Need help with tests for thyroid and adrenal fatigue page

[fyrespryte]

I need to get tests done for my thyroid and adrenal fatigue. I'm going to be ordering them myself, from labs online but I'm not sure exactly what it is that I need to get first. I've been looking around and different people suggest different tests, and the tests that I see available have so many different options. I don't want to overpay for stuff that I don't need. I don't have insurance, I'm a college student living on student loans. I need to get whatever is going on with me worked out though or else I'm not going to be able to be a student much longer.

Does anyone who's dealt with the test process know which tests I should get first? The ones that are the most important? Once I get those back, I'll go from there in terms of what other tests might need to be done, and whether or not I need to find a health care practitioner to help me.

Thanks for any help. Sorry if I asked this question before. I just recently got my disbursement and my memory has been absolutely shot lately.

[ShannonPA-S]

I don't really know what is available. I just want to give you some support because I have the same adrenal and thyroid issues.

I had a saliva cortisol test awile back through Diagnos-techs or something like that. I had it done through my doctor's office, though ($79).

[Minxxa]

Tough one. I did the cortisol test in the mail through ZRT. I believe it's $120 if you pay for it yourself.

As for thyroid tests, I'd recommend TSH, T4, T3, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3 and antibodies testing. Honestly I don't know how much that costs.

Here are a couple of articles about testing without a doctor:

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/a/nodoc.htm

http://thyroid.about.com/od/getteste...elftesting.htm
They link a few sources, depending on the test, but mymedlab.com seems to have a couple of decent panel choices (one without TPO - antibodies testing) and one with. I'd say if it's super tight, don't do the antibodies just yet, but the Free T3 and Free T4 are important.

The articles should help a little.

[marcadav]

http://www.healthcheckusa.com/lab_te...el_II_with_TSH
They used to offer a discount with the code 12345. I don't know if they still do.

Also, depending on your symptoms you might want to test ferritin, hemoglobin, hemocrit, vitamin D and blood sugar. Problems with these things can mimic thyroid symptoms.

[Primallady]

Highly suggest getting a copy of Dr. K's book-http://www.thyroidbook.com/

http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/s...harrazian/8518

[NutMeg]

I just wanted to fourth? what everyone else said.

Most doctors will only order TSH and T4 which is not a good diagnostic tool. You need the fulll thyroid panel for sure!

[hazyjane]

Highly suggest getting a copy of Dr. K's book-http://www.thyroidbook.com/

http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/s...harrazian/8518

Yes- get that book for sure! You can also email them for a list of practitioners- some of whom will work with you long distance.
You really need someone who knows what tests you need and how to interpret them. It will save you $$$ in the long run. Get in touch with one of them first. I know that this guy will work distance.

You can, however, go ahead and order a 24 hour saliva cortisol test: http://www.zrtlab.com/cortisol-tests...ypage.tpl.html
You could also order a vitamin D test, since you will need that anyway.

[fyrespryte]

Thank you all so much for all the great information as well as the support. I will definitely be using all your links to research in the next few days. I really am so grateful for this place. So many kind and knowledgeable people!

@marcadav, thank you especially for the additional recommendations. I'm going to start with the adrenal/thyroid stuff first because recent traumatic life experiences seem to coincide with a lot of my symptoms, in addition to a previously diagnosed abnormality with some of my thyroid numbers (but that was a long time ago and it wasn't "bad" enough to be treated). However, I've been a little nervous about getting the tests done because I honestly didn't know what I'd do if they came back normal. At this point, I just want something to actually be seriously wrong because the way I've been feeling...I'm barely functioning at this point. Now at least I know that I have other avenues to explore if for some reason they come back normal.

[LizaJane]

I would add, if you're feeling tired, to test for Mono virus. I don't know what the test would be called. If you've ever had Mono, it stays in your body and can become active again, causing Chronic Fatigue. If you suspect low thyroid, the supplement from Enzymatic Therapy (make sure whatever you try has actual thyroid gland in it, not just herbs) helped me immensely before I got to the point that I needed prescription-strength. Hope you feel better!

[MalPaz]

i just wanted to add...

a- your young i am guessing with being in college, what are you stats?
b- i am going to suggest you may simply be undernourished/malnutrition because your in college
c- what is you typical days food like
d- do you exercise

lots,,,,,,i mean lots LOTS of people like to read and self diagose themselves without giviing a year of good nutiriton a chance. hows your fat intake? hows your organ intake? butter/tallow? bone broth?