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13906988 tn?1454205714

Adrenals off the chart- Dr. Prescribed Thyroid Rx - should I be concerned?

Hello:
I am writing this as I just found out my Adrenals are off the charts!
For over 10 years I have complained about:
1.  Extreme fatigue
2.  Brain Fog, Forgetfulness and Memory Loss
3.  Unusual Weight gain ( and I was working out daily 1-2 hrs. Per day- until drenched!  And I gained over 70lbs. In less than 10 yrs!!)
4.  An insatiable need to eat for energy-because I was so tired, or would feel the need to eat in order to focus. Even if I'm not hungry!!
5.  Unable to sleep at night- even though tired and exhausted! My body just would not sleep - even with Benadryl or a sleeping pill!
6.  Extreme pain and fatigue,
7.  Foot and leg cramps at night
8.  Hot and cold flashes
9.  Inflammation
10.  Extreme achiness

Also, although my TSH IS WITHIN THE NORMAL GUIDELINES- the New Homeopathic MD. I am now seeing says it's not.   However, until today, after years if seeing different MD's and anEndocrinologist, I kept being told I was depressed and that my Cortisol and TSH levels were ok.  And they'd give me antidepressants- which I tried once and made me feel like a zombie!). Needless to say, I never took any again!  I'm usually a very happy, upbeat, person!

My new Naturpathic MD. ran a whole bunch of tests, but these are the ones she based her decision to place me on:

"NATURE-THROID." 1/4GR (16.25MG)
Has anyone been on this drug and if so, how long?  And what has been your experience?

PLEASE NOTE:  The Tests that she said were OUT OF THE NORMAL RANGES-And led her to believe it's my Thyroid are listed below:  

1.  MTHFR, C677T result:  Homozygous
2.  VitD, Hydroxy Tot.  = 28
3.  Uric-Acid = 2.3
4.  Prothrombin Time :    13.8
5.  Homocysteine = 14.8
6.  GGT = 90
7.  Free T3  = 2.23
8.  TSH= 1.19 (thyroid function-TSH4)
9.  FreeT4(5) = .99
10.  DHEA sulfate = <15
11.  Cortisol =  <1.0
12.  Vitamin B12. = 1226
13.   Thyroid Perox. AutoAb = 37 iu/ml

According to these results my adrenals, which are controlled by my Thyroid are on overload and this is why my symptoms are so bad.  

If anyone can help interpret the above tests- I welcome any "knowledgeable" insights and experiences....  And how they relate to her diagnosis, and thoughts/comments....

A bit more about me:   I'm a 50 yo. Female.  I am post menopausal and had a few peri menopausal symptoms, but haven't had any in a while.  I had uterine fibroid embolization a month ago, which caused me to have severe menopausal symptoms-which I was told is a side effect of UFE.....  AND MY radiologist & Ob/Gyn.  Said would subside in time.(My Ob/Gyn  offered me the estrogen patch w-progesterone) but said it would mask the symptoms and that I can only be on it for a short while- and when I came off the symptoms could come back!).    Anyhow, this is also the reason I went to see the Naturpathic MD.   So for now I'm just holding off and experiencing everything which is a concophony of pain and extreme hot flashes- oh Joy! Not.

HOWEVER, my concern now is which is worse??

Also, I have read and heard that once a person goes on Thyroid medication, they will need to stay on it for life - as it kills the Thyroids ability to regulate itself.  Is There Any Truth To This?  
I have always been afraid of making matters worse and creating "any" dependence on any supplement or medication.
What are the "Long Term" side effects of taking the prescription above?
Can I take it "Short Term" to see if it helps with my exhaustion, weight gain, and Hair lost.?  And go off once I regain my hair, energy, ability to sleep....etc.

I was very healthy and don't know how I got here?
Could she be wrong in her diagnosis?

A colleague mentioned she went through a similar situation, and just took DHEA for a few months- (and I'm low in THIS TOO!) but when I read about it online there's no real research??   Besides facial hair growth in women- does anyone else know more about this?  

I'm not sure what to do?
Has anyone been through anything similar?
What did u do?
Were you able to ween yourself off all drugs and/or supplements and get your body back working normally on its own?

Any advice, experiences and holistic outcomes are welcome !

In Health!
Sao
6 Responses
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1756321 tn?1547095325
The homozygous MTHFR C677TT means your ability to convert folate to methylfolate (the bioavailable form) is less than 30%.  While I don't have the MTHFR gene I did have vitamin B12 malabsorption. I had a long list of symptoms from this deficiency and from your list that included extreme fatigue, brain fog, forgetfulness, memory loss. And not enough B12 caused my severe adrenal fatigue (you need B vitamins for adrenal hormone production). After I corrected my B12 deficiency my homocysteine level was in the 6's.

What Is A Safe Homocysteine Level?...

"While commercial blood test labs say "normal" homocysteine concentration in your blood can range from 5 to 15 micromoles per liter of blood, medical studies show that homocysteine levels above 6.3 are unhealthy and associated with a steep, progressive risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack.1"

Excerpts from the article: MTHFR genetic defect – what it is and how it can affect you...

"The defective enzyme doesn’t break down folate vitamins properly (of which folic acid is the precursor to), which can cause high homocysteine, which can increase your risk of coronary heart disease (arteriosclerotic vascular disease or venous thrombosis), and related heart and BP conditions, as well as increasing your risk for dementia."

