Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
Thanks T34T3hell, I going to raise my meds again and see what happens and then we will test everything again.
I'm just going to settle down for a lil' bit and try to put some faith in this new doctor. I've been worrying too much. After all, quite supprisingly, he seemed very thorough and answered all of my questions sometimes before they even left my tounge. He said that my levels were high. I wonder if he meant high normal or high abnormal. I forgot to pick up a copy of my test results. I was just so happy that my adrenals are working at all.
Something that is questionable is that hypothyroid is supposed to lower your urine cortisol results and I was hypo when tested.
I'm just glad they're allowing me to raise my medicine. WHat a privelage
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
Prolactin secreting adenomas (of the pituitary) are the most common tumors---but they're not the only ones.
Your test results does not mean you don't have a pituitary tumor.
I have a pituitary tumor---but never had problems with prolactin.
Watch out for high iron levels. Too much iron kills.
Good luck with things. It sounds like you're both doing a good job to figure things out.
I hope you get to feeling better soon---keep us posted.
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
I was kind of wondering if by raising your meds, you wouldn't have the same problem.
Be careful---and watch out for anything weird or unusual.
I had episodes of rapid heartbeat, feeling faint. Thought I may have been having heart attack. Family and friends didn't understand how serious it was.
Of course, my doctors didn't either.
My TSH levels went from being pretty normal---something like 1.5 to
wild swings: from .0016 to 7.58---due to doctors trying to control it by cutting thyroid doses.
They never thought about the pituitary being involved---they never did much in the way of testing.
Hope you and your doctor figure out some things. My doctors "fired" me----they had no idea what was going on---and they didn't want to be a part of it!
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
No, I haven't had to have surgery...I'm not sure if I'm going to have to surgery.
I know that my MRI shows that my pit. has gone from symmetrical to assymetrical.
For now, I just have to monitor my hormones---and make the changes I have to.
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
They probably are thinking that the test was compromised and you are not to far out of normal range. Most MDs are not comfortable with cortisol and adrenal testing and thus they try and brush it off. You should get a confirmation cortisol test using the saliva test in my opinion and this should give you a picture of when and how consistant your high cortisol levels are.. how is your ACTH? You do need to find someone that is adrenal and pituitary savvy. You have a good medical University with a pituitary expert in the endocrinology center. They would be the most experienced with adrenal issues.
MG
__________________
If we learn by our mistakes, I am working on one hell of an education.
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
They said that the test could be as much as 5% error. What would comprimised results mean? Is that like, say, if I were to drink caffeine or something to artificially rise my levels?
We didn't do the ACTH because it is $1200 and I don't have insurance.
I want to order the saliva test online. But now after reading other peoples post I'm afraid that my new doc would not want to consider them, you know since he didn't order them, even though they are supposed to be very reliable. Does anyone have any ideah how much the am pm noon night saliva test would cost? It would definately save me time.
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
Hey TV-RV---
Is there a teaching hospital in your area?
I've been told---I haven't tried it---but I've had others tell me---that if you go to the bigger state run university medical centers---that they have to help you.
Also---when I was in Los Angeles---at one of the biggest and best hospital's around---there was a sign that said "if you do not have insurance, please ask to speak to one of our patient resource helper types, to help you get the medical treatment that you need..."
Obviously, I'm paraphrasing a lot of that----but just 'cause you don't have insurance doesn't mean you don't deserve quality health care.
There's been a big stink in our town---we have two major hospitals---both started by churches---and both are supposed to be run as "non-profits"---but they're making money hand over fist.
I wish there was someone near you who could help you out.
You may want to double check with some folks on the "other board"----I know a couple of women who live in Georgia---just not sure where...
Hang in there---one way or another---you're going to get the help you need and deserve!!!
just
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
Yeah I know of a medical school hospital. The University of Illinois. Emory in georgia is definately a good hospital but I am going to be moving to Chicago in a month. I also heard that some medical school hospitals will see you. My friend was just telling me about this last week. I wonder if there's a catch like I have to go to school there. If not that's cool. I might actually be going to school there in a couple of years. I will definatly look into that and some sort of financial assistance through a hospital.
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
No---you don't have to go to school there.
The person who told me about their experience lived here in Idaho like me.
His wife suffered for more than 3 weeks with what doctors kept telling them was the "flu"...she was in real bad pain and was vomiting all the time...
One night---about 10pm---they got in the car and drove to Salt Lake City---about 3-4 hours away---and went to the University of Utah Medical Center (or whatever it's called)...
The couple went to the ER---and the doctors there promised them that they would figure out what was wrong with the wife. It ended up that she had been having severe pancreatitis attacks---not stomach flu like the dumb doctors kept insisting...
Anyone doctor who would have thought it through would have realized that no one "throws up" everything for more than three weeks straight!!!
PS: DH is from Madison, Wisconsin---and I just found out that they have opened up a pituitary center there in Madison. I think it's about a five hour drive up from Chicago. This is definitely a place to check out too. In many cases---places like this have to admit and test people---regardless if they have insurance or not---they get state and federal money---and we all pay for them.
I hope this helps---I've become a pituitary warrior since finding out what was wrong with me. I kept telling my local doctors that everything seemed to keep pointing to a problem with my pituitary. Only one doctor ever even attempted a test---and it was just one.
When it came back "negative"---then she told me that I was a crack addict!!! Honestly, I can't believe the crap doctors will say to get you off their backs!!!
What they don't know can kill you. And they know it. Ugh!!!
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post)
You have to call and check. Mine was like 80 dollars. Not bad at all. They did it locally at the request of my MD. You have to be wary of ordering and mailing out a saliva test for cortisol. Your samples are best if they stay refrigerated and cold.. that doesn't happen in shipping and storage all the time.
As to compromised/biased. There is always the chance of lab error. You may have a tech that didn't prepare the blood sample adequately etc. All in all you can run with it. Your result is high. This suggests hyperadrenal activity. One hyperadrenal condition is Cushing's. However in Cushings the cortisol levels tend to be a bit higher.. same with a producing adrenal tumor. If the ACTH was high you could be sure that your pituitary gland was hyperactive causing the issues. Have you had a recent MRI or pituitary targeted CT scan? I am not sure how that would compare cost wise to the ACTH blood test. I find it hard to believe the ACTH test costs 1200 dollars. Mine ran just over 100 leaving me to pay 12 dollars of it. That seems like an inflated rate or a specialized ACTH test. I wish I had better news for you and more answers. Unfortunately it takes a lot of money and testing to get to the bottom of endocrine issues.
MG
__________________
If we learn by our mistakes, I am working on one hell of an education.
Re: hyperthyroid or adrenal fatigue? (caution-long post) 
