High cortisol

[jezebel69]

I’m hypo with Hashimotos and this is my recent test result

TSH. 0.02. Range 0.27 - 4.2

FT4. 0.5. Range. 12 - 22

FT3. 4.6. Range. 3.1 - 6.8

I’m taking 50 mcg of T3 only. I would like it higher but I’ve had high cortisol for a while (since the pandemic stress) which created VERY high heart rate and BP. It isn’t Cushings as it follows a middle day pattern. NHS wouldn’t test and I couldn’t afford to test until recently when it’s better than it was. I’m now on BP meds which I’m pretty sure I don’t need if I can get my cortisol to behave. Any suggestions please?

Supplements are - B12, C, D3+K2, and Zinc

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels

Do you split your T3 as 3 doses spread through the day

Have you considered trying to add back in small dose levothyroxine?

Are you gluten free or dairy free

[jezebel69 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragonSimple answer is I don't know. NHS won't test and I can't afford to. I keep a close check on T3 levels. I was gluten free for 5 years before I gradually stopped and found no change in anything. I have always taken my full T3 dose on waking but could try splitting it.

Interestingly....my ferritin has always been high but NHS ignores that too

[humanbean in reply to jezebel69]

You might find this thread on high ferritin of interest :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[jezebel69 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks humanbean but it's not high enough for haemachromatosis. Just persistently up

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to jezebel69]

How high is your ferritin

High ferritin is common after menopause and with Hashimoto’s because it’s inflammatory

High cortisol could be due to gluten

what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Ideally test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually with thyroid test

Medichecks or B H

Blue horizon includes cortisol test ….so perhaps worth paying extra for

[jezebel69 in reply to SlowDragon]

It was the Blue Horizon test that showed my cortisol to be high throughout the day.I was gluten free at the time the problem started so I think it's unlikely to be the cause.

I listed vit B12, C and D3 but I added Zinc recently

[jrbarnes]

My thyroid throws my adrenals out of kilter and I know it's the thyroid because there were a few times when I reached a good spot with the thyroid meds and it was like night and day. My last 4 point saliva test showed a mid range morning cortisol and top of range all the way from 12p to 12am, with 5pm being slightly over range. During this time my thyroid hormone was low and not balanced which also led to under eating and poor sleep. Making sure to eat enough calories specifically carbs has helped with sleep. Also, taking 200mg before bed helps me to get sleepy. I currently take 1 1/2 grain of NDT and 20-25mcg T3. Keeping a little T4 in there helps my blood sugars and sleep as well. I would say eating something carb heavy and taking magnesium helps to lower my cortisol before bed. Also, around 8pm I turn all my devices to "night" mode and turn the lights down as well. The best thing to help lower cortisol is to take a leisurely walk in the evening, of course it's not as calming when it's so cold outside. So overall getting thyroid hormones balanced, keeping a regular waking and sleep schedule, proper carbs, taking walks, and nightly magnesium is what helps me.

[jezebel69 in reply to jrbarnes]

Thankyou jrbarnes. I think you're right. My FT3 is below middle range - it used to be top and I felt really well. I've been wondering if it's time to switch to NDT rather than T3 only. If I try to raise it my palpitations get worse. I'm being given more and more BP meds when I'm sure it's my thyroid out of whack that's pushing pressure up.

[jrbarnes in reply to jezebel69]

I agree with the poster above as well about splitting the T3. I split my T3 about 3 to 4 times a day just depending on how much I'm taking. Like I'll take one grain of NDT around 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. then 10 micrograms of T3 in the late morning early afternoon then I'll take an evening dose anywhere from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m along with a half grain of NDT. If you take levothyroxine with it you could do the same in the morning and evening as well. This helps to avoid those palpitations. As I increase my T3 I'll probably take it four times a day unless I can handle it three times

[jezebel69 in reply to jrbarnes]

I now split mine into 3 times daily. It hasn't made any difference to my BP problem

[jrbarnes in reply to jezebel69]

I had to change up my thyroid meds a little bit. Eventually I dropped the NDT and went to T3 only but my blood pressure was high so I lowered the T3 back down and added just a little bit of levothyroxine back in and my blood pressure went back down. I've been tracking it with my Fitbit. The only thing that ever increases my blood pressure is if I'm on a combination of T4 T3 or T3 that's perhaps a little too much for me. Right now I'm on 20 micrograms T3 split twice a day with several hours in between and then I take my thyroxine in the morning.

[jezebel69 in reply to jrbarnes]

4 years ago I was on 75 mcg T3 and felt well. No problems with palpitations or BP. Then the Pandemic came and stress came with it. The symptoms seemed to be from over medication so I lowered it. Eventually I came down to 40 mcg but although the racing heart has gone the blood pressure just gets worse. It's as though the stress pushed my cortisol levels up and now they won't come down.

