Newby wanting advice about low cortisol and hypothyroid symptoms.

[jadecat]

Hi all

I have loads of symptoms which point to hypothyroid

: moderate unexplained weight gain

: brittle hair that falls out

: wake every night at 2:00 am

: cold intolerance

: constipation

: short term memory issues

So went for blood tests and my tsh was 3.05 (reference range 0.5 - 5.00).

The only blood ranges which were out were ferritin 10 (reference 30 - 300) ,

Vitamin d was slightly low

Cortisol first 8am test 134 (ref 172-497)

Second 8am cortisol 160 (ref 172 -497)

My doctor dismissed low cortisol as it was only slightly below range and refused further thyroid tests as tsh was normal. I also had a solid thyroid nodule with micro calcification and had a biopsy. Not enough tissue was collected so I need a further biopsy in 2 months. Any thoughts on if I should push for further testing.

[greygoose]

Your cortisol is not 'only slightly' below range, it is extremely low - especially when you consider that at that time of the day, it should be at the top of the range. These stupid doctors! When are they going to learn to read lab test results? Given that they rely on them entirely, and know nothing about symptoms, you'd expect them to understand that a range is there for a reason.

Your doctor should be testing you for Addison's disease. I suggest you read up on that and then go back to your doctor and insist on the test.

And don't give up on the thyroid. A TSH of 3 is hypo - although I wouldn't expect a British doctor to know that. And, therefore, you do need further testing - FT4, FT3, TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies. You also need a new doctor!

[jadecat in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for replying. I'm actually in Australia so not sure if we share the same measurements. I dread going to this doctor And plan on changing. So although tsh is in range I'm taking it that the other thyroid levels can show hypothyroidism?

[greygoose in reply to jadecat]

Your TSH is in range because the ranges are too wide. In some countries you would be treated when your TSH hits 3, because you are actually hypo at 3. And never mind measurements, a TSH is always a TSH. However, other tests might show this more clearly.

Good that you're changing your doctor, because that cortisol reading needs immediate attention.

[Heloise]

Hi Jade, I totally agree with greygoose. Your adrenal glands begin producing cortisol around 4 a.m so by the time you start your day it's at the high level. How do you get up in the morning on that 134. . You must be dragging. Then as you go through the day it reduces so that by bedtime you are at the lowest level and ready for sleep. In your case your adrenals are trying to rev up all day and then often you are more awake in the evening than in the morning.

Your TSH over 2 means your thyroid is struggling to respond. Almost universally your TSH shouldn't be more than 2. Your thyroid and adrenals work together but your adrenals may block thyroid hormone by creating reverse t3 simply because you don't have enough cortisol.

It's good to support both the adrenals and thyroid.

A good understand of this:

youtube.com/watch?v=oVHmm12...(Not working as expected?)

[jadecat in reply to Heloise]

Thanks for reply Heliose. Funnily enough even with low cortisol I can easily get up at 6am every morning, not that I have a choice with 3 young children. But going to bed is different, I'm exhausted at night and go to sleep at 8:30pm then awaken at 2:00am without fail , try go back to sleep and awaken again at 6:00am. In australia Medicare pays for tsh but not t3 and t4, so I will pay for this myself and hopefully this will shed light on my problems. Thanks for the link.

[Heloise]

That is rather funny that you have a morning cortisol that low and still have energy. You could be running on adrenaline in spite of so little rest. But then you are very worn out by the end of the day. Here is a bit about thyroid nodules.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/2...

[jadecat in reply to Heloise]

I'm still researching and learning so I appreciate the links. I think as I still produce some cortisol I'm not totally devoid of energy. And I think I read the reason I get up at 2:00 am is due to adrenalin which makes sense.

[Heloise in reply to jadecat]

That's good, jadecat. These evaluations really take some analysis and you are in the best position to make those after you learn some of the fundamentals. I know taking care of children are exhausting.

I just took another look at that ferritin. Whew, that is very low. That could cause your hair problem as well. We just had a wonderful series from the SIBO summit and Dr. Kharrazian explained that there are three types of anemia. Maybe you could look into that because he said iron supplements may not help if it's due to inflammation. Are you taking loads of B12? If you've been taking vitamin D were you also taking K2? They are often put together in a formula. The trouble with anemia is that your brain is not getting enough oxygen so it can't fix the problem. There is a lot about the vagus nerve which controls the bowels. Really so much to know.

[jadecat in reply to Heloise]

No I only take vitamin d3. The doctor said I don't have anaemia as the other iron levels are normal, apart from ferritin. I don't take b12 as my levels are 432 (ref range 139 - 651). Although my neurologist after tests said I have neuropathy in feet and hands and will hand further testing.

[Heloise in reply to jadecat]

Vitamin D is a very interesting prohormone. It's the only vitamin that is in every cell of the body. Low levels are implicated in cancer and infections. It impacts thyroid as well. It does raise calcium in some way so it's advised that K2 be used to direct the calcium to bones and teeth. When I took only D3, I had a small deposit on my jaw next to a wisdom tooth called a torus. Hmmmm I wonder if it has something to do with yours.