Hi Deb,
I have taken some time reread all your emails & posts on RTH, Hypopit Yahoo Group & here.
Here is a summary of all your results that I could find
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Test Results
14th June’07B-12........................486 *Range???
25th June’07 *day 5 of cycle
*on 27.5mg HC
*on 1 tab Florinef
Aldo……………......7.1 (4-31) *invalid as on Florinef?
11th Jan ‘08 Ferritin........................90 (10-291)
TPO Ab...................<10 (0-34)
TG Ab.....................<20 (0-40)
Thyroid *on no medsTSH.......................
4.618 (0.35-5.5) *hypoT
FT3...........................
2.3 (2.3-4.2) *bottom of range
FT4.........................
0.84 (0.61-1.76) *very low 20% in range
RT3.........................
what was result?25th Jan’08*on 20mg HC & no FlorinefAldosterone..............10.6 (4.0-31.0) *very low in range
May’08Glucose........................
88 (65-99) *fasting or random???
BUN........................... ...16 (5-26)
Creatinine................. 0.62 (0.50-1.50)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio... 26 (8-27)
Sodium.......................
138 (135-145) *very low in range
Potassium....................
4.2 (3.5-5.2) *midrange
Chloride.....................106 (97-108)
CO2............................
19 (20-32) *deficient
Calcium......................
8.9 (8.5-10.6) *low in range optimal is mid range
Protein.......................6.2 (6.0-8.5)
Albumin.....................4.1 (3.5-5.5)
Globulin.....................2.1 (1.5-2.5)
A/G Ratio...................2.0 (1.1-2.5)
Bilirubin.....................0.7 (0.1-1.2)
ALP............................72 (25-150)
AST (SGOT).............. .16 (0-40)
ALT (SGPT)............... .18 (0-40)
Magnesium...............2.0 (1.6-2.6)
Ferritin......................94 (10-291)
Vit D............................
20 (32.0-100.0) *deficient
June `08Estradiol……………22 (19-528) *very low
Progesterone………. ....0.3 *very low
Follicular 0.2-1.4/ Luteal 3.3-25.6/ Mid-Luteal 4.4-28.0
Testosterone……….. ....32 (14-76) *very low
Testosterone Free... 0.50 (0.10-0.85) *very low
Free Test %............ 1.57 (0.50-2.80)
DHEA- S…………............47 (32-240) *very low
Thyroid*on 3 grains Armour took Armour dose before test TSH…………….0.004 (0.35-5.5)
FT4.....…………...1.3 (0.61-1.76) *60% in range
FT3 …………….....4.0 (2.3-4.2) *89% in range
15th July'08 *On ½ tab FlorinefSodium………..
138 (135-145) *very low
Potassium………
3.9 (3.5-5.2) *very low
Vit D.................
23.4 (32.0-100.0) *deficient
18th Aug’08 Florinef 1 Tab 27 days
Sea Salt 2 1/4 tsp daily
Potassium 99mg 4x daily 400mg
Sodium...............
134 (135-145) *deficient
Potassium............
4.2 (3.5-5.2) *midrange
Calcium...............9.3 (8.5-10.6)
Magnesium..........2.2 (1.6-2.6)
27th Oct’08 Florinef 1 Tab 99 days
Sea Salt daily2 1/4 tsp
Potassium 99mg 4 x daily 400mg
Sodium.............
136 (135-145)
Potassium..........
4.2 (3.5-5.2)
Vit D...............
31.9 (32.0-100.0) *bottom of range
Calcium............. 9.1 (8.5-10.6)
Magnesium.........2.3 (1.6-2.6)
Ferritin................81 (10-291)
29th Jan’09Kidney TestsSodium......................
134 (136-145) *deficient
Potassium..................
3.9 (3.3-5.1) *very low in range
CL........................... 105 (98-107)
CO2...........................
20 (23-29) *deficient
Anion Gap................. 13 (13-18)
Calcium.................... 9.5 (8.8-10.2)
Glucose...................
103 (70-105) *Random or fasting
BUN......................... 13 (6-20)
Creatine.....................0.6 (0.5-1)
BUN/Creat Ratio ....
21.7 (12-20) *elevated
Total Protein............. 7.1 (6.4-8.3)
Liver TestsAlbumin................... 4.2 (3.5-5)
Globulin................... 2.9 (2.3-3.7)
A/G Ratio................ 1.4 (1-1.90)
AST......................... 13 (0-31)
ALT......................... 20 (0-31)
ALP......................... 70 (35-104)
Bilirubin................... 0.6 (0.0-1.0)
CBCRBC...................... 5.03 (4.2-5.4)
HGB........................ 15 (12-16)
HCT..................... 43.1 (36-46%)
MCV.................... 85.7 (80-100 fl)
MCH.................... 29.8 (26-33pg)
MCHC................. 34.8 (31-37 g/dL)
RDW.................... 14.0 (12-14.0%)
PLT....................... 252 (150-375 )
WBC....................
14.0 (4.5-11) *elevated
ANC.....................
9.32 (1.50-8) *elevated
NEU%..................... 67 (53-67%) *top of range
LYM%.................... 24 (20-40%)
MON%.....................
8 (2-7%) *elevated
EOS%....................... 1 (1-4%)
BASO%.................... 0 (0-1%)
31st Jan’09WBC.....................
13.3 (4.5-11.0) *still elevated
NEU.......................
8.9 (1.50-8.00) *still elevated
Glucose..................
104 (70-105) *fasting or random ?
Potassium................
3.8 (3.3-5.1) *very low in range
Sodium...................
