(From Janie: you can also ask this question on good patient groups: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others)

(From Janie: Would need more details, actually, which really belongs in the patient groups, but just briefly…make sure you are not taking Pregnenelone, which can raise progesterone. But if your “high progesterone” comes from a saliva test, re-do the test using serum, which can be more accurate. Saliva testing can produce “false” highs. http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others )

Continuing on using myself as a bit of a lab rat, I wanted to get off of coritsone even the 8mg a day, (the doctor wanted me to increase it ) so instead I tried increasing the LIcorice Root I was taking to a few capsules (say 4 max) a day (with meals). I am starting to get the message my body has been trying to tell me, that I am too low in progesterone or too high in estrogen at ovulation and for the following 3 weeks (most of the month).

I had my only ever 2nd seizure around this time the other day (like catamenial epilepsy), the first in 1.5 years! I think it was owing to the Licorice Root bumping up my estrogen levels (apparently it can do that) I read afterwards. So if you get weird headed/light headed around ovulation and during and after your period you may have too high estrogen and the Licorice Root could be a bit too much. I also noticed that I was having trouble dropping off to sleep and kept waking myself up with a jump. My cortisol is now normal apparently so I have begun weaning myself slowly off of the cortisone. (Apparently Cortisone can also give you issues, male facial hair growth, skin and mucous membranes drying out …. YUK!)

So I think no matter what you try, monitor it closely, be your own personal physician and if you notice new symptoms tweak what you are taking, always gradually!
C YA
Janette

I’m so thankful for this website. It and one or two others have been a replacement for a doctor many times. I am permenopausal (although via 1 blood test my standard GP said no you are not. Same with my thyroid even though I had a LONG list of symptoms the scariest being a growing and persistent memory loss and brain fog but the TSH came up as normal. Then I had a nocturnal seizure and that was that I was online and searching for answers.

The vast majority of doctors here in Australia don’t treat with dessicated thyroid so I had to travel 4 hours to get one to listen to me and H E L P!!!! My brain fog lifted and I’ve improved, taking a small amount of Cortisol 2 x per day, although my memory and brain function is still not all back and even dvds and old friends are a bit of a blank. I recognise them but don’t remember our history which is a REAL disability!

I’m only up to 90 mgs of DT so far and my newest attempt at a doctor wants me to switch to slow release T3 only (he doesn’t trust the compounded DT, we don’t have Armour here). I’m not sure what to do, he said I had a high Reverse T3 but I’m concerned about giving up DT and the T4 that comes with it. I’ve read it helps memory and I need more help there not less. Should I increase my DT to help my memories return or are they lost forever? This Dr insists I don’t need to take T4 at all, that T3 will convert into T4 and he is quite proud and condescending about his opinions. YUK!

Now I’m having those menopausal extreme hormonal symptoms like Janie, aching body parts, (as well I fell of a retaining wall and broke a rib). Now I’m feeling heated often too (stronger than a hot flush that passes) as well as many of the hypothyroid ones (btw more T3 and less DT seemed to make my persisitent constipation worse). I’ll take the Licorice Root more regularly (my iodine was high last time dr checked) and more magnesium and calcium. I’ve been taking vit Bs and C as well. (Can’t really avoid the emotional stresses I’m afraid, although faith helps.) Perhaps I should raise my DT dose?

I have been treating myself like a lab rat for ages to try to work out what and how much to take and have read scary things too, but I guess you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Is it true that if you come off T3 suddenly you could go into a coma?

I’d appreciate any advice about what to take to help restore memory loss/brain function and THANKS SO MUCH again for being there for me STTM!

Janette

I am suffering from adrenal fatigue-2.5 is the score from my doctor. I do not want to go on steroids-Cortisol as I am terrified of it. Has anyone tried a course of acupuncture and herbs to combat this? Also, what are the side effects of Cortisol? How long do you have to be on it? I don’t hear anyone commenting on this. I appreciate any and all feedback. Many thanks.

(Mary, many many many people are on cortisol to treat their adrenal fatigue. Your fear is actually being fueled by your low cortisol. Time on it varies, but it does the job like nothing else. Herbs don’t do it. Go to the following link and join the adrenals group: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others

I urge anyone that is suffering with C.F.S. OR FIBROMYALGIA to consider a trial dose ( tiny amounts ) of cortef ( cortisol ). It will be difficult to find a doctor that is willing to let you try this med because of past mistakes with larger doses. Also read “Safe Uses of Cortisol” by William Mck. Jefferies.

I am starting the Vitamin C/ Licorice and taking 100 Thyroxine . Because of high AI readings and 18.96 original ~TSH . He is sure that I have adrenal probs and what I cant understand is why no doctors understand any of this important information. Isn’t it important enough or what?? I was verging on complete collapse by the time I was told that I had thyroid probs and that was because I went to see Dr Marion Gluck privately who specializes in menopausal hormone balancing and she recognized that I was very ill.

Keep up the good work on your great site. We need you! Herin

Then a week later I did another morning baseline saliva cortisol. It was 3.4. I took 2 Isocort pellets and meassured again in 1 1/2. It raised my Free Cortisol to 7.5.

If there are folks out there having a tough time on Cortef, I might suggest they run their own experiment to see how it affects their own body, assuming of course the pellet dosage is consistent, which is always a concern.