Re: Help with interpreting test results please

[Guest guest]

hi

what did they say about your high DHEAS levels?

I have read these can be caused by PCOS and that's what i thought when i read

this result, then i read the lab comment. has this been investigated further?

" Combined result suggestive of polycystic ovary (PCO) "

wht did the dr have to say about this?

" Concentrations of DHEAS are often measured, along with other hormones such as

FSH, LH, prolactin, estrogen, and testosterone, to help diagnose polycystic

ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and to help rule out other causes of infertility,

amenorrhea, and hirsutism. "

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/dheas/test.html

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/pcos.html

>Can anyone tell me whether there is a possibility that I might have a problem

at the pituitary level or higher from these results?

have you had tests done on fasting insulin and glucose ? I think pcos is linked

to insulin resistance?

chris

>

> I have recently had some new tests and would appreciate some help with

interpreting them. I was previously diagnosed with Hashimotos but refused any

treatment. I then found a new doctor who has prescribed low dose Armour and

ordered extra tests on my adrenals

[Guest guest]

I am concerned that I might have adrenal problems as well as thyroid. I have a history including postpartum haemorrhage which might have made me susceptible to Sheehan's syndrome. Can anyone tell me whether there is a possibility that I might have a problem at the pituitary level or higher from these results? Other tests has shown that I have low B12 and iodine. Previously also had quite low D3, but that has improved somewhat with supplementation

Hi ,

I'm no expert, and I won't be able to tell you much, but the following is what I can gather from your results:

CUMULATIVE THYROID FUNCTION TEST TSH (mU/L) FT4 (pmol/L) FT3 (pmol/L) (0.40 - 4.00) (10 - 20) (3.5 - 6.5)09/09/08 1.5922/04/09 1.3729/06/10 1.9205/07/10 2.10 12 4.410/01/11 2.61 11 3.921/04/11 2.30 12 4.8

Your question if you may suffer from pituitary or hypothalamus dysfunction is for me too difficult to answer. Your previous thyroid results above – I assume results from your "pre-Armour" days (?) -might be suggestive of hypothalamic/pituitary hypo-function because the TSH is "normal" and fluctuating, but equally you suffer from Hashimoto's disease and that in itself could have caused the "normal" TSH results.... and since you do have not only positive TPO but also positive TgAb ..... their presence can invalidate each and every one of the TFT figures if there had been "activity" at the time of the blood test L.

Your adrenal function is not brilliant, but will be considered by most doctors as "normal" .

The lab suggests that you may have polycystic ovaries (PCO) as your sex hormone status shows conflicting levels (high FSH, low Oestradiol and low Testosterone)

Your ACTH levels sit well within the normal range.

I'm sorry, but this is all I can "see" from those lab results.

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply Chris.

>

> what did they say about your high DHEAS levels?

My doctor has dropped out of the equation at the moment becuase of her own

health issues, so I have not been able to talk to her. But these DHEA results

are way out of left field. My earlier results were:

CUMULATIVE ANDROGENS (SERUM)

Calculated

Date Testosterone SHBG Free Testo. FAI

(0.5 - 2.6) (30 - 90) (9 - 32)

nmol/L nmol/L pmol/L

15/04/09 1.3 33 23 3.9

04/01/11 0.8 33 14 2.4

As for insulin resistance.....all my tests so far have had my fasting glucose

OK. But I do have a family history of diabetes.

My doctor also put me on a cream with Testosterone and estrogen in it as well as

DHEA troches, but I have stopped both whilst waiting to see an endo. Meanwhile,

out of the blue, you could fry chips in my hair after just 12 hours since

washing!!!

I am so confused!

[Guest guest]

Oops......I think I have confused and ...sorry.......not

surprising as I have mud for brains at the moment..........

