T3 and cortisol levels

[Coppernob]

Does anyone have any experience of T3-only medication LOWERING their cortisol levels?

I'm not sure if this IS what's happening, but it's crossed my mind and I wondered if there could be any basis for such an effect.

[rosetrees]

Have you read Paul Robinson's book "recovering with T3"? He has a method of dosing with T3 that evens out cortisol levels and heals adrenals, so yes I would think it can lower cortisol in some patients. Is that a good or bad thing for you? Did you have high cortisol before, or are you going too low? Have you had the saliva cortisol test done?

[Coppernob in reply to rosetrees]

Yes, I have, and I'm following the CT3M method. My salivary test suggests almost non-existent cortisol. And I do have loose bowels, which could indicate low cortisol. Not clear how far to trust cortisol tests at present however because I am taking low-dose prednisolone.

It was just that I accidentally forgot my 3am T3 dose this morning and found my bowels were working perfectly. Maybe a complete coincidence/red herring but just wondered if T3 IS somehow lowering my cortisol and thus causing slight diarrhoea and that maybe omitting CM dose this morning avoided that situation. (Though pretty quick adrenal response if so.)

I'd welcome everyone's thoughts. If T3 is lowering cortisol, why/how would it do that?

[rosetrees in reply to Coppernob]

I believe there is a Recovering With T3 Facebook group. Are you a FB user? If so, that might be the best place to ask.

[marigold22 in reply to rosetrees]

I'm in a similar predicament as you. On T3 only and prednisolone for low adrenals. In April Endo told me to go from 10mg a day of pred down to 5mg a day. (I had been self prescribing due to sheer desperation & will admit was on too much pred; probably needed more T3 & not more pred) Was ok with that - lowering by 1mg a month. However I managed to convince him to increase my T3 from 30mcg to 40mcg daily, split in 2 doses. I've got loose bowels & thought it was one of the vit/min supplements I'm taking. I recently read about Dr Skinner's theory that if the thyroid is working well, then the adrenals come back up. I feel great- better than have done in 20 years or so.

[marmaris]

I thought that it was T4 that converted (or is supposed to) convert to T3?

[Coppernob]

I hope so APsnotFab - my suspiciion is that my adrenals are well and truly knackered (technical term, that) and that they will need continued support like HC or prednisolone, maybe florinef, as well as T3 - and that's all being investigated.

As to the (possibly) lowered cortisol levels - that remains a mystery for now.

[Daisy77]

i know your post was a while ago but i have been asking the same question. A few months ago i was recovering from a copd exacerbation and couldn't get below 15 micrograms of pred. That is when i began adding t3 to the mix. it was just a quarter of a 25 micrograms tablet. Well i immediately went into a pred hyper mode and had to reduce quite quickly down to 7.5. At the moment i am struggling with my t3 level and have gone to half 25 mcgs tablet but i am suffering with awful insomnia. what a puzzle this all is. I think i will try the facebook page. i do have paul robinson's book and maybe i should re read it.i was wondering if you had discovered anything since you posted this?

Daisy

[Coppernob in reply to Daisy77]

I believe that T3 only medication can place a demand on cortisol - because it T3 needs cortisol to get into the cells. I think that's the theory. But yes, do join the Recovering with T3 FB group and read Paul's book. You'll learn loads. Though, like me, you'll probably still be confused! I'm currently struggling to get my cortisol and iron levels right in order to optimise T3 absorption and use. I seem to need to top up iron with infusions every 2-3 months. And I'm sure I need cortisol supplementation but when I added a little hydrocortisone into the mix my weight seemed to balloon. Nightmare, innit?! Good luck!

[mistygrey]

HI

I am having a similar issue just now. Since taking T3 I feel completely wiped in the morning after sleep doesn't matter how much sleep and also I have the loose stools that somebody else mentioned - almost daily now which I didn't have before T3.

How can I test for the cortisol and adrenal issues and does this sound like what could be happening?

[ShinyB in reply to mistygrey]

Hi, you'd be better posting this question as a new post, mistygrey - you can include the link to this post if you want, by copying and pasting what's in the browser. But because it's quite an old post, you're unlikely to get replies by posting the question here