Weak Adrenal Function?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Weak Adrenal Function?
3
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 9:48am
Every now and then, someone posts that they feel worse on their thyroid medication rather than better. Sometimes it is because they just haven't been on the medication long enough but if you find that you are taking the right dose, for a long enough amount of time and still feel badly, have your adrenal glands checked. Here is some important info I came across this morning:

Weak Adrenal Function

There are a few special cases that needs to be discussed in the context of this treatment. If a person has recently had a heart attack, treatment should not begin for at least two months following the heart attack. After that, the protocol discussed above can be used.

"If a person has evidence of weak adrenal function, the adrenal gland problem must be treated first or simultaneous to the thyroid treatment. The reason for this is that hydrocortisone is necessary for the conversion of T4 to the active T3. If the weak adrenal is not addressed, the patient may actually feel worse and/or develop symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland, such as palpitations, a rapid heart beat and increased sweating. Clues to low adrenal functioning include a low blood pressure (less than 120/80), allergies, asthma, breathing difficulties, skin problems (such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, lupus, dry flaky skin), joint or muscle pains, as in arthritis, and emotional problems, such as mood swings, weeping, fears and phobias. Using low physiologic doses of hydrocortisone along with Armour Thyroid, when the patient shows evidence of both low adrenal and low thyroid function, will help to assure the desired results."

Here is the link the the article of which this is just a small part toward the end:http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?PageType=Article&ID=528

Here is a good article with overall info in the adrenal glands written by Dr. Wilson of the famed Wilson's Syndrome: http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/adrenal_insufficiency.htm

And here is a list of adrenal insufficiency symptoms if you dn't want to take the time to read the whole article:

SYMPTOMS OF ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY

Adrenal insufficiency is commonly associated with the following symptoms, which can vary from mild to extreme.

* fatigue

* decreased tolerance to cold

* poor circulation

* low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia)

* low blood pressure

* allergies

* apathy or depression

* low stamina

* low self-esteem due to low energy output

* joint aches and pains

* low levels of gastric hydrochloric acid

* tendency to constipation

* muscle weakness

* need for excessive amounts of sleep

* fears, due to low energy and secondary copper toxicity

* lowered resistance to infection

* subnormal body temperature


Well, do those sound familiar or what!! Hope this helps some of you to sort out your symptoms and get the right help! Cathy :)





iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 9:59am
Wow!

Thanks Cathy! Once again, more information than my endo gave me. He is testing me for this (the cortisol test), but didn't explain it at all, really.

Thanks for this info, I'm going to print it off & show to my husband.

You're the best,

Dee.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 10:41am
Glad it helps! I thought of you when I read it! Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 09-11-2004 - 8:42pm
weird! i was thinking the first time i saw this endo that i had adrenal problems based on a little research i did prior to my visit. he told me the test came back normal. but now, here i am, put on armour thyroid due to not feeling any better on synthroid with a TSH of .6.... and i never even knew the adrenals were the reason some people do not convert the T4 into T3... which is now what i am thinking was wrong with me-- hence, the reason i am responding so well to armour.... i am glad dr. is running another metabolic pannel... i think he also wanted to look at my adrenals again.

Erika