I'm new and have some adrenal questions

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone

I was diagnosed as hypothyroid a year ago and am now taking 125mcg

levothyroxine a day. I don't feel any better for it, and am so

relieved to have found this support group!

I'm pretty sure that my adrenals are the problem but I was wondering

whether it's preferable to take the 24-hr saliva test from NPTech and

then try to get a cortef-type prescription from my GP or whether to

just order the Nutri Adrenals and see if they do the trick?

My endocrinologist - who I've pretty much washed my hands of after

last week's " it's possibly all in your head " comment - has referred me

for a synacthen test, but has already stated that he doesn't think it

will show anything. I'd rather not see this man again! The blood tests

I've had done show my cortisol levels tailing off, but again " that's

nothing to worry about " .

I'll be grateful for any ideas/suggestions.

Thanks, Jane

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane

Hello everyoneI was diagnosed as hypothyroid a year ago and am now taking 125mcg levothyroxine a day. I don't feel any better for it, and am so relieved to have found this support group!

Can you get your last thyroid function tests from your GP together with the reference range for each test and post them here please.I'm pretty sure that my adrenals are the problem but I was wondering whether it's preferable to take the 24-hr saliva test from NPTech and then try to get a cortef-type prescription from my GP or whether to just order the Nutri Adrenals and see if they do the trick?

If you think it might be an adrenal problem, have a look in our FILES on this forum website and there you will find an "Adrenal Questionnaire" - answer the questions there and see how you score. If high, it would be best to get the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile to see exactly where your cortisol and DHEA levels are at four specific times during the day. You may not need cortef - you may be able to boost your adrenals with supplements such as Nutri Adrenal Extra, Siberian Ginseng, liquorice, and we usually recommend you try these first. If they don't work for you, then you might need to try something like Isocort which is stronger. I doubt your GP will be happy to prescribe Cortisone unless your NHS tests show your cortisol is out of range. However, you can't lose anything by asking.My endocrinologist - who I've pretty much washed my hands of after last week's "it's possibly all in your head" comment - has referred me for a synacthen test, but has already stated that he doesn't think it will show anything. I'd rather not see this man again! The blood tests I've had done show my cortisol levels tailing off, but again "that's nothing to worry about".

If I had a pound for every time I hear such a comment, I would be a very rich lady. This comes from Professor Weetman's comments who wrote an article that was published in Medscape and Clinical Endocrinology that for those patients who still complain of symptoms when on thyroxine therapy - they are suffering from a "somatoform disorder". lazy doctors find this an easy statement to follow - after all, it must be true if a Professor has written it. Don't believe it, he has had more stick from patients and thyroid support forums than anybody deserves over their whole career. He will never live that down. Don't ever let a doctor talk to you in such a way.

He is, however, correct in that your NHS synacthen test will be most ounlikely to show any adrenal problem. It would only show a problem if you have 's disease. You need your adrenals checked at 4 specific times during the day. One test at one time during the day only is next to useless.

You may well have to treat yourself, if you do have low adrenal reserve.

However, there are other problems that might be stopping your thyroxine from being absorbed by your body. This would happen if you have Candida Albicans, a very low ferritin(stored iron) level, have amalgam fillings - or your mother had mercury fillings when she was pregnant with you. To understand the connection of these conditions with your thyroid, go to our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk - click on 'Hypothyroidism' in the Menu and then click on 'Associated Conditions". You should rule out any of these to make sure they are not the cause of your thyroxine from not working. Also, you may not be on a high enough dose, or you may be unable to convert the inactive hormone T4, into the active hormone T3. You can see this is not an easy road, but once you have gone through a process of elimination and found the culprit, life will be so much sweeter.

Luv - SheilaI'll be grateful for any ideas/suggestions.Thanks, Jane

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