Adrenal Fatigue and Thyroid Function

[URMySunshine77]

My sister is a RN, and we were talking a little bit yesterday about my TTC journey. I admitted to her that I had seen a fertility doctor. I asked her advice about my thyroid because the RE said that my TSH is 2.4 and the highest they want to see is 2.5. Our conversation reminded me that my acupuncturist says that I suffer from adrenal fatigue which can hurt thyroid function. 

I got this TSH reading in October, so I would *like* to think that I've bounced back a little bit since then. I am going to try to get thyroid lab orders from my GP in February or March to see if I'm doing better.

Have any of you had experience with adrenal fatigue and/or high TSH? What changes have you made in your lives? It doesn't seem like I qualify for thyroid medication at 2.4. I know for sure that I need to try to aim for eight hours of sleep each night and eat more protein--especially for breakfast. Also I'm adding as many healthy fats as possible. I just started B vitamin stress complex along with my PNV. Please share any advice or experiences you have about adrenals, thyroid, or just staying healthy in general. 

Edited to tag boobacat.

[boobacat]

My first thyroid test was a 4.6, when they retested about a week later it was 3.9ish? So although it wasn't crazy high, elevated for TTC, plus kind of erratic. When I saw the E he said normally he would not treat me but since we were TTC it was too high.

Looking back, I see pictures at my highest weight, and now and my face does have s rounder shape to me. I also remember my hair stylist mentioning how much I was shedding in August, which is a symptom.

I went on a low-dose synthroid and after taking it a month my number has stabilized at 2.1. My RE was pleased with that number to move forward with our action plan.

I have not noticed a significant difference since taking the synthroid. I feel like I am slightly less emotionally fragile but after then taking femera, those emotions are back. (Some of those emotions I believe are just the long term TTC issues). I seem to have less afternoon fatigue, but occasionally experience it- not seemingly connected to activity/sleep. Just randomly.

As far as lifestyle changes, they didn't really recommend anything other than a high protein, low-carb diet.

I do think it's worth investigating. My RE wanted below 2 I think.

I'm not sure if that's helpful- I should be making healthier lifestyle changes but that seems to go in spurts.

[URMySunshine77]

Thanks for sharing your experience boobacat. I'm surprised that my RE didn't recommend putting me on a low dose, just to be conservative. Now I'm not sure what to do. I guess I'll make an appointment with my GP and go from there.

Is it true that a person is always consider hypothyroid once diagnosed?

[ttcbabyj]

My TSH levels dropped from 3.14 to 1.19 in 17 months...I have lost some weight. I have really made some changes to my diet, in particular I really cut out the refined sugars.
I also added a probiotic to my vitamin regimen at the advice of my RE.

Good luck!

[sanremo]

Feb 2, 2015 1:39:43 GMT -5 ttcbabyj said:

My TSH levels dropped from 3.14 to 1.19 in 17 months...I have lost some weight. I have really made some changes to my diet, in particular I really cut out the refined sugars.
I also added a probiotic to my vitamin regimen at the advice of my RE.

Good luck!

This is what I did when I was diagnosed before my first pregnancy. I also added wheat grass juice and cut out a lot of wheat and flour products.

Good luck everyone. 

[boobacat]

From what I understand, yes hypothyroidism will be life long. The E had me come back after about five weeks to see how I was doing. I now will go back in about 2 months to check again. After that, it sounds like an annual visit for me. Unless (which I'm hoping for!!!) I become pregnant. I need to be seen immediately following a positive test (within a week) and then seen monthly for the duration of the pregnancy.

My official diagnosis was Hashimotos.

[URMySunshine77]

Instead of going to see my GP, do you all think I should go back to my RE and get prescribed a low dose of synthroid? Maybe that is the missing link.

[boobacat]

My RE recommended an E for my RX and I assume for extended care. Maybe wherever you can get in first?

[happyktmom]

I've had Hypothyroidism since I was a child and therefore, taken synthetic thryoid hormone to assist. My numbers stay right around 1.7 and I haven't altered my medication for about 10 years.
I know that certain foods can mess with hormone levels and Thyroid levels and function. ie., SOY. Beware of SOY! My mother has the same issue - we are intermediate vegetarians (best way I can explain it) and therefore eat a lot of soy or 'fake meat'. It's gotten me all outta wack in the past with my numbers, periods, etc. I don't completely avoid it, but when you're trying to eat healthy and you're going for a garden burger and soy latte everyday - it adds up.
I have seen my GP run basic thyroid panels but almost never orders a Free T4. That's a biggy that my Endocrinologist always orders if I'm feeling run down.

Hope this helps.

[Unknown]

Hypothyroidism is usually a life time problem, but it can also be a brief problem caused by something else. It isn't always just about your number. It is how you feel. I start to feel sluggish around a TSH of 2, so my Endo tries to keep me between .75-1.25. Most GP will not treat if you are 2.5-3, but most REs do like to see it below 2, so I would ask your RE and they might give you a low dose to see how you feel.

[vh2014]

Mine is 1.99 on a low dose of synthroid which is exactly where my E wants it for TTC. (Too bad my other numbers couldn't do the same). Like boobacat I have Hoshimoto's and once you are diagnosed, it's there for always. I was also told by my E that if you gain muscle (not fat) that it could mean you need a higher dose so in the case of Hoshimoto's weight loss does not mean a lower dose. I lost 45 pounds last year and yep... still on the same dose. Which actually is a good thing, because it means I'm stable.

[URMySunshine77]

I sent an e-mail to my RE's nurse yesterday and asked if the doctor wants to run my blood work again to see if I need to take thyroid medication. She wrote back today and said that my TSH was actually 2.52 and they don't think I need to go on medication to lower it.

I guess I will ask my GP to order a lab so I can see if it has lowered. I don't really understand why my RE is being blasé about it.