Anyway, the PCOS suggestion is out of left field. No symptoms of it, except

greasy hair this week, and that is only after I stopped taking the meds my

doctor ( who is currently off work) prescibed....ie Armour 30mg, cortisone 4mg x

twice daily, and Estrogen and testosterone cream, and DHEA troches. I wasn't

expecting any problems because I had only been taking them for about 10 days and

they were low doses.

I have hit the wall big time, so I restarted the Armour and Cortisone today at

least until I can find medical help to work out what is going on. I am in a

remote location, so it might take a while to get that help. I can't get off my

bed. I have a very short period in which to do things before needing to fall

back on my bed. My temperature is about 36 most of the time, and I am in a deep

fog. Just want to sleep.

This is all a bit scary.

>

> hi

>

> what did they say about your high DHEAS levels?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

how much dhea were you on?

it sounds like a lot is going on there

chris

>

>

> My doctor also put me on a cream with Testosterone and estrogen in it as well

as DHEA troches, but I have stopped both whilst waiting to see an endo.

Meanwhile, out of the blue, you could fry chips in my hair after just 12 hours

since washing!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi again

do you think that dose of cortisone is enough? It is said that less than a

theraputic dose (20mg approx) suppresess mmore than it supplements? (does that

make sense)

when i was given cortisol by the nhs, i was given 30mg a day. i was told to

take it 20-10mg, i tried to take it 10-10-10 and was too tired after a day or

two, i felt exhausted but better after taking more cortisol

not to confuse or muddle things up but i have read that cortisol should be

started before armour?

do they not test fasting insulin levels where you are?

i'm sorry you're feeling so bad.

i hope you feel better soon

Chris(topher!) :-)

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris(topher!) - thanks for the heads up there!!!

>

> do you think that dose of cortisone is enough? It is said that less than a

theraputic dose (20mg approx) suppresess mmore than it supplements? (does that

make sense)

Yes it does, but I have no idea re whether the dose is enough, and not sure

where to take it to in the meantime. I am only taking what my doctor said to

take. I think she thought my adrenals were a bit dodgy, and hence the cortisol.

Certainly 4mg twice daily does seem alow dose, but then so is the Armour.

I expect she intended to ramp it up according to what was found in the tests,

but I don't know how fast or how high. I think also that she was waiting to see

the results of those tests before deciding what to do, but was caught out by her

own health problems ( she also has hashis and adrenal probs.)

>

> when i was given cortisol by the nhs, i was given 30mg a day. i was told to

take it 20-10mg, i tried to take it 10-10-10 and was too tired after a day or

two, i felt exhausted but better after taking more cortisol

>

> not to confuse or muddle things up but i have read that cortisol should be

started before armour?

I started them simultaneously......

> do they not test fasting insulin levels where you are?

I don't think they have done that. Maybe I could ask my GP for it.

> i'm sorry you're feeling so bad.

Thanks

>

> i hope you feel better soon

Thanks again!

>

> Chris(topher!) :-)

>

[Guest guest]

>

> how much dhea were you on?

>

25mg a day

[Guest guest]

I would say if you have high DHEA levels the last thing you need to do is supplement with Testosterone and Oestrogens.....as DHEA is the precursor of both of these groups of hormones (3 Oestrogens)....

I your Cortisol level high too? Have you taken a spit test (4x in the day at specific times)...I would think this would be a good idea and is most useful whe thinking about where you are going with your 'treatemnt'.

High DHEA may occurr when you have severely stressed adrenals glands....could that be the case for you?

Sally xx

Thanks for your reply Chris.> > what did they say about your high DHEAS levels? My doctor has dropped out of the equation at the moment becuase of her own health issues, so I have not been able to talk to her. But these DHEA results are way out of left field. My earlier results were:CUMULATIVE ANDROGENS (SERUM)CalculatedDate Testosterone SHBG Free Testo. FAI(0.5 - 2.6) (30 - 90) (9 - 32)nmol/L nmol/L pmol/L15/04/09 1.3 33 23 3.904/01/11 0.8 33 14 2.4 As for insulin resistance.....all my tests so far have had my fasting glucose OK. But I do have a family history of diabetes.My doctor also put me on a cream with Testosterone and estrogen in it as well as DHEA troches, but I have stopped both whilst waiting to see an endo. Meanwhile, out of the blue, you could fry chips in my hair after just 12 hours since washing!!!I am so

confused!

