Cortisol testing - help with interrupting results

[Triciatextiles]

Hi i would appreciate comments on my results. I am totally exhausted, low heart rate, high blood pressure again, difficulty coping with stress, muscle pain. My thyroid results a few months ago were fine with T3 in the upper range .

Thanks

[lizhut]

From this, your morning and evening cortisol production is lower than optimal. In the morning cortisol production should be at its highest - that's what helps us wake up properly so probably you don't wake feeling refreshed or alert and it might take you a while to come round.

Phase 2 adrenal dysfunction is early stage adrenal dysfunction - basically something is putting a strain on your adrenal glands. This is also consistent with the symptoms you're having.

As I have said to others, I would advise you to see a good nutritional therapist or someone who has studied functional medicine. Look for someone who has studied at CNM, ION or the Institute of Functional Medicine. Many people have issues with HPA axis (Hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal communication) and the reasons for this are many and varied so it needs a thorough history and identification of which body systems are under stress.

[Triciatextiles in reply to lizhut]

Hi thanks for your reply. I believe that my problem could be hypothalamus/pituitary/ adrenal. I have intracranial hypertension/cranial odema and partial (pituitary)empty sella. I have asked my GP for a referral to an endo and waiting for a response.

[Wired123 in reply to Triciatextiles]

I have empty sella too. I don’t think doctors fully understand it nor know how to treat it. Try and get an endo who specialises in pituitary as very few will know what to do and how to help you.

Keen to hear how you get along.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

what thyroid hormones are you currently taking

Levothyroxine?

Always get same brand of levothyroxine?

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or quarter of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

AF can be linked to low Ft3 or a high Ft4

thyroidpatients.ca/2020/09/...

[Triciatextiles in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi

thanks for your reply

I am prescribed 75mg levothyroxine by my GP but take 100mg every other day. I always take the same brand (wockhardt accord) because of problems in the past. I take vit D, magnesium and B12 (on occasions). I had a whole series of blood tests in the last year or so which my GP orderered, all came back within range. My latest thyroid results from medichecks were TSH 0.09 ( 0.27 - 4.2) T4 19.1 (12-22) T3. 4.92 (3.1 - 6.8) both antibody results were low .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Triciatextiles]

Vitamins within range is not the same as optimal

What were the actual results and ranges?

Ft4 is 71% through range

Ft3 is 49.1% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

Many people find they need Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine?

[Triciatextiles in reply to SlowDragon]

Thats interesting about my T3 only being 49.1% through the range i hadn't realised this. Perhaps i need to increase my Levothyroxine. Medichecks doctors comments were that i was overmedicated because my THS is suppressed.! The last week my heart rate has fallen to 55bpm and i am really struggling to even go out for a walk.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Triciatextiles]

Medichecks doctor are just TSH obsessed standard doctors. We recommend on here, to not tick the box for their comments (Unless happy to ignore it)

On levothyroxine the most important results are Ft3 followed by Ft4

[Triciatextiles in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for this advice

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Triciatextiles]

Low cortisol might improve if endo prescribed T3 alongside levothyroxine

Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3

[e-mail]