Guest guest Posted June 15, 2006 Report Share Posted June 15, 2006 Dear Vicky-- With adrenals or sex hormones, you want to make sure you actually have a problem there before taking extra hormone. The reasons for this are pretty simple: 1) With DHEA, if you are at a normal level, you can develop extra testosterone or estrogen, which means the possibility of excess facial hair, aggressiveness, etc. 2) With cortisol (the primary adrenal hormone), if you are at a normal level and add in more, you can develop heart palpitations and several other really icky responses. Sometimes, people do not know if they have they have adrenal problems. For others, it is quite apparent that there is something wrong, especially if you have problems taking Armour, abrupt dips in energy, et. al. On the thyroid.about.com website, there is a link to an adrenal matrix, which can give you a full range of possible symptoms. Dr. R. uses blood tests to determine levels, which are typically taken in the early morning to determine how your adrenals are functioning at their highest point in the day. If you are worried about your adrenal levels, I suggest having them checked by your doc. Otherwise, IMHO, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Best-- Courtenay. --- vickyhebbe wrote: > I keep reading just about everyone is on some sort > of adrenal support. > I am currently taking 4 grains of Armour... I just > started taking again > my progestrone. I stopped this past month for what > reason I don't know. > I was getting it compounded from the pharmacy. But > yesterday I bought a > pump from the health food store. I did 2 pumps which > are 40 mg. I was > taking DHEA from compounding pharmacy, but now I > bought yesterday some > 7-keto. And I took 2 which is 50mg a day. So do I > need to take anything > else and how would I know if I have a problem with > my adrenals? Because > so far with each raise of the Armour I haven't had > any problems. > > Vicky > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2006 Report Share Posted June 15, 2006 how about the saliva tests that you take 4 times a day? I took that one and it showed my adrenals to be lowest in the morning, when it should be highest and highest in the evening when it should be lowest...that explained some things! steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 it means my adrenals aren't working right! I got the kit from my doctor. steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 DHEA and progesterone are both powerful hormones and prohormones. As Courtenay has stated they can convert to other hormones, too. Which ones they will convert to is highly unpredictable, especially in folks who are hypothyroid. And taking the 7-keto is throwing yet another metabolic monkey wrench into the works. I would further state that the progesterone and DHEA that you can buy over-the-counter do not always contain what is stated on the label. I would suggest that you work with your doctor and stick to the compounded hormones that he prescribes. You need to have all of your hormone levels tested on a regular basis. They all work together, and anytime you change one, you may change the whole system: thyroid, sex, adrenal. vickyhebbe wrote: I keep reading just about everyone is on some sort of adrenal support. I am currently taking 4 grains of Armour... I just started taking again my progestrone. I stopped this past month for what reason I don't know. I was getting it compounded from the pharmacy. But yesterday I bought a pump from the health food store. I did 2 pumps which are 40 mg. I was taking DHEA from compounding pharmacy, but now I bought yesterday some 7-keto. And I took 2 which is 50mg a day. So do I need to take anything else and how would I know if I have a problem with my adrenals? Because so far with each raise of the Armour I haven't had any problems. Vicky __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 I asked Dr. Kittley about adrenals. She said there was no reliable test that could be done. P Re: Adrenals? DHEA and progesterone are both powerful hormones and prohormones. As Courtenay has stated they can convert to other hormones, too. Which ones they will convert to is highly unpredictable, especially in folks who are hypothyroid. And taking the 7-keto is throwing yet another metabolic monkey wrench into the works. I would further state that the progesterone and DHEA that you can buy over-the-counter do not always contain what is stated on the label. I would suggest that you work with your doctor and stick to the compounded hormones that he prescribes. You need to have all of your hormone levels tested on a regular basis. They all work together, and anytime you change one, you may change the whole system: thyroid, sex, adrenal. vickyhebbe wrote: I keep reading just about everyone is on some sort of adrenal support. I am currently taking 4 grains of Armour... I just started taking again my progestrone. I stopped this past month for what reason I don't know. I was getting it compounded from the pharmacy. But yesterday I bought a pump from the health food store. I did 2 pumps which are 40 mg. I was taking DHEA from compounding pharmacy, but now I bought yesterday some 7-keto. And I took 2 which is 50mg a day. So do I need to take anything else and how would I know if I have a problem with my adrenals? Because so far with each raise of the Armour I haven't had any problems. Vicky __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 I wonder what that means when it's opposite of what it's suppose to be? Can you get these saliva test strips online? Thanks Connie > > how about the saliva tests that you take 4 times a day? I took that one and > it showed my adrenals to be lowest in the morning, when it should be highest > and highest