Has anyone retested their cortisol levels whilst using adrenal glandular supplements and seen any improvement?

[TiggerMe]

I've been taking adrenal glandular for 4 months, recent serum cortisol shows no improvement than before, is it too soon? Wondering if I should do another saliva cortisol?

I feel better for taking it so loathed to stop.... maybe I should give it longer?

[arTistapple]

Still trying to get my head round it all, so can’t help but will be watching for some answers to your question.

[radd]

Eeyore100,

But serum blood and saliva shows different values. Were you low in serum blood cortisol previously? 

[TiggerMe in reply to radd]

Yes, 2 years ago before T3 - 296nmol/L recent result 271nmol/L

I don't really know what serum cortisol is all about tbh but the Endo suddenly requested it.... possibly actually looked at the saliva results I'd sent in??

I've seen it said that before testing you should not use Oestrogen HRT but what is the thinking behind that if you normally use it?? Some suggestion that it leads to a raised cortisol reading.... I didn't stop and my score is pants 😏

[radd in reply to TiggerMe]

Eeyore,

In a nut shell, serum cortisol measures both bound and free, whereas saliva measures just the free which is available for use. But as cortisol switches back and forth from cortisone to help keep tissue equilibrium, so it can be useful to know both. 

[TiggerMe in reply to radd]

Hmm... seemingly taking the glandular has had no effect on this unless of course my levels had dropped even lower after the previous test?

I wonder why the Endo would request a test without following their own guidance about stopping Oestrogen??

I understand that by over supplementing it can lead to the adrenals reducing output but I have stuck to below the recommended limit and only supplement am

I might experiment with adding a little more 'whole' and reducing the cortex only to see how that feels.... I'm feeling quite balanced at the moment but no va va vroom 🙂

TSH 0.05 (0.27-4.4

fT3 95%

fT4 47%

B12 44% Folate 23.5

Vit D 115 58%

BP 104/76 pulse 70

RHR 66/68

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

What vitamins are you taking? If that B12 is 44% you need something more.

[TiggerMe in reply to Jaydee1507]

I thought the same though I'd stopped taking Thorne basic B for the test I have now bought a separate B12 to top up, I wasn't sure how quickly it drops off?

I still take D3/K2 which is obviously working well and buffered Vit C

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

How long before did you stop taking it. 4 days is plenty I think.

I think a top up is needed and you can use that right up until the day before your test.

[TiggerMe in reply to Jaydee1507]

Only 4/5 days, I was thinking the same I've been adding extra B12 sublingual 3000mcg 2/3 times a week since to get it back up as this worked well before then I'd dropped back to just ThorneBB thinking it would be enough..

Folate was ok though they only say <4 with no upper range but I think 23.5 is ok though I see some have a range up to 60?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

The different folate ranges are a bit confusing. Your number is probably OK.

[radd in reply to TiggerMe]

Eeyore,

It’s oral oestrogen that has to stopped before a Stim because it goes through the liver and so risks raising CBG that increases total blood cortisol. 

Transdermal oestrogen doesn’t have this effect, and saliva tests aren’t effected by either. 

I can’t comment on your glandulars as never got on them. However, Dr P was a huge advocate and many members have found them helpful. If you have felt improvements you should stick with them.

It took me several years to raise cortisol levels after adding T3 and HRT.

[TiggerMe in reply to radd]

Thanks for clarifying Radd. I looked at their guidelines which are less clear...

"Estrogen containing medications, including the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy, should be stopped for six weeks prior to measuring serum cortisol. This is because estrogen induces cortisol binding globulin (CBG) and leads to elevations in measured serum cortisol.

Patients need to be off oestrogen containing medication for 6 weeks prior to any serum cortisol level measurement."

gloshospitals.nhs.uk/our-se....

[PixieElv]

Hello

My Endo thought my cortisol levels were low (measured through blood test). I took the supplement for a little while and it raised by cortisol levels through the roof (measured by saliva test). So I stopped. Cortisol levels have been high ever since.

Not sure if this is at all relevant as I have a pituitary gland disorder, so my adrenals may well be fine.

My general thought is, if you feel better, stick with it. The worst you are doing is paying money for something that isn’t actually working.

Best

[TiggerMe in reply to PixieElv]

Thanks Pixie

It'll be interesting to see what my Endo makes of the result and whether any further investigation is offered.... it could well be my pituitary gland needs looking into as it seems rather lazy when it comes to TSH signalling

I guess I'm wondering if taking the glandular could be masking a bigger issue but then again I would rather give my adrenals a chance to make a comeback with the glandular option first 😅

[PixieElv in reply to TiggerMe]

Problem with pituitary gland disorder is that is sometimes works, sometimes it doesn’t. So supplementing is very difficult. Sometimes you get it right and feel good and other times you are over/undermedicated.