[Guest guest]

When taking Coirtisol supplement you should try to emulate what happens naturally.

What happens naturally is that you have high Cortisol levels at 8am in the morning these then fall gently until 3pm when you have a slight surge of cortisol (a slight increase in levels) and then it falls again until its lowest point at 11pm-12mn. Then whilst we sleep there is a slight rise until a big rise occurs to the peak at 8am.....obviously you shouldnt get up from sleep to take Cortisol so I suggest take a bigger dose first thing in the morning and smaller doses through the day and I would certainly split the dose.

But you need to support your adrenals with other vits and minerals too...and yes this is best done one week at least before taking thyroid supplement...

sally xx

Hi again do you think that dose of cortisone is enough? It is said that less than a theraputic dose (20mg approx) suppresess mmore than it supplements? (does that make sense)when i was given cortisol by the nhs, i was given 30mg a day. i was told to take it 20-10mg, i tried to take it 10-10-10 and was too tired after a day or two, i felt exhausted but better after taking more cortisolnot to confuse or muddle things up but i have read that cortisol should be started before armour?Chris(topher!) :-) >> > Anyway, the PCOS suggestion is out of left field. No symptoms of it, except greasy hair this week, and that is only after I stopped taking the meds my doctor ( who is currently off work) prescibed....ie Armour 30mg, cortisone 4mg x twice daily, and Estrogen and testosterone cream, and DHEA troches. I wasn't expecting any problems because I had only been taking them for about 10 days and

they were low doses.> > I have hit the wall big time, so I restarted the Armour and Cortisone today at least until I can find medical help to work out what is going on. I am in a remote location, so it might take a while to get that help. I can't get off my bed. I have a very short period in which to do things before needing to fall back on my bed. My temperature is about 36 most of the time, and I am in a deep fog. Just want to sleep.> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply Sally. I stopped the Testosterone/oestrogen cream when I

got these results.

I am trying to get an appointment with an endo, but might have to wait quite a

while. My cortisol levels are low based on a 24 hour urine test. It is very

likely that I have bad adrenals......long term stress and treatment for

depression and anxiety, severe sleep apnea, (until 3 weeks ago) untreated

hashimotos, possiblity of Sheehan's syndrome because of major haemorrhage after

birth of child 20 odd years ago and no periods since.

This raised Testosterone and DHEA is unexpected. Previously I have been low,

and I have no PCOS symptoms. Certainly no androgen type issues. I have lost

most of my body hair including underarm and pubic. BOth of these are unlikely

in PCOS. Can you point me to some reading re... " high DHEA may occurr when you

have severely stressed adrenals " ?

There is definitely something going on. My basal temperature every morning is

under 36( today 35.9) and it takes all day to get to normal, if it makes it at

all. I was really sick for the few days I stopped the Armour and the Cortisol.

Bedridden. Felt a bit better today ( day 3 back on it).

I am really concerned about whether I should be upping my doses. I don't really

know what to do.

>

> I would say if you have high DHEA levels the last thing you need to do is

> supplement with Testosterone and Oestrogens.....as DHEA is the precursor of

both

> of these groups of hormones (3 Oestrogens)....

>

> I your Cortisol level high too?  Have you taken a spit test (4x in the day at

> specific times)...I would think this would be a good idea and is most useful

whe

> thinking about where you are going with your 'treatemnt'.

>

> High DHEA may occurr when you have severely stressed adrenals glands....could

> that be the case for you?  

>

> Sally xx

>

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone

I now have some new tests results on things suggested here, and some new issues.

