Re: Salt Craving, Adrenals, Benicar/Switch hitting and morphing critters

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Good to hear of your improvement. I don't know about the large doses

you have been taking, but I do kind of think that there may be

something to switching things around. I don't fully understand Lyme

yet, but I do know in the case of Mycoplasma that they are very

wiley survivalists. They are capable of morphing into whatever is

needed to stay alive. They can also go dormant if the going gets to

tough for them.

If you just hit them with the same ABX for months on end, they will

just figure out how to get around it. If you mix it up, they never

know what is coming. I even think taking breaks makes them think the

assualt it over, they come out of hiding and then you hit them again

with something they don't expect.

I kind of did a similar thing as you, but not intentionally. It

seemed to work. I look at oothers who are on massive ABX of one kind

and they don't seem to get well. I wonder how am I different. There

are a couple of things I have done differently but I don't know for

sure if this has been why I have gained such a high degree of

remission.

> > > >

> > > > > I have had a strong craving for salt for as long as I can

> > > > remember.

> > > > > Give me salt any day over sugar and I will be happy. I was

> > > talking

> > > > > with my mom yesterday who has supposedly got MS and she

> craves

> > > > salt

> > > > > like me, preferable to sugar.

> > > > >

> > > > > It got me wondering and I did a search on Lyme and salt

> > craving.

> > > > > There was info, but what kept coming up is adrenal fatigue

> and

> > > > even

> > > > > 's Disease which is adreanl disfunction to the max.

> > > > >

> > > > > Salt cravings are usually due to low adelesterone.

Remember

> > the

> > > > > conversations about Benicar and ARBs like Benicar lowering

> > > > > Adelesterone even further? One of the articles I found

said

> > > that.

> > > > I

> > > > > wonder if salt cravings could be an indicator that you

will

> > not

> > > do

> > > > > well on Benicar?

> > > > >

> > > > > Salt craving can also be an indication of low magnesium,

and

> > > > aren't

> > > > > most of us low there?

> > > > >

> > =================================================================

> > > > >

> > > > > Your Adrenal HormonesThe adrenals, small glands located

> above

> > > each

> > > > > kidney, produce a number of importanthormones. The

adrenals'

> > > inner

> > > > > medulla produces epinephrine and norepinephrine

> > > > (adrenaline).Tumors

> > > > > of the adrenal medulla which produce excess epinephrine

and

> > > > > norepinephrine are calledpheochromocytomas. Deficiencies

of

> > the

> > > > > adrenal medulla that reduce the levels of thesehormones do

> not

> > > > give

> > > > > rise to clinical problems.Adrenals also contain an outer

> > cortex,

> > > > > which produces hormones such as cortisol,

> > > > aldosterone,testosterone,

> > > > > DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione and estrogens. Cortisol and

> > > > aldosterone

> > > > > are twoof the most important hormones the body makes.

> Excesses

> > > or

> > > > > deficiencies of these hormonesresult in important clinical

> > > > problems.

> > > > > Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, is the stress hormone and

