High cortisol

[Contra21]

Any tips on how to reduce high cortisol?

[greygoose]

What time of day is your cortisol high? Or is it all day?

[Contra21 in reply to greygoose]

It was was a salivary test tested at 7.30 am

[greygoose in reply to Contra21]

Saliva tests are usually tested throughout the 24 hours. Can you post the actual results and ranges?

[Contra21 in reply to greygoose]

12 to 25 and mine read at 32.

[greygoose in reply to Contra21]

OK, but that's not sufficient information, is it. You need to know what it's doing for the rest of the day. How come you only did the one test, and not all four? If your cortisol is high all day, then you need further testing. Do you have any symptoms of Cushing's disease?

[Contra21 in reply to greygoose]

Got tested for that don't have it, my fr said if it's high in the am which is most important and I have horrible dizziness and anxiety

[greygoose in reply to Contra21]

Are you sure your dizziness and anxiety are due to the high cortisol? Do you just have it in the morning, or all day? Honestly, I wouldn't care to suggest ways to reduce cortisol that's high in the morning - when it's supposed to be at its highest - without knowing what it was doing the rest of the day.

What's an FR?

[Contra21 in reply to greygoose]

I went to her for anxiety and she requested cortisol. I have low iron but never made me feel like this.

[greygoose in reply to Contra21]

And how are your thyroid hormone levels? Because anxiety can be a hypo or hyper symptom.

[Contra21 in reply to greygoose]

Have no thyroid so can't be hyper Tsh 0.57 ranges 0.5 to 5

T3 5.1 ranges 3.1 to 6

T4 16.7 ranges 11 to 21

[greygoose in reply to Contra21]

OK, but you could be over-medicated. But you aren't.

T3 5.1 ranges (3.1 to 6) 54.05%

T4 16.7 ranges (11 to 21) 57.00%

On the contrary, I would say you're under-medicated. Those levels are both rather low for a hypo. Could be that your cortisol is high because your adrenals are still compensating for low thyroid hormone levels.

[Contra21 in reply to greygoose]

Reality is thyroid levels will never be where I want them , ppl want them to be. Its inpossible to get the right levels . Impossible. I've neem on levo 10 years and ot has caused me nothing but problems but I have to take it to stay alive.

[greygoose in reply to Contra21]

I don't understand, why won't they ever be where you want them? Where do you want them?

[Contra21 in reply to greygoose]

To feel good. No symptoms. Everyone's numbers to feel.good are so.dofferent . I'm riddled.wirh dizziness amd anxiety

[greygoose in reply to Contra21]

Because you're under-medicated.

[humanbean]

This post shows how people usually post their saliva cortisol results :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

If you could do the same it would help us to help you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

High cortisol often result of inadequate dose levothyroxine or poor conversion of levothyroxine (ft4) to Active hormone (ft3)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

What vitamin supplements are you taking

[Contra21 in reply to SlowDragon]

0.57 ranges 0.5 to 5T3 4. 1 ranges 3.1 to 6

T4 16.7 ranges 11 to 21

Vit d is at 85

B12 at 480 180 to 600 range

I take b12, vit d and magnesium threonate

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Contra21]

Free T4 (fT4) 16.7 pmol/L (11 - 21) 57.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.1 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.0) 34.5%

was test done as recommended?

Results suggest you have room to increase dose Levo

Poor conversion rate of Ft4 to Ft3

Many thyroid patients find they need both Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60-70% through range

High cortisol common when Ft3 is low. Adrenals try to compensate for lack of thyroid hormone

When were folate and ferritin last tested

are you taking daily vitamin B complex as well as daily B12

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement

A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex 

Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week

Highly effective B12 drops

natureprovides.com/products...

Or

B12 sublingual lozenges

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...