Hi CBCB-your right about checking levels. It is tough to get accurate readings but I did do saliva tests and I get tested each time I go to Dr. T by blood tests but during my research have noticed that most health care professionals in the area of adrenals recommend rest and to try and curb stress as the most important way to treat adrenal exhaustion in addition to certain adrenal supporting nutritional supplements like B6, B5, Vitamin C, Magnesium, etc.

The cortisol I was given is a bio-identical hormone given to "jump-start" the adrenals into producing enough cortisol on their own. It did the trick for me. Some doctors will keep a patient on the cortisol along with thyroid. This approach did not work for me. My theory based on working with Dr. T, and another doctor I work with is that the excess "bad estrogens" have been the culprit since I began feeling bad at age 38. It is possible that the bad estrogen, along with the major stress from my past, and foods that I have become allergic to such as wheat are the reason my body is attacking it's own organs, namely my thyroid. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease. Whatever foreign substance is entering into my body is what is making this happen. I really feel this is what is happening. There are other reasons why I've come to this conclusion but it would take hours to explain all the stuff I've been through to rule it out. I just hope this helps someone else to not have to suffer like I have.

My other doctor whom I will not disclose says that my liver needs to be cleaned of the bad estrogen. Toxins all around us, food, etc can wreak havoc on a woman in her pre-menopausal years. Dr. Lee's book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pre-Menopause" confirms much of this. This book has been like my Bible to me and has been the most sensible of everything I've read. The EsClear is my liver detoxify supplement. I've just started it. So I will keep posting my progress. I will know when I get my next period how things are going. I usually get very tired 10 days before, very tender breasts and extremely bloated. Terrible water retention. If those symptoms subside even a little, I will be one step closer to the answer.

Best wishes with sorting it out - I know it can be a long process but as you know step by step's the way to answers.

In case this is of use... went looking to see if mercury (the dental amalgam issue) ties back to estrogen at all... ran across this blog/article from a woman who mentioned having high estrogen and thyroiditis symptoms:

(much more at the link)
...I first found out that there was a problem with my estrogen levels when I told my doctor that it was time to retest my thyroid function as I was starting to experience early acute thyroiditis symptoms again...
http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/hormones/estrogen.html

Hi all-
I haven't updated in a while...and I'm at my witt's end right now.
I have been on T3/T4 and now I am just on T3...and I still feel like I have seen 0 results. I am constantly moody and angry, my period is still wacko...and despite counting every calorie and upping my cardio duration and intensity I have not lost a single pound since I put on the 25lbs a year ago! I am scared to think what would happen if I stopped working out. As it is I am wearing a 12/14 when I used to wear a 4/6. I don't even feel like me anymore! Everyone is telling me to either see a nutritionist, or that it's stress or that I put on muscle or eat more protein, or eat less carbs or don't eat soy...blah blah blah. Why doesn't anyone believe me when I tell them that those are not the issues causing this...and why after all this time and money is nothing seeming to work....

Very frustrated and depressed.
Shereen

You should not be on just a T3 med, Shareen - just as T4 only med isn't enough - you need both hormones.

Shareen, you probably just need a better doctor

Nat

Wow, I'd never seen this thread before. The first posting is so interesting. Having half the caloric metabolism she should have it just shows how terrible hypothyroidism is, even when we're supposedly normal.

I am so worried that my metabolism will never come back, even once my thyroid levels truly get straightened out.

Nat-
My Doctor is Dr. Holtorf...he is a specialist...he put me on t4/t3 first, but I wasn't seeing any change and I was starting to feel chest pain so he switched me...

Have you had adrenals checked? If you address thyroid w/o addressing adrenal issues, you will feel worse and, I think, not see alot of results. Just an idea. You probably have already checked into this.

Tig

Here's the thing with metabolism - once your meds are optimal, you have to FEED it to get it back. This means slowly raising your calories byt 100-200 per week until you start to GAIN. And not just a lb, etiher - you need to gain 4 or 5 to make sure it's not just water fluctuation. After that, you can start to cycle calories, dipping below your new 'maintenance' level for several days, then spiking several hundred above to prevent your body from crashing it again.

Cheers,

Friday

Tig-
What tests should I do to test my adrenals?
Where can I find more info on this aspect?
Shereen

If someone is having issues with chest pain you don't take them off T4 and give them only T3!!!

Hi everyone,

I have tried the EsClear prescribed by Dr. Lam (drlam.com) and found the results to be very good. I've been able to lose about 70-80% of my terrible, terrible, symptoms of pms including bloat, very tender breasts, severe mood swings, depression, anxiety, foggy head, poor concentration and fatigue. My periods are more normal now. I was skipping some and then bleeding heavy when I got one.

