Re: Start from the beginning again! / cortisol tests

[Guest guest]

You don't need your Dr. to test your cortisol, you can order your own test

through Canary Club, here's the link:

http://www.canaryclub.org/diurnal-cortisol-4x-zrt.html

Here is Moderator Nick's web page on adrenals, very good info here:

http://www.thyroid-rt3.com/adrenals.htm

If you did well on Armour for a few months then felt hypo symptoms again, that

sure could be an RT3 problem! I'll quote Nick's website: " The main symptom of

RT3 issues is that of hypothyroidism that won't respond to treatment. "

from:

http://www.thyroid-rt3.com/whatare.htm

Hopefully your Dr. will order an RT3 test; if not you can get an RT3 test

without a Dr., through econolabs.com. Last time I checked these tests were

available in all states except NY, NJ and RI.

You may have seen it already, but just in case not, don't miss the rest of

Nick's website, here's the link to the main page:

http://www.thyroid-rt3.com/

>

> I need serious help! Please please please! I've been diagnosed with hashimotos

for 11 years and never felt right, except briefly when I switched to Armour in

Dec 2008. Before I had always been on Synthroid only. My energy was great on

Armour although I sometimes experienced a racing heart and oxygen thirst and

after four or so months on it I started again to feel depressed and tired with

migraines and body pain and irritability. My naturopath ordered hormone tests

which came back normal. She tested me for food allergies and those showed gluten

and lactose alergies. I stopped eating gluten and dairy in Aug 2009 and felt

less sleepy and bloated but still lost no weight and had back pain. Then when

Armour became unavailable in the fall of 2009 my doc switched me to a generic

form of Naturethroid. Soon I really began to feel crazy, nervous, feeling like I

was going to die, racing heart and every time I started to fall asleep I would

jerk awake because I felt like I wasn't breathing. My naturopath told me maybe I

had mold in my house, that my symptoms weren't related to my thyroid. I finally

went to an emergency care clinic in January 2010 and tested at TSH 25. I found

an endo who proscribed Synthroid for me again and said he would work with me

until my levels were where I wanted. He increased my Synthroid to 175 mcg from

150 mcg until my TSH was at 1.5 but then said I was normal and even though I was

still very stressed and tired (although not feeling crazy like on the generic

naturethroid) would not look at any other medications or tests. He said he

doesn't believe in adrenal fatigue. That was May. I've gained twenty pounds

since then and just had my tests done through my new family practice doctor and

came back with these results: TSH 3.690, Free T3 87 and Thyroxine Free 1.32.

Could you please help me interpret these results and tell me what tests I should

have ordered and what to look for?

>

> My reg doctor won't tests my adrenals or cortisol or anything else because she

says she isn't an endo and can't help me, but did agree to start me on Cytomel

if I thought it would help. She says my TSH at 3.690 is normal. She also

prescribed painkillers and an antidepressant for my back pain and depression,

but I feel if I can just get my thyroid right again, I wouldn't need those. I

feel too paranoid anyway after what I went through on the generic naturethroid

to take any medication that might cause heart palpitations or shortness of

breath or dizziness. My migraines are back and I'm unable to take stress and

have to keep repeating to myself that this is temporary so I don't just give up

and quit my job and go hide somewhere.

>

> I could also use a new endo if you know of any near Olympia, Wa. I am willing

to drive to Portland or Seattle at this point. I am exhausted with having to beg

for help from my doctors but not getting any real answers. I don't know if I

have an RT3 issue but something is not right and I need help please!! I have my

labs from the last year available. Thank you, Terry, I really appreciate

everyone's time!

>