Latest Update on My Medicine for Hypothyroid and Adrenal Fatigue
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 1:53PM Lizzy Hi my friends,
It's been a while since I've posted about my medicine, and it's been an interesting year! So I wanted to share what I've learned. First, I want to say wow - it's all a big experiment! And that's tough sometimes because I want the answer right now. But the only way to learn is try, test, observe and somehow be patient along the way. So my dear friends, keep at it and you will find answers too. Here is my medicine and general update...
Update on Thyroid Medicine
For a year I have been on the Thyroid compound prescription I special order from Collier's Pharmacy (details below) in Arkansas. I continue to love it. On the new compound medicine, I take 180mgs day which seems like the right dose for me. On Naturthroid, when I raised above 130mgs I had super freaky hyper and hypo symtpoms. Yet on the compound I can take 180mg beautifully. Weird, isn't it? So I am super happy to report feeling great now though on the compound. We affectionality call it "The Miss Lizzy Compound" -- you can ask for it by name at Colliers. Neat.
Update on Hydrocortisone
The other super big change...I weaned off Hydrocortisone! This was a huge step. I started Hydrocortisone three years ago to help with low cortisol and adrenal fatigue. And Hydrocortisone definitely helped me. But I was always a little worried that the Hydrocortisone was causing some weight gain, and perhaps had something to do with hair loss, though I wasn't totally sure. This summer I decided it was time to try weaning off Hydrocortisone. Here is what I did:
- On STTM Janie felt she had avoided adrenal fatigue because of the high doses of Vitamin C she took daily. So I increased my Vitamin C to 2k mgs a day along with 1k mg Bioflavonoid (per Dr. Wilson's suggestion). And btw -- chewable vitamins really make it much more fun!
- I started the process of decreasing my Hydrocortisone by 2.5mgs a week.
- If I was stressed during the process, I would hold the dose, and then continue when I felt ready. The idea was to take care of my body and not cause shock.
- If had I felt any adrenal fatigue symptoms, I would have stayed on the Hydrocortisone but luckily it seems my adrenals are really well healed now! YAY!!!
It took about 3 months to fully wean off the Hydrocortisone (long time, I know!). And I happy to report, I feel great. It was definitely worth it for me to be on the Hydrocortisone but it was time to try without. It's been two full months, and so far I seem to be keeping my weight down with greater easily. Over the coming months I will be observing weight gain/loss and hair volume/regrowth to see if the Hydrocortisone might have be related. And of course I will share what I learn!
xxoo
Lizzy
~~~~
Here is the info for Collier's. The pharmacist Rodney at Colliers is SO awesome. He gave us his direct phone extension for ordering the compound (479) 935-4336. Ask for "The Miss Lizzy Compound" and he will hook you up. (A doctor's prescription is of course needed and he can explain what to do.)
Reader Comments (19)
Just wanted to say I'm glad I found your blog. I've been looking for blogs by hypo/Hashi's people and yours is really the only one I've found that's regularly updated. So, thanks for shaing your story.
Hi Jen, I try to update as often as I can (but sometimes fall behind). Hearing from people is good motivation to keep posting. Thanks! xxoo Lizzy
Hi Lizzy,
So great to hear how well you're doing. I just started on 15 mg of HC last week. I've been hypo for years but was only medicated last year. I'm on 4 grains of compounded thyroid medication and despite this dosage, I'm super clinically hypothyroid (my average temp is 95.5!). I found a new doctor who believes in treating adrenals (got thrown under the bus with my old one because he kept telling me to raise my thyroid dose, making my adrenals that much worse in the process, no doubt) and that's why I'm now on HC. I was feeling more energized (though still far from normal) the first few days but it seems my energy has dipped back to where it had been. I don't know what to do! I've been sick for so long and I'm only 29! I
I'm curious about what you wrote re HC and weight gain: I had always been afraid of steroids because of weight gain but thought the dose I'm on (and presumably you) is physiologic, so I'm kind of confused--the last thing I need is to gain more weight at this point! Do you think I need more HC than 15? My cortisol wasn't super duper low but I think low for me since I'e have an autoimmune disease for 21 years and therefore require more cortisol as it from my own body if that makes sense. It also seems that it would be the only missed link, especially since it seemed to help the first few days. Any help you could offer would be wonderful! Thanks so much and I hope you continue to be well!
Jillian,
15mg seems awfully low to me. I would post your results to the yahoo adrenal group. They will give you a recommendation from there. They are truly experts.
Good luck.....I know what you are going through. Take care!
