I have been ill with ME/CFS and autonomic dysfunction since spring 2012. Recently I looked over past lab results and am surprised that my doctors aren't doing more to help me when lab results and symptoms show clearly there are some deficiencies. But you know how it goes, if they prescribe something and it doesn't work, they don't know what to do so nothing is more is done. I've been too ill to make much sense of all this until recently.
If I post some results, can some of you who are knowledgeable with endocrine issues give me your opinion concerning my labs?? Hopefully someone will know more than my doctors:
Cortisol
* reference ranges 240 - 618 nmol/L . Looks normal for 2012 but not 2013. I live in Canada and have a very conservative family doctor and endocrinologist. I could ask for another cortisol test but no guarantee either one will agree to it.
2012 AM cortisol 506 nmol/L
2013 AM cortisol 237 nmol/L
I only have had my AM blood tested. Is that unusual? Maybe I should send saliva to the Genova Lab for adrenal testing (cortisol, DHEA) where saliva is tested from 4 different times periods/day. Are their lab results accurate? Do they also provide an analysis?
My DHEA-S has been 'undetectable' <.4 umol/L (very low) ever since 2008 but the docs won't prescribe supplements for some reason! Although I don't know my DHEA-S levels prior to 2008, I had a hysterectomy in 2004 due to endometriosis so likely that is part of the reason for my low testosterone and DHEA-S. But knowing that my weakness and energy issues are possibly partly due to lack of DHEA, I decided to order the DHEA on-line (need a prescription in Canada) . Two months ago I started taking 5 mg of micronized DHEA o from Douglas Laboratories.
Hypothyroid-Over the last 4 years my TSH has been creeping up (9.6 last Oct.) and finally my GP prescribed T4 Eltroxin @ .1mg when I begged her for something/anything to help with my cognitive impairment, always feeling cold, and chronic low blood pressure (normally my systolic is in 90's, diastolic low 50's - mid 60's allthough my BP has been as low as 77/38).
side note: The 9.6 TSH was discovered after I was taken by ambulance to the ER 4 months ago. I had suddenly developed severe 'short term amnesia' that ended up lasting 10 hrs. Don't know if that's related to any of my ME/CFS stuff but the ER docs assumed that O2 deprivation was the cause. Don't know if that is true but since then my diastolic is often now in the 40's. Basic cardiac testing (Echo, EKG) was normal so we assume the blood pressure issues are due to the autonomic dysfunction.
Hyperthyroid - 2 months after being on T4 (January 2015) my TSH was .02 and Free T4 is 24 which makes me now hyperthyroid. Doc decreased my dosage and brand to Synthroid .088 mg which isn't much lower of a dose so now am feeling the symptoms of being hyperthyroid.. I'm hot, have restless legs at night, insomnia.
Do you think that the latest hyperthyroid symptoms might partly due to over dosing with the DHE. (although 5mg isn't much, right?) I attribute my feeling stronger to the DHEA because since I started taking it about 2 months ago, my muscles are working better now at keeping my joints in place...I am very hypermobile and my loose ligaments causes frequent subluxations/dislocations. Or maybe its the T4 that's helping with the strength issue?
I continue to have PEM that can cause crashes about every 2 wks lasting 2-5 days after doing anything from climbing the stairs to walking outside or from mental activity but I'm doing so much better than spring of 2012 when this all started.
UGH...I just want to be on the right track with my hormones. What a shame if I could have been feeling lots better while waiting for a cure or good treatment for ME/CFS. That's why I'm hoping you can be of help.
I appreciate any feedback. Thanks a ton.
Charlie
If I post some results, can some of you who are knowledgeable with endocrine issues give me your opinion concerning my labs?? Hopefully someone will know more than my doctors:
Cortisol
* reference ranges 240 - 618 nmol/L . Looks normal for 2012 but not 2013. I live in Canada and have a very conservative family doctor and endocrinologist. I could ask for another cortisol test but no guarantee either one will agree to it.
2012 AM cortisol 506 nmol/L
2013 AM cortisol 237 nmol/L
I only have had my AM blood tested. Is that unusual? Maybe I should send saliva to the Genova Lab for adrenal testing (cortisol, DHEA) where saliva is tested from 4 different times periods/day. Are their lab results accurate? Do they also provide an analysis?
My DHEA-S has been 'undetectable' <.4 umol/L (very low) ever since 2008 but the docs won't prescribe supplements for some reason! Although I don't know my DHEA-S levels prior to 2008, I had a hysterectomy in 2004 due to endometriosis so likely that is part of the reason for my low testosterone and DHEA-S. But knowing that my weakness and energy issues are possibly partly due to lack of DHEA, I decided to order the DHEA on-line (need a prescription in Canada) . Two months ago I started taking 5 mg of micronized DHEA o from Douglas Laboratories.
Hypothyroid-Over the last 4 years my TSH has been creeping up (9.6 last Oct.) and finally my GP prescribed T4 Eltroxin @ .1mg when I begged her for something/anything to help with my cognitive impairment, always feeling cold, and chronic low blood pressure (normally my systolic is in 90's, diastolic low 50's - mid 60's allthough my BP has been as low as 77/38).
side note: The 9.6 TSH was discovered after I was taken by ambulance to the ER 4 months ago. I had suddenly developed severe 'short term amnesia' that ended up lasting 10 hrs. Don't know if that's related to any of my ME/CFS stuff but the ER docs assumed that O2 deprivation was the cause. Don't know if that is true but since then my diastolic is often now in the 40's. Basic cardiac testing (Echo, EKG) was normal so we assume the blood pressure issues are due to the autonomic dysfunction.
Hyperthyroid - 2 months after being on T4 (January 2015) my TSH was .02 and Free T4 is 24 which makes me now hyperthyroid. Doc decreased my dosage and brand to Synthroid .088 mg which isn't much lower of a dose so now am feeling the symptoms of being hyperthyroid.. I'm hot, have restless legs at night, insomnia.
Do you think that the latest hyperthyroid symptoms might partly due to over dosing with the DHE. (although 5mg isn't much, right?) I attribute my feeling stronger to the DHEA because since I started taking it about 2 months ago, my muscles are working better now at keeping my joints in place...I am very hypermobile and my loose ligaments causes frequent subluxations/dislocations. Or maybe its the T4 that's helping with the strength issue?
I continue to have PEM that can cause crashes about every 2 wks lasting 2-5 days after doing anything from climbing the stairs to walking outside or from mental activity but I'm doing so much better than spring of 2012 when this all started.
UGH...I just want to be on the right track with my hormones. What a shame if I could have been feeling lots better while waiting for a cure or good treatment for ME/CFS. That's why I'm hoping you can be of help.
I appreciate any feedback. Thanks a ton.
Charlie