Adrenal Test Results While Supplementing HC

[Guest guest]

I am on 25-30mg cream a day and for the day of the saliva test, I did

not supplement any HC. My results are very high. I still do not

understand why I cannot tolerate an increase of T3. When I increase,

I keep waking up at night-sometimes hungry. Currently on 25mg T3.

If my cortisol is so flipping high, why can't I increase my T3 to

where I need it?

<3 Tasia

Cortisol Morning 42.6H [ng/ml 3.7-9.5]

Cortisol Noon 15.4H [ng/ml 1.2-3.0]

Cortisol Evening 18.4H [ng/ml 0.6-1.9]

Cortisol Night 2.1H [ng/ml 0.4-1.0]

Other Hormones:

Estradiol 1.6 [inrange, pg/ml 1.3-3.3]

Progesterone 112 LOW [200-3000 pg/ml]

Ratio Pg/E2 70 LOW [optimal: 100-500 when E2 1.3-3.3]

Testosterone 31 inrange [16-55] I think its low for my age range

DHEAS 11 inrange [2-23 pg/ml]

The labs were done through ZRT.

Here is the summary of the results. Lots of info I was not aware of. ...

Estradiol is within the expected range. Progesterone is lower than

expected for use of a topical progesterone cream (suggests

insufficient dosing, poor absorption, or rapid metabolism/clearance).

Low ratio of progesterone/estradiol is consistent with

symptoms of estrogen dominance. Other symptoms indicate estrogen

deficiency, which is more likely due to other hormonal

imbalances (e.g. low thyroid or high cortisol) than a lack of

estrogen. Excessive estrogen, low progesterone, or a low ratio of

progesterone/estradiol often leads to a functional thyroid deficiency

and one or more of the following symptoms: cold hands and

feet, low basal body temperature, low libido (despite normal/high

testosterone), fatigue-particularly in the evening, low stamina,

depression, foggy thinking, anxiety, fibromyalgia, brittle nails and

hair, hair loss, puffy eyes, decreased sweating, and

constipation. This patient has listed some of these symptoms. Low

salivary progesterone could be due to poor absorption

caused by hypothyroid conditions in the skin (myxedema-accumulation of

water binding mucopolysaccharides under the skin

that would impede absorption of fat-soluble steroids such as

progesterone). Treatment of the thyroid condition may help with

progesterone absorption.

Testosterone is within normal range but symptoms are more

characteristic of HIGH androgens. Progesterone has recently

been supplemented which may help correct the cause of high androgens

(ie. insulin resistance) but not immediately reverse all

of the signs and symptoms associated with chronic exposure of the skin

to high androgens, particularly loss of scalp hair and

increased facial/body hair. Progesterone applied topically to the skin

acts as a natural anti-androgen by competitively inhibiting

the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone locally

within the skin to the more potent androgen,

dihydrotestosterone (DHT)(Mauvais-Jarvis P. et al. Ann Endocrinol

1975; 36(2): 55-62). Higher DHT levels seen in normal men

and in women with insulin resistance/polycystic ovaries is responsible

for increased sebum production in the skin (leads to

acne), thicker hair growth on the face and body, and loss of scalp

hair. If androgen (testosterone and/or DHEA) levels decline

with progesterone therapy, this suggests that the progesterone has

increased insulin sensitivity and inhibited peripheral

conversion of testosterone to DHT in the skin.

DHEAS is within mid-normal expected age range (7-23 ng/ml for age

range 12-30). DHEAS is highest during the late teens to

early twenties (10-20 ng/ml) and drops steadily with age to the lower

end of range by age 70-80.

Salivary cortisol is very high in the morning and continues high

throughout the day. In a normal individual without significant

stressors, cortisol is at its highest level in the morning shortly

after awakening (optimal level 4-6 ng/ml) and steadily drops

throughout the day, reaching the lowest level during sleep in the very

early morning about 2 am (optimal level 0.7-1.0 ng/ml just

before bed). The most common adrenal stressors that can raise cortisol

levels include psychological stressors (emotional),

physical insults (surgery, injury, diseases), chemical exposure

(environmental pollutants, excessive medications), hypoglycemia

(low blood sugar), and pathogenic infections (bacterial, viral,

fungal). Acute situational stressors (e.g., anxiety over unresolved

situations, travel, work-related problems, wedding, holiday season,

etc.) can also result in a transient increase in cortisol levels,

which is a normal response to the stressor, but levels return to

normal with removal of the stressor. However, if the stressor

persists the adrenal glands either continue to meet the demands of the

stressor with high cortisol output, or become exhausted,

wherein cortisol levels fall to normal or more commonly drop to a very

low level. High cortisol production by the adrenal glands

is a normal response to stressors and is essential for health.

However, if high adrenal cortisol output persists over a prolonged

period of time (months/years), excessive breakdown of normal tissues

(muscle wasting, thinning of skin, bone loss) and immune

suppression can result. Chronic high cortisol, particularly if it is

elevated throughout the day or high at night, is associated most

commonly with symptoms of sleep disturbances, vasomotor symptoms (hot

flashes and night sweats despite normal or high

estrogen levels), fatigue, depression, weight gain in the waist, bone

loss, and anxiety. High cortisol can impair the actions of

other hormones such as insulin and thyroid, causing tissue resistance

to these hormones. For additional information about

strategies for supporting adrenal health and reducing stressors, the

following books are worth reading: " Adrenal Fatigue " , by

L. , N.D., D.C., Ph.D.; " The Cortisol Connection " , by

Talbott, Ph.D.; " The End of Stress As We Know It " by

Bruce McEwen; " Awakening Athena " by Kenna son, MD; " Thyroid

Power " , by Shames, MD.