"You can find yourself with high folate or high B12 i.e. your body will have problems converting inactive forms of folate and B12 to the active forms. So the inactive folate or B12 will simply build up in your serum, also inhibiting the active forms. Most serum folate tests are actually measuring folic acid, which needed to be converted to methylfolate to be used metabolically."

"You can’t change a defective gene. But you can help it do its job better and minimize problems.

Some find their ‘folic acid’ lab test levels are high (it’s one of several folate vitamins) since a defect in the gene prevents your body from using it, so it goes high…unused. The recommended solution is avoid supplements and many processed foods with folic acid, especially if you are Homozygous (having a copy of the same defective gene from each parent). Healthy foods that contain folate should be okay, as would be the active form of folate called methylfolate as a supplement, also called 5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate).

B12 might also be high, so patients tend to avoid the synthetic supplemental version of B12 called cyanocobalamin and instead favor the more useable methylcobalamin (methylB12), which will help break down those high levels. But the methylB12 will be used by your body in detoxing you from toxins, so you may need to start low to avoid detox side effects like fatigue, achiness, etc.

Another good B-vitamin is the methyl version of B6, called P-5-P."
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are the reference ranges for the lab tests? Reference ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.  

Your thyroid does not control your adrenals... Your thyroid and adrenals are both part of the endocrine system and when the thyroid begins to fail, the adrenals try to pick up the slack.  Your thyroid hormone levels appear to be way too low in their ranges, which would account for the prescription for NatureThroid.  

Additioinally, your TPOab appears to be borderline, which could indicate Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid gland and ultimately destroys it.  If you have Hashimoto's, you will be on thyroid replacement for life, as many of us are.  

Your doctor should also have ordered Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb), if she didn't, which is another marker for Hashimoto's.

Your vitamin D is also way too low... are you supplementing to increase that level?
Helpful - 0
13906988 tn?1454205714
Hi Red_Star,
Thank you so much for all your detail.
But I must admit, my head is spinning....

So, in Summary, you are stating my B12/Folate levels are low?
I read online that the B's are water soluable and just (excuse my description) "pee out" of a person.

Ironically, my Dr. didn't make as much of a deal of the B (although she did give me supplements) However, I hope I'm understanding what you've written here correctly, you are stating that B supplements in my case are not absorbed well?

So, what does one do in this case?
Sorry if I sound confused, but I'm still not getting what you are suggesting?
I'm so concerned with all my elevated test as I have had a lot of x-rays in the past due to osteo-arthiritis (which now has me even more worried.)

Can you simplify your answer and clarify what you are suggesting?
Sorry, but I guess I suffer from the concentration and brain fog a lot these days as well....

Another question, is Do you think any of these high tests are because of Menopause?   And could they go back to normal in time?

Do you think all the x-rays in the past could have contributed to my low levels?

I know I may sound a bit like a "Hypochondriac" but I'm a bit scare and concerned with taking meds that could have a "Domino" or worse, Life long effect on my health.

In Health,
Sao95050
Helpful - 0
13906988 tn?1454205714
My concern is if I go on The thyroid medication, could it harm my thyroid so I have to be on it forever.?
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
Due to your genetic defect you need to be taking active forms of B vitamins.  I found a supplement that is available online called HomocysteX as an example...

"HomocysteX Plus by Seeking Health supplies bioactive forms of four essential B-vitamins together with betaine (also known as trimethylglycine or TMG) to synergistically support methylation processes and normal homocysteine metabolism. This formula is exceptional for those with defective MTHFR genes. Taking just 5-MTHF is not sufficient for those with MTHFR mutations which is why Dr. Lynch provides a comprehensive complex to support normal levels of homocysteine and support the methylation cycle."

"The supplement facts for each capsule are as follows:

Riboflavin (as riboflavin-5-phosphate sodium) 25 mg
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal-5-phosphate) 15 mg
Folate (as Quatrefolic (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt) 800 mcg
Vitamin B12 (as methylcobalamin, coenzyme B12) 1000 mcg
TMG (trimethylglycine) 700 mg"
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Thyroid medication is not a drug and does not "harm" your thyroid... it merely replaces what your thyroid can not produce for you.  

Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies destroy thyroid tissue until it eventually produces nothing, so it's not the medication that harms the thyroid it's, ultimately, Hashimoto's.  Hashimoto's is progressive in that it's constantly working to destroy thyroid tissue and medication must constantly be adjusted to keep up with the destruction.

In that sense, it's true that those with Hashimoto's (myself included) will be on thyroid replacement hormones for life, because we can't live without thyroid hormones.  Odd that most people don't mind taking a handful of vitamins/minerals every day because they somehow seem more "natural" than taking a hormone that the body can't live without.

On the other hand, with low FT levels a low as yours appear to be, one would expect TSH to be much higher than yours, suggesting that you might have Central hypothyroidism vs Hashimoto's, since low levels of TPOab are found with other conditions.  Central hypothyroidism indicates an issue with the pituitary/hypothalamus axis, rather than the thyroid, itself.  

That should be investigated further, because the pituitary gland produces hormones that stimulate all the glands of the endocrine system.  Any or all of those could be deficient. Your naturopath seems to be on the right track.

If you have the reference ranges for your Free T3 and Free T4, it would really be helpful if you could post them, so we could verify where your levels fall within those ranges, that would be really good.

I might mention that one should use caution when supplementing with vitamin B6; for some of us it can disrupt sleep by causing very vivid, disturbing dreams.  
Helpful - 0
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649848 tn?1534633700
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