Hi I finally got my cortisol saliva tests back. Blue horizon say they are within normal limits and follow the correct pattern. They are not optimal, just a little bit on low side. They are not true readings due to my use of progesterone cream but i cant come off it as if i do i have adrenaline rush till it gets back in my system. Im living on adrenaline and have a horrible big adrenaline rush when i wake up. This happens during the night and worst in the morning. Its pretty scary and is usually accompanied by hypoglycemia. Has anyone experienced this? My private functional dr told me to take magnesium glycate which has helped a little bit but i also have an energy crash in the afternoon between 3 and 5pm. Doc says my adrenals very shakey. What can i do i find this very distressing which then makes the anxiety worse. Im on 75mcg levo but my tsh is only 0.4. (0.35-4.5) ft4 15.1 (9-20) Ive ordered thorne vit b stress complex and adrenal cortex. Im hypersensitive to everything. Anyone out there with similar problems?
Advice please Adrenal insufficiency: Hi I finally... - Thyroid UK
Advice please Adrenal insufficiency
So you didn't cancel your order and get the Regenerus one to test DHEA as well as cortisol?
What are the results?
Do BH do a graphic, can you add it to your first post?
I use progesterone cream and I asked Regenerus if should stop using my adrenal support and progesterone cream. Their reply was:
"The items you mentioned will not effect the results.
Your samples will record your current levels of Cortisol and DHEA as they stand with any supplementation you are taking."
Regenerus instructions say for people using topical hormones:
"Do not apply any topical hormones throughout the entire day of saliva collection. This will contaminate your sample and compromise your test results. Your last dose prior to saliva collection shold be aplied within a window of 12-24 hours before collecting your first saliva sample."
So your readings are true for your circumstances, i.e. using progesterone cream as long as you didn't appy it on the day you did your test.
I have had to start a new post as couldnt find a way back to attach my results, thanks
Are you taking daily vitamin C? This can help adrenals
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 regularly
When were these last tested?
What vitamin supplements do you currently take?
Hi there I am not a Dr but someone who has experienced most of the symptoms over 50 years I see on this forum so any ideas is to help not to prescribe. I had peculiar symptoms with Prog cream - swelling of the body generally and in particular breasts which frightened me. Progesterone is made from cholesterol - are you on statins which reduces cholesterol? Progesterone will also go off to the adrenal gland to make cortisol - what it looks like is happening is that the progesterone you are taking is whizzing off to make cortisol for your adrenals because it is needed . So in my opinion you are producing too much cortisol producing adrenaline as a safety valve. So personally I would not take any more adrenal boosting supplements as your adrenals can't cope and are throwing it to adrenaline which will cause an increase in blood pressure etc including panic attacks and surges as you describe. I would also suggest you try to reduce the progesterone cream slowly but first can you tell me what you are taking in the way of vitamins minerals and medication - does your Doctor test for results or is he winging it on symptoms can you let me know as it may be DHEA you need. Hope this helps.
Hi thanks for that, what you suggest makes a lot of sense. Problem is i dont show typical signs so hopefully you can throw some light on this for me.
I have very good cholesterol levels. Ratio 3.2 good levels of HDL and low tryglicerates. Im post menopause and had very low progesterone less than 0.2 but estrogen high. I still have bleeding due to high estrogen. Progesterone was prescribed to prevent hyperplasia. I have a very stressful life due to family problems. I dont cope with stress well as it has been on going for 30 years. When i get stressed i get bad flu symptoms. I had low ft4 and low ft3 but low normal tsh levo seems to be making me more hypo than i was without it. I get hypoglycemia every morning and feel rubbish and brain fogged throughout the day. Im on no other medication and apart from a long list of hypothyroidism symptoms im healthy! If i reduce the progesterone, im only using 20mcg, i get adrenaline rush, if i reduce the levo, i get adrenaline rush. Im scared which is making my anxiety worse! Cant buy dhea in uk its banned. What about reducing progesterone and using pregnenolone instead? Ive often wondered if i have quite low cholesterol is that the problem, i dont have enough to make the hormones i need? I have no gallbladder due to high estrogen after pregnancy. I eat a good but restricted diet as i have so many intolerances. I eat good fat. The adrenaline is driving me crazy. Ive read so much and its all so confusing. I have symptoms of estrogen dominance, hypothyroid, hypoglycemia, , low and high cortisol. My cortisol results were normal but they are propped up with the progesterone. Any help appreciated thanks x
Your cholesterol might be too low to make hormones. Your sex hormones need to be in balance rather than at a particular level. That sounds like a very low dose of progesterone - I need 125mg day (and I've been on more). I get DHEA on prescription along with my oestrogen and progesterone as testosterone made me crazy. I found that meditation (and T3) helped with adrenaline rushes. You might find that a low carb or keto diet helps both your cholesterol and your blood sugar for a more even feel throughout the day.
The gp is trying me to come off the progesterone but i think i need it. I tried 50mcg and i had a severe case of overload. Stomach pain, headache, flu symptoms. My estrogen is still above menopausal level. My p:e2 ratio was only 55:1 should be 100:1 post menopause but i felt really ill. Only the private doc approves my gp is against all of it. So i hope this new test will provide answers
I think that when on HRT you are not supposed to have post menopause bloods but pre menopause levels. That's the point of replacing them.
