Those durn Adrenals!!

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Those durn Adrenals!!

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/?PHPSESSID=96ede1970aeb2f50

76fb2d76eab4f1af_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/?PHPSESSID=96ede1970aeb2f5076\

fb2d76eab4f1af)

Having strange problems since starting Armour? Have a high free T3 with

continuing hypo symptoms? Or has your doctor or anyone else pointed out that

you

have symptoms of struggling adrenals or low cortisol? Here’s a potential

reason why.

If you were hypothyroid for several years before being diagnosed, or if you

have been on T4-only medications, or if you have been through chronic life

difficulties…..your stress-busting adrenals have been working extra hard to

keep you going, or to make up for your low-functioning hypothyroid state, or

the

inadequate T4-only treatment! Additionally, periods of chronic life stress

could have further stressed your adrenals.

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

have low-functioning “sluggish†adrenals, or more aptly, adrenal fatigue.

This

is not the same as the disease called Addison’s in most. Instead, it’s

simply a long term situation where your adrenals have become POOPED. They still

work, but they have become weak. And sluggish adrenals equates to low cortisol.

Cortisol, a corticosteroid hormone, has a variety of important functions,

from the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, to affecting the

blood sugar levels in your blood, to helping reduce inflammation, to helping

you

deal with stress.

But cortisol also plays an important role for you as a thyroid patient.

Namely, it helps cell receptors receive thyroid hormones from the blood to the

cells. On the other side of the coin, low cortisol can result 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, but are in reality low cortisol

symptoms.

Low cortisol can also keep you hypothyroid with hypo symptoms.

 

***Click _here _

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/symptoms-low-cortisol/)

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/symptoms-low-cortisol/_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/symptoms-low-cortisol/)

to read actual recorded patient symptoms of poorly functioning

adrenals.

Thus, it can be important for you and your doctor 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 desiccated thyroid products. Some patients will notice the strange

reactions early on, while others may not until they get as high as 3 grains or

more.

DISCOVERY STEP ONE: Here are exploratory questions, and if you answer yes to

any of these, you may have adrenals which are struggling. And this can be an

issue you will want to take to your doctor.:

1) Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night?

2) Do you wake up frequently during the night?

3) Do you have a hard time waking up in the morning early, or feeling

refreshed?

4) Do bright lights bother you more than they should?

5) Do you startle easily due to noise?

6) When standing from sitting or from lying down, do you feel lightheaded or

dizzy?

7) Do you take things too seriously, and are easily defensive?

Do you feel you don’t cope well with certain people or events in your life?

DISCOVERY STEP TWO: The following are self-tests to try if you suspect your

adrenals are struggling:

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.) It can be wise to do this test both in the morning and in the evening,

since you can appear normal one time, and not another.

TEST TWO:

This is called the Pupil test. You need to be in a darkened room with a

mirror. 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 within 30 seconds, it will soon enlarge again

or obviously flutter in it’s attempt to stay constricted. Why does this

occur? Because adrenal insufficiency can also result in low aldosterone, which

causes a lack of proper amounts of sodium and an abundance of potassium. This

imbalance causes the sphincter muscles of your eye to be weak and to dilate in

response to light. Click _here_ (

)

_

_

(

) to see a video of fluctuating

pupils, and thanks to Lydia for

providing this.

TEST THREE:

Let someone shine a bright light your way. Even the above pupil test could

have revealed this. Do you find yourself very sensitive and uncomfortable with

the 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 your thyroid and adrenal status by following_ Dr. Rind_

(http://www.drrind.com/metabolic.asp) _http://www.drrind.com/metabolic.asp_

(http://www.drrind.com/metabolic.asp) with a temperature graph. You simply

take your temp 3 times a day, starting three hours after you wake up, and

every three hours after that, to equal three temps. (If you have eaten or

exercised right before it’s time to take your temp, wait 20 more minutes.)

Then

average them for that day. Do this for AT LEAST 5 days. If your averaged temp

is

fluctuating from day to day more than .2, 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. (We note

that mercury thermometers are the most accurate.)

 

For those already on cortisol, the above temperature test (comparing at

LEAST 5 days of averages) is ideal to know if you are on enough. In other

words,

if each averaged temp is more than .2 from each other, you are not on enough

HC.

DISCOVERY STEP THREE: EVEN MORE CONCLUSIVE: a 24 hour adrenal saliva test.

Doctors tend to recommend a one-time blood test, or an ACTH STIM test, or a 24

hour urine test, but patients have found none to be adequate or complete

measures to discern sluggish adrenals. The ACTH will tell you how much

stimulation your adrenals are getting, but not how much cortisol they are

producing.

Granted, the ACTH can be valuable if there is suspicion of a pituitary

dysfunction. But we have noted that most patients with adrenal fatigue have

healthy

ACTH stimulation. A blood test will only discern cortisol at one time of the

day, failing to tell you what goes on at other times. A urine test simply

gives you an average of a 24 hour period, and that masks being high one time,

and low another.

