Finally got some answers!!

[Sunshine_67]

Thanks to a very expensive doctor (osteopath/naturpath who doesn't take insurance), I have found that all my female hormones are either low or non existant and this has been the reason my thyroid meds have not been working all these years. My progesterone levels were in the basement. An MRI from 2008 showed my pituitary gland was concave, which my doc said means it's not working right. Why my endo back then ignored this and didn't bother checking my hormones I don't know. Could have saved me three years of anguish. So my doc is taking me off birth control pills and putting me on a bioidentical cream that has estrogen, testosterone and, progesterone. She also has me taking 5mg DHEA as well as glutamine for my gut and Rejuvamax to increase my growth hormone which was also low and Dim to lower the bad estrogen. I'm also taking Dim to lower the bad estrogen.

She said as low as all my levels were, it will take 3-4 months to start feeling a difference. I just can't believe I saw 5 endos and none of them ever tested my hormones. They need to change their specialty to just diabetes docs and not say they're hormone experts. They know nothing about hormones or thyroid. This explains why I never felt a change on any type or dose of thyroid meds. Your body needs progesterone to process thyroid meds. This also explains why I got osteopororis at a young age.

[horselip]

Hiya-
Just wanted to add that growth hormone is an injectable med. You will need to have something called a stimulation test done to confirm that you are growth hormone deficient. I am also a pituitary patient and rGH has been very beneficial for me and was the one thing that finally made the thyroid hormones work. Anyways if you have pit problems you might also have an issue with your ACTH. This one stimulates your adrenal glands to make hydrocortisol and DHEA. So hopefully your doctor is looking at both.
Ltr
Horselip

[Sunshine_67]

Since my pituitary gland is damaged and hasn't produced hormones probably since I was a child, I'll have to be on bioidentical hormones the rest of my life. I have no choice.  Even after being put on birth control pills at age 18 I have never had more than one period a year and since I was put on thyroid meds, my periods completely stopped. My body is literally producing zero hormones of any kind. My progesterone and DHEA levels were completely out of range and estrogen was at the very bottom of the range. My doc says low DHEA causes cortisol to increase which causes adrenal fatigue. My human growth hormone was also at the very bottom of the range. All this has caused me to have osteoporosis in my 30's (probably earlier, I was just never tested). My lungs feel like they're failing right now, I can't breathe without coughing all the time and I feel like someone is sitting on my chest and choking my neck. Walking is a huge effort, like I'm moving thru mud. I also can't think or focus and feel like I'm overdosed on cold medicine all the time.

So for right now my doc is mostly concerned about getting my hormone levels back up becuase they're what's causing my thyroid and adrenal problems.

As far as testing, I've read the urine and saliva tests are more accurate for testing female hormones than blood test. You have to go to an unconventional doctor for this because no mainstream doctor will run these tests. I asked 4 endos and my obg-yn to test my hormones and they all refused.

[redheadaussie]

Hate to be picky, but it is any form of oestrogen synthetic, cream, natural, excess  or oral, that can interfere with thyroid medication and thyroid levels.

ONLY if someone is extremely low on oestrogen will it not be an issue to replicate it. But having said that, in time, you will need to keep an eye on the thyroid levels and make sure they aren't changing too drastically. Getting the right levels of both is important.


Vic2009, you need to ask for female hormone testing again to rule out low oestrogen. Don't take it unless it is proven you need it. It does affect the thyroid medication and you don't need the roller coaster of going downhill fast just when you are starting to get better! They will do progesterone, oestrogen, testosterone (yes females produce it too) Follicle stimulating hormone, Lutenising Hormone, Prolactin, Oestrodiol. These are mainly made in the pituitary gland and those with issues will tend to have levels that are off. Menopausal women (those without a period for 12 months) levels will be low as well. (or should be!)

[Sunshine_67]

I had a 24 hour comprehensive urine test for hormones. I had all the types of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone tested. All levels were either at the bottom of the range or out of range. My pituitary gland is damaged and no longer produces any hormones so I'll have to be on bioidentical hormones the rest of my life. I'm hoping once the hormones are regulated, my thyroid and adrenal issues will work themselves out.

The hormones are in a cream form. It's the synthetic oral estrogen that can cause thyroid problems. The bioidentical hormones are what your body makes naturally.

Someone told me they read an article about how you need progesterone to process thyroid meds. I don't know where she read it from. I'm sure having little to no hormones the majority of my life has put a great deal of stress on my body.

[Vic2009]

Can you tell us what hormones were tested?  My doctor tested my estrogen/progesterone levels awhile back and it required testing twice during the month to compare levels.  Also can you say what type of cream was recommended?

I've been nervous about taking estrogen because I've read it blocks thyroid, and will require adjustment.  I'd only just started to be normal again these past few months.  But it looks like it will be inevitable for me.

Isn't it great to find a good doctor and get real results?  Like a miracle!

[gimel]

I am a bit confused about the thought that progesterone is needed to process thyroid meds.  Instead, from what I've read, progesterone  does have an effect on the thyroid glands production of natural thyroid hormone, but when you are dependent on thyroid meds, I don't know how progesterone would have any significant effect on thyroid levels.  Unless your doctor is saying that getting your hormones better balanced will reduce stress and thereby eventually reduce your reverse T3.  It will be interesting to track the effects.  Please keep us tuned in.

[Sunshine_67]

She said it's a stress response and thinks my thyroid issues will get better once my hormone levels are better. I'm still on the same dose, but without the right hormone balance, my body isn't using any of the thyroid meds I'm taking. I read you need progesterone to process thyroid meds and my levels are in the toilet. So for now she's focusing on my hormones.

[gimel]

What did your latest doctor have to say about your prior thyroid test results showing excessive levels of reverse T3?  Are you still taking the same thyroid meds and dosage?  

[stella5349]

it seems that this is the only way with so many doctors. The ones who really help are the ones who don't want to be held down by insurance companies.

I too have an awesome doctor - not in the insurance he// so many have fallen into,.

At the point for me - to now even get upset about it anymore and says it is... what it is.

We are some - better off just going for those doctors first to get well faster than to go through the insurance protacol and not be healthier one bit after some of that treatment they practice.

Good Luck