Adrenal fatigue? Close link to Hashimoto’s? Thy... - Thyroid UK

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Adrenal fatigue? Close link to Hashimoto’s? Thyroxine makes these worse??

Flecmac profile image
17 Replies

I have thought for some time that my symptoms of hashi’s may be linked to adrenal fatigue/malfunction.

Here it suggests that taking thyroxine can make these worse which could also explain why for me an increase in thyroxine causes my TSH to drop drastically causing my GP to panic and reduce. I found this article very interesting and I can relate to what it says. I have requested a second opinion from another nhs Endocrinologist and hope to discuss the possibility of adrenal fatigue.

I have adrenaline rushes in the night and hot sweats.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

hashimotoshealing.com/hashi...

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Flecmac
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17 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

How long since you had full thyroid and vitamin tests done?

Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Is TSH around or just under one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

What supplements are you taking? With Hashimoto's low vitamins are common

When thyroid is not adequately treated then it can lead to over reliance on adrenals causing anxiety and adrenal exhaustion

Flecmac profile image
Flecmac in reply toSlowDragon

How can I find my previous posts with results so I can re post please?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toFlecmac

Click on your avatar at the top of the page. Then select 'profile'. :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFlecmac

These results from two months ago, only TSH and FT4

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Can you get full private testing including vitamins, that was before your recent op (can lower B12 ) and a while ago anyway

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Flecmac profile image
Flecmac in reply toSlowDragon

Last GP tests 26/03/2018 (T4 TSH and Vitamin D) when I was on 50mcg Thyroxine

T4 level 20 pmol/L [10 - 20]

TSH level 0.66 miu/L [0.5 - 4.4]

Vitamin D 112 nmol/L [24 - 167] (have been supplementing since October 2017)

Previous GP tests:-

15/03/2018 when I was on 37.5 mcg Thyroxine (Lab would not do other thyroid tests)

TSH 1.1 miu/L [0.5 - 4.4]

04/01/2018 when I was on 25mcg Thyroxine (Lab would not do other thyroid tests)

TSH 3.4 miu/L [0.5 - 4.4]

Last full thyroid tests and Vitamin D with Endo was 1/2/2018 when I was on 25mcg Thyroxine

TSH 1.8 mu/l (0.5-4.4)

FT4 13.6 pmol/l (10-20)

FT3 4.8 pmol/l (3.5-6.5)

Vitamin D 70 nmol/l (24-167) (have been supplementing since October 2017)

Folate and ferritin have not been done since 26/10/2018 along with Vitamin D B12 and short sycanthen test which came back 'normal'

Folate 8.6 (3.0 - 17.0) (have been supplementing since then)

Ferritin 75 (12.0-300) -previously 117 on 25/09/2017 (have been supplementing since then)

Vitamin D 50nmol/l (24-167) - this rose to 70 on 1/02/2018 as stated above (have been supplementing since then)

I have since been reduced to 25mcg prior to my major operation on 03/04/2018 by GP because of low TSH, however I have now increasd myself up to 37.5 mcg over past 6 weeks and thinking of going up to 50mcg again, although my TSH drops very low on that.

My last TPO antibodies were done 03/10/2017 which were 1300 (0.0-60.0)

Please note results in 2010 when a private Doctor put me on 75 mcg Thyroxine:-

07/12/2011

TSH 0.11 mu/l (0.3-5.5)

FT4 22.5 + (10-19.8) Above high ref. limit

FT3 6.7 (3.5-6.7)

Many thanks for your support.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply toFlecmac

When did you have low TSH? 0.66 isn't low - it's well in range and where a very large number of healthy people naturally have their TSH. Very low is 0.0?? I think you need a new GP. You also need to know free T3 as I suspect you aren't converting well.

Flecmac profile image
Flecmac in reply toAngel_of_the_North

2011 TSH was 0.11 and FT3 was very top of range 6.7 (when on 75 mcg).

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply toFlecmac

But that was 7 years ago, and many people need suppressed TSH in order to have high enough free T4 to make enough T3 - or you might have been having a Hashi's flare if you didn't feel well a that time.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFlecmac

Make sure all vitamins are optimal before increasing Levo back to 50mcg

Can't see a B12 test result? Can be lowered by anaesthetic of operation

A good vitamin B complex will help keep all B vitamins in balance, helping folate and B12 too. One with folate in, not folic acid Eg Igennus Super B complex

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

If you can wait 6-8 weeks on 37.5 mcg before getting full private testing. Then you will know exactly where FT3 is.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Many need TSH pretty low on Levothyroxine in order to get high enough FT4 and most importantly FT3.

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

Flecmac profile image
Flecmac in reply toSlowDragon

Sorry!!!

B12 was 704 (190-800) on 26/10/2017. I have been supplementing 1000 ug B12 since then, one spray per day. Also taking B complex since then.

Thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFlecmac

Perfect

Just testing TSH, FT3 and FT4 would probably be enough then, though it's good to test thyroid antibodies once or twice a year to see if dropping, especially when on gluten and/or dairy free diet

Flecmac profile image
Flecmac in reply toSlowDragon

Yes I have been gluten free since November last year.

Flecmac profile image
Flecmac in reply toSlowDragon

I have been on 37.5 for 6 weeks already, just wondered whether to do the 50 first then test?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFlecmac

I would test first personally. But obviously your choice

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Be warned, it's very rare to find a doctor that believes that adrenal fatigue exists. For them, you either have Addison's, or Cushing's or there's nothing wrong with your adrenals. It's all black or white, to them. :(

Furface profile image
Furface in reply togreygoose

This happened to me with an Endo. Because his 'gold standard Synacthen test' was fine, he said there's nothing wrong with me. Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield says that this test is not worth the paper it is written on.

Two weeks later, I collapsed as my adrenals were failing. An emergency appt with a functional Dr means I am still here. Addressing the adrenals and thyroid has been a difficult journey as its hard to raise the thyroid dose while adrenals are struggling but getting there now as I am on two grains NDT.

Summer64 profile image
Summer64

Interesting read.

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