question about thyroid treatment

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

I have seen an endocrinologist and have had lots of tests but have

not had the results back.

Anyway I have tried to work things out myself using my clinical

picture, previous test results, the medical text books and my own

body awareness and intuition. The picture is complicated by severe

depression and polycystic ovarian syndrome. However, I think that

since a young age I had adrenal insufficiency and was also

hypothyroid as a result of that and PCOs. Now I think my adrenal

glands are packing up but try and getting that over to a doctor is a

different matter.

I have to wait to see the endocrinologist for 5 weeks and even then

I fear he is very narrow minded. Anyway my psychiatrist wants me to

try thyroid hormone (not taking into account my endo problems) but I

have read that you can get into trouble if you take thyroid hormone

without addressing the adrenals as well. Does anyone know what might

happen if I do. Years ago I took thyroid and felt immediately so

much better but the effect wore off rather quickly.

I am so desparate I cannot hang on 5 weeks and thought that if I

take the thyroid hormone prescribed by the psychiatrist and adrenal

support that you can get without a prescription that might be ok.

does anyone have any thoughts.

I'm sorry that being new to this site I have only asked questions

and not been able to give any advice.

Many thanks, and take care all.

Sue

[Guest guest]

Dropping by with a basket full of questions is perfectly okay, Sue... so no worries there.

Adrenal then thyroid or Thyroid then adrenal... good question...

The package inserts for thyroid hormone actually state that the adrenals be checked and supported before starting thyroid hormone therapy... but not many docs ever bother with it. That SUCKS.

My adrenals were trashed, I'd been on to low a dose of synthetic thyroid for over a decade and I was a mess. I took the jump to change to natural thyroid and add adrenal support on my own... That will be four years ago next month. It was the BEST thing I've ever done for myself....

There are quite a few of us here that self treat. Many of us are treating both thyroid and adrenal. I say that not as an endorsement to do it... but to let you know it's done, and done successfully.

My thinking, from your comments, is that it wouldn't be a bad idea at all to let the psychiatrist take on the thyroid treatment... Make sure that he runs the correct labs.... TSH, Free T4, Free T3.

It would be a VERY good thing to find out what they have run so far and what those results look like. Adrenal insufficiency can lead to thyroid insufficiency, yes.... but most of the time it's the other way around, it's just that the thyroid symptoms build so gradually, over such a long period of time, that it's the resulting adrenal issues that are more pronounced and noticeable... That may not be it in your situation... but it would be good to see what past thyroid testing has shown... provided they took the right tests.

Now... OTC meds.... Folks have their favs for adrenal support.... Cortisol, Prednisone and glandular. I'm a glandular person. There is a source for a GOOD whole desiccated bovine adrenal glandular in the US that can be purchased without a prescription. I used it as a support supplement for my adrenals. I started at 1/4 tab and gradually worked up to 1 1/2 tabs and then gradually worked down to 1/4 tab and then quit. I used them daily for just shy of three years and now use it at the rate of 1/4 a day for 4 days when I'm in a high stress situation. I think they helped to save my butt.

If your adrenals are pooped and you start on thyroid meds your body reacts to the introduction of the thyroid as if it were too much and you can start showing hyper symptoms even while your actual thyroid hormone levels are low.. that results in your still not having enough thyroid hormone to be able to function well physically and mentally and further stresses your adrenal glands.

A good protocol is to start easing in S L O W L Y with adrenal support to prepare your body for adding thyroid hormone... Provided testing shows that it's needed.

What symptoms are you experiencing now?

What medications are you taking?

What herbs and supplements are you taking?

What is your resting heart rate (sit quietly for about 20 minutes then count the beats for six seconds, multiply by 10)?

Topper ()

On Sun, 04 Jun 2006 07:42:24 -0000 "suesteer" writes:

Dear all, I have seen an endocrinologist and have had lots of tests but have not had the results back. Anyway I have tried to work things out myself using my clinical picture, previous test results, the medical text books and my own body awareness and intuition. The picture is complicated by severe depression and polycystic ovarian syndrome. However, I think that since a young age I had adrenal insufficiency and was also hypothyroid as a result of that and PCOs. Now I think my adrenal glands are packing up but try and getting that over to a doctor is a different matter. I have to wait to see the endocrinologist for 5 weeks and even then I fear he is very narrow minded. Anyway my psychiatrist wants me to try thyroid hormone (not taking into account my endo problems) but I have read that you can get into trouble if you take thyroid hormone without addressing the adrenals as well. Does anyone know what might happen if I do. Years ago I took thyroid and felt immediately so much better but the effect wore off rather quickly. I am so desparate I cannot hang on 5 weeks and thought that if I take the thyroid hormone prescribed by the psychiatrist and adrenal support that you can get without a prescription that might be ok. does anyone have any thoughts. I'm sorry that being new to this site I have only asked questions and not been able to give any advice. Many thanks, and take care all. Sue