Has anyone else had to work on their adrenals and build them back up before they could go on thyroid meds? If so, how did it go and how long did it take till they were well enough to start on thyroid meds? Approximately, since I know it will probably be different for everyone that's done it.
Thanks,
Jody
I tried but I didn't feel well so had to stop.
drlam.com/articles/vitamin_...
This is from another link:
Adrenal fatigue symptoms and signs include chronic stress, tiredness, excess facial or body hair growth in women, several food sensitivities, multiple chemical sensitivities, hair loss, acne, salt cravings, recurrent infections, low blood pressure, tend to skip breakfast in the morning (lack of appetite and/or drink only coffee), or feeling cold. Keep in mind that you’ll never normalize a low thyroid function (diagnosed either by lab tests or clinical symptoms) if you don’t address adrenal fatigue.
First, try titrating doses of vitamin C since it is a very important nutrient for adrenal function and repair, other than cholesterol. Most folks need only to up their intake of this important nutrient in the form of supplemental vitamin C (most fruits are so loaded in sugar that it makes them useless for the little C that can be obtained from them). For more information on vitamin C, see Heal Thyself with Homemade Liposomal Vitamin C.
health-matrix.net/2013/06/2...
Boy, I can sure relate to the salt cravings, I could eat potato chips all day every day. And I have cold hands and feet even in the summer...and I live in Texas. I have also always been unable to stand anything scented, like dryer sheets, laundry detergent, etc. Just going down this aisle at the grocery store gives me a massive headache and make me dizzy and nauseous. So sounds like I have a lot of work to do before I can start taking thyroid meds.
Thank you shaws!
shaw, did you try cortisol for adrenals?
Sorry for delay in replying I didn't see an 'alert' that I had a notification. No I didn't take cortisol after Adrenal tablets. I saw two doctors, one who said fix adrenals first and the other said that when properly medicated adrenals would fix themselves and they did so.
What did you medicate them with if not cortisol?
This is really interesting! After being on Medrol for the past four years for adrenal fatigue (prescribed by a so called Hertoghe doctor in Belgium), I managed to wean myself off it...however, since going off it, I have been growing so much facial hair that it's driving me crazy...I have to use Weet twice a week to get rid of it. I never realised there was a connection between facial hair growth and adrenal fatigue, but it certainly makes sense to me...
It must be very distressing for you and it is a medical condition called Hirsutism caused by excess male hormones. I don't think it's caused by Adrenal Fatigue. This link gives an explanation and this is an excerpt:
Further, treatments that lower insulin levels will lead to a reduction in hirsutism.
Insulin, at high enough concentration, stimulates the ovarian theca cells to produce androgens. There may also be an effect of high levels of insulin to activate the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) receptor in those same cells. Again, the result is increased androgen. another part of the page:
Several medicines can alter the impact of androgen hormones on the body and skin. Combination birth control pills (containing both estrogen and progesterone) can counterbalance the masculine effects of androgen hormones and decrease the production of testosterone by the ovary. Hirsutism may improve after six to 12 months of consistent use of birth control pills.
Anti-androgen medicines can work alone or in combination with birth control pills. The most commonly used medicine is spironolactone (Aldactone), although others are available. It is unsafe to take anti-androgen medicines during pregnancy.
I've just had my adrenals tested and come back good but wow I have all the symptoms you've mentioned!
Could be you still need a little cortisol to build the adrenals up. Might try a very small dose and see how it goes. I have a box from Costco with 50 small bags of Lays chips in it. When I just cannot stand the cravings anymore, I'll grab one and eat them.
I've read that all the thyroid meds are basically iodine anyway. So that ultimately seems to be what we are deficient in. But flooding the body with it when it is not prepared is not good.
I thought of taking drops of iodine in water but after what those 2 small drops did to me on my thigh I forgot that pretty fast. And you must have so many minerals to take to offset the negative iodine symptoms. Google Iodine Protocol if interested in that route.
Mine aren't right cos am coming up menopause which doesn't help. !!
Menopause is what started me on this journey. Have never had much energy anyway but could at least work an 8 or 10 hour shift then come home and collapse. Once I could not even do that anymore, I knew something must really be wrong and that it had probably been a lifetime illness. And if you've been fatigued all your life, menopause will suck what little energy you have left by wreaking havoc with your hormones.
