Thyroid Wife.

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by love_en

A test is only as good as the person interpreting it. Test away in a case like this and all that will be found are values that are low, but within that reference range. I am impressed that this doctor is concerned enough to forget the tests and rule out adrenal fatigue via a therapeutic trial. The usual prednisone dose is more like 5 mg. I can see the logic in starting slow. If you give someone who is poorly responding to thyroid a full dose of corticosteroids, thyrotoxicosis can occur. All of a sudden, the thyroid hormones previously unavailable, become available. The stopthethyroidmadness site talks about this in detail. Be advised that the adrenals will cut back on natural production and rest, so a dose increases may be needed weekly.

She had RAI so I don't think she is making any thyroid hormone on her own so do you think her tests will come down using the Prednisone. This was her last test.
FT1 = 7.00 range 6.33 - 12.40 ug/dL
T UPTAKE = 1.04 range .066 - 1.27 Units
T3 TOTAL = 1.58 range 0.8 - 2.2 ng/mL
T3 FREE = 2.67 range 1.5 - 3.5 pg/mL
T4 TOTAL = 7.28 range 5.0 - 12.0 ug/dL
TSH = 0.304 L range 0.4 - 4.7 uIU/mL
And my Dr. got upset that her TSH was so low. But afterI told him it could be low adrenal out put and the Armour is just staying in her blood stream and not getting into the cells. So I guess what I am asking is will she be able to take more Armour with out going hyper if this works.

[1cc]

Originally Posted by pmgamer18

This was his point he did test her she had a 24 urine and a Cortisol morning blood test and they he said were good. But after I told him about others feeling hyper on 2 grains of Armour.

Well, it is worth a trial to see if it helps and she feels better. I myself only take 5mg hydrocortisone once a day in the morning, and it is sufficient for me.

Originally Posted by pmgamer18

Do you think if it works her test levels will come down because the Armour will being going into the cells.

I would not think so, all that will happen is she will then feel the armour working, and it may be too high or still too low for her depending on how she reacts.

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by 1cc

Well, it is worth a trial to see if it helps and she feels better. I myself only take 5mg hydrocortisone once a day in the morning, and it is sufficient for me.



I would not think so, all that will happen is she will then feel the armour working, and it may be too high or still too low for her depending on how she reacts.

Maybe this is why he is only trying this for 10 days. At the link they did say to cut back on armour 1/4 grain when adding hydrocortisone for 2 weeks then try upping the Armour.

[love_en]

If she had RAI, then TSH is no longer a relevant test to be giving her or basing treatment on. Her thyroid was nuked. What is important is getting her T3 and T4 near the top of the reference range. 1 mg of prednisone is a start, but eventually she will need to be on 5-7.5 mg per day. Adrenal supplementation is like T supplements, either you replace or don't. Given her history, it is safe to say that she has adrenal fatigue or worse. BTW, do you notice any inappropriate or unusual tanning on her? That is the sign of high ACTH output and failed adrenals. There is one more test that is helpful, a serum ACTH test. High ACTH levels and low cortisol is bad. Very low ACTH and low cortisol is pituitary dysfunction.

[1cc]

Originally Posted by love_en

Adrenal supplementation is like T supplements, either you replace or don't.

This depends on what is causing low adrenal output. If it is stress that has caused Adrenal Fatigue that can be cured by resting the adrenals, then hydrocortisone supplementation is temporary until one has recovered in most cases.

If low Adrenal output is a result of hypopituitary, then permanent cortisol replacement would be required. Most people do not fall into this category. Most people have low adrenal function due to stress, which is curable with temporary HC treatment and lifestyle changes.

[pmgamer18]

Originally Posted by love_en

If she had RAI, then TSH is no longer a relevant test to be giving her or basing treatment on. Her thyroid was nuked. What is important is getting her T3 and T4 near the top of the reference range. 1 mg of prednisone is a start, but eventually she will need to be on 5-7.5 mg per day. Adrenal supplementation is like T supplements, either you replace or don't. Given her history, it is safe to say that she has adrenal fatigue or worse. BTW, do you notice any inappropriate or unusual tanning on her? That is the sign of high ACTH output and failed adrenals. There is one more test that is helpful, a serum ACTH test. High ACTH levels and low cortisol is bad. Very low ACTH and low cortisol is pituitary dysfunction.

Dr. said he tested blood for low cortisol and it was in the morning in range but were in range I don't know he was seeing me for my lot T and I asked him about my wife so most of the info I was getting was off the top of his head. He did not do 24 saliva test and I don't know if he has it. When they did the RAI they said they did not know how much of her Thyroid was still working but it is not much. And she has only just tried Armour last yr. been on T4 only meds for 15 yrs. So this is what a web site said about it.

If you were hypothyroid for several years before being diagnosed, or if you have been on T4-only medications, your adrenals have been working extra hard to make up for your low-functioning hypothyroid state, or the inadequate treatment!

So this is one big reasion her cortisol can be low from using Synthroid.