I am sorry in advance that this will necessarily be a long post but thought it

best to gather the relevant tests together so you don't have to dig back through

my posts.

I am feeling very nervous about an appointment with an endo this coming Tuesday.

I have discovered he has quite a reputation as being dismissive and downright

rude to people with thyroid issues . I read on another thyroid site that a poor

woman here in this city who had a long family history of thyroid problems, was

told by him that that was not relevant that that her symptoms outweighed her

blood tests, so she should see a psychiatrist. She turns out to have thyroid

cancer!!!

I would greatly appreciate any of your thoughts on anything I might have missed,

or should remember to say. I suspect this is going to be a battle.

My current/latest test results are as follows:

THYROID ANTIBODIES (Serum)

21/4/2011

* Antithyroid peroxidase (TPO)…………….113 IU/mL (<61)

* Antithyroglobulin……………………………… 135 IU/mL (<61)

Consistent with auto-immune thyroid disease.

TSH 2.3 )

FT3 4.8 ) these 3 were in April

FT4 12 ( 11-20) )

RT3 259 (140 - 540) this one was in June

Random Urine Iodine

U-Creatine 2.2 mmol/L

Urine Iodine 30 ug/L

Comment: Moderate iodine deficiency (20-49ug/L) ( normal is >100, mild 50-100

and severe < 20)

Magnesium 0.93mmol/L (0.70 – 1.20)

Serum Zinc 15umol/L (10 - 20)

Serum Copper 21umol/L ( 12 – 27)

Vitamin B12 613pg/ml (<150 deficient, 200-1000normal) up from 326 previously

Red Cell Folate 583 ng/ml (255 – 1000) up from 393 previously

Vitamin D3 155nmol/L ( > 74) up from 96 previously

(Improving as I have been supplementing these.)

REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES (ROCHE METHOD)

FSH 53.4 U/L Post menopausal 25.0 – 150.0

Oestradiol 87 pmol/L Post menopausal <200

Testosterone * 1.9 nmol/L (0.1 – 1.5)

SHBG 28 nmol/L (15 – 70)

Free Androgen Index * 6.8 % (0.3 – 5.5)

DHEAS * 13.4 umol/L (1.0 – 7.0)

Comment : Combined result suggestive of polycystic ovary (PCO)

FREE TESTOSTERONE

7/6/11 1.8 pmol/L (0.1 – 13.6)

CUMULATIVE ACTH (Reference Range < 10 pmol/L)

Date Time Result pmol/L

22/04/09 10:00 3.4

29/04/09 08:10 4.4

10/01/11 07.30 5.0

07/06/11 09.10 3.2

CUMULATIVE CORTISOL

22/04/2009 Cortisol (AM) 10:00 : 250 nmol/L

29/04/2009 Cortisol (AM) 08:10 : 483 nmol/L

29/06/2010 Cortisol (AM) 10:00 : 341 nmol/L

04/01/2011 Cortisol (AM) 09:25 : 281 nmol/L

10/01/2011 Cortisol (AM) 7.30 : 470 nmol/L

Reference range : AM (150 - 600)

24 HOUR URINE FREE CORTISOL 7/6/2011

Cortisol U/L 43 nmol/L

Urine Volume 1890 mL

U-Creatinine Excretion 9.3 mmol/d (7.1 - 15.9)

Cortisol Excretion 81 nmol/d (54 – 319)

IGF-1

07/06/11 13nmol/L (11-29)

CUMULATIVE IRON STUDIES

Date Iron Transferrin TFN Satn Ferritin Lab.No.

umol/L umol/L % ug/L

09/09/08 13 36 18 95

22/12/09 8 42 10 108

29/06/10 17 36 24 131

06/07/11 9 37 12 160

Ref: (11 - 27) (20 - 45) (15 - 55) (25 - 300)

Latest results suggest adequate iron stores.