I have Hashi's as decribed in previous threads. I believe what CBCB has posted about Estrogen Dominance and what it can do to effect thyroid function. (read her post with the link). I am still tired but not as bad. I have not gained anymore weight since seeing Dr. Tenanbaum (Dr. Holtorf's office) since Aug. of 2004. My diet is basically the same but I sometimes crave potato chips bad (Dr. Lam says that is a sign of adrenal exhaustian). Dr. Lam continues to insist that if I reduce bad estrogen, take Onco-C, Panthree (B's), EsClear and my regular dose of progesterone, I will continue to improve. He also switched me to his Estrogen dominance diet (See drlam.com) and it is basically what I've been eating anyway. So far, so good. Dr. Lam is so awesome, you can email him any question and he will get back to you - free!

I find that if I don't relax and sleep enough on the weekends after working my full time job, then I go back to work on Monday morning tired and stay tired all week. If I sleep in both Sat. and Sunday at least 11 hours each night, I feel fantastic all day long and get a lot done. If I overdo it then I suffer again. So the moral of this story is get a lot of rest and stay far away from stress. It helps me most.

Dr. Lam said to me that my body is not able to handle the medications I tried for thyroid. This frightened me and I said to him, if I don't take medicine for my thyroid, will I put my health in further danger. He said the chances are very slim. So far his advice has been working for me consistantly. I don't believe this is advice for everyone and that if you are on meds, don't stop taking them. Be certain you have exhausted everything else first. I have. I simply could not take anything..Armour, T3/T4, T4, nothing worked....it all put me basically in a coma! So I have no choice. I will go back to Dr. Holtorfs in July for a check up but I will not take any meds at that point unless something drastic happens between now and then.

I believe my problem is stress, tired adrenals and estrogen dominance causing the thyroid to be screwed up. Maybe I'm wrong, but so far what I'm doing is helping the most. My prayers are with all of you.

Psalm 107:20 He sent forth His word and healed them and delivered them from the pit.

Hi Amanda:

I'm a bit surprised by Dr. Lam's statements. I REALLY, REALLY like him, but I think I have to disagree with him on this one. Your body isn't able to tolerate thyroid hormone if you have adrenal insufficiency. It's very common, especially for people with autoimmune disease. You may need to take something like Isocort or Cortef to help replace the cortisol that your body isn't producing.

Have you seen Dr. Rind's site? You may find it very helpful. He treats both thyroid and adrenals, which is very helpful for people who have a difficult time tolerating thyroid hormones alone.

I don't want you to think I'm "strong-arming" you, we all make our own decisions. The best decisions I like to make are "informed" ones, looking at a problem from all angles. Maybe this information will be useful, maybe it won't. Either way, I really hope you're able to get better. Being chronically unwell and frustrated all the time isn't a bed of roses.

Take care,
Wanda

Hi Wanda,

Thanks for the reply and the link. I will look at it. I think I miscommunicated somehow because Dr. Lam is the one who said my adrenals need rest and certain nutrients before treatment of thyroid and his regime I am on now is specifically targeting them first with the goal of treating the thyroid as soon as the adrenals are better. The stimulating effect of the thyroid medication to get the metabolism going is just too strong for my adrenals. Dr. Tenanbaum (my regular doc) gave me low doses of cortisol for a period of 3 months which literally kick started my adrenals which literally lifted me out of my severe fatigue and now I just get tired but not like it was.

Dr. Lam uses high doses of Vitamin C as his major adrenal healing treatment, but really stresses that it takes a long time to heal them because it requires much rest, good diet, stay away from stress and supplementation. He isn't at all against thyroid meds, but treats each person as a unique body chemistry that requires unique treatment and when a person has exhausted regular doctors and their treatments. I did take Isocort for a while but it stopped working. I went to a professional nutritionist who had me on that and thyrosol for the thyroid. It worked for a while and then everything snowballed into a nightmare. That's when I met Dr. Lam. He has been treating me over the phone for free. He is a Godsend for me as I have completely run out of money to take care of this. I can't even go to a regular doctor now and get my blood tests as I am still paying off last years treatments at Dr. T's office and my mom for all the meds she paid for that didn't work.

Hi Amanda:

Sorry I misunderstood. OMG, I can't believe what a gem Dr. Lam is. Wow, in my PMS state, it almost makes me feel like crying. I can't imagine how grateful you must be.

I totally understand what you've been through. Was it the Isocort you were taking for 3 months? I took it for 10 days, but had to stop b/c it gave me urgent diarrhea. I'm now on a low dose of Cortef and I just started Synthroid alone. We think the T3 from my Armour was too stimulating for me to tolerate so we'll see how it goes with just the Synthroid. *crossing fingers* If that doesn't work, I'll be back at square one again. I'm really dreading the thought, if you know what I mean.

Have you read Dr. Schwarzbein's 2nd book? You might find it interesting if you can get it from the library. Her 2nd book (not the 1st one or the 3rd one) deals mostly with the adrenals. Much of what Dr. Lam says is repeated in her book. Something to think about if you're the "reading" type.

Anyway, I sincerely hope you get some relief. It sounds like it's been a long time coming.

Wanda

I am new to the group and have been doing much research on estrogen dominance, since I fit the profile very well. I was wondering, were might I be able to purchase EsClear and PBalance?