New to this group

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You'll probably get a lot of other answers on this.

I'd start with several things:

1) Have your serum iron, serum ferritin, B12, folate and vitamin D levels

checked. Get the the actual result numbers and the units used and the laboratory

'normal' ranges for all of these results and then have them posted back here.

2) Once the nutrient tests have been done then consider going on a good range of

supplements to ensure that there are no missing co-factors that can impair the

adrenal and thyroid metabolic pathways. So, a strong B complex, vitamin C,

3000-4000 IUs of vitamin D, a decent multi-mineral which includes all the macro

and trace minerals (including selenium). I'd start this as soon as the blood

tests are done and then increase any that the test results say are low according

to feedback from here and your doctors guidelines.

3) Have your TSH, FT4 and FT3 also done and posted back here with the ranges.

4) You will be a a better position if you know that either your GP or an endo is

willing to consider other medication than straight T4. Have you asked your GP

this question? Is your GP supportive and open minded? In parallel to doing 1+2

then you should be working out how you are going to find and work with either a

new GP or an endo if you don't think your GP is going to provide better support.

Sheila has a list of 'good docs' that may be helpful if you need them (I can

also mail this to you if needed).

The bottom line at the moment is that a nutrient issue could be in the way of

your thyroid hormones as could cortisol/adrenals. However, if the thyroid

hormones aren't working well then it is likely that the adrenals aren't as well

- so I'm guessing that your cortisol is off anyway. Do you have a lot of

dizziness when standing up after sitting down?

Beyond looking at nutrients it will be possible to see whether your T4 is at a

decent level when the full thyroid results are visible including FT4 and FT3. If

the nutrients look fine and healthy (not just normal according to your GP) and

your T4 dosage is reasonable then the next things to be suspicious off are the

adrenals/cortisol and the type of thyroid medication you are on.

There are different approaches that people/docs use - some prefer to treat the

adrenals first and then look at the thyroid meds. Some others prefer to work on

the thyroid hormones and assume that the adrenals will recover (and then treat

the adrenals if they don't). I prefer the latter approach but often it is a

judgement call.

The choices you have on a change to the thyroid meds will be dependent on your

doctor or endo and what they are willing to prescribe. The next alternative to

the T4 you are on now would either be to add some T3 to the T4 i.e. a T4/T3

combination or to use natural thyroid. You'll probably need to be working with a

supportive doctor or endo before these options become available to you - hence

the need to treat resolving this doctor/endo problem as a priority in parallel

to sorting out some basic tests as discussed at the beginning of this message.

If these T4/T3 meds don't work then T3 is the final option - this can usually be

made to work but it is harder to use and I wouldn't suggest that you go there

until you have to.

Does the above make sense?

Everyone else - have I missed anything important (I may have) ?

Keep using the forum - you'll get a lot of help here. Expect a few bumps in the

road.

Take care,

>

> I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2006 with TSH of 150 and T4 of 7. Since

then I've been on increasing levels of Levothyroxine which is currently 175

daily.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your comprehensive reply, .

My lovely cuddly doctor is indeed open-minded and has just arranged a blood test

for all your recommendations in the morning. He's willing to discuss T3

prescription depending on results...

To answer your question..I don't suffer dizziness on standing... presumably this

is a good sign for adrenals?

Many thanks again,

_________________________________________________________________

Have your serum iron, serum ferritin, B12, folate and vitamin D levels checked.

Have your TSH, FT4 and FT3 also done and posted back here with the ranges.

You will be a a better position if you know that either your GP or an endo is

willing to consider other medication than straight T4.

[Guest guest]

Yes, dizziness is clearly not the only indicator of low cortisol but if it was

really low then I'd expect it. I had a time when I was passing out cold every

day due to low adrenals - standing up and then dropping like a rock and being

out for a while.

Fantastic news about your doc - wish everyone on this site had someone who is

obviously as supportive as your doc is.

Post the results back and we'll take it from there. My personal expertise area

is in using T3 correctly however there are lots of people here who have a

variety of experience (personal and of other people) with a variety of other

medications and combinations.

Please do take a day or two and take your body temperature when you are at home

and relaxed. Take it several times per day. Body temperature will provide

additional information on how the thyroid hormones are working. Please post the

results back here with some indication of average levels. I'd also be interested

in how heart rate varies during the day also.

If I were you I'd also consider investing in a home blood pressure monitor.

These are quite inexpensive these days and are useful for heart rate and BP

measures. I'd like to know how your heart rate and BP correlate over a day or

so.

This stage is a data gathering one. Being absolutely clear on what the symptoms

and signs are before deciding on a course of action is vital. It is worth

putting a lot of effort into this and fortunately you have a supportive GP.

Take care,

> My lovely cuddly doctor is indeed open-minded and has just arranged a blood

test for

[Guest guest]

My son has Asperger's Syndrom. He is 16 and a junior in high school. At the moment he is on medication for anxeity and depression so he can deal with school and other issues. I am interested in the method to see if we can use it with him.

We live in Denham Springs, Louisiana.

Kathi Calamari

Director of Music

Trinity Lutheran Church

Baton Rouge Lutheran School

10925 Florida Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70815

225-272-3110 Ext. 133

The Flutist-One who has perceived the melody of angels and then ventures to respond.Deus Caritas Est (God is Love)

Those who draw near to God do not withdraw from men,

but rather become truly close to them.