> > isinvolved

> > > > in

> > > > > weight control, infection fighting, quality of skin and

> bones,

> > > and

> > > > > heart function. Itslevels are the highest in the morning,

> and

> > > are

> > > > > increased by stress and severe illness. Too muchcortisol

> from

> > > any

> > > > > cause leads to Cushing's syndrome; the symptoms and signs

of

> > > which

> > > > > includeweight gain, stretch marks, bruising, extra hair

> > growth,

> > > > > irregular periods in women, loss ofmuscle, trouble

sleeping

> > and

> > > > > emotional problems, such as depression. Too little

cortisol

> is

> > > > > partof the syndrome called 's disease, often marked

> by

> > > low

> > > > > energy, joint and abdominalpain, weight loss, diarrhea,

> fever,

> > > and

> > > > > electrolyte disturbances. If the adrenals are making

> toolittle

> > > > > cortisol, the pituitary compensates and makes more of the

> > > hormone,

> > > > > ACTH. If the pituitaryis not working, both ACTH and

cortisol

> > > > levels

> > > > > may be low. Aldosterone is the salt-retaining hormone and

is

> a

> > > > > mineralocorticoid. Excess of aldosterone leadsto high

blood

> > > > pressure

> > > > > and low potassium. Deficiencies of aldosterone are much

> > > > > lessappreciated than deficiencies of cortisol, and lead to

> low

> > > > blood

> > > > > pressure and high pulse,especially on standing, the desire

> to

> > > eat

> > > > > salt (salt-craving), dizziness or lightheadedness

> onstanding,

> > > and

> > > > > palpitations. Severe cases may lead to high potassium and

> low

> > > > sodium

> > > > > in bloodtests. When the adrenal is not making aldosterone,

> > > renin,

> > > > a

> > > > > kidney hormone, increases. Excessesof cortisol and

> aldosterone

> > > may

> > > > > occur independently, that is a patient may have only

> > > > > excessaldosterone, only excess cortisol, or excesses of

> both.

> > > > > Similarly, deficiencies of cortisol andaldosterone

> > deficiencies

> > > > may

> > > > > be independent.Many patients coming to see Dr. Friedman

> lately

> > > > with

> > > > > symptom of fatigue and often symptomsof salt-

> > craving, " cognitive

> > > > > fuzziness " , dizziness or lightheadedness on standing, or

> > > > > palpitationshave low blood levels of aldosterone. He

> explains

> > > the

> > > > > connection between low aldosterone levelsand fatigue as

> > follows:

> > > > > with low aldosterone, the kidney loses salt, leading to

low

> > > blood

> > > > > volume.This coupled with the idea that the leg veins don't

> > > > constrict

> > > > > properly, leads to lower bloodvolume to the brain and

> fatigue

> > > and

> > > > > other symptoms. These patients often have a drop in

> theirblood

> > > > > pressure and an increase in their pulse when standing.

They

> > may

> > > > also

> > > > > have decreasedblood flow to the brain when measured by

SPECT

> > > scan.

> > > > > Aldosterone deficiency may be madeworse if patients

restrict

> > > their

> > > > > salt intake.Soon-to-be-published research by Dr. Friedman

> > shows

> > > a

> > > > > few patterns of abnormalities in therenin-aldosterone

axis.

> A

> > > > little

> > > > > more than half the patients with fatigue had low blood

> levels

> > > > ofboth

> > > > > renin and aldosterone. This is called hyporeninemic

> > > > > hypoaldosteronism and is probably due

> > > > > -----------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > --

> > > --

> > > > --

> > > > > -----------

> > > > > Page 2

> > > > > to dysfunction of what is called the autonomic nervous

> system,

> > > > which

> > > > > sends messages from thebrain to the kidneys. Other aspects

> of

> > > the

> > > > > autonomic nervous system have been found to bedeficient in

> > > chronic

> > > > > fatigue syndrome. About one-third of the patients were

found

> > to

> > > > have

> > > > > lowaldosterone and high renin. This indicates a deficiency

> in

> > > the

> > > > > aldosterone production in theadrenals themselves, with a

> > > > > compensatory rise in the renin coming from the kidney.

> > > > > Thealdosterone defect can either be an isolated problem,

or

> > part

> > > > of

> > > > > 's disease (often early's disease), in which

> > both

> > > > > cortisol and aldosterone production are diminished.

> > Theremaining

> > > > > patients (about one-sixth) had both high renin and high

> > > > aldosterone.

> > > > > This is likely tobe a compensatory rise in both of these

> > > hormones

> > > > as

> > > > > a reaction to a low blood volume, mostlikely due to an

> > inability

> > > > of

> > > > > the kidney to retain salt.Dr. Friedman recommends treating

> > > > patients

> > > > > with an individualized combination of increased

> > saltconsumption,

> > > a

> > > > > synthetic form of aldosterone called Florinef

> > (fludrocortisone),

> > > > or

> > > > > Midodrine(proamantine), a drug used to raise blood

pressure.

