Does what thyroid medication you take depends if you have adrenal problems or not ? Im hypo thyroid& low cortisol. Are some more affective ?

[ilovegoats]

I have low cortisol but not addisons ( I had a short synthan and just passed) and am also hypothyroid but no antibodies. I have just been prescribed Levothyroxine . I’m wondering if there’s different reasons to being hypo and if it’s caused by adrenals ( I’ve been In a high state of stress for a long time ) are certain medications more affective in this case ? I haven’t had any of my Vitamins /minerals tested . I’m open to trying other methods/life / diet changes but it seeks medication is the only way but if there are things people have found helpful please let me know . Looking for friendly advice .Thank you x

[humanbean]

There is a very strong relationship between adrenal gland function and the thyroid.

I first started Levo back in 2013. At the time I had lots of health problems besides untreated hypothyroidism. I abandoned Levo quite quickly - I simply didn't tolerate it at all and since then I've mostly taken T3-only. I tried NDT as well, but I came to the conclusion that I couldn't tolerate anything with T4 in it.

One thing I did find out is that my cortisol was very high all day. Doing a four-sample saliva test, samples 1, 2 and 4 were over the range, and sample 3 was over 90% of the way through the range. I have been taking an adaptogen to reduce my cortisol for a few years now. A few months ago I started Levo for the first time since 2013 and I can now tolerate it surprisingly well.

In the intervening years I have optimised the basic nutrients that get discussed on this forum a lot. That had a major impact on my overall health too.

I have low cortisol but not addisons ( I had a short synthan and just passed) and am also hypothyroid but no antibodies.

There have been reports on the forum of people in the same situation as you who have found that their cortisol shot up to normal after they started taking T3 for their hypothyroidism, either instead of or in addition to Levothyroxine.

I’m wondering if there’s different reasons to being hypo

There are lots of reasons for being hypothyroid. But without test results we can't really tell you what might have caused yours.

I haven’t had any of my Vitamins /minerals tested .

This is definitely something you should get done, either by a doctor or by paying for a finger-prick test if you can. For someone who has been under a lot of stress you will definitely feel less stressed if you optimise as many nutrients as possible. Also, low nutrient levels can reduce conversion of T4 to T3. It is actually low T3 which gives people hypothyroid symptoms.

I’m open to trying other methods/life / diet changes

What kind of diet do you eat now?

[birkie in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean.. ♥️

I I'm interested in high or low cortisol to, I've just had a blood test requested by my new endo he wrote to me with the results saying"my cortisol test which I had at 9am was in the grey zone at 178 he wants me to do a short synacthen test to, I have no idea how long I've been with low cortisol because most if not all my bloods have been in the afternoon or tea time showing what they say are normal cortisol levels. I had full thyroidectomy in 2019 and its been hell ever since, of course I was very ill with my thyroid going in to thyroid storm and being hospitalized several times, I did think having my thyroid removed would(it was toxic had graves with very high antibodies) that I would be normal again but that's not happened I've found no improvement had been on T4 for about 8 months felt awful with very loose bowels and sickness found out they contain lactose im intolerant to it, changed to T3 lactose free I've been on this since with no change in my T3 levels.. 3.5 but T4 at 1.8.. I mentioned to the endo the only time I felt really well was when I was put on oral steroids for a bad colitis flare up I was in hospital for 10 days came home with 3 months supply of steroid, wow I felt great but slowly weened off them went back to total exsaustion and fatigue and pain😭, maby my cortisol has a roll to play in my thyroid meds not working for me, I'm 58 and started going through the menupause in my 40s to🙄 this is all hormonal... 😭

[humanbean in reply to birkie]

Have you ever eaten a 100% gluten-free diet? If you found oral steroids helped you to feel better then perhaps they were reducing inflammation in your gut allowing your gut to work better?

Another possibility is that they were directly improving your cortisol levels.

Have you ever heard of Paul Robinson's "Circadian T3 Method (CT3M)"? He teaches that people taking T3 at certain times of day can help the adrenal glands to improve which helps cortisol levels to recover. Since I've never had low cortisol I've never really read much of his stuff, but it seems to help some people.

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

He also has a blog :

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/blog/

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/blo...

...

If you are doing a Short Synacthen Test, you need to know what to expect, how to prepare, when the test should be done, how the test should be carried out properly - a lot of hospitals don't test ACTH, for example, but they really should if hypopituitarism from any cause is suspected. I think this should be discussed with whoever agreed to the SST test in the weeks before the test is actually carried out.

For more info on the SST test, look at the info on pages 68 - 70 in this document :

imperialendo.co.uk/Bible201...

