Hello everyone, Happy Valentines Day !! This is my first time here. I was reading. one of the posts about cortisol levels. 54 years ago I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. The Dr told my numbers were the highest she had ever seen. I was a size 4. I didn't know anything abkht thyroid diseas. I just took the medicine. The medicine was 50 mg of Levoxithrin. Today I am at 100 mg of Levoxithrin . I have gone from a size 4 to a size 16. The only weight issue I had my whole life was being too thin. And also every time my Dr has raised my thyroid medication I put more weight on and when I brush my hair more and more( like gobs of it) comes out. I am always fatigued also. What is going on?
Im also wondering why im suffering with extreme anxiety. which has also gotten worse since my diagnosis.
What does the cortisol test do and wondering why Ive never been told about it? If someone could help me with What is going on?
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Virgosgirl67
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There is a procedure when having blood tests, so that we get optimum results. If you don't follow the method your results wont be accurate.
All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the earliest possible (even if you make it weeks ahead). It is a fasting test but you can drink water. Allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of thyroid hormones and test and take it afterwards.
Request also for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be tested. Everything has to be optimal but it is slow and steady increases.
Make your appointments a couple of weeks ahead so that you get the time that's best for blood draw and remember to leave 24 hour gap between last dose and test and take hormones afterwards.
Always get a print-out of your results, with the ranges so that you can post for comments.
p.s. if you've not had thyroid antibodies tested, ask for these to be done. If antibodies are present, we have a different kind of thyroid dysfunction and it is called 'Hashimoto's' after the doctor who discovered them.
I keep sleepingLate like 5 an can’t go sleep then I get up at 12 my doctors said of ur thyroids fine I had this for 9 years I know when
My
Body isn’t right. I have no thyroid I had rai noones ever mentioned the other one calls Hashimotos can I have that as well as. Hypothyroidism how can
I get tested for this I feel my gp r not helping me I feel like ending it all at times my
Moods are so low thank u for replying to me what should I do nex I’m still on Levo been taking them at night now as I sleep in the day as off work atm. So I take those after few hours of not eatinn. Anti bodies test what’s that mean
Do you have access to your medical notes via the GP online system? You are entitled to receive your test results.You should have had a blood test each time your dose was increased. Most labs only test TSH and T4 but to really understand what is going on you need T3 testing as well. Have you ever had an antibody test? You can test yourself using a finger prick test from Medichecks. A lot of us here do that, including me.
You are probably under medicated and your GP may well only be looking at your TSH result which will only keep you unwell.
No I thought my gp was good. I haven’t felt well for a long time I’m struggling very much I’m off sick n my moods are low where I’m hsv No horrible thoughts of basically I can t live test if myLife like this. I taje 150 Levo thirds tests from jan I’m not sleeping as I stopped sleeping tablet week ago anti depression tablets not sure if there shoukd be taken any more they offer me new one any view on anti depression tablets will they helps us also anti body test I’ll ass n t3 t4 makes me wonder how long they been saying I’m ok for when I’m not thank u any advice I know it not telling me what h do but tips please. Thank u
First step is to get hold of all recent test results from GP
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine
Which brand
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
Far too often only TSH is tested which is completely inadequate
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Hi I too had high cortisol 2 years ago. I was in a very stressful job was taking Levo for Hashis. I had never been overweight. I went from a size 12 to a 16.I was told the excess cortisol blocks the absorption of the levo so your thyroid goes under active. Therefore I was t converting my T4 to T 3. I had symptoms of Cushing, but it was Pseudo Cushings.
You need T3 and T 4 testing, not just TSH.
High cortisol will give you weight gain, and anxiety and fatigue.
Hi Low cortisol is called Addisons (primary) or Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency and can causea weight loss, nausea, vomiting, salt cravings, exhaustion, brain fog and feeling stressed all the time.
Cushings Disease is too much cortisol which can cause weight gain in specific areas and anxiety, puffy face among other things.
There are different tests which can pick it up depending which type it is and whether it is primary (caused by the adrenal glands) or secondary (caused by something else eg. A pituitary tumour)
Tests include: ACTH or short senachten test (might have spelt that wrong), insulin stress test and regular testing includes cortisol day curve tests which is a blood test every 30 minutes throughout the day. You can get salivary tests on Thriva also.
Although GP's and Endo's test cortisol through a regular blood test sometimes, it's just a snapshot in time and can't be diagnosed in that way.
Welcome to our forum and if you'd like to become a member of Thyroiduk.org.uk who are the ones behind this forum. They do a lot of work and research to try to change the attitudes of the medical professionals.
I am sorry you have hypothyroidism and take levothyroxine. It is not an uncommon statement to say weight has been gained and it is usually due to our metabolism being too low.
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