Both your ferritin and your free T are normal, not low, according to the ranges you've given I understand about all of us having slightly different personal ranges, but if you dont have any other/past tests to go on, then we'll never really know.

Do you have a figure on the cortisol?

How long are you planning on being on the HC (which I presume is hydrocortisone)? Were all the risks and benefits of HC explained to you, including the side effects? In particular, was osteoporosis prevention discussed with you? (My fave side effect is that it can turn the patient COMPLETELY bonkers, but this is rare, and reversible. and if it happens to you, you wont actually know it LOL.)

Hope that you are soon back to your old self! Pls keep us updated.

They're low normal and not optimum When I go for blood tests I look for 'optimum' rather than what is perceived to be 'normal' in such a large range and thankfully so does my new GP

As an example: If I had FT3 in the lower end of 'normal' and FT4 in the upper end of 'normal' some doctors may say 'alls good, you're normal' (as has happened to MANY of us thyroid patients) when in fact thats not the case at all. Ranges are there as a guide (as I'm sure I dont have to tell you) and if a result comes in that is close to the bottom (or top) of that range in shouldn't be ignored (in my opinion).

Low (or low normal, whatever you want to call it) Ferritin and Low Free Testosterone is common in those suffering with Hypothyroid and Adrenal Fatigue.

Optimum for Ferritin is considered to be around 70-90 and optimum for Free Testosterone 5-8.

I'm happy to leave them for now but I certainly dont consider them to be "normal"

I plan on taking the HC for as long as I need to, for as long as it takes for my adrenals to start producing the amount of cortisol I need without help. The doctor didnt go in very deeply with the risks involved, but I have read up on it a fair bit...I see it as something that I HAVE to have.

I'm happy to hear your opinion though. What would you prescribe for Adrenal Fatigue - not Addisons, but Fatigue?

As I've said before, this needs a reputable endocrinologist to manage and not a GP. I'm neither, so wouldn't be involved in either the investigations or the treatment of either.

Hence one of my reasons for continuing my subscription to this thread - I'm interested in the long-term outcomes of this condition which is not talked about at med school, both specifically and general (ie we never discuss organ fatigue, it's not a common western concept.)

(I'm not that interested that I'll go do do my own research/analytical appraisal of the research tho - the crazy hours that I work, plus all my post-grad studies means that I have many priorities which are higher...sigh..o woe me LOL)

Oh bugger...thought you might know of some new treatment then

The doctor I'm seeing is actually a GP who specialises in Thryoid Disease and Adrenal Fatigue because she suffers with both herself. Its a real pleasure listening to her talk about it with the passion and understanding that she has I must admit. A real breath of fresh air

Do you see an Endo to prescribe your T4? Just curious? My mum had her thyroid removed about 15 years ago and hasn't seen an Endo since then. Its always just been a GP whos prescribed her T4 meds.

Hi Thyroid Chicks, I've been away (UK and Singapore), got back this morning and still not sure what planet I'm on. Going to catch up on your posts later but just wanted to say, hope you are all feeling ok.

I saw my old GP in Sg, had lots of blood taken and he's rushing me the results through by fax so I can take them to Dr Ludka on Thursday. Expensive option but I thought it would save time.

Fabulous. It will save you time... and money for a second appt!

Feeling great thanks seasider.... I hope you get over the jetlag soon.

x

Hi Seasider, feeling not to bad at the moment.
Taking med to account for not being well, as i have to wait till end of October to see a specialist ( at least i have my appointment through now).
Had to wait again because i was sent to wrong place for appointment last month, so have to go through the whole process over again.
Glad you and tiddlepom are feeling better and things are getting sorted out a bit for you both.

How did it go today???? I think I may have seen you on another forum?!!

Mrs Jackaroo do you have another name?!!!

I googled Thyroflex and your thread came up, so I joined just to post

Ohh I like her! She thinks very like my Sg GP but is far less restrained when it comes to slamming the majority of her profession.

OK the test results showed all my levels back in the official range for the first time since I first had them done in 2005 - remember it was just my Thyroglobulin Antibodies and TPO Antibodies that were elevated, and the Sydney endo I saw said I have never had a thyroid problem, and the Sydney GP offered me ADs

Dr B says that in her book, they are still out of range. I told her some of my symptoms, she remarked how cold my hands were (temp is usually 34-35C), did the Thyroflex test (The Geek says my score was 133, should be around 100) and pinched the skin on my upper arm and said it was a prime indicator. Also noticed how rough the skin is there, which I had when I first got diagnosed and I had noticed it recently returned - I ran out of my herbal thyroid support last month.

Soo, I have a prescription for some pig (which I had briefly when I was first diagnosed, to kick start my recovery) and am having a few more tests when I've collected a 24hr sample.

In other news, Dr B also agreed with my Sg GP that I need testosterone. To give her her due, the Syd GP I saw said I do but wanted the endo to prescribe it to me separately from the HRT she put me back on, but he said it wouldn't help my bones and didn't give me any. I'm much happier that I've got BHRT from Dr B as I really don't like the conventional HRT the other woman put me back on, and also my LFTs were once again elevated, which they hadn't been since 2006 when I had Dengue. I am sure HRT is to blame. She's also put me some DHEA in the troches.

I'm staying on Actonel Combi D, the osteoporosis drug for now, although Dr B has told me to consider Human Growth Hormone - she says studies have shown it can regenerate bones, not just stop further deterioration as the Actonel (and other bisphosphonates) do. Hmmm, I'm not sure on that one yet - have to research more. It's also scarily expensive.

So all in all, I'm feeling much happier about it all.

PS I'd never heard of Thyroflex or the pinch test - I've read up on them since but I'm taking them with a pinch of salt and going mainly on how I feel.

maybe!! but on another forum

Glad to hear it went well. She goes off in a little world of her own at times doesnt she but she gets the tests done and gives the treatment you cant get elsewhere...so thats all good

My thyroflex came back as normal but after seeing my FT3 and RT3 she recommended moving on to 'the pig'! I havent started it yet as I'm trying to stabilise my adrenals first. I'll give that a few more weeks and then get to work on they thyroid...its all good!