Adrenal Testing

[Annealise]

I just wondered if many people on here have had Adrenal Saliva tests? I have read in a good source that NDT will not be effective if your Adrenals are compromised. It all never seems to end - I don’t want to waste money on unnecessary tests but I don’t want any disappointments when I self medicate soon. I am a bit confused with all my symptoms now, as just put them down to being Hypo.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Good idea to make sure adrenals are good, thyroid and adrenals work together.

Make sure you do a test that includes DHEA as well as cortisol. Regenerus and Genova Diagnostics include both. Regenerus emails results direct to you, Genova results go to ThyroidUK as your 'practioner' who then send on to you.

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/r...

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/g...

[Annealise in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Susie . So close now to starting my NDT and i’ve done everything I can to prepare for it...

[janisjlo123 in reply to SeasideSusie]

My cortisol levels are so high.

Went to a Functional Doctor, put me on all kinds of suppliments.

I'm having problems with hair loss as well.

Getting detox IV's I have mecury and all types of mineral , lead exc. Toxix poising.

I've had 3 treatments, need atleast 10, ugh.

They did a hair test, and blood analysis, goung to do a saliva test next.

I'm a retired hairstylist over 59 years minimal glove usage.

I could kick myself now.

[Annealise in reply to janisjlo123]

I take it you found out about the high cortisol from tests?

[whitepointer in reply to janisjlo123]

Sounds like me. I have paid a lot for tests , medications and Dr consults from Overseas in the USA, I'm in Australia. Natripath referred her to me as in Australia you cant find many Intergrative Drs. I had to be prescribed NDT from her and it is posted to me. Natripaths cant prescribe NDT ie Naturthroid or Armour, two of the best ones. If you need T3 you can get that as well. GPs will prescribe T4 only when you could need T3 as well. That is why many, many people don't get better on just the T4 because they are brow beaten in their training to NOT test for your T3, only T4 due to the fact the medical boards get up in arms because the government money allocated to medical health don't want them "unnessisarly" tests. I know people don't want to pay out of pocket for tests for thyroid function, vitamin deficiencys but they/you need to know because if things are our out of whack in those areas it is an indication that it will be associated with hypothyroidism. Adrenals need to be tested, saliva is the best way. If you are menopausal those levels have to be checked because you may have estrogen dominance which requires Progesterone medication. One again a GP wont prescribe that, I found that out. They only hand out HRT. I turned in Linda Blair on that because I didn't know I was estgrogen dominance. My hair was falling out a lot, due to menopause/vitamin A deficiency and hypothyroidism. I could go on. I have spent about $5 grand privately over 2 years getting my thyroid sorted out, and that is for my medications also. There is no option but the alternative would cost more.

ounds like me.

[milkwoman]

Two weeks ago, I completed a slew of functional medicine tests, including the 24-hour Adrenal Stress Index panel by Diagnos Techs.

diagnostechs.com/Literature...

The other tests were: NutrEval, Antibody Assessment/Celiac and GI Effects by Genova. I will also be getting a 3-hour SIBO Breath Test at a local hospital in the next couple of weeks (just need to schedule it).

I won’t know any results until mid-May but am hoping this “whole body approach” by my current functional medicine doctor (who is also my Endo) will put all the pieces into place and allow her, my rheumy, GYN and GP to fine tune my treatment plans and get me back to “optimum” health. I am currently being treated for hypothyroidism, lupus (SLE) and Sjogrens (all diagnosed in 2015) and show signs of APS antibodies (but no formal DX). Also, as of Oct 2016, I’m in menopause and currently on HRT.

I plan on reporting my experiences/results with the tests when I know them. I’m in the US.

[Hidden in reply to milkwoman]

Hi Milkwoman. PLEASE keep us updaed as you go. There is much excellent info on this forum but, for me, sometimes it is hard to organize it into a chronological treatment plan. I am trying to assemble facts, ideas, etc in a notebook but assembling everything so it can be presented logically to our (sometime illogical) docs is a challenge. You sound like you are trying to make sense of info obtained here and your approach to what you are learning and doing would, IMO, be of benefit to many of us. Feel free to PM if you're more comfortable sharing parts of your journey this way. I'm looking forward to your future posts. Sounds like you might be a writer. Thanks in advance, irina1975 P.S. Am also in the US so particularly interested in resources I may be able to avail myself of. Excuse terrible sentence structure!)

[milkwoman in reply to Hidden]

Awwww, you are very sweet! I’m not a writer per se but I’m extremely detailed and project oriented and I do try my best to write clearly.

Getting sick has been an extremely challenging journey for me and I have had some low points. Only through research, knowledge, organization, Health Unlocked, strong support from my husband, decent insurance and some lucky interactions along the way I’m making some good headway.

Feel free to PM me with any questions. I am by no means an expert - others here are way more knowledgeable than I - but if I can help in any way, I’m willing. The best advice I can give is to take control of your health by obtaining ALL copies of tests (go back years to when you were healthy), organize them in a manner that will show trends (I use a spreadsheet), educate yourself as best you can, go into each doc appt prepared and organized with topics and questions written out so as to not forget, have a prepared meds/supplement sheet showing dosage and when taken, have a family history, sheet, etc. and NEVER give up!

Only when I took my health on as a project, did things start happening.

Sorry to ramble on. Absolutely yes, I will update when I have results.

Xoxo

[Hidden in reply to milkwoman]

I was just browsing through some of your older posts and found some helpful info from about 10months ago re Dr Kenneth Blanchard. The books you mentioned seemed like they would be helpful not only to me but to others so I'm taking the liberty to post them here. 1) "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypothyroidism: A Simple Plan for Extraordinary Results." and 2) "Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism: Bridging the Traditional and Alternative Treatment Approach for Total Patient Wellness." Both by the late Dr. Kenneth Blanchard. Thanks so much for previoulsy sharing this info, Milkwoman. irina1975

[milkwoman in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I was very fortunate to have had Dr. Blanchard as my Endo. He is one one my “lucky interactions” I mentioned above.

At my first visit, he handed me a signed copy of his second book. I read it cover to cover, highlighting passages, and I still refer to it. I did not read his first book.

Many here are familiar with Dr. Blanchard and his books and some agree (and some don’t) with his methods. He was a pioneer and put his patients first. I will forever be grateful to him as he got me on the path to wellness.

I now see Dr. Rachel Katz - the physician he mentored. She is fantastic as well and I feel we are a “team” just as I did with Dr. Blanchard. She practices out of his office and I find comfort going there as I feel his presence, like a warm hug and friendly smile. I’ve no doubt he is still guiding the care given there and is very pleased!

[janisjlo123]

Let's keep in touch.

I go today for more blood work.

I was diagnosed with Grave's as well

[Annealise in reply to janisjlo123]

Good luck with your results - although you have a lot of illness's, you appear to have a very good Doctor. I had a feeling you may be from the US - in the Uk we dont get much help....

[Hidden in reply to Annealise]

We both get helped but in different ways, I think. Our help is very insurance backed- and profitable so sometimes I believe we are 'over medicalized. ' So we have to make decisions about someone's agenda re their recommenadation and take that into account when we make our decisions. It can be an extra burden when making health care decisions. IMO. irina

[janisjlo123]

I have several doctor's, I don't know yet time will tell

[Annealise]

Sorry but my post seems to have gone off track...