Adrenals?

[AleB]

Hello all, just need some advice on what is going on ... keep urinating, constantly thirsty. Balance is off again and every so often my voice slurrs and mostly struggle to get the words out, lasts for about 10 mins then I come around! Constantly tired, trouble focussing, burning sensation in my right flank ... was told by endo to drink 3 litres of water per day and use Himalayan salt. I have also been taking ferrous furmarate x3 per day for low iron of 12. Could this be a sign of adrenals or something else ... I don't have any soreness or burning when I go, just go alot!

[radd]

AleB,

You are deficient in iron and consequently your FT3 is low in range so your adrenals will be helping out big time.

Iron is key for converting T4 - T3 but the “irony” here is the need of adequate thyroid hormone levels for our gut to absorb the iron we consume.

Poor adrenal function is the result of years of propping up low thyroid hormone levels but can be reversed if thyroid hormone/vits/nutrients & iron are optimised with possible supplements aiding improved cortisol levels.

[AleB in reply to radd]

Thanks for the response ... I take Vit D 50iu, B12 1000iu, Vit C 500iu (with iron tablet x3 per day), folic acid 400iu and ferrous furmarate 210mg. I take levothyroxine 100/100/125/100/100/125.

[radd in reply to AleB]

AleB,

I supplement 3g of Vit C daily which adrenals love.

I don't supplement iron but I read that 150 - 200 mg of “elemental iron” daily, spread out with meals & taken with Vit C helps to raise iron levels within 8 weeks. Vit C will help with absorption and eliminate constipation.

You may also benefit from supplementing folate instead of folic acid as it is easier to absorb.

[radd in reply to AleB]

AleB,

The adrenal glands secrete cortisol and levels may become compromised with long term inadequate amounts of thyroid hormone. Aldosterone is another adrenal hormone whose levels may also become compromised and this results in frequent urination as the body tries to balance levels of sodium & potassium. Hence people with adrenal issues often crave salt.

I experienced severe thirst and still do to an extent. My balance was very bad before I stabilised thyroid hormones and I believe it was the addition of T3 that sorted everything out.

I also had blood sugar issues. Insulin resistance means your cells no longer respond effectively to insulin, and blood sugar elevates leading to eventual diabetes. Most people think it is caused only by an excess of carbs and poor diet leading to that yoyo-ing effect of blood sugar levels but it is also caused by long term low thyroid hormone that eventually decreases the sensitivity of insulin receptors responding to insulin hormone. I have always eaten well and this reversed with the addition of T3.

Ask your doctor to test blood glucose levels but also aldosterone and electrolytes. Post results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

AleB

keep urinating, constantly thirsty.

Have you been checked for diabetes?

What are your vitamin and mineral levels?

Vit D 50iu - I don't think you're taking 50iu, they don't make a dose that small. Do you mean 50mcg (2000iu) or do you mean 5,000iu. If you say what your current Vit D level is I can tell you what dose D3 you should be taking. Are you taking D3's important cofactors magnesium and Vit K2-MK7?

Vit C 500iu (with iron tablet x3 per day) - this will be 500mg. You could increase that to 1000mg each time, Vit C is good for the adrenals.

folic acid 400iu - I expect this is 400mcg. As you are taking B12, it's a B Complex that is needed to balance all the B vitamins. And methylfolate is the recommended form not folic acid. A good B Complex (eg Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B) also aids adrenals, and if adrenals are a problem then pantothenic acid (or pantethine which is the converted form) helps make adrenal hormone.

[pauluk60]

surely you need help i know nothing all what you take but if your tired and not focusing you will get stuff mixed up slurring needs attention to me sos if i am being daft just feel as though you need attention/help

[G2G2]

I'm with SeasideSusie about having your blood glucose checked. Ask your doctor for an A1c. This is an average of your blood glucose over a three month period. Constant thirst & urinating are signs of diabetes. Don't necessarily trust your doctor that your A1c is normal because they accept unhealthy blood sugar as "normal" just as they say below normal thyroid levels are ok. If you're checked, feel free to PM with your results.

[shaldonkoolma]

I don't know about the adrenal stuff, but I agree, you need to be checked for diabetes. Good luck.

[Ggplusthree]

Could be a blood sugar issue pre diabetes or something else. Need proper testing. Don't mess with this. Go see an endocrinologist pronto!

[Ggplusthree]

The water salt idea maybe an electrolyte issue. But have doc test for diabetes and ACTH for adrenals.

[Tiggerdumbo]

I have been tested for diabetes and I am constantly thirsty and irinating too I’m on 150 Levo and have been for 6 years. I suffer with muddled words when I’m extremely tired too, so I’m complete sympathy with you, it’s a nightmare. I always have to know where toilets are whilst out!

[MaisieGray]

A possible diabetes connection is also the first thing that springs to my mind too - including the neuro-type symptoms.

[Hidden]

Hi AleB

I've been doing a bit of "Investigating" and seems it could be any number of things.

For example, low potassium or high calcium levels, a kidney problem, (pain in your side?). What about the other kind of diabetes (not sugar) - diabetes insipidus? That could make you dehydrated even when you drink a lot. With sugar diabetes there is sugar in the urine, with the other diabetes there isn't. Wouldn't recommend tasting it to find out!!!

I'm surprised the endo didn't refer you, though the water with Himalayan salt sounds a good idea. Or you could use those electrolyte sachets people take when they have a stomach bug. Probably more expensive but have the right electrolyte balance.

What medications are you on (besides thyroid)?

Whatever is wrong, it needs sorting.

[GKeith]

I don't know because everyone is different but, it seems when you are taking both T4 & T3, when you have high T3 and high t4 you are converting the T4 fairly well. I take 75mcg T4 and 30mcg T3 and feel good, although my FT4 is much lower than my FT3.

[G2G2]

Applauding your perseverance! Pathetic that the times we need to be the most assertive for our health (& often our life), are the times we're least equipped to do it. Love they x-rayed to prove you were wrong. Apology? Acknowledgement? HA! The first thing medical training teaches is to never admit a mistake. I'm going to use your line "if they detect a pulse..." the next time I'm told all's ok, you're normal.

[G2G2]

I bet they're told that under the context of protecting against liability.

[G2G2]

Yes

[Bramble83]

I would ask for a 9am cortisol test to rule out an adrenal issues- it’s a very quick and easy blood test from your GP

[Jdoma]

You have low aldosterone..its definitely ADRENAL..You need Florinef..or IV of vit.C. IM DOING the IV of vit.c through a Dr..