Hydrocortisone and Thyroid

[Treacle028]

Hi All, does anyone know if hydrocortisone can interfere with thyroid results? I was on 100mg Levo, changed to 100 Levo plus 20mg T3 feb 2019 and results were normal (t3 5.5 range 3.1-6.8, T4 16.3 range 12-22, tsh 0.02 range 0.27-4.20. In June I was put on hydrocortisone 12.5mg as adrenal insufficiency.

October 2019 thyroid results T3 didn't test, T4 32.5, tsh 0.01. Levo reduced to 75 plus 20mg t3 and 12.5mg HC after this result.

Tested again Jan 2020 T3 17.2 T4 38.8, tsh 0.01.

Could the HC interfere with thyroid? My T4 has increased from reduction of Levo...

Thanks. X

[greygoose]

I think you have Hashi's, don't you. HC wouldn't do that.

[Treacle028 in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose my thyroid antibodies are negative, I have underactive thyroid for 6 years now.

Start of 2019 the private Endo added t3 to see if it helped my exhaustion. May time he did a SST test which was borderline/normal, also an adrenal antibodies test which was positive so this is why he started me on hydrocortisone..

I have felt better with the HC. Had a few symptons return on October hence the T4 32. Follow up with reduction in Levo and still 38.

[greygoose in reply to Treacle028]

Had a few symptons return on October hence the T4 32.

I don't understand that sentence. Are you saying that you have hypo symptoms, so you had a blood test, and your FT4 had risen to 32? And you think it's because you are taking HC?

Well, I've taken HC and it had no effect on my thyroid levels at all. If it were affecting your absorption, your level would drop, not rise. I can't see any reason why it HC would make it rise like that.

Reasons why FT4 becomes suddenly high:

* a Hashi's 'hyper' swing

* over-medication (but that would happen slowly)

* not leaving a 24 hour gap between your last dose of levo and the blood draw

* biotin interfering with the blood test

Do any of these apply?

Just because your antibody test was negative doesn't mean you don't have Hashi's, for several reasons:

* antibodies fluctuate, they can be low on the first test and high on the second, you would need at least three negative tests before you could start thinking you don't have it

* the NHS only tests for TPO antibodies, but it doesn't test for Tg antibodies, which could be high, with low TPOab, meaning you have Hashi's

* 20% of Hashi's people never even have high antibodies, they are diagnosed by ultrasound scans

[Treacle028 in reply to greygoose]

Yes I had hyper like symptons and got tested, with a reduction in Levo I expected the t4 to decrease, however it increased from 32 to 38. I was asking would HC have any affect on the result but Clearly not.

It seems to be a hyper swing and possibly still overmedicated.

[greygoose in reply to Treacle028]

The 'hyper' swing will only last a certain amount of time, and then you will go hypo again - only more hypo than before because you will have less thyroid. So, you don't want your doctor reducing your prescription because you're going to need it again, and will have trouble getting it increased again. If you have hyper symptoms, just stop your levo for a few days until you feel hypo again, and then restart it. Doctors just do not understand how Hashi's works.

[Treacle028 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for the replies I really appreciate it. I will do that.

[greygoose in reply to Treacle028]

You're welcome.