The joys of being a woman.....not!
Were you born in 1961, Chris?
I was born August of 1961 and menopause has been in progress for about 4 years now.
One other thing I noticed about the T3, and I am only taking 25mcg, is I get really hot....to where I crank the AC down to 73F at least. I think if I stop the T3 and concentrate on adrenals for a couple of months, I will be in much better shape to begin T3 again.
I have 3 sisters and none have these issues. My mother never had them either. So I am the lone ranger in dealing with hormonal issues in my family.
Yeh I was born in 1961 , the menopause totally threw me over the edge with thyroid ... Thought having breakdown ... Hot at night too .. Hope you ok ...
I have depression and anxiety mood swings too ... Awful ... My adrenals kick off each night ... Like internal shaking
I'd bet you could use some cortisol, Chris. And it is safe to take so if you took it for a little while and it did not help you could always stop. I take Effexor and Zoloft...the highest daily dose of each. Have to be medicated to my eyeballs to function halfway normally. 
Yep, can so relate. Although the hot flashes for me were minimal. What really hurt were the migraines it triggered and the extreme fatigue. I cannot believe how much control hormones have in our body and when they are lessened or out of whack, look out. I wish someone had warned me.
I tried the levo and the desiccated from pork and both gave me hyperthyroid symptoms...pounding heart, diarrhea, and tingling hands and arms. And that was the very first day of taking a half a pill each. So I figured my adrenals were bad. Now I am taking T3 and cortisol together and so far so good.
But I absolutely could not tolerate the T4 or the desiccated. I have the same problem with iodine. I was putting a small amount on a keloid type growth I have on my thigh and just one or two drops absorbed into my skin gave me the pounding heart. So I can only think that my adrenals are in bad shape.
I am going to continue with the T3 and the cortisol for now and see how it goes. Will post an update if anything changes for me while taking those two.
Everything I've read says adrenals before thyroid. Taking thyroid meds puts a strain on the adrenals, so if they are already bad you are compounding your misery.
And one can take up to 40mg per day of cortisol and still be okay. Anything over that you get into dangerous side effects.
See this book at Amazon called The Safe Uses of Cortisol.
amazon.com/Safe-Uses-Cortis...
I worked my way up to 20mg...and it takes quite a long time to work up. Don't ever take that much straight off. I did and had an allergic reaction where my chest tightened up and it was very hard to breath. Wore off but then for the next three days it felt as if someone had kicked me hard in the chest. Had terrible soreness. So I don't recommend.
One thing that was fascinating about taking that one half of a levo pill was how fast my food digested. I could literally feel the digestion process. Wonderful except for the diarrhea coming out right after. Has def been an interesting experience.
This is an excellent read on how having high cortisol for a long time, can burn your adrenals out and cause all those symptoms I mentioned above. The salt craving, the scent intolerance, and many more. I had pretty much everything she lists.
She is right on the money when she says this existence is Hell. I lived just like this till the age of about 45 and then started trying to find out what was wrong with me.
Here is one more article. Fibromyalgia and CFS are now also being treated with cortisol and this doctor is in California at UCLA.
Also, I have hypothyroidism type 2. I am exactly like this woman in the video. I cannot pinch any skin on my arms, legs, thighs....anywhere.
youtube.com/watch?v=oI9yurd...
I am also going to buy the NAC supplement this poster mentions in her comments to deal with the mucin.
Youtube commenter: Yuta WTA 6 months ago
Everyone - Mucin can be treated by supplementing with NAC (search on Amazon for it). I've been treated for my severe hypothyroidism with NDT for almost 2 years now, but my mucin didn't start going away until I began NAC regimen.
I've had good results with Twinlabs brand, but everyone's different, and maybe another would be even better - IDK, but it's working well, right now.
Definitely try it, though! Can't tell you how good it is to see the hard layer of tissue going away from my cheeks, arms, all over my legs - and as far as I know, NAC is the best/only supplement that will help with that. Good luck, xx
One thing I have noticed is that I am still really shaky, so may have to stop the T3 and just take the cortisol only for a couple of months. I've eaten so I should not be shaky but still am. So that's another sign of adrenals needing help.
