Bewildered of Back of Beyond - Cortisol - Thyroid UK

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Bewildered of Back of Beyond - Cortisol

MMaud profile image
7 Replies

For almost a year now, I have been undergoing various tests and consultations to identify the reason why, my body appears to have lost it's ability to efficiently regulate temperature. Cutting to the chase, I an due to see the Endo again on Thursday.

The feeling is this is an hormonal issue of some sort, and personally, I go for cortisol. This is partly because my temperature issues go in a daily cycle, but where I have something exciting occur (happy excited, as opposed to fearful exciting), the coldness is deferred until the excitement abates. (yes, it is weird!)

Following the last appointment, I had a raft of antibody and other tests done, all of which were either negative or indeterminate. Since then I have also been GF and tracking symptoms etc. On the back of my discovery I asked for a re-run of the cortisol which I last had run in January.

Annoyingly, the way of measuring had changed between January and last week. I January my score was 6.95 relative to a range of 6-23, although this was not an early morning, fasted test, but this time I was 429 from a reference range of 139-620.

I'm just a bit quizical about the NICE guidelines and how they marry up with with the results I have received. cks.nice.org.uk/addisons-di...

I'll be spending some time tomorrow preparing for my consultation on Thursday, so feel it worthwhile taking any feedback you guys might offer into account, whilst I still have a little mulling/thinking time. Anyone have any comments?

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MMaud profile image
MMaud
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7 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Temperature is controlled by the thyroid - how come an endo doesn't know that? And loss of temperature control is one of the main hypo symptoms.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to greygoose

Interesting that the limited brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult humans is mostly located just down and out a little from the thyroid.

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

(Whole paper might be of interest: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... )

In BAT fat is burned in a way that produces heat. The process uncouples the usual process of oxidative phosphorylation. Very often you see mention of Uncoupling Proteins (e.g. UCP1) as the agent that short circuits the process and produces heat. However, it is quite clear that thyroid hormones can also do the uncoupling. This paper (only 1954 so they probably haven't yet caught up with it) is a report of some experiments on this very issue.

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

MMaud profile image
MMaud in reply to helvella

I'll certainly read that. I am a very lean individual so whilst I may have some hypothyroid-like symptoms, but I don't present in the perceived usual way of carrying a few pounds.

For the avoidance of doubt; I am making no judgement on those who do carry some weight, as I understand that hypothyroidism routinely makes weight maintenance, never mind reduction rather tricky.

MMaud profile image
MMaud in reply to greygoose

He does know that, but my last two TSHs were mid range, although they do swing around a fair amount. Because of that all the breakdown isn't done by the lab, which is incredibly annoying.

The Endo has gone wider that thyroid, based on the detail of my description of the condition and the direct tether to my circadian rhythm.

I guess it's going into my consultation armed, but with an open mind. At least I know I don't harbour antibodies for all manner of horrid conditions.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to MMaud

Your TSH has nothing to do with anything. It's a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone, and is a very unreliable guide to thyroid status.

Besides, even when your Frees are optimal, you can still have trouble with temperature control. The thermostat is broken, and sometimes can't be repaired.

blackqueen65 profile image
blackqueen65

Estrogen can affect the cortisol result so if you're on HRT/Birth control pills the cortisol level could show a lot higher than it really is. Mine was 548 on HRT but came down to 289 when retested a month after stopping.

MMaud profile image
MMaud in reply to blackqueen65

Thanks for that thought, Shaz.

I'm both post-hysterectomy and post menopausal, so no Pill or HRT in play (nor has there ever been) for me. As part of the raft of tests I had following my last consultation, my Oestradiol, FSH and LH were tested to ascertain I had indeed passed my menopause (as I had been totally asymptomatic)

I can't tell you how relieved my partner was to learn he didn't have a late menopause to look forward to. :) He wasn't as relieved as me though!

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