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. (And note that if you are very hypothyroid, you

readings may actually be even lower than your saliva results will show,

since being hypothyroid results in a slower clearance of cortisol from your

body.)

WHERE TO TEST YOUR ADRENALS: Below are facilities (US, UK, Australia) where

you can send off for the test, and WITHOUT a prescription (If you know of

another, use the Contact Me form below):

LAB WORK from VRP (Vitamin Research Products), an excellent site where you

can choose from a variety of saliva tests, including the four times a day

cortisol, plus sex hormones and thyroid and others. The following link will

take

you to their saliva article page with links on the right for different

testing. _www.vrp.com_ (http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?ProdID=art2098 & zTYPE=2)

LAB WORK from ZRT LABORATORIES where you can test one hormone at a time.

They also offer a blood prick test on top of the saliva, which can be helpful

to

detect antibodies, since saliva misses them for some. For adrenals, you’ll

want the ADRENAL FUNCTION TEST

_www.salivatest.com/store/prod_st.html_

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

LAB WORK from Canary Club. Not a lab facility, but a website where you can

choose between Diagnos-Tech or ZRT labs for special prices. The saliva tests

are for a full spectrum: thyroid (TSH, free T3, free T4), adrenals (cortisol

and DHEA), estrogen, progesterone, testosterone. ZRT includes a blood prick

test on top of the saliva. href=â€

_http://thecanaryclub.org/content/view/196/52/_

(http://thecanaryclub.org/content/view/196/52/) â€>

thecanaryclub.org/content/view/196/52/

United Kingdom labwork from NP Tech where they will send out the kit for an

ASI (adrenal stress test), also do sex hormones and a full thyroid panel

_www.nptech.co.uk_ (http://www.nptech.co.uk/)

United Kingdom labwork from Red Apple Clinic Highly recommended. They post

out to Diagnos-Tech in the US. You can get the full adrenal and thyroid panel

for £141 plus a free interpretation report explaining the results.

_www.redappleclinic.co.uk/ _ (http://www.redappleclinic.co.uk/)

Australian Labwork from Analytical Reference Laboratories (ARL) or PathLab

You can’t order the kits yourself, unfortunately, but can convince your

doctor. Just ring either of these labs and ask what doctor in your area uses

their

kits. ARL: 568 St Kilda Road Melbourne,Victoria, Australia, 3004; (61-3)

9529-2922; fax (61-3) 9529-7277 info. or PathLab: 68 Burwood

Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, (61-3) 8831-3000; Fax (61-3) 9808 2247;

(Nutritional Laboratory Services), Ed Sorich Integrative Medicine Dept;

www.pathlab.com.au

 

***A WORD OF WISDOM ABOUT SALIVA TESTING: it is strongly recommended that

you pay the higher price to OVERNIGHT your saliva. If you fail to do this, the

samples may degrade and not arrive fresh at the facility and cause results

which do not fit your symptoms.

IF YOU HAVE CONFIRMED LOW CORTISOL, WHAT IS THE TREATMENT? 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 from certain doctors that they may need cortisol supplementation. The

suggested amount is approx. 20 mg of cortisol, and sometimes more due to

some patients metabolizing cortisol faster than others, to bring sluggish

adrenal function up to it’s proper and optimal normal daily amount, and for

thyroid

hormones to be received by the cells.

Up to 20 mgs. and occasionally higher, is called a ‘physiologic’ supportive

dose, as compared to the high ‘pharmacologic’ doses. According to doctors

like Peatfield and Jeffries, 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. You’ll know you are on enough when you once again do

the temps mentioned above from Dr. Rind’s site, and find them stable instead

of

fluctuating.

It’s important to note that some thyroid patients discover that their

cortisol deficiency is only mild and only in the early stages. We have

discovered

that the use of Licorice Root can help extend the cortisol levels that you

have. And there might be good OTC products to use to support your adrenals.

Check with your doctor for ideas.

WHAT TO USE: Once adrenal insufficiency is confirmed, and it’s decided that

OTC products are not going to help, patients and their doctors tend to use

hydrocortisone or HC (such as the brand name Cortef) or _Isocort_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/isocort/)

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/isocort/_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/isocort/) (which is

over-the-counter). Hydrocortisone will give you simply cortisol, whereas

Isocort gives

you the entire adrenal cortex. But many patients seem to prefer HC 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, and four times a day at the

minimum is recommended, with four hours between dosing. Some patients have to

move their doses closer together, and some have to have higher amounts than

others due to a fast metabolism in their stomachs. Ingredients: hydrocortisone,

lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch.

ARE THERE CONTROVERSIAL OPINIONS on ADRENAL TREATMENT? The controversy with

treating sluggish adrenals is in two areas. First, there are some who claim

that sluggish adrenals can successfully be treated with herbs, vitamins and a

change in lifestyle. But patients who have wholeheartedly tried the former

for a length of time will state that it simply didn’t help, and most

especially, they were unable to get thyroid hormones from the blood to the

cells.

