Those durn Adrenals!! Having strange problems since starting Armour? Here’s why.

[Guest guest]

This is a very good site for both thyroid and adrenals IMHO. A

wealth of informatioin as well as helpful links.

blessings

Shan

Those durn Adrenals!!

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/

 

Having strange problems since starting Armour? Here’s why.

 

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 T4-only

treatment! Additionally, periods of chronic stress could have further

stressed your adrenals.

 

Thus, there is a remarkably large percentage of hypothyroid patients who have

low-functioning “sluggish†adrenals, also called adrenal insufficiency. In

other words, your adrenals have become POOPED. And pooped adrenals equates to

low cortisol. Since cortisol is needed to distribute thyroid hormones from the

blood to the cells, low cortisol results in high amounts of thyroid hormones

to build in the blood, making your free T3 and/or free T4 labs look high in

range with continuing hypo symptoms, or causing hyper-like symptoms on doses of

Armour which shouldn’t produce those symptoms. The latter can include anxiety

or nervousness, light-headedness, shakiness, dizziness, racing heart, sudden

weakness, nausea, feeling hot, or any symptom which seems like an over-reaction

to Armour. Low cortisol can also keep you hypothyroid with hypo symptoms.

 

Thus, it can be important to rule out poor adrenal function before starting

on Armour, or soon after you have started and are noticing strange symptoms,

which become unmasked by the use of Armour or other natural thyroid products.

Some patients will notice the strange reactions early on, while others may not

until they get as high as 3 grains.

 

The following are self-tests to try to get an idea if you need adrenal

support:

 

TEST ONE:

Take and compare two blood pressure readings—one while lying down and one

while standing. Rest for five minutes in recumbent position (lying down) before

taking the reading. Stand up and immediately take the blood pressure again. If

the blood pressure is lower after standing, suspect reduced adrenal gland

function. The degree to which the blood pressure drops while standing is often

proportionate to the degree of hypoadrenalism. (Normal adrenal function will

elevate your BP on the standing reading in order to push blood to the brain.)

 

TEST TWO:

Another test uses the eyes.

From the side (not the front), shine a bright light like a flashlight or

penlight towards your pupils and hold it for about a minute. Carefully observe

the

pupil. With healthy adrenals, your pupils will constrict, and will stay small

the entire time you shine the light from the side. In adrenal fatigue, the

pupil will get small, but it will soon enlarge again or obviously flutter in

it’

s attempt to stay constricted.

 

TEST THREE:

Are you very sensitive to bright light?

That could be a sign of adrenal fatigue.

And this can also be true if you have searing headaches along with the

sensitivity.

 

TEST FOUR:

You can determine if you need adrenal support by following Dr. Rind with a

temperature graph. You simply have to take your temp 3-4 times a day and make a

chart. If your temp is fluctuating, you need adrenal support. If it is

fluctuating but overall low, you need more adrenal support and thyroid. If it is

fluctuating but averaging 98.6, you just need adrenal support. If it is steady

but

low, you need more thyroid and adrenals are likely fine.

 

***Even more conclusive might be a 24 hour adrenal test.

Doctors tend to recommend a one-time blood test, or a STIM test, but patients

have found both to be inadequate measures to discern sluggish adrenals.

Instead, we have relied on the 24 hour adrenal saliva test, which tests your

cortisol levels at four different times of day and allows you to view your daily

cyclic adrenal function. Below are three facilities to choose from, where you

can

send off for the test, and WITHOUT a prescription:

 

LAB WORK from Canary Club, where the saliva test is for a full spectrum:

thyroid (TSH, free T3, free T4), adrenals (cortisol and DHEA), estrogen,

progesterone, testosterone. http://thecanaryclub.org/content/view/196/52/

 

LAB WORK from ZRT LABORATORIES where you can test JUST one thing –and it’s

good since it’s SALIVA TESTING!

You want the ADRENAL FUNCTION TEST

http://www.salivatest.com/store/prod_st.html

 

LAB WORK from HEALTHCHECK USA, and if you put 12345 for the discount code, you

’ll get the VIP PRO PLUS II package deal for less!

http://www.healthcheckusa.com/home.html

 

HOW MUCH CORTISOL DO YOU NEED for SUPPLEMENTATION??

If you confirm that you have low cortisol production, whether from the

self-tests above, or the saliva test, or simply the very strange reactions to

Armour, patients have learned that they need approx. 20 mg of cortisol to bring

sluggish adrenal function up to it’s proper and optimal normal daily amount.

 

Up to 20 mgs. is called a ‘physiologic’ dose, as compared to the high ‘

pharmacologic’ doses. A physiologic dose is safe and doesn’t cause the

side-effects of larger pharmacologic doses. This would also bring your cortisol

up to the

amount to tolerate thyroid hormones and distribute them from the blood to

your cells. Occasionally, you will find a patient who had to get up to 30 mgs.

to

benefit from Armour.

 

Once adrenal insufficiency is confirmed, patients tend to use hydrocortisone

(such as the brand name Cortef) or Isocort (which is over-the-counter)

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/isocort/ . Hydrocortisone will give you

simply

cortisol, whereas Isocort will give the adrenal cortex. There is 2.5 mg. of

cortisol per tablet of Isocort.

 

Some patients prefer simply cortisol or Hydrocortisone and find it to work

better than Isocort. Hydrocortisone or Cortef has a half life of approx. 8

hours, but can be much less depending on the metabolism of the individual. Thus,

patients have to multi-dose it. Ingredients: hydrocortisone, lactose, magnesium

stearate, maize starch.

 

CLICK HERE to read the basics on HOW TO TREAT YOUR ADRENALS

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/how-to-treat

 

Have HIGH CORTISOL at night?

If so, try supplementing with 300-800 mg. Phosphatidylserine, aka PS.

Take it before bedtime. You may need to be on the higher end of the range

above to lower it. Lowering high nighttime cortisol can help improve your

sleep!!

To read more about PS, http://qualitycounts.com/fpps.html

Melatonin is another choice to help restore the normal circadian rhythms–i.e.

highest cortisol in the morning and lowest at night to help you sleep. 1-3

mgs before bedtime. It may take a few months to notice the difference.

 

-- CLICK HERE to read a thyroid patient’s opinion about WEAK ADRENALS and

her experience with adrenal support. Valerie is also the moderator of the

ADRENALS forum on this site.

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/?page_id=21

 

-- More excellent information about optimizing your adrenals is provided by

Dr. Jay Mead at ZRT Laboratory in Beaverton, Oregon.

http://www.thecompounder.com/AdrenalProtocolMead.html

 

-- Adrenal Support (from The Great Thyroid Scandal and How To Survive It) by

Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield

http://featherstone.bravehost.com/thyroid/peatfieldadrenal.html

 

-- Why exercising after the baby is born is not a good idea if you have low

cortisol. http://life.familyeducation.com/baby/health/36629.html