Hypothyroidism and the Pituitary Gland

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I saw Dr Peatfield in December last year and I'm on my second 6 week diary. I'm

taking NAX and Nutri Thyroid together with a number of other supplements and T3.

As well as being hypothyroid I also have type 2 diabetes. I've just had an

appointment with a nurse who specialises in diabetes and she was interested in

what I'm doing with Dr Peatfield. After hearing about it she queried what he is

doing, saying that he is treating the thyroid and adrenals when it could be the

pituitary which isn't working.

I am more than happy with how Dr Peatfield is treating me and I told her that

but I would really like to put something in writing because she was so sure.

When I was diagnosed hypothyroid 3 years ago, my TSH was 13.74 (0.35-3.5)and my

FT4 was 9 (10-24). Am I correct in thinking this shows the pituitary was

working but it was having to work hard to get the thyroid to do anything. Last

year I had symptoms of T4 toxicosis so there also seems to be a conversion

problem.

I've done a lot of reading but I simply don't know enough to explain to her why

I think this is the right way to go. Can anyone out there help me?

Noreen

[Guest guest]

Post us your latest

thyroid function test results (together with the reference range for each test

done). Has this nurse said exactly WHY she believes you could have a pituitary

problem and not a thyroid/adrenal problem? Yes, your pituitary was certainly

working and putting out thyroid stimulating hormone three years ago.

Have you developed

new symptoms that could be pituitary symptoms?

Luv - Sheila

As well as being hypothyroid I also have type 2 diabetes. I've just had an

appointment with a nurse who specialises in diabetes and she was interested in

what I'm doing with Dr Peatfield. After hearing about it she queried what he is

doing, saying that he is treating the thyroid and adrenals when it could be the

pituitary which isn't working.

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

>

> Post us your latest thyroid function test results (together with the

> reference range for each test done).

The test results were:

TSH less than 0.01 (0.35-3.50)

T4 11 (8-21)

T3 6.2 (3.8-6.0)

I stopped taking T4 about 6 weeks ago and I stopped the T3 for 24 hours before

the test. If the T3 is that high, could it mean I'm not using that either?

There are no new symptoms. At first the nurse said it might be due to the

pituitary because all of her daughter's problems had been caused by it. The

second reason was the thyroid and the adrenals are both controlled by the

pituitary, therefore that must be where the problem is. I did try to explain

about the adrenals supporting the thyroid until they too begin to suffer but I

didn't really get a reply to that.

It's very early days for me, I was undiagnosed for 30 years and after being

prescribed levothyroxine 3 years ago it was downhill all the way.

One good thing, there was a student doctor with the nurse and when I said about

the T4 not converting, she immediately said 'secondary hypothyroidism'. Perhaps

there is some hope for the future.

x Noreen

[Guest guest]

How much T3 are you actually taking Noreen. Your free T3 is

still above the reference range even though you had not taken any T3 for 24

hours. It should not have been that high. Often, people find they have a high free T3 and continuing hypothyroid symptoms, because

thyroid hormone levels have build up in the blood serum without adequate

cortisol. So it would be wise to do the 24 hour salivary adrenal test, or

self-tests (see our FOLDER 'Adrenal's) in our Files section), or take your

temperature three times daily, to help ascertain the sluggish adrenals.

Luv - Sheila

TSH less than 0.01 (0.35-3.50)

T4 11 (8-21)

T3 6.2 (3.8-6.0)

I stopped taking T4 about 6 weeks ago and I stopped the T3 for 24 hours before

the test. If the T3 is that high, could it mean I'm not using that either?

There are no new symptoms. At first the nurse said it might be due to the

pituitary because all of her daughter's problems had been caused by it. The

second reason was the thyroid and the adrenals are both controlled by the

pituitary, therefore that must be where the problem is. I did try to explain

about the adrenals supporting the thyroid until they too begin to suffer but I

didn't really get a reply to that.

It's very early days for me, I was undiagnosed for 30 years and after being

prescribed levothyroxine 3 years ago it was downhill all the way.

[Guest guest]

>

> How much T3 are you actually taking Noreen. Your free T3 is still above the

> reference range even though you had not taken any T3 for 24 hours. It should

> not have been that high.

I'm taking 1 Cynomel 25mcg split into two doses. When I saw Dr Peatfield he

confirmed the adrenals weren't right with the iris test and my blood pressure

dropped on rising. We decided at the time there was no need to do the saliva

test and I'm now taking four NAX a day.

The physical symptoms are bad, walking any distance is hard at the moment, but I

do feel better in myself. I know the treatment is beginning to work but there

is a lot to put right, it just needs time.

I just felt yesterday that the nurse was trying to confuse me by throwing

something else in. I was tested for Cushing's and they didn't find anything

wrong with the pituitary then.

x Noreen