The GP has called me back in to discuss these iron levels, but I am not willing

to pay him any more money to tell me they are deficient when I am seeing an endo

in 2 days time…..particularly given that he argued with me about whether I

needed the minerals etc tested, but which now show issues with my iron levels.

He also insisted to me quite rudely that cortisol is made by the kidneys, and

that mineral levels were irrelevant if they fell within the reference ranges!

I am presently taking Thyroid extract 90mg a day. The doctor who prescribed

that also gave me a cream with Testosterone and Estrogen, plus DHEA troches and

hydrocortisone 8mg. She has suddenly had to stop practicising ( she is sick

herself), but before she did, she also did the tests that showed the elevated

DHEAS etc . I haven't been able to discuss that with her, so I stopped using

the HC, T & E cream and the troches and got the appointment with the endo.

So it would appear I have a few things going on.

I understand that the endo is from England so I am anticipating an argument

about using Armour…… mind you I have no hyper symptoms on 90 mg a day, so he

will need an army to stop me continuing on them. Particularly given that I am

still incredibly tired. My morning basal temperature has risen from 35.8 to

36.2, and my resting pulse rate is still about 68-72.

Also I have no overt symptoms of PCOS ( ie no acne, no hirsutism ( the opposite

in fact….bald armpits!!!!) and no history of PCOS. So I need some answers on

what the elevated DHEAS is all about, and some more help with nailing this

thyroid issue. I am not going to hold my breath assuming I will get it from

this man, and will go to a larger centre with more experienced doctors if I have

to.

I am assuming that I am still hypothyroid, maybe have insulin resistance (strong

family history of insulin dependent diabetes and other autoimmune problems

)…..and in the alternative perhaps some issues with the adrenals…..maybe a

benign tumor (?) or something given the DHEAS result.

What do you think? What should I be asking for, if anything, in the way of

further tests, treatment etc?

Sorry again for how long this is.

I diligently read every post on this site and find it enormously comforting. I

am in awe of the knowledge here and the generosity of the people who devote so

much time to helping those of us new to these issues. Thankyou.

Cheers

> >

> > I think you do need to sort out which of the vitamins and minerals your body

> > actually requires. Excess vitamins and minerals will do your body no good at

> > all if they are not needed and could cause you problems. Are you taking all

> > of these supplements because you have read that they are recommended or

> > because of results of minerals/vitamin testing? If it is on recommendation,

> > then start at the beginning and ask your GP to test your levels of

> > ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

THYROID ANTIBODIES (Serum)21/4/2011* Antithyroid peroxidase (TPO)…………….113 IU/mL (<61)* Antithyroglobulin……………………………… 135 IU/mL (<61)Consistent with auto-immune thyroid disease.

As far as your thyroid condition is concerned, there should not be any worries re endo. The above thyroid antibody test shows without a shadow of a doubt that you have got both – positive TPO and positive TgAB – which is a cast-iron diagnosis for autoimmune thyroiditis and it warrants treating with thyroid hormone.

I am presently taking Thyroid extract 90mg a day. The doctor who prescribed that also gave me a cream with Testosterone and Estrogen, plus DHEA troches and hydrocortisone 8mg. She has suddenly had to stop practicising ( she is sick herself), but before she did, she also did the tests that showed the elevated DHEAS etc . I haven't been able to discuss that with her, so I stopped using the HC, T & E cream and the troches and got the appointment with the endo.Also I have no overt symptoms of PCOS ( ie no acne, no hirsutism ( the opposite in fact….bald armpits!!!!) and no history of PCOS. So I need some answers on what the elevated DHEAS is all about, and some more help with nailing this thyroid issue. I am not going to hold my breath assuming I will get it from this man, and will go to a larger centre with more experienced doctors if I have to.I am confused here .... - where you actually using the cream that contained Testostrone, Estrogen, DHEA and 8% Hydrocortisone at the time of the blood test ? If you did, then I am afraid you can discount ALL of the sex hormone results and it would explain why your results suggest PCOS.Hormone creams are very potent, and an 8% HC cream in particular (the usually HC creams you can buy over the counter are 1%). To expect a true result of sex hormones and cortisol you would have had to be off this hormone cream for about 6 weeks - or, obviously, not have started on it; from your mail it is not clear to me whether you were or were not. Would you please clarify?

