High thyroid count

[dech1213]

hello, PLEASE, PLEASE, I NEED HELP. The last 4 years after having low adrenal count is when I first noticed the worse symptoms. Always having a slight hormone em balance and depression I developed Fibromyalgia. My adrenal count was 2.99.  Already post menopausal at 50 after a complete hysterectomy, I started noticing weight gain especially around my mid section. I never carried any waist or belly fat. Fatigue was awe full compiled with a high stress job. My thyroid had always been borderline normal. After taking Cortisol for a year my Adrenal count rose to 12. Still the weight came along with everything else. On top of all of this I have waited 2 1/2 years for a spine fusion operation on 8 disc, so acute pain along with the fibro. Has alway been part of the last 7 years. My last thyroid count came to 6.8. I now think I need to get another endroconologist. Doctor to check my thyroid and my adrenal gland. I have not been able to loose weight in 5 years even on a 1400 cal diet. Could the thyroid be apart of the weight gain along with my other systems? I know my body, theirs something wrong. I cannot get anyone to help me get started. Please please give some advice...desperate..

[flyingfool]

Many believe that Fibro is nothing more than untreated Hypothyroidism.

Inability to loose weight would clearly suggest a metabolism problem.  And the prime hormone related to metabolism rate is Thyroid.  Again indicating that you are low thyroid.

Your other problems and stress (back pain etc) can also cause conversion problem of T4 into T3 and instead creating useless Reverse T3 instead of usable Free T3.  Which would result in lowering available thyroid.

If the TSH is 6.8 there again is another sign of Hypo as the AACE 12 years ago recommended anything over a TSH of 3.0 to be considered Hypo and get thyroid medication.

Low thyroid will cause the body to try to make up for the inadequate thyroid hormone.  As a result it relys upon the adrenals mainly to do this.  Again another sign suggesting Hypo thyroid.

All in all, each and every thing you point out is related to or suggestive of low thyroid.  Thus additioinal testing and you being your own best advocate is in order.

DEMAND that you get the following tests at a minimum:

-FREE T4
-FREE T3

I would recommend you getting tested for the two Hashimoto's antibodies:

- TPOab
- TGab

For other blood tests that are typical of people who are or may be low thyroid:

Vitamin D3
Vitamin B-12
Iron
Ferritin

ALWAYS request a copy of the lab results.  When you get them please post along with the reference ranges.

Do NOT accept the idea that if you are "somewhere" in the "normal" range that you are fine.  This is total B.S.  Most people need to be in the middle to upper ranges in order to feel well.  The term "normal" is a mathmatical statistical term.  It is NOT a term that means that you should feel fine at that level.

[Barb135]

What adrenal count are you referring to, as being 2.99 and rising to 12?  Is that your cortisol level?  I assume you're still taking cortisol?  We'd have to know about the testing done to determine low adrenal function, etc, as well as reference ranges because those vary lab to lab.  Single blood tests for adrenal function aren't very accurate.  

Also, what thyroid test came back at 6.8?  Was that TSH?  Have you had actual thyroid hormone tests done?  Those would be Free T3 and Free T4?
You don't mention taking thyroid hormones, so you probably don't?

Your profile says you're male, but I'm assuming you simply forgot to change that?

It does sound like you might a different doctor, as it appears that your testing has been totally inadequate, as well as your treatment.  Sounds like you have a couple of things going on that could contribute to weight gain/prevent weight loss... we can help you get to the bottom of it.