Please Help

[Jose651]

Where do I go from here with these results please.

I'm totally lost.

J 😊

[gabkad]

This is the Mayo Clinic information: mayomedicallaboratories.com...

I'd repeat the test.

If you get the same sort of results, you need to see the doctor.

[Jose651 in reply to gabkad]

I got the results on Friday past and read up all weekend about high cortisol. I know that they are not good. The thing is, I found out lately that I need a hip replacement because I have total loss of cartilage in the joint.

This seems to have come on very rapidly. Because of the severe pain I am spending a lot of time resting and the day of those saliva tests I alarmed my clock for every 4/5 hours as I slept most of it. So there was no stress at all going on with me.

Thanks G, I appreciate your reply.

J

Ps I had a bad head injury last July and had 2 C scans. If the fall affected the pituitary it could be just showing now.

I also noticed purple stretch marks on my tummy - which has become very flabby over this past year or so- and bigger ones on my hips. I never had stretch marks after the kids so thought that they must be a sign of something.

J

[gabkad in reply to Jose651]

Pain is pain. Even if you've got a day when you are comfortable, it changes everything anyway. For example, if I've been in pain all day, even if while I sleep I'm not in pain, my sleep quality is affected.

If you've gained weight because of inability to move due to the hip problem, then that raises cortisol as well.

[Jose651 in reply to gabkad]

I had a telephone app with GP today and she is sending me to see an endo. I have forwarded GP a copy of the test results to accompany her referral letter to endo so hopefully I may get a quicker app.

I have gained weight only on tummy and waist, but as you say that could be down to lack of movement.

Have you had Adrenal issues?

[gabkad in reply to Jose651]

I've never done a salivary test. i looked up what's available here. The ministry of health does not offer the test. Getting tested privately will cost a couple hundred dollars+ which is ridiculous. Despite the fact that i live with pain now for 20 years, my morning blood cortisol is low in range. Any lower, and it would be Addison's.

[Justiina]

You wake up with quite ok number and then it shoots up.

Medication/ supplements that could cause it?

Pain obviously could be one.

Lowish dhea does indicate adrenal exhaustion but it is hard to read as it is just a number. I had diagram which showed how dhea goes and what is normal, was also age related.

I would assume head injury would cause high all over, but hey I am not a doctor

I would put my money on pain you are in. It is very stressful.

[Jose651]

Thanks for your reply,

So ongoing pain can cause high cortisol and low DHEA? I thought the weight gain on my tummy and waist was due to giving up smoking Jan '14. I'm not at all convinced now. After that amount of time weight should revert back to normal I think.

It is 1 thing after the other and I'm about to give up. I'm Fed up of my lovely caring siblings telling me I'm so strong. I'm not.

I'm thinking of starting on some herbs to help the adrenals but would really need to do much more reading.

J

[radd]

Jose,

Anxiety and stress causes poor adrenal function, whether it is physical, emotional, psychological, environmental or illness. Healthy cortisol levels fluctuate throughout a 24 hour period and would hopefully peak in the am and reach its lowest at night.

Elevated cortisol can interfere with thyroid function by lowering actual hormone production and inhibiting T4-T3 conversion, so increasing T4-RT3 conversion. In a previous post your RT3 result was over-range. The body produces RT3 naturally to rid itself of excess T4 but in some cases (such as very high cortisol) it’s made in excess and can interfere with further T3 usage (hence low T3 levels even though you are medicating additional T3).

I can't see any thyroid antibody results (TPOAb & TGAb). Have these been done? A high count can cause massive inflammation and pain in the body. You are waiting for a hip operation. This could increase (unconscious ? ) stress and (presumably) further body inflammation.

Elevated cortisol can also encourage high BP, high blood sugar & insulin resistance and fat around the middle. Diet is massive as low adrenal hormones may fail to raise blood glucose enough to meet demand forcing the adrenal glands to release further cortisol//adrenaline. Eat regular healthy meals with low GI carbs, healthy fats and protein at every meal (even breakfast). I snack on milk shakes//smoothies mixed with pea or whey protein in between meals. Eat sweet fruits with protein (cheese, nuts, yogurt) as this will stop insulin highs & dips. Limit coffee and stay well hydrated with water. I add salt to my water as have salt cravings due to suboptimal sodium retention// hydration (probably due to low aldosterone responsible for regulating sodium//potassium absorption).

Adrenal function can be improved with optimal levels of all nutrients and iron and lots of Vit C. (I take 3g mixed ascorbate powder daily.) Your Vit B12 result was very low and your sups appear to only include a B Complex. This will not be enough.