I understand that the endo is from England so I am anticipating an argument about using Armour…… mind you I have no hyper symptoms on 90 mg a day, so he will need an army to stop me continuing on them. Particularly given that I am still incredibly tired. My morning basal temperature has risen from 35.8 to 36.2, and my resting pulse rate is still about 68-72.I hope that he will be understanding, but as you say – he can't stop you taking Armour. Your TFT's suggest that you are still under-medicated – your TSH should be below 1 and your FT4 and FT3 are still too low. On Armour your FT4 should be about mid range and the FT3 should be at the top of the ref range. A dose of only 90 mg Armour (that's 1 ½ grains – right?) is still quite low and you most likely need to up your dose.

I am assuming that I am still hypothyroid, maybe have insulin resistance (strong family history of insulin dependent diabetes and other autoimmune problem)…..and in the alternative perhaps some issues with the adrenals…..maybe a benign tumor (?) or something given the DHEAS result.

Oh yes, you are hypothyroid all right, and you will need thyroid replacement for the rest of your life. You have got Hashimoto's disease. As for all the other results – IMO their interpretation will depend on whether or not you had been using the hormone cream at the time those tests were performed.

With best wishes

[Guest guest]

I posted this several hours ago but it has not come through - apologies if it now comes through twice.....

Hello ,

THYROID ANTIBODIES (Serum)21/4/2011* Antithyroid peroxidase (TPO)…………….113 IU/mL (<61)* Antithyroglobulin……………………………… 135 IU/mL (<61)Consistent with auto-immune thyroid disease.

As far as your thyroid condition is concerned, there should not be any worries re endo. The above thyroid antibody test shows without a shadow of a doubt that you have got both – positive TPO and positive TgAB – which is a cast-iron diagnosis for autoimmune thyroiditis and it warrants treating with thyroid hormone.

I am presently taking Thyroid extract 90mg a day. The doctor who prescribed that also gave me a cream with Testosterone and Estrogen, plus DHEA troches and hydrocortisone 8mg. She has suddenly had to stop practicising ( she is sick herself), but before she did, she also did the tests that showed the elevated DHEAS etc . I haven't been able to discuss that with her, so I stopped using the HC, T & E cream and the troches and got the appointment with the endo.Also I have no overt symptoms of PCOS ( ie no acne, no hirsutism ( the opposite in fact….bald armpits!!!!) and no history of PCOS. So I need some answers on what the elevated DHEAS is all about, and some more help with nailing this thyroid issue. I am not going to hold my breath assuming I will get it from this man, and will go to a larger centre with more experienced doctors if I have to.I am confused here .... - where you actually using the cream that contained Testostrone, Estrogen, DHEA and 8% Hydrocortisone at the time of the blood test ? If you did, then I am afraid you can discount ALL of the sex hormone results and it would explain why your results suggest PCOS.Hormone creams are very potent, and an 8% HC cream in particular (the usually HC creams you can buy over the counter are 1%). To expect a true result of sex hormones and cortisol you would have had to be off this hormone cream for about 6 weeks - or, obviously, not have started on it; from your mail it is not clear to me whether you were or were not. Would you please clarify?

