I am hoping for some advice on my latest adrenal saliva test results. Over the past year I took some supplements which affected my adrenals and increased my cortisol levels (collagen and glycine powder taken for peptic ulcers). Because I became very unwell I didn’t realise it was the supplements causing the problems. I started to struggle taking Metavive and had to go days without taking it and I could only tolerate small amounts. I continued with the glycine for a few months and started taking T3 as I thought I could no longer tolerate Metavive. I have only just recently discovered that the collagen powder had also made me ill. I took that for a few months last summer and also for about a week a couple of months ago.
I took Holy Basil which really helped and was able to take T3 more regularly. Unfortunately, the Holy Basil recently started to irritate one of my ulcers so I have had to stop taking it. I’m back to not being able to tolerate much thyroid medication again. I stopped taking T3 as it was too strong for me and went back onto Metavive. I currently take ¼ of a Metavive 1 capsule every other day. This is the most I can tolerate. I’m hoping I will be able to take Holy Basil again soon.
These are my recent results from about a month after stopping the Holy Basil:
7am-9am 14.02 (2.68-9.30)
11am-1pm 4.52 (0.75-2.93)
3pm-5pm 4.00 (0.36-1.88)
10pm-12am 2.43 (<=0.94)
Secretory IGA 710 (56-212)
DHEA 1.53 (0.25-2.22nmol/L)
DHEA Cortisol Ratio 0.11 (0.05-0.32)
I’m a bit worried about the Secretory IGA result as it seems really high.
Thank you.
Written by
Rachel357
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I don't recognise the reference ranges. Which company did you use, and did they supply two sets of reference ranges - optimal and standard?
If you did get two lots of reference ranges it would be better to use the wider, standard ranges because companies never tell you how their optimal ranges are derived.
It was Genova. There doesn't seem to be any other ranges.
Although half a Metavive 1 contains only a tiny dose of T3, I wonder if it´s a good idea to take T3 on alternate days? I wonder if the fluctuations in T3 levels can affect your adrenal glands adversely as you are not getting a steady supply of T3?Could you just take levothyroxine until you manage to bring your cortisol levels down?
I had a Genova cortisol test last year and my results looked a lot like yours. The later in the day, the more they were out of range.
I have successfully used relora, rhodiola rosea and high strength Phosphatydyl serine (the latter at bedtime) to lower cortisol.
Thank you for your advice. I had been wondering whether I should go back to taking Levothyroxine and I asked for a prescription for it a couple of months ago but the GP said that as my TSH is "normal" she didn't want to prescribe it and I should continue with what I have been doing. I have been noticing that I feel better on the days that I don't take the Metavive so I obviously feel better when the T3 has worn off. The only thing with Levo that concerns me is that it used to make my abdomen very swollen (I tried 3 different brands). As I have ulcers in my abdomen I would be worried that it will put pressure on them if it gets swollen, but I definitely want to try it again.
I'm going to order Relora, it sounds good and it looks like it helps ulcers too!
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