[jrbarnes in reply to jezebel69]

It's hard to say if it's just stress or thyroid related or if the BP is related to something else. It's like a process of elimination. I see a registered nurse for my hypo and she has hypo, as well. She told me she took T3 only for years until one day felt the need to add Levo in. I functioned normally on T4 only for a handful of years until suddenly I didn't and swiftly went downhill. If your BP issue is thyroid related then it sounds like you're not on the right balance of thyroid hormones. 75mcg down to 40mcg is a big drop.

[jezebel69 in reply to jrbarnes]

I agree it is but any attempt at increasing brings back the palpitations that I’ve almost kicked into touch. That points to adrenal issues but endocrinology just want to eliminate T3 - it’s too expensive

[wantie002 in reply to jezebel69]

Hi there, I really understand the frustrations as someone who has also struggled to control palpitations. Two things I have learnt however, is that no doctor ever seems at all interested in palpitations. Chest pain, chest tightening yes, but not palpitations. Secondly, people with a lot more knowledge than me point out that you can get palpitations from too little thyroid hormone as well as from too much. Pulse rate and temperature are better things to monitor for detecting too much or too little.

[jezebel69 in reply to wantie002]

I agree. Even when my pulse was so high I went into Afib, because it took so long to be seen at hospital in A&E it was no longer happening so they ignored it. They seem obsessed with my blood pressure though.What temperature do you go by and when do you check?

[wantie002 in reply to jezebel69]

I've been monitoring blood pressure, pulse and temperature since getting out of hospital with some unspecified heart 'failure' (my words) because the docs referred me to a cardiologist who I am yet to visit. I've always had a temp on the low side - it hovers around 35.8 and can rise to 36.4. Pulse anything from low 60's to high 70's but usually within that range. I'm watching to check neither temp nor pulse go high as I was told a side effect of the blood thinner I'm on could be a rise in thyroid hormone. So far I don't detect any real changes. I scare myself witless measuring my blood pressure on a home kit which I believe is highly unreliable. In fact I just keep taking readings until I get one I like usually around 135/87. A piece of the jigsaw that has just come to light is a blood result that detected sky high morning cortisol. Way above range and possibly causing my high blood pressure and excruciating migraines. Can't find anything useful about how you can bring cortisol levels down. Most of the literature is about adrenal fatigue and low cortisol. There's a bit of me thinks that cortisol levels might be a bit easier to treat than a dicky heart but I really am guessing.

[jezebel69 in reply to wantie002]

When my BP/ pulse rate problems started i suspected cortisol and got a 4 part saliva test done. It showed that although mine is a little higher than normal in the morning (should be highest in 24 hrs) it was the failure to go down so it remained high midday and managed to go down by bed time. My gp noted this.......and did nothing!I supplement zinc, vit D3 and slow release vit C but I still get very high spikes.

[wantie002 in reply to jezebel69]

I take all those supplements too and have done for years plus magnesium which is meant to support adrenals. I also tried LDN a few years back and am thinking of re-visiting that. I stopped largely because its quite a costly commitment and secondly, I didnt see any change to my thyroid blood levels or a reduction in the inflammatory markers like CRP. However, if the cardiologist only addresses the blood pressure and ECG results I may just go back on to it for a while. Its good to hear someone else's experience. Are your cortisol, blood pressure and at fib all still concerns that you are dealling with ?

[jezebel69 in reply to wantie002]

Yes. The blood pressure has high spikes that my gp isn't bothered with. So long as my resting BP is OK 🤷‍♂️My heart rate is getting better slowly. I wear a fitbit that keeps me informed so i know my resting heart rate is lower now. I know that caffeine and sugar can have a temporary effect. I have beta blockers if things get out of hand.

However my resting heart rate at night is not acting as it should. It stays above resting most nights. Did LDN make you feel better?

[jezebel69 in reply to jrbarnes]

I did wonder if a little T4 might help now

[jrbarnes in reply to jezebel69]

You never know. You could try to add small amounts in to see if it helps.

[jezebel69 in reply to jrbarnes]

Wish I could just pop to the pharmacy for some lol. Getting to see a gp is hard but it will be harder to explain what I want to do

[Hidden]

ps100, holy basil, liquorice root should all help lower cortisol.

[jezebel69 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou. Holy basil doesn't work well for me but I will try liquorice root

[Hidden in reply to jezebel69]

just be careful of high blood pressure on LR. Seriphos/ ps100 is probably the best!

[jezebel69 in reply to Hidden]

Ahhh I have been having high blood pressure alongside my high cortisol. I'm on BP medication but the cortisol is ignored. The NHS will only test cortisol by blood test so highs and lows are not identified

[Imaaan in reply to jezebel69]

The dgl form of licorice is preferable