Please Help! Are my Adrenals In Trouble Can't Tolerate Thyroid Meds Anymore

[sparkles916]

I am starting to suspect I have an adrenal problem due to the fact I have been unable to tolerate my thyroid meds. This has happened recently after a trial of a few months on Armour. Now, I can't hardly take a small dose of thyroxine. My thyroid tests say I at mid range for the T3, yet I am experiencing severe hyper symptoms, which should not happen until the upper range or above.

I had a saliva test about a month ago, prior to this episode, showing some low cortisol and other low sex hormones and low DHEA.

________________________________________ ________
cortisol

7-8AM 15 (13-24)
11-noon 3 (5-10) depressed
4-5PM 4 (3-8)
11-mid 2 (1-4)

It says I am maladapted Phase II
____________ _________ ______

DHEA 1 (3-10) LOW

____________ _________ _________

hormones (in context of time of meses)

borderline low:
F testosterone 7 (borderline low 5-7; normal 8-20pg/ml)
Androstenedione 97 (borderline low 75-124pg/ml)
Estrdiol 8 (luteal 7-20pg/ml) my phase at the time
Estriol 14 (cycling female (12-25 pg/ml)

high:
progesterone (very elevated) 837 (luteal 65-500pg/ml)
________________________________________

I am at my wits end. I have been all over the literature about adrenal fatigue, hypopituitary, hypoparathyroid...I just don't know what to do. My dr keeps thinking that if I get enough thyroid meds, my adrenals and other hormones will improve. But, I can't seem to get the right thyroid meds dose in order to achieve this.

I had an ACTH test (not stim) in July which was normal - I can't locate the value, but the endo said it is fine.

Any advice???? I am at my wits end.

[2jen]

Hi, I don't really have any advice but wanted you to know you are not alone. I have addison's disease, hypoparathyroidism and was recently diagnosed with hashimotos. I went on the lowest possible dose of levoxyl for my thyroid and it brought all of my numbers up to the normal range but I started have severe hyperthyroid symptoms. I just had a visit with my endo on Friday and he wants me to stop the levoxyl and see if that helps. He said my numbers look good but he is going to treat my symptoms not my bloodwork. I am a very small, petite person, 4'11" and I am down to 82 pounds and can't seem to gain any weight back. He said it will take up to 6 weeks to see if I feel better, but I am sure it was the levoxyl.

Anyways, I hope you get to the bottom of what is going on soon.

[AnnD]

OR maybe you are on the wrong type of thyroid medicine.

[sparkles916]

Thanks for your replies.

I have been on every thyroid medication - levothyroxine, levoxyl, synthroid, armour and cytomel - and every permutation of dosages. This has been going on for two years - up and down.

Today, I am on a small does of levoxyl and armour. I feel exhausted and my heart is pounding. I also feel emotional because I do not have enough medicaiton.

Recently, I was super-hyper at mid range free T3, and below mid range free T4 and a TSH of 2. something. (on 45 mg Armour)

Every time I need to move up the dose to feel better, I go super hyper. I am starting to believe my adrenals can't handle the thyroid medication at the level my body really needs.

I am tired, dizzy, nauseous, have double vision (eyes are too tired to focus), heart pounding, anxious, weak and can't lose weight - in addition to all the classic symptoms of hypo (or maybe other diseases????)

I have an appointment with a reproductive endo in January. I thought I would approach my problems from a different angle. The last mainstream endo I went to, told me right up front that he treats by numbers NOT how one feels. He acted like my high glucose was my fault, as well as my weight (40pounds - can't lose a pound) and chuckled at me during my recitation of symptoms and prior treatment calling me "Dr. Sparkles" (actually my real last name).

What a jerk. He only did a ACTH test and morning blood cortisol. I don't know how a Dr considers this useful for a person who has trouble on thyroid meds, yet needs them, and has been ill for more than 20 years. I am sure he thinks I am peri menopausal crazy woman since now I am in my early 40's.

I am seriously going to tell the new endo that I want to try all and any options - no more wait and see - and that otherwise, I am just going to give up the thyroid meds altogether and take to my bed permanently with my fatigue. I can't wait to see what the reaction is. Seriously, I am pretty well disgusted with this half a life and being a physical and emotional wreck.

Hope I have better luck this time.

[val319]

I had graves disease and had the same problem after removal. I found out that if we have adrenal problems the cortisol opens the cell to let the thyroid hormone in, when it pools in the blood we are very ill, but our tests look good. I noticed once i was on cortisol I started having less probs but take your time raising. All of this is my opinion and what I went through also if you got up to a higher thyroid hormone level, once the door opens you get a bit hyper so I had to lower my thyroid dose until everything settled. I will say I treated the adrenals but then got extreme exhaustion 3 months later due to addison's.

Also, so many side effects from hyper & hypo are the same and we are all different and have different reactions.