What is an idea TSH and Cortisol level. I've been told my Cortisol at 265 is low,so why am I still gaining weight?

[beaton]

[marram]

There is no ideal TSH. Except inasmuch as it is the level at which you feel well, but that has more to do with the level of T3 which you have available for the body to function. There is a 'normal' range which varies from lab to lab, do you have any results with ranges? this will help you to get the best possible response.

If your cortisol IS low than you will find that your thyroid meds will likely be ineffective and might even make you feel worse if you are on Levo, but there are many other factors which can have a bearing.

Cortisol is frequently low when someone has had low thyroid levels for any length of time because the adrenals have been trying to make up for the lack of energy from T3 by sending out adrenaline, and as a result the adrenals become very tired. Also, to produce cortisol your adrenals need T3.

As you can see from this there is a lot of interdependence between the thyroid and the adrenals.

Marie XX

[beaton]

Thanks Marram, a very comprehensive answer. My TSH is 0.088,which I was told was too suppressed,they would prefer 2.00 (I was taking 100 T4 and 2x10 T3) so they reduced T4 to 50mcg. (bloods in 6 weeks.)

I thought low cortisol would cause weight loss not weight gain.x

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link and there are other topics at the top of the page for your information.

The first question and the one dated January 25, 2002 are self-explanatory.

web.archive.org/web/2010111...

[beaton in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws,I'll get reading.x

[Hidden]

My german endo (who is brilliant) says every normal human being needs a TSH of between 0.3 and 0.5 to feel well and def below 1. Anthony Toft (who has since eaten his hat on TSH) says in his book Understanding Thyroid Disorders that TSH should be at the bottom of the range and T4 at the top.

However, I agree that it's horses for courses, how you feel is important If you have autoimmune disease or are on T3 containing medication, then the TSH is not a reliable indicator. A suppressed TSH is only a warning if your T3 and T4 are over range, if they are normal you are NOT hyper. God save us from stupid doctors who can't see beyond a suppressed TSH

Saliva cortisol should follow a diurnal rhythm with it highest (right at the top of range) in the morning, mid range noon and afternoon and right at the bottom of the range at bedtime. Serum cortisol tests aren;t all that useful.

STTM website good for info on all of the above.

Rebecca

x

[beaton]

Thanks GirlScout,some interesting reading there.x

[Heloise]

youtube.com/watch?v=BwWqj1E...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=qYeFh06...(Not working as expected?)

Two short videos on cortisol.

[beaton in reply to Heloise]

Thanks for these,I see there are more,all very interesting.x

[headinjuryhypo]

The other possible explanation is that the problem's further upstream i.e. in your pituitary gland, and that your pituitary is dysfunctional on several fronts at once. You might be not just affected in your thyroid and cortisol-deficient, but growth-hormone-deficient as well. GH deficiency is notorious for causing weight gain.

The Pituitary Foundation has a good leaflet describing what the pituitary does: briefly, if it is damaged it can affect the following pituitary hormones - ACTH which stimulates the adrenals to produce cortisol, TSH which stimulates the thyroid, growth hormone (GH) and LH/FSH which stimulate the production of the sex hormones. If you've ever had a head injury or even a mild concussion it can damage your pituitary, and so can autoimmune disease, cranial radiation, stroke, genetic factors, taking steroids, snake-bite . . . So do consider it as a possibility. And if you've had more than one short synacthen test which has shown low baseline cortisol (yes, 265 is low) you have strong grounds for asking for an insulin stress test, which would show up both cortisol AND growth hormone deficiency. See this link which says "A serum cortisol value of >83nmol/L but <497nmol/L that is persistent on repeat determination is an indication to evaluate ACTH reserve." http:uptodate.com/contents/diagn... You could show your GP this, or better still, put it in black and white in a letter. I do wish you good luck.

[headinjuryhypo]

I meant to give you a link to this article in the Times bit.ly/1aaznvZ which makes you realise how many undiagnosed people there are with this problem.

[beaton in reply to headinjuryhypo]

Thanks for these posts,they a very interesting.x