Re: Help! Thyroid vs adrenal symptoms?

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Cheri and Val, I have not had any tests for about a

year--since last year when this happened. The RT3 thing really

confuses me.

I do take Vit D, 150 IU a day.

Normally I take 40 mg of Cortef a day 15/10/10/5 , but right now I am

having problems weaning down from stress dosing I had to start in

October and I'm taking around 50 mg now trying to wean. I take it more

or less the same ratio as above as I find this works best for me.

Yes, it seemed to me it was cortisol related too, as I also have the

fat belly and rear and a swollen face (although it is my lower jaw and

cheeks and not the moon face) and I've gained about 15 lbs since

October--which is a lot for me as I'm only 5'3 " -- But I think I am on

too much HC already.

However, Val may recall that a couple of years ago she saved my life

when a doc put me on MASSIVE doses of Prednisone for months because of

a severe rash and that almost killed me. And I was cautioned after

that that I might need more HC than most people for the rest of my

life. Some even thought that I might not be able to get by with HC at

all, but would need stronger forms or cortisol. This has proved, at

least in the warm months, not to be the case. However, I have, so far,

not been able to get by with less than 40 mg HC.

My temps are pretty low right now, average around 97.50, but fairly

normal when it's warm.

I also should add that October is a very stressful month for me

because of my job ( I have a costume shop) , and that is also when

this usually begins. But it just continues throughout the winter until

spring.

It is so very confusing and frustrating!

If you need tests to help I'll try to find a doc.

If any one can recommend a doc in Eugene, Oregon that would be great!

Thank you! Theda

You sound like you have low cortisol symptoms

> first and foremost followed by low thyroid symptoms which could be

either

> not enough meds or RT3 issues (more likely with your dose). Could

you give

> us an idea of what doses you take (cortisol) and how often during

the day?

>

> Thanks,

> Cheri

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Cheri! I did a little research last night--so...I should stop

taking the Thyroid-S and switch to all Cytomel? Should I do that all

at once or gradually? And I think I read to replace 25mcg Cytomel for

each grain of Thyroid?

Thanks!

Theda

> T4 is produced by the thyroid. Your body converts it to T3.

Sometimes teh

> body will start making Reverse T3 instead. If I remember correctly this

> often happens when you have too much T3 in your bloodstream (or

maybe it's

> T4). Anyway when you get lots of RT3, it clogs up the receptors so

the T3

> can't get into the cells. The solution is to supplement with T3 meds

only

> until the RT3 gets cleared out. This is a very simplistic answer and I'm

> sure I'm leaving stuff out,b ut that is the general idea. :-0

>

> Cheire