You posted in the PA forum. If you have PA you might require Vit B12 injections. Otherwise, many members supplement Methylcobalamin and Methylfolate together with B Complex. Folate will need to be tested to determine levels as too high are dangerous.

Adaptogens are compounds that help to normalise the HPA axis. I have only used Liquorice Root and 5-HTP to help me to sleep (don't not use liquorice with high BP). Members report success with Holy basil or Rhodiola. I also supplement a mixed glandular that helps repair adrenal health.

You had H.Pylori which causes not only gastric mucosa inflammation but can spread to other tissue//organs and is known to effect the endocrine system. H.pylori and low thyroid hormone may have lowered stomach acid which will encourage malabsorption issues. Many members supplement Betaine HCL with Pepsin. I also supplement biliary support and digestive enzymes.

Have you had iron tested ? H.Pylori can inhibit iron absorption and optimal levels are required for good thyroid hormone synthesis.

DHEA is also made by the adrenal glands and will convert into oestrogen and testosterone. When under stress, the body will make cortisol at the expense of DHEA, hence levels lower. This should reverse when cortisol levels come down.

A possible head injury could cause elevated cortisol levels and needs monitoring//further investigations.

.

Thyroid-cortisol connection

hypothyroidmom.com/cortisol...

.

Stress and Hypothyroid Symptoms.

chriskresser.com/5-ways-tha...

.

H.Pylori & low stomach acid//iron.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

.

H.Pylori & Thyroid

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

.

Low Stomach Acid

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

[Jose651]

Thank you radd for your in depth reply,

I suppose so many events in the past 2 or so years are taking its toll on my body now and it will take time to fix.

Since joining HU Oct '15 I have made lots of forward strides and am starting to feel the benefits, although slowly.

I self inject HydroxoC / MethylC and take a good B Complex with MethylFolate since I have the MTHFR polymorphism. So that has been sorted with the help of PAS.

Although I have been hypo for over 30 years and on Levo only I never had antibodies tested until a Blue Horizon test showed negative for both. Before that, I had bought T3 and waited to see what state my T3 / RT3 was in before I started adding them to Levo.

During the time of joining TUK and starting T3 I slowly introduced 1 supplement after the other as advised on here and am currently rattling. LOL. I really feel better in that respect and it is showing in skin and nails

Last month I introduced a 12.5mcg x2 T3 to a reduced dose of Levo. 75/100 instead of 100/125. I will get retested privately at the end of June to see where I add or reduce.

I couldn't ever have done any of this without the wonderful guidance of the members here.

T3 is helping and I am so glad to have started it. Pity it wasn't years ago as I never felt truly well on Levo.

The adrenals, now that is a new avenue to go down and get sorted. I don't doubt that I will, and the T3 will help even more.

radd, I take 2000mg of Vit C with iron as my ferritin had dropped on the BH test a month or so ago.

I also take omega 3, Vit D +K2 and the recommended Minerals daily.

I think I will order the adrenal rebuilder but am unsure if I should wait until I see the endo that my GP referred me to last week. I don't know what the NHS recommend for High cortisol.

It could take 3 months to see her and I'm not sure what the usual treatment is on the NHS. Will taking adrenal support now skew any test she does?

J 😊

[Pastille in reply to Jose651]

Sounds like you've had a tough couple of years Jose651 . Glad you found HU and are making progress. You give me hope with the T3 too. I have ordered some. Hope you find the answer with your adrenals soon x

[Jose651 in reply to Pastille]

Hi P,

I know you have ordered some, I watch with interest how you are going on. Although I am a member here for over 7 months I have taken things slowly and made sure that the Vits/ mins are in good shape before I introduced T3.

The thing is P the wretched Heli pylori blocked all the nutrients from my food.

It's a vicious circle, I went from a great grubber, to a person who had no appetite whatsoever.

Now that it is thankfully gone ( I'm chuffed to bits about that) I will regain my health in time.

I'm away at the end of next week for part 3 of major dental surgery that had just started before B12/PA diagnoses and the blasted fall. It it hadn't been started I would not have gone through with it at the moment but I can't get it the train until I reach the depot. Lol

I have wheelchair assistance at the airports and am being very well looked after from the wonderful clinic I'm with.

That in itself is stressful subconsciously. But I will keep in contact to let ye know how it's all going. I will need to ( to keep my strength up)

J 😁

[Pastille in reply to Jose651]

Yes make sure you do let us all know, we are with you all the way xx you will get there

[Jose651 in reply to Pastille]

Thank you, I will, I may not be able to talk much for a few days but I'll have to let my fingers do talking.

J x