Granted, if one’s adrenal fatigue was quite minor, there may be value in

using

herbs, vitamins like C and B, sea salt, and de-stressing. But the majority of

hypothyroid individuals with adrenal insufficiency seem to need more than herbs

and vitamins.

The other controversy lies in the amount of cortisol used. Some information

and individuals will claim that 20 mgs of HC is a full replacement dose, so

if you go any higher, you are risking permanent suppression of your adrenals

and the HPA axis. Yet others will state that the full replacement can be much

higher, such as 40 mgs at the minimum. So the question remains: how much is

too much?

What doctors and patients who have adrenal fatigue have noticed is that

though only 20 mg may work for some, many find that staying with 20 mgs simply

doesn’t adequately get thyroid hormones to the cells. Temperatures are still

unstable, and symptoms of low cortisol still persist. They will then raise a

bit higher, and eventually find their sweet spot. Some even find that when

higher doses aren’t doing the trick, i.e. around 27 1/2 mgs or higher, they

move

the dosing schedule to 3 hours apart rather than 4. Or some switch to Medrol,

a longer acting version, and find great success. Patients and certain doctors

surmise that some thyroid patients end up needing more HC because of

digestive issues from their hypothyroid state.

Bottom line, wisdom on the amount of cortisol you need may come from

listening to your body, and finding what works to support your low cortisol

situation. And we highly recommend _finding a good doctor_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/)

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/) to work with

you.

 

IS CORTISOL TREATMENT SHORT-TERM OR FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE? Doctors we

respect have stated that HC supplementation is short-term, meaning treatment

lasts approx. 8 weeks to a few months. But patients and doctors who use the

treatment have discovered that treatment seems to need the “few months†to a

year or more before one is able to succeed in a slow wean. Additionally, HC

treatment needs to be enough to take the stress off the adrenals, to stabilize

one

’s temps, and to allow thyroid hormones to the cells…the latter which plays

a part in de-stressing the adrenals. We suspect that if the wean fails…i.e.

the patient can’t seem to get off…it can point to a failure to have

achieved

the above, weaning too fast, adrenal fatigue far worse than others, or a

pituitary problem that wasn’t properly diagnosed. Some answers are probably

still

to come. And since this website is simply sharing information, we strongly

recommend that you work with a good doctor over the complete treatment

process.

_***CLICK HERE to read the basics on HOW TO GET ON CORTISOL AND THE ENTIRE

PROCESS._ (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/how-to-treat)

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

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

We highly recommend that you _find a good doc_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/)

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/how-to-find-a-good-doc/) to share this

with, and to work with.

Have HIGH CORTISOL at night? If so, try supplementing with 300-800 mg.

_Phosphatidylserine, aka PS. _ (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ps/)

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ps/_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/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!! Jane, the creator of this site, found herself with high cortisol

and she kept waking up at night. Upon taking PS when she went to bed, she

completely stopped waking up all night along and woke up FAR more refreshed. To

read more about PS, click here: _http://qualitycounts.com/fpps.html_

(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_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/weak-adrenals/)

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/weak-adrenals/_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/weak-adrenals/) to read a

thyroid patient’s opinion about WEAK ADRENALS and her

experience with adrenal support.

 

Click _here_ (http://www.chronicfatigue.org/ASI%20Normal.html)

_http://www.chronicfatigue.org/ASI%20Normal.html_

(http://www.chronicfatigue.org/ASI%20Normal.html) to understand the 7 stages

of Adrenal Fatigue. Find where YOU are.

 

Click _here_ (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/faq/)

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/faq/_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/faq/) to read the most

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

about adrenal support.

 

Go _here_ (http://www.thecompounder.com/hormonesadrenalprotocol.php)

_http://www.thecompounder.com/hormonesadrenalprotocol.php_

(http://www.thecompounder.com/hormonesadrenalprotocol.php) to read Dr. Jay

Mead’s vitamin

recommendations for adrenal support.

 

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

Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield_

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

_http://featherstone.bravehost.com/thyroid/peatfieldadrenal.html_

(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)

_http://life.familyeducation.com/baby/health/36629.html_

(http://life.familyeducation.com/baby/health/36629.html)

 

_A comprehensive article explaining the adrenal glands._

(http://www.tuberose.com/Adrenal_Glands.html)

_http://www.tuberose.com/Adrenal_Glands.html_

(http://www.tuberose.com/Adrenal_Glands.html)

 

Go _here_

(http://www.intlhormonesociety.org/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=31 & \

Itemid=53 & tomHack_idp=3)

_http://www.intlhormonesociety.org/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=31 & \

Itemid=53 & tomHack_idp=3_

(http://www.intlhormonesociety.org/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=31 & \

Itemid=53 & t

omHack_idp=3) to read the Internt’l Hormone Society’s CONSENSUS on

CORTISOL REPLACEMENT, and sign the petition.