> > > Salt

> > > > is

> > > > > the most benign of the treatments. Salt tablets can be

> > purchased

> > > > in

> > > > > a drug store or a patient can add an extra teaspoon of

salt

> to

> > > > > theirfood per day. Florinef comes in 0.1 mg pills and Dr.

> > > Friedman

> > > > > usually starts with 1/2 pill in themorning for a week or

two

> > and

> > > > > then goes up to 1 pill in the morning if no side effects

> > occur.

> > > > > Themain side effects are headache and swelling in legs

> > (edema).

> > > > > Midodrine comes in 5 mg pills andDr. Friedman usually

starts

> > > with

> > > > 5

> > > > > mg pills in the morning and noon. He may go up to 2

> pillsthree

> > > > times

> > > > > a dayand sometimes needs to use both Florinef and

Midodrine,

> > as

> > > > well

> > > > > as extra salt.The side effects of Midodrine include high

> blood

> > > > > pressure, itching, goosebumps, numbness andthe feeling of

> > > writing

> > > > on

> > > > > your skin or scalp. Many of these side effects go away

with

> > use

> > > > > andboth drugs are unlikely to cause long term damage. Most

> > > > patients

> > > > > taking Florinef and Midodrine,as well as extra salt report

> an

> > > > > improvement in their symptoms of palpitations

> > > > > anddizziness/lightheadedness on standing, while many

report

> an

> > > > > improvement in fatigue andcognitive dysfunction. Licorice,

> > > > available

> > > > > as a tea from Alvita, may help with mild cases.Dr.

Friedman

> is

> > > > doing

> > > > > further research on the renin-aldosterone axis and chronic

> > > > > fatiguesyndrome (CFS) in a study generously funded by the

> > CFIDS

> > > > > (Chronic Fatigue and ImmuneDysfunction Syndrome)

Association

> > of

> > > > > America. He is also studying the effect of Viagra

onsymptoms

> > of

> > > > CFS,

> > > > > with the idea that Viagra may improve blood flow to the

> brain.

> > > For

> > > > > moreinformation on these studies, please email Dr.

Friedman

> at

> > > > > mail@g...; or toset up an appointment with Dr.

> > > > > Friedman, please email

> > > > > atappointments@g...

[Guest guest]

Could you share some of the things you did to gain remission?

Thanks.

> > > > >

> > > > > > I have had a strong craving for salt for as long as I

can

> > > > > remember.

> > > > > > Give me salt any day over sugar and I will be happy. I

was

> > > > talking

> > > > > > with my mom yesterday who has supposedly got MS and she

> > craves

> > > > > salt

> > > > > > like me, preferable to sugar.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > It got me wondering and I did a search on Lyme and salt

> > > craving.

> > > > > > There was info, but what kept coming up is adrenal

fatigue

> > and

> > > > > even

> > > > > > 's Disease which is adreanl disfunction to the

max.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Salt cravings are usually due to low adelesterone.

> Remember

> > > the

> > > > > > conversations about Benicar and ARBs like Benicar

lowering

> > > > > > Adelesterone even further? One of the articles I found

> said

> > > > that.

> > > > > I

> > > > > > wonder if salt cravings could be an indicator that you

> will

> > > not

> > > > do

> > > > > > well on Benicar?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Salt craving can also be an indication of low magnesium,

> and

> > > > > aren't

> > > > > > most of us low there?

> > > > > >

> > >

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

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Your Adrenal HormonesThe adrenals, small glands located

> > above

> > > > each

> > > > > > kidney, produce a number of importanthormones. The

> adrenals'

> > > > inner

> > > > > > medulla produces epinephrine and norepinephrine

> > > > > (adrenaline).Tumors

> > > > > > of the adrenal medulla which produce excess epinephrine

> and

> > > > > > norepinephrine are calledpheochromocytomas. Deficiencies

> of

> > > the

> > > > > > adrenal medulla that reduce the levels of thesehormones

do

> > not

> > > > > give

> > > > > > rise to clinical problems.Adrenals also contain an outer

> > > cortex,

> > > > > > which produces hormones such as cortisol,

> > > > > aldosterone,testosterone,

> > > > > > DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione and estrogens. Cortisol and

> > > > > aldosterone

> > > > > > are twoof the most important hormones the body makes.

