Has anyone had any success with natural glandular adrenal suppliments?

[kendrewaddams]

My mum's currently on both T4 and T3, though still experiences fatigue, also on many other supplements recommended here.

Positive or negative experiences? Any particular brands to seek or avoid?

Thanks!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest she gets cortisol and DHEA tested FIRST

regeneruslabs.com/products/...

Previous post a year ago showed dire cortisol

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Is she still on gluten free diet

[kendrewaddams in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, yes her cortisol is very high.

Would that preclude her from use of adrenal supplements or be beneficial?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to kendrewaddams]

a year ago it was very low

Can you add most recent thyroid results

High cortisol suggests thyroid inadequately treated

Adrenals try to compensate for lack of thyroid hormone

[kendrewaddams in reply to SlowDragon]

Sorry low* , been a long day. So if her Cortisol is low, would that mean she may need adrenal supplementation. I'm planning on doing a new thyroid panel this week and will order the above adrenal test, thanks for that.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to kendrewaddams]

suggest you do Blue Horizon test first for thyroid and vitamin levels

See what result shows

Is she still using an inhaler

[kendrewaddams in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes she still uses an inhaler.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to kendrewaddams]

Does this contain steroids

[kendrewaddams in reply to SlowDragon]

She uses Fostair twice a day, which contains steroids.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to kendrewaddams]

Does she have an endocrinologist?

Or is GP (miss) managing her thyroid

Get Blue Horizon test as next step

Test early morning and last dose Levo 24 hours before test

Does she split her T3

Day before ALWAYS split ….last 1/3rd of daily T3 approx 8-12 hours before test

still on 3 x 5mcg ?

[kendrewaddams in reply to SlowDragon]

She doesn't have an endo, no. GP refuses to send her to one, not that they've been much help in the past.

I've got a blue horizon test upstairs ready to go, I was planning to do with her on Monday. She has some blood tests through her GP next week and I've requested they test DHEA and Cortisol, will see if they ignore it or not.

She does always split her T3 and is still on 3x5mcg.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to kendrewaddams]

Yes do Blue Horizon test early on a Monday or Tuesday morning

If she’s taking any vitamin B complex or other supplements that contain biotin stop 5-7 days before as biotin can falsely affect test results

See what new test results show

Roughly where in U.K. are you

Could you get her to see endocrinologist privately if necessary

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of thyroid specialist endocrinologists and doctors

[e-mail]

Presumably an endocrinologist originally prescribed T3?

[kendrewaddams in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm northwest.

Will stop any biotin supplements.

I do have the list of endos, am not currently able to afford private but hopefully should be in a better position later in the year.

A private endo originally prescribed T3, now I buy it online from a vendor that's vetted on this group.

[Regenallotment]

There was an interesting interview on Dr Eric Baclavage podcast recently with a naturopathic expert who explained that if you have under medicated thyroid and or issues with fatigue/ adrenals adding glandulars just makes them work harder…when they are struggling, he likened it to pressing the gas pedal when running out of gas. They aren’t a treatment but more of a stimulant. According to that advice It might be that she’d feel worse. They said anyone with high or conversly low Cortisol should address root causes first (thyroid hormone levels, vits and rest/recovery).

[Alanna012 in reply to Regenallotment]

Not to rain on your post AT ALL, soory if I come across rude.. but that's all well and good what Dr Eric says...but some of us, like me, have really low cortisol levels, but they just high enough to pass an Acth test, or just enough to scrape through a saliva cortisol without getting in the third tier for adrenal insufficiently . But we're still really suffering. But we won't be treated.

I now believe that chronically low cortisol levels are dangerous and extremely detrimental to health and eventually, if continued long enough, it leads to systemic illness.

If you cannot produce enough cortisol to turn off inflammation you will develop chronic inflammation which (as in my case) can lead to increasing severe allergies, intolerances and increase your risk for further autoimmune diseases and fatigue and pain illnesses.

Taking thyroid hormone to balance levels can make the situation worse in some cases. I now believe for some people the adrenals must be supported first or taking thyroid meds can lead to further problems. This is something that has come to me recently and I feel quite convicted about after my health took a dangerous turn recently, despite me taking ndt. It improved a bit with a cortisol glandular. I realised I have always needed cortisol support and am now weaning off NDT for a while while I try and find some way to help my adrenals.

So I don't know what the solution is. Dr Eric could be right. But rock and hard place comes to mind.

[kendrewaddams in reply to Alanna012]

What adrenal medication do you take? Is pregnenalone an option?

[Regenallotment in reply to Alanna012]

I hear you and totally empathise. It’s a very difficult process to get these endocrine organs into a healthy balance. Modern lifestyles and environmental factors don’t allow for us to recover and repair. We are all different and one size doesn’t fit all. All we can do is research and share and do our best for ourselves. Good luck with finding your solutions. 🌱

[waveylines in reply to Alanna012]

Dr Peatfield thought the same as you & if he picked up symptoms like a slow heel reflex plus saliva test for adrenal indicated this he would start with adrenal glandular. I took them for 2 years as I was in a poor state by the time my blood test TSH reached the required level to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism! By then I had all the classic features and was really poorly. My adrenal were tired. The glandular really helped me and eventually I could wean myself of it.

Am afraid the ones I took are no longer made.

[Alanna012]

I took adrenavive 2 and it has helped me more than taking prednisolone. Unfortunately I need to retest cortisol levels so off it for a couple weeks.

I'm looking into pregnenolone amongst other things like iodine. I need to understand it first. I often rush into things. But this time I've gone back to basics, and I know dealing with underlying cortisol issues is the key.

[rosetrees]

I'm not sure if this is an acceptable answer - so could an admin let me know if it isn't, please. I suggest you get the book "Stop the Thyroid Madness" (book 1). There is a lot of advice in there about adrenals.

[Phil865]

I've tried many natural alternatives with no success.

[silverbelle51]

Yes, NOW Brand Super Cortisol Support