Could this be a factor for so much UNDIAGNOSED thyroid illness.?.......It could be good reference material to support your case....

[NaamiSue]

Below is an extract from a link given by loulabel yesterday in a blog. This is the link to the full paper which is very interesting, although very medical!

qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/co...

In current times it is fair to say that most people live with cortisol levels consistently much higher than our caveman predecessors. Could this be a significant factor in lowering the all important TSH????????????? And consequently being given a diagnosis of NORMAL!!!

It would seem from this extract that excess cortisol WILL inhibit TSH secretion.

The article is written by a MAIN STREAM DOCTOR, can your GP or Endo dismiss it?

This is the extract:-

Thyroid metabolism in chronic illness

In most chronic illness, defects arise in thyroid hormone metabolism, resulting in the sick euthyroid syndrome. This is characterized by a normal total T4, normal/high free T4, low total T3, low free T3 and an elevated rT3. These changes reflect a reduction in D1 activity, an increase in D3 activity20 and changes in the plasma concentration of thyroid-binding proteins and free fatty acids (which displace thyroid hormones from binding proteins). There are also non-thyroidal influences on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, e.g. cortisol inhibiting TSH secretion.25

[tulula59]

Ah ha, back to the holistic approach - how many get a full liver function test as part of their TFTests?

[merissa]

Thanks for that sue, you could have a point here, such as I have high cortisol all day and mormal high free t4 and of course low t3 at the min, I was hypothyroid last test before the one I am referring to.

ummm makes sence to me. thanks for that x

[ging]

I repeatedly went to my doctor suffering what I thought were hypothyroid symptoms and felt SO ill but because my bloods were 'normal' I was told that I would feel better if I lost weight!! As I could hardly function at the time ,was NOT overeating and couldn't exercise what was I supposed to do. I eventually saw an endo after breaking the same ankle 3 times [a symptom of high cortisol,- brittle bones] and was diagnosed with Cushings which I had obviosly had for years, A cortisol test would have revealed this !!!

[Marz]

...sounds a real possibility ! Thanks for posting ! x

[Moggie]

I asked my GP over a year ago for an adrenal test and she looked at me like I had two heads!!!

I have since had a test done by the hosp, which showed that something was wrong, so further investigations are now being done but I don't hold out much hope as I have learnt on here that, although the test is o.k, its the doctors interpretation of the test that isn't.

And so the fight goes on.

Thanks Sue.

Moggie x

[tavy]

ok sounds good but what does it mean for us?

[PinkNinja]

Thanks for posting this. Very interesting.

High cortisol could well be a possibility in some cases. Cortisol can be high at night in a person with adrenal fatigue too.

I believe low cortisol also has a similar effect on TSH. Basically if cortisol levels are not right, TSH is affected.

Another possible cause of low TSH is vitamin B12 deficiency. Lack of B12 interrupts communication between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland causing a low TSH so that is definitely something worth looking into as well.

Carolyn x

[Hidden]

Interesting! Another factor i think that masked my hypothyroidism was being on the pill for years. Apparently it raises the T4, thus lowering the TSH. When I came off the pill, my true state was revealed-but not diagnosed for ages of course! x

[snowstorm]

Holistic approach --- now that would be a miracle. A couple of Dr's I've come across have said that thyroid should NOT be treated unless the adrenals are firing on ALL cylinders. If they are & thyroid treatment begins then support for the adrenals is still ESSENTIAL. My firm belief is that many people do not need thyroid treatment but adrenal treatment. It is also clear from blogs I've read, that cortisol blood tests are NOT reliable & will not necessarily show anything at all unless Addison's Disease is present. If this really is the case (there is no reason to doubt the bloggers) then we do not stand much of a chance.

[Suegol]

Thanks for this. Interesting and useful. I need to digest it first! My GP might be interested. Suegol

[Hidden]

I believe TSH is lowered with high cholesterol, which would have accounted for the fact that my second blood test showed a lowered (but still raised) TSH and I was gibbering with symptoms. Will keep this. I take your point Snowstorm. There is so much to know.

[snowstorm]

Am curious to know if most thyroid sufferers have some kind of liver problem? My liver is perfectly fine. My adrenals, however, are not as a saliva test (amongst other tests I did) proved. The NHS, of course, would not accept it because 1. they did not do the test 2. they don't do them anyway. So where does that leave so many of us who are in this position.