Question about change in TSH levels

[superone]

Ive had Adrenal Fatigue since May/07 of last year and my TSH has changed a bit, seems like its slowly getting higher?



About 3 years ago i went to the Dr because i was taking Propecia for my hair, and i was getting constant fatigue from it, very similar side effects thats i have now due to Adrenal Fatigue.


My Dr.Tested my TSH only, and ive had it tested a few other times aswell due to recent adrenal issues.



Nov/2005 = TSH 0.89 ( 0.35 - 5.00 ) - I was on Propecia at this time and was fatigued from it.

June/2007 = TSH 1.24 ( 0.35 - 5.00 ) - Got this tested 1 month after i crashed and got Adrenal Fatigue, was on Avodart at the time of the crash in May then quit right after the crash, used a few stimulants because i was fatigued and this pushed my adrenals over the edge i guess.


Nov/2007 = TSH 1.48 ( 0.35 - 5.00 ) - was clean from any drug.
Free T4 = 15 ( 9-23)
Free T3 = 5.9 (3.5 - 6.5 )



Im just wondering why my TSH has gone up. At the time of my last blood test my morning Cortisol was very low, and afternoon Cortisol was high, and i was told that if your monring Cortisol is very low than that can cause a build up of thyroid hormones in your blood as they're not getting into the cells, and once you get on HC and bring your Cortisol levels up, this can show your true thyroid status, and may uncover hypothyroid. Nobody in my family has thyroid problems and i hope some some reason i didnt devolop any.


My DHEA-S has also been very low below range since May/07.


Just curious about the TSH change.


Thanks.

[Sargovar]

Based on those numbers, I wouldn't worry about your thyroid. It looks solid.. though if your adrenals are fatigued, that can of course change with time. TSH is an 'acute phase reactant' (Dr. John Crisler spoke of this), meaning that it can shoot up with very little stimulus and give you a false positive. A TSH below 2.0 in conjunction with good free T4 and T3 (essentially your current situation) should mean that all is well for the time being.

I myself believe I suffer from low cellular uptake of thyroid hormones because of low cortisol, and the associated pooling of thyroid hormones in the blood. However, my FT4 and FT3 are both at the top of the normal range, and my TSH fluctuates between 2.5 - 3.4, so it is easy to suspect as much in my case (such high free Ts should suppress TSH, yet that isn't happening).

Of course, numbers don't always reveal the entire picture.. in some rare cases a person may be hypothyroid even with blood values that appear perfect, and his/her situation will only 'normalize' when they are given meds that take their FT3 and FT4 above the so-called "normal" range.

Another gauge for thyroid function is, of course, body temperatures. Have you measured them at various times of the day?

Another thing to consider is that if your thyroid works fine but your adrenals don't, you may do well on hydrocortisone alone (or you may not even need that, if you can make succesful lifestyle interventions and correct whatever mineral and vitamin imbalances that may be contributing to the strain on your adrenals). Of course, finasteride makes things complicated.. sadly, I don't think anyone here has a definitive answer on how to undo the damage it can potentially inflict.

[superone]

Sargovar,


Thanks for the help i appreciate it.


My adrenals seem to be getting worse and ive been doing all the things i can to help give them a rest.


Everybodies got to get on with their lives and from what ive read your adrenals wont heal on their own once they been fatigued, atleast as bad as mine are.



My metabolism is already fast to that alone is most likely stressing them daily even more.


My temps im trying to track i just got a mercury vet thermometer that is reliable, but my face is puffy and has been since my adrenal crash, and thats a symptom of hypothyroidism.


My weight has also gone up like 15 pounds despite not changing anything in my lifestyle, and most of that is water along with some muscle and a tiny bit of fat. My Bioavailable Testosterone levels are naturally high just over the normal ranges, so that might partly explain why i barely gain fat luckily.



Ive neem taking 2.5mg of Prednisone first thing in the morning as this is when my Cortisol levels are dirt low, and ive been on this for almost 3 weeks and i still havent lost any water weight and havent been peeing as much as i normally do.


Im going to re-test my full thyroid at the end of the month as this will be one month on HC and hopefully this will uncover a more accurate thyroid reading. I still dont think im on enough HC, i think i need more but im seeing a really good Doctor at the end of the month who treats adrenals and thyroid with Cortef and Armour, so i'll get his guidance along with a prescription.



I think its possible i might have to be on both HC and thyroid support, to possibly kickstart my own thyroid again and give it time to heal.

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by superone

Sargovar,


Thanks for the help i appreciate it.


My adrenals seem to be getting worse and ive been doing all the things i can to help give them a rest.


Everybodies got to get on with their lives and from what ive read your adrenals wont heal on their own once they been fatigued, atleast as bad as mine are.



My metabolism is already fast to that alone is most likely stressing them daily even more.

My temps im trying to track i just got a mercury vet thermometer that is reliable, but my face is puffy and has been since my adrenal crash, and thats a symptom of hypothyroidism.


My weight has also gone up like 15 pounds despite not changing anything in my lifestyle, and most of that is water along with some muscle and a tiny bit of fat. My Bioavailable Testosterone levels are naturally high just over the normal ranges, so that might partly explain why i barely gain fat luckily.



Ive neem taking 2.5mg of Prednisone first thing in the morning as this is when my Cortisol levels are dirt low, and ive been on this for almost 3 weeks and i still havent lost any water weight and havent been peeing as much as i normally do.


Im going to re-test my full thyroid at the end of the month as this will be one month on HC and hopefully this will uncover a more accurate thyroid reading. I still dont think im on enough HC, i think i need more but im seeing a really good Doctor at the end of the month who treats adrenals and thyroid with Cortef and Armour, so i'll get his guidance along with a prescription.



I think its possible i might have to be on both HC and thyroid support, to possibly kickstart my own thyroid again and give it time to heal.

Consider:
Genova Diagnostics
and
Genova Diagnostics
or just do this set
Genova Diagnostics



Genova Diagnostics

[phxskye215]

just a quick response... TSH is by far the least reliable of standard thyroid eval. Stress of any kind is the single most important factor in destabilization of thyroid function and that would include auto immune issues. Subclinical thyroid involves symptomatology .Dont forget to look at rT3 (reverse T3) put out by the adrenals to hook up with T3 receptors during stress. This is a survival mechanism that allows T3 to remain free (an can give a false picture in blood levels). Iodine deficiency also plays into this as well. Adrenal support must be established if cortisol levels are out of range. I like ZRT saliva X4 testing for this. You must follow the instruction to the T though. No pun intended. Remember that standardized testing by old world medicine docs call for no action until you are over the edge of the cliff and ready to hit the ground and get the lable of a "clinical diagnosis". Personally, I dont want to wait until I am 1/2 dead to intervene.