Im on progesterone only and trying to balance it with the slightly too high estrogen i have. Gp not interested doesnt have a clue. Im still having light bleeding at almost 61. Ive never had menopausal symptoms no hot flushes or any of that. I was always told if i dont have low estrogen then i dont have a problem. My progesterone was undetectable so thats why private doc told me to use progesterone cream. What are you using? I tried utrogestan that overdosed me
Mine is compounded specially for me. But my situation is different, I had horrendous menopause symptoms. Have you tried ways of decreasing stress as stress means you body diverts resources to creating cortisol instead of progesterone (you can research "pregnenolone steal"). If progesterone cream is too strong, perhaps stress reduction would help, plus vit C (try camu camu), zinc, magnesium, vit E and B6, plus saturated fats (avocados, coconut oil etc), sulphur and L'Arginine (or Citrulline if get cold sores) - through diet if you can. Your GP should take notice of bleeding after menopuase as it can be serious. Should get a gynae referral. Avoid coffee, alcohol and plastic (easier said than done) to help reduce oestrogen.
I have a NPD ex husband and daughter that make my life very stressful i would love to reduce my stress. I have been seeing gynea for 7 years all they do is yearly biopsies but its got to be hormone related. They have no interest i get all my tests private. Im determined to fix this and at moment having no contact with my daughter which is also stressful but not so much as dealing with her
Im taking magnesium, vit d, k2, zinc and vit c, selenium, b complex, folate, b12, i also use a multivitamin now and again. I dont take these everyday as i dont like swallowing all these pills quite a few days i forget as im either too tired or too brain fogged. I take the magnesium glycate every day as doc recommend for anxiety and blood sugar issues. Gps have been hopeless all they do is check im not having a heart attack, because im not they try to get me to take antidepressants i say no. My private doc put me on levo, he thinks i have an adreanal issue but thats ok but he wants an arm and leg to test everything. My gp is not interested in my hormone levels ive had to test everything privately.
Hi there - you have to remember that your kidneys and liver have to process all the supplements you are taking - so often less is more - tiredness and sweating etc. can be as a result of over stimulation of the adrenal glands or kidneys or liver generally. I have learned over the years to only take what I am deficient in - but that requires regular testing and that is not an option for everyone - I am lucky in that I am tested regularly. What I have realised by this regular testing is that I can be deficient in one thing - e.g. Vitamin B6 and then I take it - only to find it 'pulls down' another Vitamin which then has to be 'fixed'. It is a complicated science - by taking so many every day - you are taking several amounts of fillers and additives that are used in each product - it would be far better to take all you are taking in a multi vitamin and keep it at that - obviously you can add something like Mg if you need it for relaxation etc. - and definitely at least 1,000 mg of Vitamin C - your blood pressure can be a good indicator of adrenal issues - lower on the scale - they need support - normal to higher - I would suggest not but that is only my opinion. I too suffered with a lot of stress over 35 years I regret to say - intolerable at times but I kept myself going with vitamins and minerals for the stress - but unfortunately it all hit me when I hit the menopause at 50 and the hormones took a nose dive as not many people know that on hitting the menopause as the ovaries stop producing estrogen the adrenal glands have to take over and if you have had a lot of stress and the adrenals are tired then these are the people who suffer with symptoms at the menopause which can affect the thyroid gland too. Also remember Vitamin B depletes Vitamin C and C is crucial for the adrenal glands.
On re-reading your post - you are quite right the progesterone is propping up your adrenals to product cortisol - but in the wrong context - in my opinion the flu like symptoms you are experiencing are related to stress as you say and are adrenaline based - when I got like that I used to walk the dog and get the adrenaline out of my system - I used to get the fight or flight symptoms in my thighs and because the adrenaline wasn't able to be used up it caused pain. The hypo symptoms you are suffering are all related - I am on steroids and when I take my steroid - some days I fall asleep as it affects the insulin levels - some days I crave sugar and have to raid the cupboard - so this is all related to adrenals or indeed thyroid - it is a game of what is it ? I was taking NDT for a couple of years and didn't realise the sweating I was getting and breathlessness - was unable to walk a couple of feet without stopping was due to NDT supplying T3 I didn't need - I was told I was over medicated but I ignored that and kept on taking it - wish I hadn't - went on Levo and I am lucky in that it suits me although telling you this story because I eventually went on Lactose free liquid thyroxine - had lost most of my hair even though on Levo tabs but didn't realise I was losing it via the gut - my hair is now back to normal - are you sure you aren't lactose intolerant and the meds aren't getting through as happened with me.
Im on a dairy free and gluten free diet have been for years. The levo does have lactose in it! Im considering coming off the levo as its doing me no good. 75mcg has suppressed my thyroid so i presume its a safety mechanism for the low adrenals perhaps the reason why my thyroid levels so low as my body cant handle a higher metabolisum ? After years of stress its had it! Ive ordered a complete hormone saliva testing kit for cortisol, progesterone, estrogen, testesterone, DHEA i hope this will shed better light and this time it says no progesterone for 48 hours. Hopefully my adrenals will hold out without it
good idea to get tested ,,,,,,,,,,,,
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