Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi, I started taking cortef 6 mths ago (20mg, now up to 25) without having any adrenal testing done...based on extreme symptoms of fatigue and irritability (as well as having some of the home tests and read ADrenal Fatigue 21st cent), my doc agreed to let me try cortef (I was starting grad school in a week and needed help NOW). It was great, within a few days and till now it has totally cured me of the debilitating fatigue and inability to handle stress/irritability etc. Then a couple months ago he tested my TSH again, and it was 7.9 (had been 2.54 before cortef), freeT3 was 3.5 (1.9-3.9) and free T4 was 1.06 (.76-1.7), so I started on armour, now taking 1/2 grain. My ferritn was 16 so i'm taking about 70 mg bisglycinate (was losing lots of hair too). Do I need to keep increasing my armour? I tried keeping track of temps for a bit, but I really don't think I can get it to be part of my daily life at this point...my schedule is crazy, single mom in grad school etc. My doc says to stay on 1/2 grain for 6 weeks and then get blood tested, is that a reliable way to see if the armour is working? I'm wondering now what other tests I should take. Is there any way now of figuring out my adrenal issues without going off of cortef? What are the other tests that would be good for thyroid...I hear of antibody tests, ACTH, aldosterone etc, but don't know what they are or if I need them! Besides the hair loss, and some fatigue, my only other major symptom lately is my memory seems to be getting worse. I also started a gluten/casein free diet a couple months ago due to blood testing positive for celiac and having casein antibodies--this is I know correlated with hypothyroid/adrenal issues--what makes hypothyroid an autoimmune issue? or is it always? I know I still need to buy the Peatfield book to learn about all this! thanks, Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 I would wait to increase the armour until your ferratin is up to at least 70. Keeping track of your temps is the best way to monitor your adrenal status while on HC although you can take your BP sitting and standing as well. It's my impression that waiting 6 weeks between dosage increases in thyroid meds is fairly standard. It gives your body time to adjust. The Free T3 and T4 are the important ones for thyroid. It is also good to get the antibody tests done as well to check into Hashimotos and Graves. These are autoimmune disorders where they body attacks the thyroid. ACTH has to do with the pituitary. It puts this out to request cortisol from your adrenal glands. Aldosterone is from the adrenal gland and is related to sodium and potassium. Renin is good to get tested along with aldosterone. Below is my original wish list of tests I wanted my doctor to do. He did about half of them. I'm asking for the other half tomorrow. :-) Rie TSH Free T3 Free T4 RT3 24 hour cortisol salivia test Ferratin ACTH DHEA Vit. D Thyroid Antiboidies ?? Antibodies for Graves ?? estrogen proestrogen testosterone B-12 Aldosterone renin folic acid Potassium sodium A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright > Hi, I started taking cortef 6 mths ago (20mg, now up to 25) without > having any adrenal testing done...based on extreme symptoms of > fatigue and irritability (as well as having some of the home tests > and read ADrenal Fatigue 21st cent), my doc agreed to let me try > cortef (I was starting grad school in a week and needed help NOW). > It was great, within a few days and till now it has totally cured me > of the debilitating fatigue and inability to handle > stress/irritability etc. Then a couple months ago he tested my TSH > again, and it was 7.9 (had been 2.54 before cortef), freeT3 was 3.5 > (1.9-3.9) and free T4 was 1.06 (.76-1.7), so I started on armour, now > taking 1/2 grain. My ferritn was 16 so i'm taking about 70 mg > bisglycinate (was losing lots of hair too). Do I need to keep > increasing my armour? I tried keeping track of temps for a bit, but > I really don't think I can get it to be part of my daily life at this > point...my schedule is crazy, single mom in grad school etc. My doc > says to stay on 1/2 grain for 6 weeks and then get blood tested, is > that a reliable way to see if the armour is working? > > I'm wondering now what other tests I should take. Is there any way > now of figuring out my adrenal issues without going off of cortef? > What are the other tests that would be good for thyroid...I hear of > antibody tests, ACTH, aldosterone etc, but don't know what they are > or if I need them! Besides the hair loss, and some fatigue, my only > other major symptom lately is my memory seems to be getting worse. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.4/1276 - Release Date: 2/13/2008 9:41 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 You are welcom. Rie A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright > Re: What tests to take? > > > Rie, > Thank you so much, this is exactly what I needed to know! > Liz > > > > > > > > I would wait to increase the armour until your ferratin is up to at > least > > 70. Keeping track of your temps is the best way to monitor your > adrenal > > status while on HC although you can take your BP sitting and > standing as > > well. It's my impression that waiting 6 weeks between dosage > increases in > > thyroid meds is fairly standard. It gives your body time to adjust. > > > > The Free T3 and T4 are the important ones for thyroid. It is also > good to > > get the antibody tests done as well to check into Hashimotos and > Graves. > > These are autoimmune disorders where they body attacks the thyroid. > ACTH has > > to do with the pituitary. It puts this out to request cortisol from > your > > adrenal glands. Aldosterone is from the adrenal gland and is > related to > > sodium and potassium. Renin is good to get tested along with > aldosterone. > > Below is my original wish list of tests I wanted my doctor to do. > He did > > about half of them. I'm asking for the other half tomorrow. :-) > > > > Rie > > > > TSH > > Free T3 > > Free T4 > > RT3 > > 24 hour cortisol salivia test > > Ferratin > > ACTH > > DHEA > > Vit. D > > Thyroid Antiboidies ?? > > Antibodies for Graves ?? > > estrogen > > proestrogen > > testosterone > > B-12 > > Aldosterone > > renin > > folic acid > > Potassium > > sodium > > > > > > A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will > annoy > > enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright > > > > > Hi, I started taking cortef 6 mths ago (20mg, now up to 25) > without > > > having any adrenal testing done...based on extreme symptoms of > > > fatigue and irritability (as well as having some of the home tests > > > and read ADrenal Fatigue 21st cent), my doc agreed to let me try > > > cortef (I was starting grad school in a week and needed help NOW). > > > It was great, within a few days and till now it has totally cured > me > > > of the debilitating fatigue and inability to handle > > > stress/irritability etc. Then a couple months ago he tested my > TSH > > > again, and it was 7.9 (had been 2.54 before cortef), freeT3 was > 3.5 > > > (1.9-3.9) and free T4 was 1.06 (.76-1.7), so I started on armour, > now > > > taking 1/2 grain. My ferritn was 16 so i'm taking about 70 mg > > > bisglycinate (was losing lots of hair too). Do I need to keep > > > increasing my armour? I tried keeping track of temps for a bit, > but > > > I really don't think I can get it to be part of my daily life at > this > > > point...my schedule is crazy, single mom in grad school etc. My > doc > > > says to stay on 1/2 grain for 6 weeks and then get blood tested, > is > > > that a reliable way to see if the armour is working? > > > > > > I'm wondering now what other tests I should take. Is there any > way > > > now of figuring out my adrenal issues without going off of cortef? > > > What are the other tests that would be good for thyroid...I hear > of > > > antibody tests, ACTH, aldosterone etc, but don't know what they > are > > > or if I need them! Besides the hair loss, and some fatigue, my > only > > > other major symptom lately is my memory seems to be getting worse. > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.4/1276 - Release Date: > 2/13/2008 > > 9:41 AM > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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