If you have undiagnosed adrenal problems, how do you feel when you start on thyroid hormones?

Be v grateful if anyone has experience of this. Do they just not work at all? Or are there bad effects?

[Josiesmum]

Hi Aspmama

I'm sorry, I can't answer your question, but have you asked your GP to test 9am cortisol? It's not a perfect test but gives a snapshot of adrenal function. My daughter's is very low so she is being referred for further tests. Cortisol is needed for T3 to be taken up by the cells, so my understanding is that thyroid hormone treatment will not be as effective if there is adrenal insufficiency.

[Coastwalker]

Hi Aspmama,

Along with other hypo symptoms, I had exercise resistance and a craving for salt, people mentioned it might be adrenal linked, though I was not diagnosed by a Doctor.

When optimally medicated with Levothyroxine at the time, (now on NDT)

my exercise resistance, (unbelievably I was able to ice skate the next day) and salt cravings went overnight.

I believe, (I recall reading) a well known Doctor who is often mentioned on here (TUK) said that adrenals often heal/return to normal when enough thyroid hormone is given, (These are my words, not his.)

A guess only, that it might have been Dr Peatfield ?

[Hidden in reply to Coastwalker]

Thanks so much both of you. How is Josie feeling? You are doing well, Josie's mum, to get the doctor to pursue this avenue.

Coastwalker, all my life I have heaped salt on my plate, to the alarm of those watching (my father was the same) but since starting on thyroid hormones (levo and a top up piggy pill) I have found that I don't crave salt in the same way. In fact, the other day I threw up when I had a lot. (Sorry, hope you're not eating while reading this.)

Also, I can't drink coffee in the way I did. I was self medicating, I realise now, to speed up my metabolism, and now if I take stimulants my blood pressure rises and I can feel pressure on my heart and a kind of upleasant tension and exhaustion in the body which I guess is the feeling of over medication.

OK, I think I'm probably in some kind of transitional state, where the T3 might be finally getting to cells it hasn't seen for 40 years or so, I will stick with it, despite the feeling of now being 95, reduce the other stimulants, stay calm, and Blue Horizon in a few weeks time in case the blood tests give a clue to what is going on.

Thank you again, Josiesmum and Coastwalker.

[Coastwalker in reply to Hidden]

Yes I think Blue Horizon's blood tests will help with where you are now and what your next move needs to be Aspmama, sorry to hear you have had to wait 40yrs!!! ???

Do post up your results for members to read, (I am sure you will.)

Without help from members on here, TUK, I would be struggling by now, I would never have worked it out myself.

I was under medicated and had to keep asking my Doctor to 'up' my Levo, each time.

I felt really better for a few days (actually feeling 'normal' again,) then after a week or so, I would go back to feeling under the weather again, tired, brain fogged, aching etc., but I knew what it felt to be 'normal', so I knew that I needed more Levo to make me feel well, the salt cravings have gone, but I prefer savory foods to sweet now.

Our body's certainly let us know there's a problem for sure.