Good news with that is that your thyroid, adrenals, ovaries/testies are all working fine 😊

Good luck with your Endo. I hope you’ll manage to get a diagnosis

[TiggerMe in reply to PixieElv]

Thanks Pixie.... story of our lives isn't it, can't plan anything as who knows what the day will bring in terms of symptoms 🙄

How on earth do they diagnose a pituitary issue with such a moving target?? Do you just have to hope they test on a down day?

Good news with that is that your thyroid, adrenals, ovaries/testies are all working fine 😊

All provided by the pharmacist these days! If I don't swallow, squirt or slap it on I'm and empty husk 😂

[PixieElv in reply to TiggerMe]

🤣🤣🤣 that is so true. I take so many supplements I rattle.

My Endo took my off EVERYTHING for 14 days to diagnose the pituitary gland disorder. Now that was fun… not. But if you get a diagnose I guess it’s worth it. I had some fairly good success with NDT. But it’s expensive.

[TiggerMe in reply to PixieElv]

Hmm... that sounds horrific 😳 but like you say if you actually get a root cause to work on.... If they realize it's your pituitary playing up do they give up on the TSH nonsense and just go by your T3/4 results?

[PixieElv in reply to TiggerMe]

yes. THS is absolutely irrelevant for pituitary issues. T3 is the one you worry most about.

But try and get your GP to understand that 😂 even with (plenty of) letters from your Endo

[TiggerMe in reply to PixieElv]

I ought to ask which supplement your Endo gave just in case it is discussed?

[PixieElv in reply to TiggerMe]

Nutriadrenal a white bottle with blue & green on it

[TiggerMe in reply to PixieElv]

Ah yes, similar to what I'm already taking as this one was discontinued.... not something the NHS Endo would dream of suggesting! 😆

[PixieElv in reply to TiggerMe]

mine did! MD me and I’ll tell you his name. I found him on the thyroid UK’s list 🙂

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi Eeyore100 🤗

I have had a quick read and  PixieElv makes a good point. Blood tests are useful, but do not discount any benefits you may be feeling because simply because it is not decernable in a blood test. You are in possession of the most valuable diagnostic- your own symptoms.

😊👍

[TiggerMe in reply to Charlie-Farley]

Thanks Charlie, a good confidence boost 🤗 like you both say looking for conformation in blood tests is just a kneejerk reaction when performing for the medics!

Trying to second guess how the medics will interpret results is a whole other game 🙄 but keen not to let them set me back!

A mindful moment of self belief and not gas-lighting myself 🤗

[Charlie-Farley in reply to TiggerMe]

Good gracious, you’ve got enough gaslighting going on with the medical profession. You don’t need to add to it yourself LOL! Always remember you have the final say in any treatment no matter how they tried to bully you, and if you are clear and your logic is sound it does make it very difficult for them to push back and patronise you. 🤗♥️

[TiggerMe in reply to Charlie-Farley]

👏🤗 3 weeks till Endo review and knickers are already getting in a twist 😩 you would at least think the stress of it would raise my cortisol levels 😆

[Charlie-Farley in reply to TiggerMe]

🤗♥️ Keep reading and self advocating . The Mantra is “ I am stronger than they realise!”

[pennyannie]

I' ve been taking adrenal glandular for some 6 years - as i read after RAI the adrenals also get a dose of this toxic substance.

Never ran a blood test just went with symptoms and i felt and still do feel better for taking them.

This was my very first trial of self medicating back in 2017 and it was a relatively easy definitive tick in a box around 2/3 months into taking adrenal glandular and the first step in my own thyroid journey, building back to better health.

[TiggerMe in reply to pennyannie]

Good to know thank you 🤗I certainly feel better on them but it seems odd they don't reflect in blood results... but maybe my serum cortisol had further declined in the previous 2 years or my pituitary is messaging to switch it back to hydrocortisone and keeping it low?? Or I'm using it all up and need more...

Oh, the sciency bit 🤷‍♀️🤣

[dealsgap]

I took Raw Adrenal Cortex (vitacost.com) and slowly titrated up for my hypoadrenalism. It did help and pull my morning cortisol #'s up based on both saliva/blood results.

[TiggerMe in reply to dealsgap]

Excellent! This is just what I needed to hear 🤗 so keep doing what I'm doing and give it time.

Do you continue to use cortex or was it a period of supporting enough to rest your adrenals and rebalance your system?

[dealsgap in reply to TiggerMe]

Like most here I was a mess and unbalanced with so many minerals/hormones. I decided to try to help my poor adrenals first, in my quest to find out exactly what was wrong, because ACE was OTC and Thyroid wasn't (although I learned later where/how to get it without a Rx). I knew I had burned my adrenals out due to an abusive father early in life. I still had to eventually go with NDT but the ACE did help heal my adrenals. My body is still fighting chronic inflammation as most hypos are but through continual blood testing I have learned how to slowly help heal it by taking natural anti-inflammatories and balancing out all of the vitamins/minerals it (or trying to balance it) needs. I finally stopped using the ACE when I started on NDT.