Hypo, hyper, adrenals? 🤪

[Girlslovescifi]

I am so confused. Diagnosed hypothyroid I guess 3ish years ago. Maybe 4? Was put on (and kept on) 25mcg for I guess 18 months, despite me feeling no better. Saw endo privately who immediately doubled levo and mentioned I could buy NDT over the Internet, so in Oct 2016 I started buying NDT from the States. I have been on 2.5 grains for a year. I have felt improvement. Recent bloods attached. I guess I don’t have Hashimotos. The thing is, I’m still having hypo symptoms but not all. Extremely dry, itchy skin, tearful, anxious, forgetful, dreamlike episodes, tire easily, acid reflux, dry eyes, congested sinuses, and had flu, very bad cold and norovirus between Xmas and end Jan. But I usually move bowels twice a day and they’re normal. I don’t often have a lack of appetite (sometimes I want to eat all the time). And I can lose weight if I stick to a paleo diet. My hair isn’t falling out, although maybe my eyebrows are thin. Last year I paid to have cortisol and DHEA tested by saliva over 24 hours. My cortisol was way over normal for 3 of the 4 tests. That was during a time when work was really stressing me out. I’m not under that level of stress now. I just wish I knew if I should increase to 3 (tried it briefly, got acne so stopped) or reduce or if it’s adrenals. I know there are folks way worse than me! I get frustrated because no one can tell me what to do! Or maybe it’s just the ruddy cold weather. My friend always ups her NDT in September and reduces when spring comes. Thanks for listening!

[shaws Administrator]

I am not medically qualified and have hypothyroidism.

My viewpoint is that blood tests were introduced along with levothyroxine, which is T4 alone. Before that and since 1892 people were given NDT (in different forms) up until the 60's when blood tests and levo were introduced.

Therefore if we take any other meds, i.e. NDT, or T3 added to T4 the results don't equate.

However, both your FT4 and FT3 are too low and should be nearer the upper part of the range.

Maybe you could increase your dose of NDT slightly (about every 2 weeks) until you feel better.

I shall give you some links (in no particular order) which may be helpful:

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

nebula.wsimg.com/b822d36efe...

I am not medically qualified but had undiagnosed hypothyroidism and am now feeling well, thanks to information from TUK.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to shaws]

Thank you. Very interesting reading. I read things that say you’ll never get your thyroid right if your adrenals aren’t right. My endo dismissed my saliva test results. Almost shrugged. I’m convinced that I caused my endocrine system to go wonky because of my incessant worrying/anxiety. Whilst on holiday in Turkey last September my temperature went to 37! No wonder I felt so much better. I will try again to gradually increase by 1/4 grain for 2 weeks and then if necessary, I’ll try another 1/4 grain and see what happens. Thank you so much!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Girlslovescifi]

It is a minefield at times. If treating ourselves we wonder if we are improving or not but it does take time. As our symptoms resolve that is the main aim of taking thyroid hormones whereas I doubt any doctors are aware of any clinical symptoms at all nowadays, as in the past doctors knew all of them and we were given a trial of NDT - no blood tests were available then.