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Endocrinology considers blood/serum testing as their standard ???,
so you'll need a holistic or naturopathic doctor to either interpret your
lab results or better to order a "professional" test, not available directly
to the patient. I will email you details.
Just send me private message with your info.
I'm surprised you got Free T3 and Free T4 tested.
You need reverse T3 and all the Lab's ranges as well for your results to be useful.
Dr. Barnes Basal Temperature Test will show with great accuracy
adrenal fatigue and/or low thyroid function.
Anytime.
Niko
Niko... Thank you! More information is greatly appreciated! I requested the saliva test but endo insisted on 8 am blood draw. I can go to local lab and pay but there are a couple to choose from? I have my free T3 and free T4 numbers charted that I can email. My email is ***@****. Thanks! Lori
Hi Lori and welcome to the forum.
I don't think you need a Dr. House.
Your case seems complex only because conventional medicine has unnecessarily made it so. And you are one of millions.
There are a couple rather strong possibilities.
One is an underlying pathogenic infectious condition such as Mycoplasma
and any of the co-infections like Ehrlichia, Babesia, Bartonella and of course Borellia must be included in this suspicion.
The fact that you were deployed to the Gulf Region during Desert Storm,
may explain the above suspicion, as there's a strong connection to
Gulf War Illness and pathogenic infectious conditions, which may remain
dormant in the body, until a trigger is present to activate them.
The trigger, could be anything from the botox injections, the infection or inflammatory condition for which antibiotics were taken (antibiotics can destroy the balance of healthy flora, one of the keys to a healthy immune system, and lead to yeast overgrowth), prolonged stress, unresolved hypothyroid condition.
The last two, could be a stand alone cause also for many of your health concerns.
Unresolved hypothyroid is very probable (unresolved hypothyroid is transferred by the mother to the offspring ), serum tests do nothing to
reveal accurately thyroid CELLULAR function as they don't show the active form of T3 and T4 and TSH is usually meaningless.
Free T3, Free T4 and reverse T3 levels must be tested.
Cortisol levels must be tested by saliva testing only, to my opinion.
I don't know what the lab's normal range is for your cortisol levels, but chances are that it will be probably a false high when it is actually low.
This is because blood testing measures both active and inactive forms!
A majority of lows in cortisol levels create havoc in thyroid function and
when adjusting thyroid meds up to compensate for lower function it will cause hyperthyroid symptoms!
Your hypo-tension indicates adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion,
which fits with the unresolved hypothyroid suspicion.
Lowered cellular energy will affect any organ, any system
and that is what low thyroid function really means.
The adrenals are the "kings" of the endocrine system,
so they take precedent over the thyroid, so before the thyroid function can be restored, the adrenal function must be restored. Otherwise, both suffer,
as treatment for the thyroid goes in opposite direction of fatigued/exhausted adrenals which need LOW cellular energy, rest and specific supplementation to rebalance. The thyroid function itself cannot be restored when cortisol levels are low.
Your high cholesterol is a clear sign of low thyroid function,
but it should not be too much of a concern, as it is just a marker,
not a cause for heart disease. The real concern is with inflammation
and of course lower energy available to the CV system.
I will look at your various test results more carefully, but your low potassium should be addressed. Consider consuming adequate potassium rich foods, like bananas, oranges.
I can send you an adrenal questionnaire, if you want, to screen for adrenal fatigue. Let me know.
This is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
Best wishes.
Niko