in the evening when it should be lowest...that explained some > things! > steph > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 Oh ok.. thanks.. > > it means my adrenals aren't working right! I got the kit from my doctor. > > steph > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 Dear Steph-- I have heard conflicting reports regarding the efficiency of saliva testing for adrenals. Some doctors say they prefer the saliva test over the blood test, and vice versa. The typical three tests that are given are: 1) cortisol uptake, in which they draw blood, then inject coritsol, then draw blood again an hour later to determine your body's response; 2) blood cortisol, in which the " normal " ranges are usually 2 to 25 or so (depending on the lab), with an optimum level being around 20ish for a morning cortisol test, and; 3) DHEA, also known as the anti-aging hormone (ranges vary depending on the lab), which converts to either estrogen/testosterone (usually tested at the same time to give a base level response). Best wishes-- Courtenay. --- sle816@... wrote: > how about the saliva tests that you take 4 times a > day? I took that one and > it showed my adrenals to be lowest in the morning, > when it should be highest > and highest in the evening when it should be > lowest...that explained some > things! > steph > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 As with thyroid, the labs are not the bottom line in diagnosing and treating adrenal insufficieny. Blood or saliva testing is just one tool that a doc will use to diagnose and treat. Physical examination, patient interview, detailed medical history and the doctor's own experience are at least as important as the labs. 90% of all lab work is done for the purpose of enabling the doc to cover his derriere, should the medical board come calling. . . . l & jpickle wrote: I asked Dr. Kittley about adrenals. She said there was no reliable test that could be done. P Re: Adrenals? DHEA and progesterone are both powerful hormones and prohormones. As Courtenay has stated they can convert to other hormones, too. Which ones they will convert to is highly unpredictable, especially in folks who are hypothyroid. And taking the 7-keto is throwing yet another metabolic monkey wrench into the works. I would further state that the progesterone and DHEA that you can buy over-the-counter do not always contain what is stated on the label. I would suggest that you work with your doctor and stick to the compounded hormones that he prescribes. You need to have all of your hormone levels tested on a regular basis. They all work together, and anytime you change one, you may change the whole system: thyroid, sex, adrenal. vickyhebbe wrote: I keep reading just about everyone is on some sort of adrenal support. I am currently taking 4 grains of Armour... I just started taking again my progestrone. I stopped this past month for what reason I don't know. I was getting it compounded from the pharmacy. But yesterday I bought a pump from the health food store. I did 2 pumps which are 40 mg. I was taking DHEA from compounding pharmacy, but now I bought yesterday some 7-keto. And I took 2 which is 50mg a day. So do I need to take anything else and how would I know if I have a problem with my adrenals? Because so far with each raise of the Armour I haven't had any problems. Vicky __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 Connie - You can get the testing done on-line, just as you can thyroid tests. But you still have the same issue after you get your results - you need a doctor to treat any insufficiencies that the tests turn up. You don't want to be treating adrenals on your own. So best to find a doctor to both test and treat. testifyhisgrace wrote: > I wonder what that means when it's opposite of what it's suppose to > be? Can you get these saliva test strips online? > > Thanks Connie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 Betsy, Is finding a Doc that will test you for both a trick? I mean will Doctors be less likely wanting to test your adrenals? My last Endo Doc didn't want to give me anything accept T4, and wouldn't test me for any secondary endo issues. Thanks Connie --- Betsy Grimm wrote: > Connie - > > You can get the testing done on-line, just as you > can thyroid tests. But > you still have the same issue after you get your > results - you need a > doctor to treat any insufficiencies that the tests > turn up. You don't > want to be treating adrenals on your own. > > So best to find a doctor to both test and treat. > > testifyhisgrace wrote: > > I wonder what that means when it's opposite of > what it's suppose to > > be? Can you get these saliva test strips online? > > > > > Thanks Connie > > > Eph 4:1-2 " As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely Humble and Gentle; be Patient, Bearing with one another in Love. " (NIV) __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 Connie - Well, it's not easy. And the doctor you find will probably NOT be an endo. If you're looking for a doctor, you should start with the list in the Files section on the Yahoo group site. My endo prescribes only T4, also. I see another doctor to get my Armour and other hormones (Dr. in Lubbock). A lot of doctors don't " believe " in adrenal fatigue. They think that unless you're way off the charts and have either Cushings or 's Disease your adrenals are fine. > > Betsy, > > Is finding a Doc that will test you for both a trick? > I mean will Doctors be less likely wanting to test > your adrenals? My last Endo Doc didn't want to give > me anything accept T4, and wouldn't test me for any > secondary endo issues. > > Thanks Connie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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