adrenal problem?

[myboysmom4]

HI,
I've been having severely heavy periods every since I got my cycles back post baby delivery. Painful cramps in front and low back, gas and bloating, accompanied usually with diarrhea. the last few cycles stopping after 2-3 days just to start up again a day or so later.
My blood work shows a low TSH. could you give me an idea as to possible answers? I'd appreciate it. My doc says some people just get heavy periods. sounds like there is more to  it than that. what do you think?


TSH: in Jan was .26   2 weeks ago .24  and now .16 (.35 - 4.94)
Free T4: 2 weeks ago .74 and now .96 (.71 - 1.85)
Free T3: 3.3 (2.3 - 4.2)
T3 Uptake: 31% (23-37)
Prolactin: 4.3 (2.8 - 29.2) these were drawn the 1st day of my cycle (range is follicular phase?)
FSH: 6.8 (2.5 - 10.2) these we drawn the 1st day of my cycle (range is follicular phase?)
LH: 2.4 (1.9 - 12.5) these we drawn the 1st day of my cycle (range is follicular phase?)
Bilirubin 1.1 (.3 - 1.2)

From what I've read it seems that my T4 should be in the upper 1/3 if my TSH is so low...meaning hypothyroid. So does this point to Central Hypopituitary?

These are my symptoms:

-cold easily
- dull aching kidney pain (flank pain?)
- aching joints especially hips and hands
- weight fluctuation
- intermitant hairloss

GYNO:
-very heavy painful menstruation since stopping breast feeding 1.3 years ago.  however now they seem to be stopping midway and then restarting again a day or two later (last 3 cycles). accompanied with diarrhea

PSYCHOLOGICAL:
- irritability and mood swings
- significant memory loss and poor consentration (decrease in executive functioning)

FATIGUE
- have to take a nap mid afternoon

SKIN
- severely oily skin which has now developed Sebasceous Hyperplasia all over my face neck and other places
- hyperpigmentation spots developing on face (not melasma but have that too from pregnancy)
- tiny white spots all over legs and arms

HISTORY:
I have a Hx of gestational diabetes
A concussion to the back of my head 7 years ago that caused temporary tunnel vision and amnesia
Had C-Section's 2006 and 2008
I'm 37 and female.

[rumpled]

Your tests sound hypothyroid - not so certain of the central part. Either way, the treatment is the same.

Your symptoms sound, to me as a layman, like thyroid and that you may have other issues. I don't know why your doctors said testing was pointless - they obviously do not know how to treat any abnormalities. Are you seeing an endocrinologist or a GP?

[rambopeep]

I too was sure that I had a hormone imbalance for years but could never put my finger on what it was. The weird hair growth was a huge indicator for me, but was laughed off by most people. As well as the odd cycles, but I needed more proof for them to make a connection.

I moved 3 years ago and was fortunate that my new doctor specialized in hormone replacement therapy. Most doctors don't bother with women's hormones, let alone the adrenals. I never even thought of the adrenals until my doctor told me my results were so bad that he couldn't ignore it. He told me that everything that I wrote down regarding my symptoms, was dead on from my test results. A saliva test is the only test that is sensitive enough to pick up these hormones. All my previous blood tests came back as normal, because these hormones don't circulate in the blood stream enough to be detected.

Maybe a women doctor would be more open to hormone testing. I also noticed on this board some people had done the test on their own through a mail order kit. I am from Mississauga, Ontario and bought the kit through my doctor and then had to send my completed test to Rocky Mountain Analytical lab in Calgary Alberta, who specialized in saliva hormone testing. It was very expensive, and not covered by insurance. Mine was $800, and I will have to do it again after one year of my hormone replacement therapy to see if I had many any improvements.

You want a saliva test which looks for Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEAS, and Cortisol. The cortisol is the stress hormone, which will be tested at different times of the day.

Try googling estrogen dominance, and adrenal fatigue syndrome. If you are like me, then that is where you will find most of your answers. I also found some great information on a menopausal website too. Good luck.

[myboysmom4]

Gosh, I DO have a lot of your same symptoms! Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry your baby chances are slim... Don't lose hope. I've asked 2 different dr for hormone testing and both said it is pointless, that everyone has different levels so the test would be unhelpful. :-( is there a specialty doc that finally took your saliva test? What tests should I specifically ask for?  I've always thought it was hormonal... Thanks!