> > Excesses

> > > > or

> > > > > > deficiencies of these hormonesresult in important

clinical

> > > > > problems.

> > > > > > Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, is the stress hormone and

> > > isinvolved

> > > > > in

> > > > > > weight control, infection fighting, quality of skin and

> > bones,

> > > > and

> > > > > > heart function. Itslevels are the highest in the

morning,

> > and

> > > > are

> > > > > > increased by stress and severe illness. Too muchcortisol

> > from

> > > > any

> > > > > > cause leads to Cushing's syndrome; the symptoms and

signs

> of

> > > > which

> > > > > > includeweight gain, stretch marks, bruising, extra hair

> > > growth,

> > > > > > irregular periods in women, loss ofmuscle, trouble

> sleeping

> > > and

> > > > > > emotional problems, such as depression. Too little

> cortisol

> > is

> > > > > > partof the syndrome called 's disease, often

marked

> > by

> > > > low

> > > > > > energy, joint and abdominalpain, weight loss, diarrhea,

> > fever,

> > > > and

> > > > > > electrolyte disturbances. If the adrenals are making

> > toolittle

> > > > > > cortisol, the pituitary compensates and makes more of

the

> > > > hormone,

> > > > > > ACTH. If the pituitaryis not working, both ACTH and

> cortisol

> > > > > levels

> > > > > > may be low. Aldosterone is the salt-retaining hormone

and

> is

> > a

> > > > > > mineralocorticoid. Excess of aldosterone leadsto high

> blood

> > > > > pressure

> > > > > > and low potassium. Deficiencies of aldosterone are much

> > > > > > lessappreciated than deficiencies of cortisol, and lead

to

> > low

> > > > > blood

> > > > > > pressure and high pulse,especially on standing, the

desire

> > to

> > > > eat

> > > > > > salt (salt-craving), dizziness or lightheadedness

> > onstanding,

> > > > and

> > > > > > palpitations. Severe cases may lead to high potassium

and

> > low

> > > > > sodium

> > > > > > in bloodtests. When the adrenal is not making

aldosterone,

> > > > renin,

> > > > > a

> > > > > > kidney hormone, increases. Excessesof cortisol and

> > aldosterone

> > > > may

> > > > > > occur independently, that is a patient may have only

> > > > > > excessaldosterone, only excess cortisol, or excesses of

> > both.

> > > > > > Similarly, deficiencies of cortisol andaldosterone

> > > deficiencies

> > > > > may

> > > > > > be independent.Many patients coming to see Dr. Friedman

> > lately

> > > > > with

> > > > > > symptom of fatigue and often symptomsof salt-

> > > craving, " cognitive

> > > > > > fuzziness " , dizziness or lightheadedness on standing, or

> > > > > > palpitationshave low blood levels of aldosterone. He

> > explains

> > > > the

> > > > > > connection between low aldosterone levelsand fatigue as

> > > follows:

> > > > > > with low aldosterone, the kidney loses salt, leading to

> low

> > > > blood

> > > > > > volume.This coupled with the idea that the leg veins

don't

> > > > > constrict

> > > > > > properly, leads to lower bloodvolume to the brain and

> > fatigue

> > > > and

> > > > > > other symptoms. These patients often have a drop in

> > theirblood

> > > > > > pressure and an increase in their pulse when standing.

> They

> > > may

> > > > > also

> > > > > > have decreasedblood flow to the brain when measured by

> SPECT

> > > > scan.

> > > > > > Aldosterone deficiency may be madeworse if patients

> restrict

> > > > their

> > > > > > salt intake.Soon-to-be-published research by Dr.

Friedman

> > > shows

> > > > a

> > > > > > few patterns of abnormalities in therenin-aldosterone

> axis.

