Adrenal problems?

[Sunny537]

Hi there, I have been having problems feeling completely well on the T4-only medication I am on (50mcg) and this morning I woke up and had some pain in my lower back over my right kidney area. The pain was at best I can describe as being knife like or like an electric shock and I don't know why this could be.

My doctor has said my thyroid and ferritin results look fine, I'd like to know if I could possibly have an adrenal problem or if it's something else.

Thanks!

!Serum ferritin - Normal - No action needed: 28 (30-400)
TSH - Normal - no action needed: 0.60 (0.2-4.2)
Free T4 - Normal - no action needed: 15 (12-22)
Free T3 - Normal - no action needed: 4 (3.9-6.7)
Anti-TPO antibodies - Elevated level: 166 (<34)

[Red_Star]

Not a surprising adrenal result with non optimal thyroid treatment. I don't have any issues with gluten personally not to mention I have no wrinkly fingers which is a sign of gluten intolerance. I do have lactose intolerance although I can eat cheese since it's very low in lactose.

[Sunny537]

Thanks for suggesting what dose of Cytomel I need to take. :)

I've ordered a new private blood test as my own doctor will not review my thyroid function at the 6 weeks as planned. He was planning to do it at 10 weeks instead.

How long do I need to eliminate gluten and dairy for?

[TheLightSeeker]

Secondary hypothyroidism can also be experienced along with primary hypothyroidism, should the latter have preceded the  adrenal fatigue
development.
Careful with the cytomel which is all T3 and does not need conversion.
I would try a starting dose of 5 mcg and go from there, if you planning to
attempt self-treatment.

BTW try gluten free/dairy free to see if it helps.
Most Hashimoto's & Hypothyroid sufferers have gluten intolerance and don't even know it!
The gluten molecules-mainly from gmo grains but not excluding non-gmo- resemble the TPO(Thyroid Peroxidase - an enzyme necessary for the signalling Thyroid hormone production) molecules and thus the immune system in its response against gluten, attacks the TPO in the Thyroid also!

Dairy cross reacts with gluten in 50% of patients, meaning that people with
gluten sensitivity will also be sensitive to dairy, as the immune system erroneously responds to dairy (casein is the main culprit) the same as gluten. In other words it can mimic symptoms of gluten sensitivity.
There are many other cross-reactive foods with gluten, but not as common as dairy.

Cheers.
Niko

[Sunny537]

Test 1 - Blood pressure

Lying down - 114/72 heart rate: 50

Standing - 126/85 heart rate: 68

Test 2 - Iris contraction test

Iris wavers between contracting and relaxing but manages to open and stay open 30 seconds after.

Test 3 - White line test

Line stays white.

[Sunny537]

Thanks Niko for your reply.

I have Cytomel here at home with me. But because of its potency I'm wary about starting it. I think I tried it in the past and I took the whole 25/30mcg dose. Within a few days I was sweating and had a racing heart. I knew the only thing I had done any differently was take the Cytomel and then I stopped. Would I need to cut the tablet up so I don't get much of a hyperthyroid state?

Ah yes, I use Blue Horizon for the private bloods. I have no income and I've been refused the job which I was hoping to use the money for to pay for the blood tests so this might have to wait. I do have the Cytomel for now but I have no knowledgeable practitioner to guide me through the 24 saliva test.

Is it possible that with my earlier blood test results when I was not on Levothyroxine I could have secondary hypothyroidism as my TSH has been suppressed. This has happened twice.

July 2014

TSH: 0.01 (0.2-4.2)
FT3: 7.1 (3.9-6.7)
FT4: 21 (12-22)

August 2014

TSH: 0.10 (0.2-4.2)
FT3: 6.9 (3.1-6.8)
FT4: 26 (12-22)

[Sunny537]

Ok, will look at this post you linked me to. Thanks. :)