[rambopeep]

Your symptoms sound very much like mine. I too have had issues with my cycles for well over 20 years now. I am 36 and have a short cycle which is generally only between 22 and 25 days long. and a  3 day long menses accompanied with horrible back and stomach cramping for as long as I can remember. Always starts off strong with clots ( I know TMI) and then by the end of the second day it is light and then starts up again on day 3 and then gone by the end of that day. I was always told that everything was normal and that I was just lucky to have it so easy. I have also been trying for a second child for 7 years with no luck, and was told that my ovaries were not PCOS and it must be my husband who was the problem.

I am also very sensitive to the cold. Intolerance to stressful situations, and would shake or get bad headaches from stress. Experience frequent hair loss. I keep a swiffer in my bathroom just for my hair, and am always cutting the hair out of my vacuum too. I bloat very easily, even on a glass of water. Craved sweets and salty foods, have joint and muscle pains in my shoulder, hips, and neck. Experience terrible mood swings, very impatient and irritable, and have periods of brain fog and inability to concentrate on a simple mental task. I have a low libido and sleep apnea.. I also have white spots on my legs, which are more visible when I tan them, but are there all year round. I also have hair growing in very unpleasant places, like on my breasts, chin, cheeks, random long eyebrow hairs and sometimes a very long hair on my arm, stomach and back.

I complained to my new doctor about my symptoms after doing some research on the internet. I found by accident when I was browsing through a menopausal website, all of my symptoms. I was shocked and wrote all my symptoms down along with the cause beside it. I discovered that I had a hormone imbalance. After I did the hormone saliva test I was confirmed that I not only am suffering from low progesterone and high testosterone, I also have adrenal fatigue with very low cortisol and I am hypoglycemic.

I never realized that the adrenals also use the progesterone hormone to fuel it when it is over stressed. Which explains my low progesterone, and short cycles, which also caused me  to annovulate each month. I was confused on how you can have a regular cycle each month and not ovulate but I discovered that you can shed the lining of the uterus each month but it is not thickened enough with the right amount of hormones and is prematurely shed and thus the duration is shortened.

I am not on any meds for the adrenals, only doctor prescribed vitamins which is 5 times more concentrated then you can get over the counter, 1000 mg progesterone hormone replacement therapy and I must follow a low glycemic index diet. Also using a CPAP machine for my sleep apnea. Unfortunately my doc told me that it took years for me to kill my adrenals, it may take years to get it back to normal again. Which also means my cycles may also take as long to regulate because the adrenals strongly affect it.

I wish I had known about the effects of prolonged stress, unhealthy eating lifestyle consisting of mostly packaged prepared foods and exposure to chemical hormones in the things we eat and use. I also suffered with sleep deprivation for years due to my sleep apnea, which also added to my stress. More doctors need to be aware of female hormones imbalances and adrenal fatigue. I just wish I was able to know all of this 10 years ago and could have reversed the amount of time lost and suffered. My chances for a baby are very low to none now, and am very saddened over it.

Best advice is to do as much research about your symptoms as possible. The more information you give the doctor the better. Also write it all down so you don't forget any details. Ask for a hormone test. The saliva one is the most accurate.

Best of luck, sorry for rambling on, but I hope I helped shed some light for you.

[myboysmom4]

Thanks for your feedback. I'm not on any medications except antibiotics for acne.
My a.m. cortisol came back normal = 11 (4-22)
and no tests of GH, IGF, ACTH, or other tests that would go with cortisol were done.
What causes central hypothyroidism? a tumor? What type of management is required for your central hypothyroidism? how is your quality of life?  
It is so scary not having answers...and waiting to get into the endo, which then he will just send me for more labs... even more waiting. ugh
Was it difficult for you to get a diagnosis? Do my symptoms point to central hypo? what questions should I ask the endo? anything you can share would be much appreciated! thank you

[rumpled]

I have central hypothyroidism - my TSH is .0008.
Yours is low, but still eeking out in the range. I used to feel better when I was low TSH, and  higher in the range on everything else.
Did the doc do any antibody tests - like Hashimoto's?

Are you on any thyroid meds?

So the doc ran prolactin, a common pituitary thing, and one cortisol test in the morning I assume, which can tell you something, but eh, not much... but he skipped growth hormone which would be the first to go in head trauma (GH, IGF-1 testing - any of that?), no ACTH which would go with the cortisol, and no estradiol, testosterone, dhea sulfate... in other words, you need to go see an endocrinologist and get more testing.

Hormonal testing is a challenge - it has to be done right.