Cortisol

[Sasah]

Hi,

I have had tests tgatbsuggest hyperparatyroidism and my cortisol is also flagging needing extra test as in the 300 hundred marker.

What does this mean. Whatbis cortisol and how can i improve it?

TiA

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous post here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

When thyroid levels are low adrenal glands try to compensate for low thyroid levels by increasing cortisol output……initially cortisol levels test high, but if adrenals can’t carry on making high levels of cortisol, levels start to drop

Have you got vitamin levels tested yet

Vitamin D , folate, ferritin and B12

[Sasah in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi,

Thanks for advice. My surgeon has washed his hands of me. Said TSH ok so non of my symptoms are thyroid related. They are treating me like I am crazy for requested more tests and vits etc..... and low and behold my bloods show hyperparathyroidism!.

MY PTH 75 ng/l

serum albumin 39g/l

calcium adjustment level 2.21mmol/l

serum cortisol 314nmol/l

TSH 3.5

T4 10.5

VIT d - they wont do as was done under 90 days ago

didn't request iron, ferritin, folate & b12 as I forgot.

What is ferritin and folate test please?

I have hair loss/breakage,fatigue, weight gain and back/kidney pain.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sasah]

Please always include ranges (figures in brackets after each result)

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

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

ESSENTIAL To test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

as detailed in my previous replies in your first post

Low vitamin levels tend to reduce TSH

GOOD vitamin levels improve how remaining half of you thyroid can function

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Optimal vitamin levels are

Vitamin D at least over 80nmol

Serum B12 over 500

Active B12 over 70

Folate at top of range

Ferritin at least over 70

[Sasah in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, I am new to this.

These results are all from Jan so prob changed. I am struggling to walk ATM, feel like I have a kidney problem.

B12 SERUM -541 ng/L

Vit D-93nmol

Folate - 7.6ug/L

Ferritin75ug/L

What is the thyroid function test? Does this include these? I what does folate and ferritin measure?

[Sasah in reply to Sasah]

Think my Ferritin may be in low spectrum sayd should be over 100ug/l

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sasah]

what vitamin supplements are you taking

Folate looks low. What’s the range 8-60 or 3-20?

Ferritin looks reasonable

Was CRP tested at same time ……this is test for inflammation

If CRP is high then Ferritin is often false high level

So when testing ferritin CRP should be tested too

Request GP test FULL iron panel for hair loss

Or test privately

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

If taking any iron supplements stop 3-5 days before testing

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/anae...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

[Sasah]

Folate is a range of 3.1-20 I am 7.6

Ferritin range 5-204 but says on notes to consider any thing between 31-100ug/L review FBC and consider a TSAT? I have no idea what this means.

I am on no supplements has my hemi was in November and I have needed to test bloods to see what I am naturally and also give it all time to settle. Also I am only just learning about the thyroid. I was stupid and it was removed for nothing. A tiny benign nodule! and now I am plagued with blood tests and conditions! I was told get it done you will be fine functioning with 1/2. And if not you take a bit of levo - happy days! Turns out it really isn't that simple. However, the surgeon who did the surgery thinks I am mad and has refused to see me anymore as I obviously ask too many questions.

So THANK YOU, I really appreciate your time and advice.

Sarah

[Sasah]

Hi,Are you aware of the possibilities of developing a lazy thyroid?. I am worrird as feel i would function better with a slightly lower TSH but feel my consultant wants me to try and live with it naturally, to allow my thyroid to do the work and not beome lazy or dependent on meds. I don't know what to do for the best. Also if i have a liwer TSH will this help my VIT level. Also understand T4 and TSH work together but where does T3 come in and should i request meds for this.

I am loosibg my hair it breaking and i have low mood. I am just so mad they didn't tell me how tricky thyroid health was and didn't discuss the consequences throughroughly.... can i ask what your thyroid issue is please?

[Poniesrfun]

Hi Sasah ~

I'm sorry you had a partial thyroidectomy for what turned out to be no reason. It’s bad enough when we actually have cancer. I wrote this to help other cancer survivors in the US which you might find helpful thyroidcanceradvocates.net/... Of course with the NHS you may have to go private for some (or most) of the tests but they’re all pretty basic for pur health. Not testing is “penny wise and pound foolish” for the NHS (and American doctors and insurance often refuse to test what we know we need. Because you still have half a thyroid, ypu can’t use the cancer markers to monitor but you should have the antibodies checked.

&ou always need to see the ranges with your lab results (different labs have different ranges) and “normal” or “within range” is not sufficient. Hope this helps.

Patti in AZ

[Sasah in reply to Poniesrfun]

Thank you