Found this topic on page 307 by JannZ that hits on the question of which comes first, treating adrenal gland abnormality or thyroid.
It details how adrenal problems mimic hypothyroidism, and if anybody with hypo wonders why they still feel lousy even on treatment it's because their adrenals were never tested. She explains the saliva testing procedure that's done to determine whether or not the adrenals are normal.
She goes on to say that it's crucial to know that treating the thyroid first and then adrenal abnormality is never the way to go. It must be the other way around.
Bottom line: Wish I'd known to ask the question when I had the initial endo visit. He never mentioned adrenals. If JannZ's info is on the money, then it might answer the question of why taking levothyroxine for Hashimoto's hasn't seemed to help even though the numbers are allegedly okay.
Lily
Hi :)
I asked my endo about the possibility of adrenal failure - had the spit test - and the results were OK. Apparently unless there is real adrenal failure - the spit test will be OK. It is still possible to be suffering from 'adrenal fatigue'. That wouldn't just apply to thyroid problems. Any long term condition involving pain - and therefore stress can lead to adrenal fatigue. I believe there are supplements one can take that give adrenal support. I haven't taken them myself but I remember a lot being written about them on the thyroid support forum at About.com.
The other thing with thyroid 'bloods' is that some doctors use too big a range for 'normal'. Its one of those things that differs with different people. At one stage my THS was 6 and according to my GP that was just above normal. I felt just as ill then as I did when it read 42. My endo eventually told my doc not to let my TSH be more than 2. It helped.
Take care - Scottie :)
OK,, what is the spit test?
Hi Lily,
Oh my, yes, I'm there! Yep, asked three out of four endo's to check for adrenal fatigue (one mentioned that he didn't believe in it), and all of them declined even though I still didn't feel right on Levoxyl.
And you're so right Scottie, if the GP would have used the range the latest scale, she would have seen that I was hypothyroid and not have waited for almost a year before referring me to an endo.
Did the article mention if the swabbing or the 24 hour urine collection is the better test to check for an adrenal problem?
Take care of yourself -
Patze
Very interesting. Seems we have to be detectives, don't we?
Anna
Hi, Patze -
What was the upshot? Were you eventually tested for adrenal fatigue/function, if so what were the results and what meds have you been on if your test was abnormal?
Take care, too!
Lily
Scottie--
Yes, yes, yes!
I think it's terrible how few doctors really understand how to use the TSH test to treat their patients. Personally, if mine creeps above 2, I'm terribly ill. My whole body went arthritic (probably a lupus reaction to my body being out of balance) when my TSH was only 5.6!
I can only keep begging people to ask for an actual number when they have their thyroids tested. Please don't accept "normal" as an answer; it might not be normal for you.
Here's the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists link for anyone whose doctor needs convincing: http://www.aace.com/public/awareness/tam/2003/explanation.php ("Recent data suggest that normal serum TSH levels may have a narrower range. For example, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) guidelines believes that a sustained TSH level above 2.5 mIU/L might not be normal")
--C.
Hi Lily,
The one endo did gave in and asked me to do a 24 hour urine test, and the lab performed the wrong test on it ::). The second one I did showed that a high normal and that was that (no meds). Never had a swab test done, and I wish she would have had that ordered instead of the 24 hour collection.
Currently looking for another endo, and hopefully one that is a bit more open minded than the others have been.
Have a great day!
Patze
Hi:
SCOTTIE
PATZE
DRAGONFLY
ANNA
NAVY
D'akujem (thanks!) for your replies and great info on this subject - am excited about the link that Dragonfly has provided us. Will start the hunt for another endo after the Holidays and hoping for the best.
As always, will wanna know "why this" and "why that." Have never been shy about asking any doc any question on the spot during an OV, test or procedure. That's one reason we pay the money - to get answers.
Good luck,
Lily
oh boy,, another doc to add to the mix,,
Quote from: navydad on December 20, 2010, 06:46:04 AM
OK,, what is the spit test?
ZRT labs--http://www.zrtlab.com/test-kits/saliva-testing-kits.html (http://www.zrtlab.com/test-kits/saliva-testing-kits.html) there's a link on the page --about saliva testing.
C