Cindy
Hi Jillian,
I totally agree with Cindy. I would post your lab work on the Yahoo group. With HC, I am not totally sure about weight gain. It seemed to me that I struggled to keep off the 3-5 lbs on HC but its hard to know for sure. I felt so good when I was on HC that it seemed really worth it. Increasing the Vitamin C has been really good, and what helped me get off HC eventually. I wonder if you have an RT3 issue? Anyway, yes post on the Yahoo group, they are fantastic!
xxoo
Lizzy
thank you both so much, i really appreciate it! i will post to the yahoo group, per both you're suggestion, and see what they say. The doctor I'm with now is very alternative and extremely open to HC and armour or compounded thyroid but for some reason, prefers blood cortisol tests to saliva for whatever reason. A past doctor I was with did believe in saliva tests and last April, the saliva test I took revealed that i was relatively low. My current results (blood) for cortisol with this newer doctor showed that I'm within normal limits but put me on HC because he feels that what I'm making--even though it's within normal limits--wasn't enough for me. I'm so concerned about taking more HC because I don't want to run into problems where my weight just continues to pile on, definitely not what i want. I am bumpng up to 5 grains of Armour soon and maybe that will help. I had had RT3 about a year ago and was on Cytomel only but that has since cleared, thankfully.
I just want this to be over already! It's hard to believe things will get better because they've been bad for so long. And keep getting worse! I really want and need to lose weight, it's so upsetting!
Hi Jillian, I totally hear you! It's frustrating and hard. Let us know what they say on the yahoo group. I bet they will have good insights! xxoo!!!
Just wanted to let you know that I have an appointment with your doctor, Charles Brummer, in a few weeks. I'm really looking forward to it and so hope that he can help me where other doctors haven't been able to. Just a question: regarding the Yahoo Adrenal Group, did most of your help come from Dr. Brummer or from the group? If it was from the group, I should save my money and not go to the doctor (he doesn't accept my insurance) and just refer to the group's advice. I'm hoping you say that Dr Brummer helped you tremendously and he can do the same for me!
Did you struggle with puffy eyes and dark circles before you got well?
Hi Jillian, Sorry I am just seeing your message now. How wonderful you are seeing Dr. Brummer! He will likely send you to have a panel of labwork to get a really thorough picture, and have you come back for a follow up visit. Yes, Dr. Brummer has helped me tremendously! Though it took us time to figure out and try different things (for example, low iron, low thyroid, low estrogen, vitamins, adrenals, etc..). So please know there is no instant solution, but if you come prepared, he is wonderful at helping find answers. He listens and never makes me feel like "it was in my head". I know its expensive, and that's really tough! But the way I see it is... the "wrong" doctors stole years of my life.
The Yahoo Group helped as well, so it was a combination. I had to know what might be going on with me (adrenals, thyroid, etc...) so I could have an informed discussion with Dr. Brummer. Yes, I had puffy eyes and dark circles/shadows! The shadows were adrenal related I believe.
I hope that helps!
xxoooo
Lizzy
Oh and yes the puffy eyes and shadows/dark circles are gone now! My eyes are clear and bright. xxoo
Good site!!!!!
This information helps me a lot.
Thanks for sharing this.
Boots No 7
Relastin
When someone writes an post he/she keeps the plan of a user in his/her brain that how a user can know it. So thats why this post is great. Thanks!
Maxolash reviews | Flexoplex reviews
| Eyelastin reviews
This post is really a fastidious one it helps new net users, who are wishing for blogging.
Dermaxin reviews | Somulin reviews | Eyevive reviews
Thank you so much for the information. I am on 180mg of np thyroid but feel no change in symptoms. I think I might have adrenal issues as well as I have almost every single symptoms. I don't have insurance however so I have to rely on the clinic dr. I have to try something though so I would like to try Lizzy's compound. Do I just use my np thyroid prescription or do I have to have my dr. write one out specifically for a compound? I am also going to try to eat the way you suggest. It's going to be really hard as I LOVE bread products. Is there any way to fix your adrenals yourself if you don't/can't have a cooperative dr? Thanks :)
Lizzy, did you experience any symptoms when weaning off hydrocortisone? Did you take any alternatives, such as ashwaganda or liquorice root during the weeks of weaning?
Hi Anna, sorry for the slow reply. I increased my Vtiamin C to 2k a day when I weaned off HC, and continue at this dose. xoxo! Lizzy
I know this is an old post but my question is related to the compounding posts. I am receiving a compounding formula as well and my compounding pharmacist says that it is impossible to compound with natural desicated. As whatever the T-4 to T-3 ratio a pig comes with is, well, what it comes with. I get compounding because the amount of T-3 present in the armour was too High for me. So I do a 98% T-4 to 2% T-3 ratio. Now so my question is are you getting natural desicated compounding because of the fillers or are you changing you're ratios as well? Also, is my pharmacy wrong in saying that you can't compound natural? Curious your thoughts on this.
Hi Ashley, sorry I am way behind in email. I have the compound made because of the filler, not the ratio. I suggest calling Rodney at Collier's Drug (479) 442-6262, he is terrific and will answer your questions. xoxo! Lizzy
I sent you a personal email but wanted to make one quick comment on how thankful I am for finding this website. Will be ordering the compound next week and pray that this will help. Never had a problem with my Armour Thyroid until this year and now all my hypothyroid symptoms are back. And since I have no thryoid at all, its really bad. The exhaustion is always there - and I'm sick of it! Will let you know how it works for me over the next few weeks. Thanks again SO much for sharing!!!