How to test cortisol levels whilst on adrenavive

[Noelnoel]

I began taking adrenavive on the advice of Dr P some years ago. I was consistent with them for a couple of years then erratic but for the last couple of years I’ve been consistent

I can’t remember whether he based his advice on the following test but I know I’m long overdue a re-test. I’m not sure though whether I should stop taking them before testing. If so, for how long? A while I imagine and no, not stopping abruptly 

The problem is, I have a long history of severe sleep problems which have been so much better recently. However, the last couple of weeks are showing signs that something’s not quite right as I’m having difficulty getting to sleep and I’m waking early

I really want to know if I can make the right amount of cortisol at the right time without assistance but does this recent recurrence of sleep issues suggest that I can’t? If so, why have I been sleeping so well recently and what’s upset that?

This is confusing the picture for me around whether to test whilst on or off adrenavive. I do realise though that it may not be a cortisol problem 

Ultimately I want to know if my adrenals can cope without it. I’ve been a long time on it and would love to give my adrenals a chance but I’m nervous about stopping and properly upsetting all that I’ve achieved

All my nutrient levels are excellent and TFTs are the best they’ve ever been and I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time 

TSH 0.01 (0.27 - 4.2)

FT4 14.9 (12 -22) 29%

FT3 6 (3.1 - 6.8) 78%

I posted some weeks ago asking whether it was worth trying to nudge up FT4 given how good I feel but response was poor. I‘m wondering if now that levels have settled to what they’re going to be (for the moment at least) it would indeed be worth tweaking and if so what?

I take a combination of glandulars some that consist of more T3  and some that are more T4 potent, however they all contain both thyroid hormones 

Last week I tried increasing by one capsule - the T3 potent type - and on day 6 I began to feel overmedicated, so stopped especially as it disturbed my sleep even more. I wonder though, should I have just pushed through to see where it led or should I try taking one more of the T4 potent type? 

Try and see is the answer but your thoughts and suggestions would be welcome 

My apologies because I know this post could’ve been written more coherently but I’ve had several terrible nights and as it is, this has taken me an hour to try to get my thoughts straight 

As always, thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Noelnoel

A few years ago I was taking an adrenal supplement on the advice of a practioner. Practioner turned out to be useless so I binned her off and eventually thought to retest my adrenals. I wasn't sure if I should continue with the glandular or not so I asked Regenerus :

Can you please tell me if I should be off the Adreset and progesterone cream before the test, and if so for how long.

and their reply was:

The items you mentioned will not effect the results.

Your samples will record your current levels of Cortisol and DHEA as they stand with any supplementation you are taking.

So, my thoughts are - if you want to know what your current status is (and it might be a good idea to get a record of what your current supplementation is achieving) then continue with supplement and test. Then if you want to know what you can achieve with no supplements you could stop them, stay off for maybe 3 months and then retest.

I'm afraid I can't answer your question about your sleep problem.

[Noelnoel in reply to SeasideSusie]

What clarity of thought you have! I just can’t untangle my thoughts at the moment so what you say sounds like the only sensible thing to do. I’m very grateful for your suggestion, thank you

Part of the reason I have waited so long to test is because I couldn’t bear the thought of going without it for ages and deteriorating. This way I don’t have to

Would it be reasonable to expect that my cortisol levels have lowered? Do you have any thoughts on my latest TFTs of five weeks ago and how to try raising FT4 to see if a higher level confers any benefits. I think I’ve asked a similar question in the past but I can’t seem to access old posts at the moment. I don’t know if it’s me or the site

I can’t know how well/badly I convert because I take T4 and T3 but if you were trying to achieve what I’m trying to achieve, would you take the capsule with the higher ratio of T4 or the one with higher T3 and why? Obviously I know you can’t tell me what to do but I’m really interested in the choice you’d make

I think I understand what could happen (depending on whether/how much of the T4 content gets converted) and I know that either way FT3 will rise but I can’t even begin to explain my thoughts without sounding like a rambling wreck, so I won’t bother 🙃

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Noelnoel]

What clarity of thought you have! I just can’t untangle my thoughts at the moment so what you say sounds like the only sensible thing to do.

Not always, perhaps today is a good day 🤣

Would it be reasonable to expect that my cortisol levels have lowered?

Well, l really don't know. I've not had a lot of luck with trying to sort my cortisol levels out.

I'd been supplementing for years, since the original practioner told me to take a cortisol lowering supplement. Not knowing any better at the time I did what she said but now I know more I can see that my levels were high in range but there was no monitoring suggested and by the time I'd binned her off and thought to retest myself (2 years later) they were all bottom of range and I've been trying to raise them ever since without much success. I've stopped the supplements after last test (January this year) and will probably test next January to see what's happened.

Do you have any thoughts on my latest TFTs of five weeks ago and how to try raising FT4 to see if a higher level confers any benefits.

TSH: 0.01 (0.27-4.20)

FT4: 14.9 (12-22)

FT3: 6 (3.1-6.8)

Well, I couldn't cope with that FT4 level, I would need it over half way through range.

Do you have any Levo? Maybe try adding a small amount, edge that FT4 level up and see how you feel?

But if you haven't got any Levo and don't want to self source then maybe try the capsule that has more T4, but of course with glandulars you just don't know what you're getting unless it's a brand that states there is hormone content and how much (Tammy Lowe's does I think, or she tells people what's in it, that's Thyro Gold I think).

Then you have the question of if you have some natural conversion, will that T4 convert and give you a higher FT3 level?

This is why I use Levo plus T3 so that I can adjust dose of each individual hormone. I don't think I'd use glandulars. I did try NDT under the guidance of Dr P and Dr S many years ago, it just didn't do anything for me.

I think I’ve asked a similar question in the past but I can’t seem to access old posts at the moment. I don’t know if it’s me or the site

I can see your old posts here:

healthunlocked.com/user/Noe...

[Noelnoel in reply to SeasideSusie]

That’s a lot of good advice. Big thank you

I think I’ll take a chance and try your suggestion of the bovine (T4 higher) but just a sprinkle at first. I’d try levo because I have some but I’m already taking 3 different brands of glandulars and to introduce something different feels so untidy I know, mad but long term I want to try at least to switch to one brand and one type which may end up being all levo or any combination. Who knows, you never can tell with this condition and in the end it’s all about what works for the individual

Thank you for the link, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that myself as I know how to

I’m sorry to hear you seem unable to raise cortisol. Do you feel the effects?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Noelnoel]

I’m sorry to hear you seem unable to raise cortisol. Do you feel the effects?

I don't think so. It will be interesting to see what the levels are when I eventually do retest.