> > A

> > > > > little

> > > > > > more than half the patients with fatigue had low blood

> > levels

> > > > > ofboth

> > > > > > renin and aldosterone. This is called hyporeninemic

> > > > > > hypoaldosteronism and is probably due

> > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > --

> > > --

> > > > --

> > > > > --

> > > > > > -----------

> > > > > > Page 2

> > > > > > to dysfunction of what is called the autonomic nervous

> > system,

> > > > > which

> > > > > > sends messages from thebrain to the kidneys. Other

aspects

> > of

> > > > the

> > > > > > autonomic nervous system have been found to bedeficient

in

> > > > chronic

> > > > > > fatigue syndrome. About one-third of the patients were

> found

> > > to

> > > > > have

> > > > > > lowaldosterone and high renin. This indicates a

deficiency

> > in

> > > > the

> > > > > > aldosterone production in theadrenals themselves, with a

> > > > > > compensatory rise in the renin coming from the kidney.

> > > > > > Thealdosterone defect can either be an isolated problem,

> or

> > > part

> > > > > of

> > > > > > 's disease (often early's disease), in

which

> > > both

> > > > > > cortisol and aldosterone production are diminished.

> > > Theremaining

> > > > > > patients (about one-sixth) had both high renin and high

> > > > > aldosterone.

> > > > > > This is likely tobe a compensatory rise in both of these

> > > > hormones

> > > > > as

> > > > > > a reaction to a low blood volume, mostlikely due to an

> > > inability

> > > > > of

> > > > > > the kidney to retain salt.Dr. Friedman recommends

treating

> > > > > patients

> > > > > > with an individualized combination of increased

> > > saltconsumption,

> > > > a

> > > > > > synthetic form of aldosterone called Florinef

> > > (fludrocortisone),

> > > > > or

> > > > > > Midodrine(proamantine), a drug used to raise blood

> pressure.

> > > > Salt

> > > > > is

> > > > > > the most benign of the treatments. Salt tablets can be

> > > purchased

> > > > > in

> > > > > > a drug store or a patient can add an extra teaspoon of

> salt

> > to

> > > > > > theirfood per day. Florinef comes in 0.1 mg pills and

Dr.

> > > > Friedman

> > > > > > usually starts with 1/2 pill in themorning for a week or

> two

> > > and

> > > > > > then goes up to 1 pill in the morning if no side effects

> > > occur.

> > > > > > Themain side effects are headache and swelling in legs

> > > (edema).

> > > > > > Midodrine comes in 5 mg pills andDr. Friedman usually

> starts

> > > > with

> > > > > 5

> > > > > > mg pills in the morning and noon. He may go up to 2

> > pillsthree

> > > > > times

> > > > > > a dayand sometimes needs to use both Florinef and

> Midodrine,

> > > as

> > > > > well

> > > > > > as extra salt.The side effects of Midodrine include high

> > blood

> > > > > > pressure, itching, goosebumps, numbness andthe feeling

of

> > > > writing

> > > > > on

> > > > > > your skin or scalp. Many of these side effects go away

> with

> > > use

> > > > > > andboth drugs are unlikely to cause long term damage.

Most

> > > > > patients

> > > > > > taking Florinef and Midodrine,as well as extra salt

report

> > an

> > > > > > improvement in their symptoms of palpitations

> > > > > > anddizziness/lightheadedness on standing, while many

> report

> > an

> > > > > > improvement in fatigue andcognitive dysfunction.

Licorice,

> > > > > available

> > > > > > as a tea from Alvita, may help with mild cases.Dr.

> Friedman

> > is

> > > > > doing

> > > > > > further research on the renin-aldosterone axis and

chronic

> > > > > > fatiguesyndrome (CFS) in a study generously funded by

the

> > > CFIDS

> > > > > > (Chronic Fatigue and ImmuneDysfunction Syndrome)

> Association

> > > of

> > > > > > America. He is also studying the effect of Viagra

> onsymptoms

> > > of

> > > > > CFS,

> > > > > > with the idea that Viagra may improve blood flow to the

> > brain.

> > > > For

> > > > > > moreinformation on these studies, please email Dr.

> Friedman

> > at

> > > > > > mail@g...; or toset up an appointment with Dr.

> > > > > > Friedman, please email

> > > > > > atappointments@g...