on that lower

doseage of HC. It sounds like you have far too much going on that

will be making huge demands on your cortisol levels and you'd do

better to follow Dr P's advice and wait for a calmer time to try

again.

Your May blood results were quite low as some people could actually

stand to have their T3 above the range - in fact they need it to

feel well. I wonder why you decided to add in T4? Did you find it

difficult to raise the natural thyroid any more? If your T3 had

been very high I could understand your thinking. I'm sure there's a

good reason.

You said with all the walking etc you've needed more - more what?

It does stand to reason that you would need more thyroid meds but

there would have been a greater demand too for the HC and at that

point I gather you were slowly reducing it. Exercise is a big

stressor and while you aren't optimised you will be stressing the

adrenals anyway.

How long ago were you diagnosed HypoT? Did the adrenal

insufficiency precede the HypoT?

You aren't alone Jen, there are plenty of us 'rogue' patients but we

just keep a low profile and hope that change comes soon.

Luv Bella

>

> Hi Bella,

>

> I hope i'm reaching optimum on thyroid - its been really tough,

with

> increased stress of moving house in a few weeks, the increased

> physical demands of walking more than 4 miles a day now doing the

> school run, etc. Its all so complicated.

>

> Back in May i had a FT4 of 15.1 (12-22) and FT3 of 5.1 (3.9 - 6.8),

> TSH nil as usual, on 4 grains so it stands to reason that when i

added

> in all sorts of walking and stress, i needed more, hence the 7lbs

> weight gain from July - September. I've added in 25mcg T4 and am

> waiting for it to stabilise so i can get bloods, and will probably

> need even more, but Dr S didnt sanction it, i did it off my own

back.

[Guest guest]

Hi Bella,

Rogue patients eh? lol.

Yes, i meant more thyroid. The day in May that i had those bloods

done, I'd left off all Armour the day before, so the FT3 results are

misleading (and i suspect its at top of range), but the FT4 isnt.

Hence I added T4 to my dose.

My life is a nightmare. In addition to moving house in a few weeks

with an autistic child who we go practically across the city to take

her to school on public transport, my DH is having problems at work

and we're busy looking for a new job for him, he's being threatened

with disciplinary action and being discriminated against/bullied, etc.

Its been an INSANE September-til now.

I was diagnosed hypoT in Oct01 by a private GP who tried the meds to

see if they'd help (they didnt), and then low adrenal in Feb02 by Dr

S. He put me on 5mg pred and Armour at that time, and my thyroid and

adrenal needs have been up and down and up and up and up with

pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, overwhelming family stress in 05,

and then trying to level out after getting glandular fever shortly

after the family stress. I have been on 4gr Armour and was on 35mg HC

since I worked my way back up after all that crisis in late 05, but

its still never settled and i am constantly having to put the thyroid

dose up and up; then again i'm doing more physical things now than i

ever have since I was a teenager, so that is probably why.

Thanks for listening Bella.

Jen

>

> Hey, it's good to talk. No need to apologise and you've expressed

> the same frustrations that I feel with the NHS. I'm in a similar

> situation to you but I've gone it alone, there's no Dr S from me and

> my GP is also ignorant of what I am taking for the same reason that

> yours is.

>

> It sounds like your life is extremely demanding and stressful Jen

> and it's no wonder that you weren't able to continue on that lower

> doseage of HC. It sounds like you have far too much going on that

> will be making huge demands on your cortisol levels and you'd do

> better to follow Dr P's advice and wait for a calmer time to try

> again.

> Your May blood results were quite low as some people could actually

> stand to have their T3 above the range - in fact they need it to

> feel well. I wonder why you decided to add in T4? Did you find it

> difficult to raise the natural thyroid any more? If your T3 had

> been very high I could understand your thinking. I'm sure there's a

> good reason.

> You said with all the walking etc you've needed more - more what?

> It does stand to reason that you would need more thyroid meds but

> there would have been a greater demand too for the HC and at that

> point I gather you were slowly reducing it. Exercise is a big

> stressor and while you aren't optimised you will be stressing the

> adrenals anyway.

>

> How long ago were you diagnosed HypoT? Did the adrenal

> insufficiency precede the HypoT?

> You aren't alone Jen, there are plenty of us 'rogue' patients but we

> just keep a low profile and hope that change comes soon.

> Luv Bella

[Guest guest]

Dave: You will probably need the tests to see if you have adrenal issues. The problem is, current medical practice expects you to be half dead before they treat you and some forms of adrenal disease are difficult to detect. Adrenal exhaustion is bad enough, but ongoing adrenal disease that is caused by some failure to produce enzymes and/or hormones is dangerouse and can affect many different systems. You may even have an autoimmune adreanal problem. I have found that my adrenals have been helped by my taking Iodoral. I believe this is a secondary benefit; i.e., my thyroid is functioning better which takes the stress off the adrenal system which tries to compensate if the thyroid is not producing. If you have low cortisol and have to self-medicate, you may want to try using licorice root to boost your adrenals because it mimics cortisol. You can buy at a health food

store but do not buy the DGL form because it has the enzyme removed that will assist you. I have both issues--hypothyroidism and low adreansl--and find it is like being on a see-saw. During low stress times, I have typical hypio symptoms (weight gain, fluid retention, constipation). When stress enters the picture, I drop weight like a rock, lose fluid and get all of the other hypoadrenal symptoms. It also affects my need for thyroid medication and I have to adjust. The more stressed you are, the more you need theT-3/4. I have to boost my meds to the point of being almost hyperhyroid UNLESS I take cortisol or licorice. Again, the Iororal has been a godsend. It has really helped my thyroid and, in turn, my adrenals are better. Best of luck and please see a physician when you can. Best of luck. kurrykid <kurrykid@...> wrote: After reading some recent postings, I decided to follow-up on the link to check on the adrenals. After reading it, having many of the symptoms, and doing some self-tests, I think this could be an issue I have been chasing for a while (I also have Hashi's...I take a 180mg of Armour & 50mg of Iodine daily).I know there are a lot of posts scattered out here about adrenals but would someone be so kind as to help me get started on where to

begin?I saw that there is some over the counter recommendations but it seems that the prescription was mostly recommended. Will doctors prescribe this without a battery of tests? Maybe some of you have had experience with Dr. Brownstein as I am a patient of his...does he support the adrenal theory?Since I can't get a prescription anytime soon, should I start the over the counter process and see how it works? Can someone recommend a brand name?Sorry about all the questions but I am excited to think I may have found something that could be responsible for the lousy way I feel.Thank you.Dave __________________________________________________