You can download it if you want. If the document is ever updated you can find out from this link and download the new PDF version :

imperialendo.com/for-doctor...

[birkie in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean

Thanks for that info ❤️❤️

[birkie in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean ♥️

Thank you for the info on your last reply it is very interesting and I will be referring back to it when I get my test done, ❤️❤️❤️

[Alanna012]

What antibodies have you had tested?

[birkie in reply to Alanna012]

Hi

I had antibodies for graves they were high,, but I only got them tested when I questioned the endo on what form of thyroid condition I had he didn't know.. 🙄 I also have colitis, and arthritis 😩

[McPammy]

I have Hashimotos. I had low cortisol. I had a synacthen test and just past like yourself.

When I had my T3 checked it was very low 3.9(3.7-6.0) I was only converting 8% from T4 Levothyroxine to active T3. After months of failed diagnosis by NHS Drs I went private. It was confirmed that I convert T4 to T3 poorly. I was prescribed T3 medication. Oh boy what a difference. I had an immediate positive response. Also my cortisol went from very low 68(155-650) to 450 at 9am and has stayed good. So, for me it was low T3 causing low cortisol amongst other terrible symptoms I was experiencing. I went from hardly being able to sit up let alone walk to now skipping along and walking long distances nearly every day. I’ve also lost nearly 4st from where I got to with my weight. I did the DIO2 Gene Test through Regenerus Laboratories and it’s was positive. You could try this too. I now get T3 medication on the NHS. It has improved and changed my life no end. My family and friends are astonished when they see me now.

[birkie in reply to McPammy]

Hi

I've actually been on T3 for over 4 months but my T3 has not gone up, my T4 is 1.8...i still feel awful no energy. In bad pain, sweating, tremors but not as bad as when I had hyperthyroidism. I'm now on T4 lactose free because I'm lactose intolerant, with 20mg of T3 but endo wants me off the T3.. I'm only giving this T4 trial after 6 weeks if theirs no improvement I want to know why.. As you say other things could be causing the problem with the T3 T4 absorbtion 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[birkie in reply to McPammy]

Hi Mcpammy❤️

You said you were not a good converter for T3, T4 and your cortisol level was low, my endo who ordered the cortisol test said I was in the grey zone with a level of 178..just waiting my app for the test, can I ask if you were not converting T3 T4 how now can you convert the T3? And feel good? I was no better on either T3 T4, I'm now on T4 125mg,T3 20mg per day taken 11 days worth I'm now finding I'm sweating more have bad pins and needles in hands, back of my legs and head, I feel jittery, heart beats a bit faster, can't sleep. Could this be over medication? It also seems to make my menupausal symptoms worse😢 would you know if I could split the doses take one lot in the morning one at night?

The way in feeling I just want to come off them totally.. 😭😭😭

[McPammy in reply to birkie]

Oh I’m sorry you’re feeling so bad tight now. It sounds like you could be over medicated but difficult to tell without recent blood results. I take my T3 at 8am then again at 3pm this was advised by my private Endocrinologist. I also take liquid Levothyroxine, I split this dose too at 12.30 and again at 4.30pm. I found that taking Levothyroxine in one go was making me ill, so I tried splitting my dose and that was so so much better. Why I have no idea. It takes a while for your hormones to balance out and the more you change things the worse it can get until it settles down I believe.

Have you got recent blood tests.

When you get your Synacthen test also request your ACTH too. Request this by calling your Endo’s PA.

[birkie in reply to McPammy]

Hi Mcpammy♥️

I've started to split my dose took 65mg T4 10mg T3 still had a rough night sweating, slight tremor, couldn't sleep, my legs are restless again😢 I've taken my second dose this morning I'm sure it's the T4 i was given it on leaving hospital in 2019 after my TT.. Obviously I know it wasn't going to work over night but my symptoms of hyperthyroidism have never really gone! My friend has hypothyroidism she still has her thyroid but she's never hot never sweats has no tremors and can sleep on a clothes line, I have no symptoms of hypo, I was taken off T4 because it contained lactose and the consultant said it was not working so put on T3, but even on 20mg of T3 I still had hyper symptoms granted not has bad as I'm having now.. I really think for some reason it's making my menupause symptoms go in to hyper drive.. What is a ACTH? And can you tell me why I should have it♥️

Thanks ❤️❤️❤️

[Anxciety123]

Hi, I am in the same situation hypothyroidism which goes up and down. I have severe anxiety and would like my cortisol level checked. Like most people, GP refuses to make a referral grrrrrr