cortef

[Guest guest]

Hi Steve,

" If anyone is interested knowing the affect low dose hydrocortisone

would have on their condition, try drinking some instant coffee.

Epecially useful in afternoon. It raises blood cortisol levels

moderately. It has to be instant coffee "

Sorry but Caffiene is not the same as taking HC at all!!!

Caffiene increases Adrenaline. Adrenaline increases BP & HR. It does

give you some energy but can further stress the Adrenals. Thats why

it can also cause a mild increase in Cortisol (if your poor Adrenals

are capable of doing so that is).

In fact those with low Cortisol often have high Adrenaline. They also

seek out stimulants like Coffee & Cigarettes (which also increases

Cortisol) in fact they are a form of " self medication " if you like.

When someone starts HC often they are very surprised to fing they

feel MORE tired than before the HC. There are a few reasons this can

happen.

First when Cortisol levels are raised to better levels the body

reduces the amount of Adrenaline produced. This is hard to get used

to..the body is accustomed to the high Adrenaline & the edgy " wired "

sort of energy it creates. Now THAT is a genuine " withdrawal " symptom

in my opinion.

Second if HC is taken at too low a dose the negative feedback

mechanisms can mean that you end up on even LESS Cortisol in total

than when you started. You need to take a reasonable amount for body

function at least 25mg HC in a tapering multidose 4-5 times a day.

This is similar to what happens with Thyroid Hormone replacement too.

You have to take enough to overcome the negative feedback mechanism &

raise levels higher than when you started.

Thirdly once your body has reasonable amounts of Cortisol it can

reveal the true severity of other conditions like Hypothyroid.

Thyroid is the gland that sets the rate of metabolism. THAT is where

your energy levels come from. Cortisol is needed to get glucose to

where it is needed & also to get Thyroid Hormones to where needed.

Without Cortisol T3 can pool in the body. Once the Cortisol is

adequate those hormones are used up. But IF the Thyroid is unable to

produce enough T3 all the Cortisol in the world wont help.

Fourthly with chronic low Cortisol/Thyroid Hormones many systems in

the body are affected. And many other imbalances, deficiencies &

conditions are the result. The longer its been allowed to go on the

more things will be affected & the greater the severity of the

dysregulation. It takes TIME to identify and fix these and they need

to be fixed in the right order.

The " right " order ideally is Adrenals (and not just Cortisol),

important nutrient/mineral deficiencies (B12, Ferritin, Vit D, B-

Vits, Vit A, Vit C, Potassium, Sodium, etc), Thyroid & Sex Hormones.

The order may be a bit different depending upon age, gender, & root

cause of Adrenal isues (Primary or Secondary). For example for Men

Androgens are extremely important. Also for older Women say over 45-

50 both Androgens & other Sex Hormones may need addressing at same

time as Adrenals. Lastly those with Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency

(Hypopituitary for ACTH) or with Secondary Hypogonadism

(Hypopituitary for LH & FSH) the Androgens & Sex Hormones again need

to be dealt with at same time as other Adrenal Hormones.

So HC isnt a " magic pill " for energy issues. However without the

foundation of good Cortisol levels nothing else is going to work

properly.

" Cortef/hydrocortisone can be very difficult to get off once you've

been taking it a while. It's a steroid. "

Yes it IS a steroid and steroids ARE essential for life!!!! Why make

it sound like some illegal street drug??? Forget about the abuse some

athletes & bodybuilders have done with them. Thats not what is being

discussed here. It IS why the Government, the press & the Doctors

are so prejudiced & reluctant to prescribe when medically needed!!!

IF you are Secondary AI (as I am) you will never " get off them " and

you shouldnt! If you are Primary AI you may be able to wean off if

the Adrenals are capable of healing. Whether they heal or not depends

on HOW SOON you have been dxed & IF you have been adequately treated

and for long enough.

So yeah IF you are " addicted " to living a healthy happy long life

please fully test and properly treat your Adrenals & Thyroid. I see

taking HC or other steroid IF your own body is incapable of producing

adequate amounts NO different to taking Insulin if Diabetic. Or do

you think they should just try to " manage " " without their Insulin?

And dont forget a lot of AI is Autoimmune in origin (whether

Secondary or Primary) as is most Hypothyroid too.

Lethal Lee

========================================================

From: <csharpham@...>

Subject: Re: cortef

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 8:41 AM>

Some people it's magic and just makes them feel better, for me i have

a lot of side effects, specifically major brain fog and cognitive

dysfunction, and it wears off too fast for me, having to dose every 2

hours and still get shaky now and then, hence being on a rather high

dose. Also I still have pretty much no energy on it which i thought

i would have lots of (well i get small windows but nothing major).

Most people tolerate it better than me however. ~Chris.

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I am just about to start on my cortef can I ask how do you 'cut' your

pills?...also my sleep is good I never wake up in night and my cortisol at late

night (i.e. sample 4) was JUST within the normal (although on baseline

low)...does that mean I would still benefit from take a 4th cortisol dose in the

day?

Also is there anyone on DHEA along with cortisol?

I have very low DHEA too and wondered if you can point me in the right direction

(my appt with Dr P is not until later on this year)...

many thanks indeed...

Khush