It feels like I've been possessed by something that has hijacked my body. First I was having bouts of insomnia the day my period starts, then I rebounded from that and couldn't get enough sleep. I could sleep for 9 hours and wake up feeling exhausted. What a shitty period that was. Being a woman can just suck.
My thyroid levels checked out slightly hyper and I've adjusted my meds. I'm also 50 and have started having crazy irregular periods which means I'm still producing estrogen so I'm thinking the fluctuating levels could be partially to blame?
I am also suspecting my cortisol levels may be causing havoc as well. My stress level has been on a rollercoaster ride and have been around my husband and talk of divorce. (personally, I think I'll be happier with a divorce, but getting there is a bumpy ride).
So, what I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with adrenal stress/failure and what it was like--how was it diagnosed. I talked my doctor into letting me get a 4 hour saliva test and just finished the test today. Results will be a week or so. Appreciate any input or advice
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Justeffit
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Hi Just, Stress is not good for you but I guess it's unavoidable under the circumstances. I just posted this video in the previous post but it is such a good explanation of your thyroid and adrenals. He also discusses estrogen and progesterone and cholesterol since they are all involved with the adrenals. I think you will get a lot of good information from it.
Welcome to our forum and sorry to hear that you are not feeling well.
Stress can hinder both the adrenal and thyroid hormone pathway, causing elevated cortisol levels (stress hormone) that then cause further problems by inhibiting or altering the metabolic pathway of thyroid hormones.
The HPT axis is an acutely stress-responsive neuroendocrine system that also affects auto immune problems and inflammation, gut health and blood sugar levels.
Inflammatory cytokines (TH-1 & TH-2) released when we are stressed or having an (auto)immune response also down regulate the HPA axis and prevent thyroid hormone conversion. They also suppress the thyroid receptor sites ... a bit like insulin resistance.
The thyroid and adrenals glands also work in synergy with our sex hormones.
Prolonged exposure to stress may cause the over production of cortisol. Cortisol and DHEA-S compete for the same precursor, pregnenolon . Pregnenolone is preferentially “stolen” from making adequate amounts of DHEA-S which in turn is the precursor of the sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone.
A women’s progesterone levels natural falls as she ages and can create estrogen dominance which causes the liver to produce high levels of a protein called thyroid binding globulin. This binds with the thyroid hormone and decreases the amount of thyroid hormone that can be assimilated into and utilized by the cells.
Because the adrenals manufacture a number of hormones, such as cortisol, adrenaline, aldosterone, estrogen and testosterone, it is very important to have optimal levels of all vitamins and nutrients.
For good adrenal health I advocate Vit C containing bioflavinoids that ensures the ascorbic acid can be utilised by your body.
Eat a healthy gluten free diet with fats, carbs & protein and with regular meals to avoid insulin spikes.
Address any gut issues such as candida or IBS and ask your GP to test levels of Vit B12, Vit D, folate and ferritin as optimal levels are required for this hormone synthesis.
You could also ask him to blood test your sex hormones if you suspect you are menopausal.
My thyroid meds have been a little unstable since I started having hot flushes.
I use Wellsprings Serenity progesterone transdermal cream.
How long have you been diagnosed with thyroid issues?
Do you have thyroid hormone blood test results to post complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment?
Ensure you take meds 1 hour before food, 2 hours before supps and 4 hours before iron and calcium.
You did well getting your GP to agree to a saliva cortisol test.
You have a lot going on and it sounds like it is all tied up together.
This following link explains the importance of vitamins and where they may be obtained. This forum is supported by the charity ThyroidUK. You do not have to join the charity to benefit from this forum but by doing so you will be supporting the charity and also entitled to various discounts when buying supplements, as detailed in the link below.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.
In the same boat too. 50 with hashi's fibromyalgia, arthritis and TMJ pain. I feel like I am walking a tightrope whilst juggling most days, trying to get a balance between pain, stiffness, palpitations, thyroid Meds, supplements and going gluten and sugar free! It's a full time job keeping up with the information and trying to make it work for me. However if I wasn't doing this I think I would be bedridden .
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