New to this...Some test results

[Fuel1212]

I have Hashi's and part of my thyroid(left lobe) removed papillary carcinoma. After 6 months being on 100mcg Levo and 5mcg of Cytomel..still feel bad.

My sleep is not real great. I wake up feeling numbness and tingling all over with ringing ears.
I recently had a bunch of blood/urine work done and am not sure what to think.

TSH - .06          .3 - 4.2   This has never stopped going down? Maybe over medicated?
FT4 - 1.07          .58 - 1.64
FT3 - 3.32          2.5 - 3.9
Reverse T3 354    90-350  slightly high


Serotonin - 36        22-180  probably lack of sleep?
CRP - .341            .000 - .299  high

Below is 24hr urine test pre and post ACTH

                               Pre                                          Post                        Ranges
DHEA                     275                                           229                         100 - 2000
Testosterone            9.5                                            N/A                         20 - 200  LOW
Androsterone           2783                                          2139                        2000 - 5000
Etiocholanolone       1999                                          1362 LOW                1400 - 5000
Pregnanetriol            1750 High                                  1283                         200 - 1500
Cortisone                 220 High                                     186                          31 - 209
Cortisol                    187 High                                    225 High                  30 - 170

Does this mean anything to anyone? Please help!    

[rumpled]

I would rather not be right. Cushing's is not something I would wish on anyone except a few really stupid doctors.

. Yes, being on any steroid would raise it, but I beg to differ on the exercise etc. as that should be temporary and not show up unless you ran to the lab and sat down all sweaty. Cortisol normal goes up and down anyway as it responds to a normal cycle plus the demands of the body. Cortef BTW is pretty short lived - that is why is most used by those that need a replacement when there are adrenal issues - for instance, my adrenals were removed when my Cushing's could not be cured with pituitary surgery, and so I take cortef daily - my tests however are in the normal ranges. More than say 20mg is a suppressive dose (makes the adrenals stop working) and above that, you risk the Cushing's symptoms - but every body differs.

I have to take T3 as I do not convert either.

[Fuel1212]

One thing I forgot to mention is that I was on Cortef or Hydrocortisone (cortisol) for adrenal issues. I think this is why my numbers were slightly elevated? I also found out that I was exposed to Lymes..great! I know this can do some pretty weird things to your body.

There are also many reasons cortisol levels are high, and not just Cushings...correct? Exercise, steroids, etc

Also, I have been dealing with these symptoms for a few years now. I just recently had the MRI. I guess it wasn;t the dynamic type, but would think this tumor would be visible. At least not fall through the 3mm crack.

My doctor is not a neuro endo. He is a specialist for hormone and thyroid, as well as a chemist. We will see what my blood work looks like off of the Cortef this time. I was also not converting the synthetic T4 into active T3, but was converting to reverse T3. This adds stress on the adrenals and metabolism.

You maybe correct.....I fricken hope not. But for now, I have to go with the odds. I have had quite a few tests that should show something Cushings. I also think I read that women were twice as likely to have this. Thanks for your help and interest in me. I would definitely like to keep in touch!

Many thanks!

[rumpled]

Was it dynamic? Dynamic means the contrast was given while you were in the machine.

Reasons why; Radiologist missed it, it fell between the slices (MRIs don't see everything, they slice every 3mm), you needed a dynamic MRI (they can see smaller tumors by the uptake of the contrast)...

There could be other reasons for what is going on - but you need a lot of testing. A bad doc will treat you symptomatically, but what you are is just early disease. Is your doc a neuro-endo?

[Fuel1212]

Wouldn't the Mri show something? I had one with and without contrast. There wasn't anything...everything looked perfect?

[rumpled]

Yeah, well, um, I had the dexamethasone test too and it looked fine, and so did hundreds of my friends - and gosh, we all ended up with Cushing's.

I hate to tell you this, but what you told me are symptoms, and you need not have to have all symptoms to have it. It also could be in early stages. When I first had it, I was of normal weight, etc, and I was just tired and had sleeping and mood issues. It was only several years later that poo hit the fan and more symptoms arose and then well, you can see that in my pictures.

[Fuel1212]

I was looking into this. I had the Dexamethasone test and looked good. I just don't have to have any of the Cushing's symptoms which is weird. I have also had an MRI that was fine?

This is very puzzling and driving me nuts.!

[rumpled]

High cortisol + low testosterone = Cushing's syndrome.

CRP would be high as Cushing's causes a lot of inflammation. I used to register super high ones as well.

I would look into Cushing's syndrome/disease. It fits also with the lack of sleep. It messes with the diurnal rhythm. And the thyroid.