Iv had an under active thyroid for 3 years, and while im not falling asleep all the time i have started t feel very unwell. I refer to what i experience as episodes, the main symptoms are feeling like im going unconscious, dry mouth, discomfort in my trunk area, light headed and the worst feeling of all is that i am dying because i feel so so poorly, these episodes can last for a couple of hours to alot longer. I have a 24 hour cortisol test done which cam back at 34.quite low but in the normal range, i feel that when i feel very poorly my cortisol levels drop really low.
If anyone can identify with this or as any advice for me it would be much appreciated.
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yorkshiregirl44
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Three possibilities come to mind (other than adrenal). Wrong dose or type of thyroid medication, making you over or under medicated. Histamine reaction to food and/or medication. Candida.
The obvious starting point is to investigate the thyroid medication. What dose are you on, what were your most recent blood test results and when were you last tested?
Hi and thanks. Last thyroid results two months ago and came back looking very good but that is not how i am feeling. Im on 100mg of thyroxine now, Dont know about Histamine reaction but i have been getting some allergic reactions to paint and air freshners. Candida, i tried the spit test which showed up positive. Iv got appointment with Dr Peatfield this months so maybe i will find out exactly whats going on
What do you mean when you say your thyroid results came back looking very good ? Is that according to your GP/endo or is that your own assessment? If you post the actual numbers (i.e. TSH, FT4 and FT3 with accompanying ranges), we can get a better understanding
allergic reactions to paint and air freshners These are external allergy triggers and if you've only recently started to get this, it may well indicate inappropriate thyroid hormone levels. The reason I mentioned histamine in relation to food is because this also is something that can be directly related to thyroid hormone problems for some of us. It really comes more under the heading of 'intolerance' than allergy. As well as food, an ingredient in a medication may be a trigger. A classic example is the acacia powder used in certain makes of levothyroxine tablets. (See article on Mary Shomon's site thyroid.about.com/od/synthr... In the UK, levothyroxine made by MercuryPharma (including Eltroxin) contains this ingredient.
Gluten intolerance seems to be a problem for many thyroid patients too, so that's another possibility you could investigate, although if you do have a candida problem, you'll need to eliminate all carbohydrates, not just those containing gluten. All of this can be a direct result of thyroid problems for some of us (I know from personal experience!)
You might find it worthwhile to browse the forums at Allergy UK to see if anything starts to ring bells for you. Here's a link to get you started. forum.allergyuk.org/viewtop...
Hello yorkshiregirl. I suggest you do this adrenal quiz adrenalfatigue.org/take-the... which will start giving you clues about whether or not adrenals are your problems. Your symptoms sound familiar and for me adrenals are the main problem with some thyroid involvement too.
I also suggest you read one or both of these books - "Your thyroid and how to keep it healthy" by Dr P or "Stop the thyroid madness" by Janie B. Both are excellent and both have loads of info on adrenals and thyroid.
If you can afford it, an appointment with Dr P would be a good place to start. He does clinics around the country and telephone consultations for those who can't get to a clinic. His office phone number is 01883 623125.
Hi and thanks for your mind. Great minds think alike.... i have read Dr.Ps boook and i have an appointment with him on the 19th of this month...so may have some answers to whats going on
Q: I have a 24 hour cortisol test done which cam back at 34.quite low but in the normal range ....
I’m afraid the figure 34 doesn’t make any sense to me. I do not know of any such reference with regard to cortisol testing. Can you elaborate, please? What kind of 24 hour test was that – salivary? urinary? Blood test? - and what was the reference range?
genova UK do a saliva cortisol test. It's the one I used. You take four saliva samples - one on waking, one at lunchtime, one late afternoon and one at bedtime. It's easy to do - just spit into four little bottles. Freeze the samples and send it back by courier. All the instructions are in the test kit.
The test i had was 24 urine and not saliva my mistake. The reference range was 10-175...so my 34 was on the lower end but i know it falls much further at times.
I would also have the ASI test done from Genova Logisitics, I have had this and it did show up that I had Adrenal Fatique - where as the doctor said I was 'in the range' one of their favourate sayings. it doesn't matter how Ill you are - you are always within the range. If the adrenals are not working properly then your Thyroid Medication will not be taken up properly and will make you feel like your dyeing, I know all about that. As Rosetrees suggested - maybe a trip to see Dr P, he has written a book as well - that would help make things clearer.