139 (136-145) *very low in range
C02..........................
23 (23-29) *bottom of range
Thyroid *on 1 grain Westroid
Free T3................... 2.8 (2.3-4.2) *low 26% in range
Free T4................... 1.0 (0.61-1.76) *low 34% in range
TSH........................2.44 (0.35-5.5) *HypoT
2nd Feb’09Sodium.....................
134 (136-145) *deficient
Potassium................
3.9 (3.3-5.1) *very low in range
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Comments
1) Sodium always been a problem you have a major problem with your levels. Whether Salt supping (you got up to 2 3/4 teasp) or taking Florinef (got up to 1 1/2 tabs briefly) your Sodium levels have still remained low. Most recent results are the worst as they are actually deficient.
2) Potassium has always been suboptimal. Best before Florinef was 4.2 which is far from the optimal~5 that Chris recommends. Florinef did reduce levels further which is common on that med. The most Potassium you supped was 800mg OTC daily. Recently your Potassium was 3.9 despite stopping Florinef. However you have reduced Potassium supps to only 99mg daily.
3) Thyroid tests
(i) Jan'08 after being of thyroid meds for some time showed definite HypoT with TSH of 4.6, FT4 at botttom of range & FT3 only 20% in range. You said you had a RT3 done then but neber posted the result...do you know what it was?
(ii) June'08 on 3 grains showed almost fully suppressed TSH an FT4 of 60% in range & FT3 of 89% in range. However as you took Thyroid meds before the test the FT3 would have been"artificially" inflated. FT4 only slightly below optimal.
(iii) Jan'09 on 1 grain TSH has climbed to 2.6 showing definitely now HypoT. FT4 is 34% & FT3 26% in range.
3) Vit D very deficient in May'08 & remained so despite supping in July'08. Despite increased supping only ever improved to bottom of range in Oct'08. Vit D has never been optimised & hasnt been retested again.
4) B12 tested low in June'07 you were supping 5000mcg at one point dont know how long for. Never retested.
5) Sex Hormones & Androgens were tested once in June'08. All (Progesterone, Estradiol, Testosterone & DHEAS) were very low/suboptimal. DHEA was supped very briefly none were optimised. Never retested
6) Carbonate deficient in May'08 & bottom of range in Jan'09
7) Glucose tested three times last two tests very high in range.
Which if any of these tests were fasting or were they random(non-fasting)? Obviously last two are of concern IF fasting tests then need follow up (Fasting Insulin, fasting Glucose, hbA1C). If random then doesnt mean anything.
i) May'08 Glucose 88 (65-99)
(ii) 29th Jan'09 Glucose 103 (70-105)
(iii) 31st Jan'09 Glucose104 (70-105)
8) Calcium was a bit low in range in May'08 but was good (mid range) in Aug & Oct'08.
9) Magnesium was a bit low in range in May'08 was improved in Aug & slightly better again in Oct'08. Optimal is top of range.
10) Ferritin has always been good 90, 94, 81. Optimal is 70-90
11) Recent Jan'09 CBC's shows some evidence of infection
(i) White Blood Cells elevated on both tests
(ii) ANC elevated
(iii) Neutrophils at top of range one test & elevated on the other
(iv) Monocytes elevated
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Current situation
Dec'08 were on
1) 1 1/4 Tab Florinef
2) 800 mg Potassium
3) Sea Salt Total 2 3/4
4) 1 Gr. Westhroid 4 x 15mg
5) 15 HC and 3mg Medrol total 30mg HC equiv
Currently you are on
1) No Florinef...
please confirm?2) 99mg Potassium
3) Sea Salt 1 1/8 teaspoons
dosed how?4) 1 Gr. Westhroid in 4 x 15mg doses
5) 22.5 HC dosed as 7.5-7.5-5-2.5
I know you have financial constrants hence the necessity to go off your meds. Are you taking ANY supps of any kind apart from what is detailed above?
Can you afford some supps?
I think you definitely need much more Sea Salt. Your Sodium has ranged between 134-139 & as optimal is ~145 is always low. Without Florinef you are going to need a LOT. I suspect you never went high enough on the Florinef to optimise Sodium either.
Similarly can you afford to greatly increase your Potassium? Again your Potassium has never been optimised (~5 is optimal) & ranged between 3.8-4.2. The highest you went on Potassium was 800mg daily. I think you actually need far more with latest levels at 3-8-3.9.
Vit D & B12 supping would be good to continue if you can afford it. They are very cheap to buy at least they are in Australia.
Does the HC definitely have to go?
Do I continue to lower my HC (by 2.5 a week) and assume my sodium and potass. (aldo) will come up? No I would not assume that at all. You have a problem with Salt wasting due to low Aldo. HC did not cause that & going off HC will not cure or correct it.
How do I get weaned off the HC, so I can start over?The only way to wean off is to reduce slowly by small decrements. It will not be easy & you are going to feel badly. No getting around that unfortunately.
I'm having some numb tingly feeling over my right Kidney area off and on. Hands get numb and tingly off and on too.Kidney pain was low Cortisol/Aldo symptom for me & many others. As you are decreasing your Cortisol HRT this is not surprising. You have already gone pretty HypoT based on recent tests. You are going to get all sort of pains worsening of symptoms, more deficiencies & imbalances. Your Vit D was very low & B12 was suboptimal. These may help with tingling, numbness.
shakiness - low Cortisol, Sodium/Potassium
sweatiness - Sodium/Potassium
feeling cold - HypoT
B/P going as high as 177/102 HR 100 - Sodium/Potassium, HypoT