Bear in mind that low and high cortisol can have some symptoms in common. I have high cortisol, and shakiness and internal trembling is one of my symptoms.
Thanks humanbean. I think mine is low...I have not been tested. But without it I can hardly move. Spend most of my time in bed or sitting but since taking it I have a little more energy to get things done.
Not had any yet just gonna test my saliva ... Bought from blue horizon ... Doubt my doctor will listen if need it !! ... Any ideas treat naturally ?? ... My gps not listening ...told me stop googling !!! ... Believe me if I had stopped would be in complete breakdown !!!
I did not find any satisfactory natural adrenal boosting supplements. I tried something made from either cow or pig....can't remember now. Did nothing so I found cortisol online and bought it. I wouldn't know anything if not for Google.
Once you take your saliva test you should know for sure. I could never afford them so have never done one. Cortisol is pretty cheap too.
Oh my cortisol result was 420 , said range 900!!!! That was 2 week ago at gps !! Said was ok !! ... How ???
Meaning you should be at or around 900, but are at 420? I do not know how to read the tests since I've not done one so can't advise. I just know that I feel a lot better taking it. But I knew it was not the complete answer so also looked at thyroid.
Am really depressed and anxious ... It's awful ... Got underactive thyroid but also menopause ... Hard tell which is prob .. If not may be both !! ... Feel so miserable today ... S
Started citralopam last week makes me feel sick and loss of appetite !!!
I would def ask about Effexor. It is for generalized anxiety. I take the extended release form....Effexor XR. A generic exists too. Taking a regular antidepressant like Zoloft did nothing for my anxiety so that is when the doctor put me on Effexor XR. I still take both.
On thyroxine too 125 a day , take that in a morning
Yeh ... I have them too .. Not sure if menopause causing my symptoms or thyroid ( or both !! ) .. Get memory fog , which is annoying !! .. Been really depressed and anxious too .. You name I had it lol !! ... Are you ok ?
naturalhealthyconcepts.com/...
This is an excellent menopause supplement. When my racing heart was due to menopause, this would calm it right down. When I took the levo and NDT and my heart started pounding, this didn't do anything. So that's one good way to find out what is causing it. If it calms your fast heartbeat, it is menopause related. If not, then it is thyroid related.
This also put a stop to the excruciating migraines triggered by my allergies and sinus. The only thing this did not help with was the extreme fatigue and that is when I started using cortisol. Then came the foray into hypothyroid meds. So I am making my way down the list. lol
Doing fine. Thinking of upping my dose of T3. Have done 10 days of 25mcg and might bump to 50mcg for the next 10. Not sure what the increments should be or how long to take between each increase. It's def a learning curve.
You might also have to switch to T3, Chris1961. My body cannot convert the T4 to T3 so taking T3 to start with gives me what I need without having to convert. That might work much better for you too and stop all those side effects, like pounding heart, etc. I have none of that since switching to T3.
I cannot tolerate the levo or the NDT, so after trying both I purchased T3 and am taking it. So far so good....ten days on it and I feel fine. I do think I'll need a higher dose though so may raise it for the next 10 days to 50mcg.
In addition I am taking 15mg of hydrocortisone...down from 20mg. So no more shakiness.
So far so good.
Cheers my gps may not agree , they won't listen it's a constant battle !! The radio iodine for graves was worse decision I made !!! ... No wonder I struggle now am in menopause !!! Thankyou all for listening and know I aren't off mad !!
Didn't realize we are quite often dehydrated with hypo ... Am drinking more water ... Think that helps !! ... Learnt so much on here !! ... Drinking water has helped pressure in my ears believe it or not !!! ... My friend who is hypo has tinutus ... I believe I was under medicated for so long !! ... No doubt they will try cut my meds down cos will be above. " their range " ... Not mine !!! So fed up !!!
I have been drinking much more water than I used to. And I believe it helps. I used to hear odd things...like music out of nowhere and I had some ringing in my ears. All that seems to be gone now. Haven't noticed it in awhile.
Upped my dose of T3 today from 25mcg to 37.5mcg and still feel good. Cortisol still holding at 15mg. Cannot complain.
thyroid results
Graves - Bulging Eye - No Thyroid
Overactive Thyroid
thyroid hormone resistance?
Not sure I Need Thyroid Hormone after these labs (before and after)