Thanks for your reply, I cant believe what you are saying as it sounds exactly how i would describe how i feel, when i try to explain it to people i say it feel like i am being posioned and yes i do believe i am crashing at that point.Have you started to feel any better and did you ever get a diagnosis.
Hi Yorkshire Girl (I'm one too, born in Bingley, went to school in Bradford), what you said about feeling poisoned reminds me of Christine Wrightson's story on investinme.org/Article-650%... She had hypoadrenalism, you might find it helpful.
Hi, I remember now that i had read that link before but didnt remember the name. I wonder if its possible to have a pitruity problem with a 24 cortisol urine test levels at 34, range was from 10-175. It is my belief that my levels drop very low during these episodes.
I tend to think in nmol/L but I've converted, and 34 mcg/L comes out at 938.06 nmol/L. Was 34 the lowest it went to during the 24 hours? If so, I don't think you can have a pituitary problem as it's only when basal cortisol is between 83-497 that they recommend doing a more sensitive test. uptodate.com/contents/diagn...
Oh sorry, I think I did see that you said that . . looking up urine tests it seems that they give you a figure for the total cortisol produced in the 24 hours, so this doesn't give you any idea of the lowest it goes. So maybe you do need another kind of test?
I am having exactly the same episodes! Having one right now. I hate it!!!! It's been happening for the past 6 months. My doctor just didn't seem interested - said that they are anxiety attacks - told me I worry too much about my health and to go out and enjoy the sun. It was after that comment I changed to another doctor - who has turned out to be just as useless. My TSH is within range so that is all they are interested in. Both have offered antidepressants and beta blockers, but because these episodes only happen a few times a month, I have been reluctant to take anything that could have worse side effects. Btw I was diagnosed hypothyroid 15 years ago and I take 100mcg levothyroxine. I'm also taking sublingual B12, high dose vitC and magnesium spray. I feel now like I did before I was diagnosed.
Sorry to hear your having a bad time and like you its so frustrating when drs say your anxious, well who wouldnt be when your feeling so ill,,,but i think we know our bodies well enough to know when something is not right. And like you my episodes are not daily, sometimes once a week, less sometimes but they are so profound and something needs checking out. Im going to see Dr.P this month in the hope that he can help. Have you had any tests on your adrenal glands?
I will let you know how i go on when i see Dr.Peatfield in 2 weeks..i know he has several clinics around the country. im lucky as the clinic im going to is only 4 miles away.
This test checks the function of the adrenal glands throughout the day, you are supplied with four test tubes and you have to spit into them, first when waking, then lunchtime, then late afternoon and the last one just before bed, you pop it into a freezer until the special carriers come and collect it. (this also checks the DHEA levels) I do not think this test is available on the NHS yet. If you request from your GP the ACTH or (also as it can be known) Synacthen test - this only shows up Addisons Diease. The ASI test presents a clear picture and in my case it really saved me, I was terribley Ill and had requested the Synacthen Test (before I knew more about it ) - and was told I was in the Range so was refused Hydrocortisone which I desparately needed, but thankfully I found a fantastic website where I could by the Hydrocortisone from at a good price
The T4 was making me very Ill - (thyroidtoxicous), my Temp was around 34.2, but my pulse was 125bpm, I had trouble breathing, would wake in the night gasping for breath, heart palpatations, had no energy - to the extent of having to crawl about, really big black circles around my eyes, constantly hungry, Fibromyalgia, I lost my sense of smell and taste, Terrible stomach pain & sharp pains in the chest, blurry vision, as white as a ghost - I think thats most of the symptons
The Hydrocortisone made a massive difference to me, it meant that I was able to continue working, my temp increased and the gasping for breath stopped. I can not take any form of Thyroid medication at all, my body reacts to it, however small the dose, So I am looking into that, the receptor uptake is very poor and their is a number of reasons for that. I do also wonder if I have a lack of Aldosterone. I am sure things will be much better for you
The system is so unfair...Hope Dr. peatfield can sort me out. My Dr wanted t refer me back to chronic fatigue clinic as i was diagnosed with that but i refused as this is not about fatigue...hate that diagnosis because they dont look at anything else.
Im finding this site very useful and informative..how did we ever get along without the internet.
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Cushings or Addisons Disease
Addisons or LOCAH? Confusing results...help needed. 
adrenals 
Interpreting results - adrenals
