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)

[Sunny537]

I see.

Oddly enough I have gained weight on the Levothyroxine but I lose it when I come off so something isn't right. I'll post the basal body temperatures up as Lightseeker suggests I get them done (I have quite a few days' worth of these).

My cholesterol has never been tested even though high cholesterol runs in the family...surely doctors would need to check things like that if they run in the family?

[Red_Star]

How you feel is of course what you need to look at as well as Lightseeker mentions. Just posting some info from Dr Mercola to show "normal" range doesn't mean you are normal. My thyroid labs are currently optimal but I suffer symptoms due to cellular thyroid resistance. Frustrating~!

One of the obvious differences I could see between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and cellular thyroid resistance to do with the liver. So when thyroid hormone levels changed in the blood due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, I saw rising liver enzymes, rising cholesterol, sudden weight gain without changing my diet and lower body temperature. But of interest, my body temp dropped to 35 C (95F) and my labs showed subclinical hypothyroidism. Hmmm.

[Sunny537]

*basal. Aargh, darn autocorrect!

[Sunny537]

Thanks for your answer. Wow, this is a lot to take in!

Firstly, I have tried to get my blood test moved for my thyroid and the doctor will not budge from moving it from mid November to start of November. So I think going private for the blood tests is the next best thing

I think the reverse T3 test is expensive. I've looked at a private UK lab and it's about £300 which is money I don't have at the moment but I do hope to start a job in 2 weeks so that might change.

I've tried the bssal temperature graph before. I'll post the readings up if you would like to see them.

I have ordered a 24 saliva test for adrenal stress profile, would that be any good?

[TheLightSeeker]

I guess there's a "clash" between NHS and private, so best, ask for the
"non-established" testing, including more frequent testing, through NHS Doctors and once they turn your request down, then going private is your only option other than self-testing*.

Get testing for Reverse T3 ( rT3 )as well, since the fT3/rT3 ratio is probably the most reliable marker for low cellular thyroid function.
Look for a ratio of over 20 for healthy thyroid function. (divide Free T3 by reverse T3, but make sure you are in the same unit measurement for both.)

Red Star is right about your levels being low, however, the best way to gauge it is by the way you feel.

*The golden standard for thyroid testing to my opinion is still Dr. Barnes Basal Temperature in conjunction with your symptoms.
Just look it up online and you can consider trying it for a while and see how it works for you.
Note: You must follow the simple online instructions precisely!
You won't be able to adjust your dosage upwards, since you need a doctor's prescription, but at least you'll know what your thyroid function is,
anytime you wish (except at the very start of your menses).

Hope this helps.
Niko

[Sunny537]

Thanks, the Free T3 and Free T4 need checking every month? :o That's news to me.

My doctor tests it every 6 months if normal, every 6 weeks if not.

I have changed doctors since my current one didn't want to move my medication review to the 6-week interval as planned. I asked the receptionist if I could have it moved and she said "no, the doctor has put it at mid-November on the screen". So I said "thank you" and walked to the other practice next door to them!

If this practice is not keen to have my medication review done as agreed (at the start of November) then I will look to have them done privately although I have done that before and all the doctor has done (when I show them the printout) is copy the results into my records.

They don't like it when I go private because whenever I show them thyroid test results they then say "we could have done that for you, you didn't have to go private and spend money on them." Errr, but you don't test the thyroid hormones when the TSH is normal...