I would like to get my cortisol levels tested as reading it might be a reason why I am having trouble with T3.
I have been recommended the regenerus test here but my functional doctor has recommended the Dutch complete test.
The DUTCH Plus® report includes: Metabolites of Estrogens (10, including E1, E2, E3, 2-OHE1, 4-OH-E1, 2-OH- E2, 4-OH-E2, 16-OH-E1, 2-methoxy-E1, 2-methoxy-E2) , Androgens (8, including Testosterone, DHT and DHEA-S), Progesterone (2), Cortisol (3), Melatonin (6OHMS), 8-OHdG, and OATs (6). The diurnal pattern of Free Cortisol and Cortisone are also provided, including the Cortisol Awakening Response.
I’ve been intrigued by the DUTCH test for some time now. However according to my understanding the DUTCH test is based on dried urine and not saliva. Not sure how much of a difference that would produce in results. My other thoughts are it’s an expensive way to test cortisol if you aren’t interested in the other hormones.
Might be more information on Dr Carrie Jones’s Instagram account. She’s the medical director of Precision Analytical, they make the DUTCH test.
The DUTCH Plus® uses four dried urine samples and five saliva samples.
So my understanding is that it does everything the other test does plus some extra stuff. I have PCOS so it might actually be useful to understand the other hormonal stuff.
I’m just waiting to find out cost.
Thanks for the link. I’ve followed her. She is talking about a lot of stuff I do not understand yet but could be useful! Thanks!
If there’s anything you don’t understand on her page please shout. Hopefully explaining some of it will help cement my knowledge too. I’m still learning a lot of this myself. The great thing about Carrie is the way she explains things she’s makes it all a lot easier to understand. I’m sure you’ll get it all soon. She has some great podcasts too. I’m guessing with PCOS you’ll have higher testosterone levels driven by insulin but the test will help you see what metabolites you’re producing too.
Just thought of something. Have you considered myoinositol for PCOS? It apparently balances blood sugar levels and restores ovulation and improves fertility.
Is your functional doctor a medical doctor or another type of practitioner?
I am biochemically normal according to my doctor but my testosterone is higher end of the normal range and my SHBG is lower end of normal. I take ovasitol which has myo and dchiro inositol. I am working with my functional doctor because it’s not really clear whether I need this support or not because as I say my blood tests suggest everything is alright. I manage my blood sugar with diet so that could be the reason they look okay.
But yes I’m not entirely sure what extra information this test would provide me. I think I’ll speak to my functional doctor and see what she thinks. She isn’t a medical doctor she trained via chris kesser
My cortisol is in the toilet, desperately low 95 (150-550) and has been since 2016. Iv had 4 point saliva test twice and annual blood tests all always low. I am on 100mcg t3 only, i suspect if my cortisol was better i may get away with a lower dose but its not. I have been estrogen dominant, now post menopause, very low hormone levels and tbh none of it is worth a pile of poop. I have never found a specialist who can help, i have tried every suggested cortisol enhancer NAX, adrenal cocktails, food, supplements, i have hydrocortisone 10mg for bad days but no nearer getting it sorted in 5 years. For me finding the answers was always my driving force, unfortunately once i got them i wasn't always able to do anything with the information. Hopefully yours is not as low as mine.
Yes absolutely. I’m blinkin curious but can’t always fix it. It’s hard not to want to know though isn’t it.
Did you have any problems with introducing t3 due to your cortisol problems? I’m only so far taking 3.75mcg because gives me chest tightness. I am hoping over time I can introduce more.
I started NDT after years of levo and yes it was hard, I took nax (nutri adrenal extra) for a year, which is mostly high strength vit B. I kept crashing on ndt and endo said I can't tolerate the t4 element, so next step was t3 only. I can take massive amounts and go straight to sleep, I think I am thyroid hormone resistant, it doesn't give me energy or awake feeling others speak about, I take it to feel a bit normal. Without I can't function or stay awake. Have you tried adrenal cocktail to support adrenals (google it ) or take t3 at bedtime. It is all trial and error xxx
I haven’t tried adrenal cocktail but read about it. I will see what the stress test shows and if it does show a problem I’ll try it then. I am thinking as my tight chest seems worse in evening that It would be worse to take at night. However funnily enough as soon as I am horizontal I feel better and it goes away so maybe that might work. Just a tad nervous to try it.
That sounds such a nightmare your position. What do you mean by crashing, how does that translate to what you experience when you crash? How did he know you couldn’t tolerate the T4 element of it? It definitely does seem trial and error. Thank you for sharing. I am lucky in that I am not a total write off even on levo so can always go back to that if this doesn’t work out xx
Deffinately worth trying t3 at bedtime then, I found it helped me sleep plus you should sleep through any odd feelings. Has anyone mentioned CT3M yet? Google it and Paul Robinson has a fb page (recovering with t3?) The time you take your t3 can improve your cortisol, I tried it ages ago but my cortisol way too low for it to be effective for me but it works for low-moderately low cortisol. It is a lot of faffing but many swear by it.Crashing is when I hit a wall, exhausted, joint pain, anxiety and other hypo symptoms, sometimes due to over doing things, it can take a few days in bed to feel better.
Endo did the t3&t4 test and my t3 was well under range which he said meant I wasn't converting the levo to t3.
I stumbled across paul Robinson myself somehow and saw he has three books but didn’t know whether they were any good or which one would be best for me. Wondered if the t3/T4 one would be better but would you recommend the recovering with t3 as you say?
Ah yes sometimes I crash. Usually end up in bed at 8pm which is early for me. Normally sleep it off though.
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