I understand that the endo is from England so I am anticipating an argument about using Armour…… mind you I have no hyper symptoms on 90 mg a day, so he will need an army to stop me continuing on them. Particularly given that I am still incredibly tired. My morning basal temperature has risen from 35.8 to 36.2, and my resting pulse rate is still about 68-72.I hope that he will be understanding, but as you say – he can't stop you taking Armour. Your TFT's suggest that you are still under-medicated – your TSH should be below 1 and your FT4 and FT3 are still too low. On Armour your FT4 should be about mid range and the FT3 should be at the top of the ref range. A dose of only 90 mg Armour (that's 1 ½ grains – right?) is still quite low and you most likely need to up your dose.

I am assuming that I am still hypothyroid, maybe have insulin resistance (strong family history of insulin dependent diabetes and other autoimmune problem)…..and in the alternative perhaps some issues with the adrenals…..maybe a benign tumor (?) or something given the DHEAS result.

Oh yes, you are hypothyroid all right, and you will need thyroid replacement for the rest of your life. You have got Hashimoto's disease. As for all the other results – IMO their interpretation will depend on whether or not you had been using the hormone cream at the time those tests were performed.

With best wishes

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

> The above thyroid antibody test shows without a shadow

> of a doubt that you have got both – positive TPO and positive TgAB

> – which is a cast-iron diagnosis for autoimmune thyroiditis and it

> warrants treating with thyroid hormone.

Unfortunately the same result was not sufficient to get help from the last endo

i saw where I live. I got the armour by travelling to the other end of the

country ( and I live in Australia!!)

> I am confused here .... - where you actually using the cream that

> contained Testostrone, Estrogen, DHEA and 8% Hydrocortisone at the time

> of the blood test ?

No I had not yet had my prescriptions for any of the meds filled at the time of

the tests. I only commenced the meds in early June, after I saw the doctor

interstate. The tests were all done before I started on the armour and the

hormone cream, although the doctor had given me one of the DHEA troches to taste

(to make sure that I could stand it) whilst I was with her. She also gave me one

HC tablet whilst I was with her. The tests followed over the next 24 hours.

Would that have been sufficient to skew the results?

> Hormone creams are very potent

The DHEA was a troche to dissolve in the mouth. The hydrocortisone is in 4mg

tablets taken at breakfast and lunch.

> I hope that he will be understanding, but as you say – he can't

> stop you taking Armour.

Well he can refuse to prescribe (as his predecessor endo here did........she

refused treatment of any kind!) This chap is reputed to be conservative and

textbook driven. Then it will be back to the drawing board to find another new

doctor. He might be willing to prescribe artificial T4. I have enough Armour to

keep going for another couple of months if I have to, and that will keep me

going until I find someone else if he won't help me. At least now he needs to

explain why I haven't gone hyper taking the armour if he wants to say I am not

hypo as the other doctor here did,so that should help the argument.

>Your TFT's suggest that you are still under-medicated

Sorry for the confusion. These test results are pre-medication. I am now on

90mg but have not been retested yet to know where I am up to. I was commenced

on 30mg, and told to ramp up after a couple of weeks. So I have done that twice

to reach 90 mg and am tracking my temperature and pulse etc as well as my

symptoms to make sure I don't do too high.

But no new testing has been done to check on the FT3 or FT4 or TSH because the

interstate doctor who was helping me got sick, and I have had to wait a month to

get in to see this endo where I live to take over. Those results were the last

tests done prior to me heading interstate for help after the doctor here refused

to help me.

> A dose of only 90 mg Armour (that's 1 ½ grains – right?)

Yes....I think that is correct.

I guess this new chap will have to redo these tests if there is any doubt about

the DHEAS result because of the troche I tried in her office, or the cortisol

result because of the HC tablet. One step forward, one step back. At least I

have the Armour to keep going with in the meantime.

I have stopped taking the HC tablets too because of these issues. I am

definitely a bit improved on the Armour, but am still fatigued....just not as

bad. Do you think I should add the HC back in? Also, I suppose I should wait

now before further ramping up the Armour any further to see what new tests

reveal about the numbers....I hate the " numbers " . They give the doctors excuses

to not help.

Cheers

>