Re: Adrenal Results, would love some input

[Guest guest]

I'm bumping this since I got no responses.

-- In NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS , " Karl Pohlmann "

wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I just joined this forum. I've been a member of the natural thyroid

> site for a while now. Anyway, I am in pretty good shape

> with my thyroid, but was wondering why I was still so tired and achey

> and was having such a hard time with managing my blood sugar. I need

> to lose 20 pounds and I can't say it's because I'm eating really well

> and and exercising. Actually, my exercise has been rather sporadic,

> but my biggest problem is I'm always starving and if I don't eat, I

> get the shakes, headachey, anxious - basically hypoglycemia symptoms.

>

> My doc had me do the 4 X a day saliva testing for adrenals and here

> are the results and the reference ranges:

>

> 7:00 - 8:00 am 5 (13-24) depressed

> 11:00 - noon 2 (5-10) depressed

> 4:00 - 5:00 pm 2 (3-8) depressed

> 11:00 - midninght 3 (1-4) normal

>

> Along with the adrenal results, there were others:

>

> DHEA pooled value 2 (3-10) depressed

>

> Insulin

> fasting <3 (3-12)

> post-prandial 8 (5-20) normal

>

> Total salivary SIgA 8 (25-60) depressed

>

> P17-OH Progesterone 50 (22-100) normal

>

> Also, my ferritin was at 20.

>

> As a result of this, my doc wrote me a prescription for cortef and

> told me to take DHEA and iron. From what I've read the adrenal

> insufficiency could be causing the hypoglycemia. Is it other people's

> experience that once this is straightened out the hypoglycemia goes

> away and they can eat better and lose weight? Do you know how long it

> takes to start feeling the effects of the cortef? I feel so awful,

> particularly first thing in the morning. I feel like I'm 85 years old.

> I'm also confused, and a little worried, because it sounds like a lot

> of people complain about gaining weight when they start taking cortef.

>

> Also, does anyone have any thoughts on why my fasting insulin is so

> low? My doc was even stumped by that one.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome, this is really a very wonderful group, I have learned so

much since joining a few months ago. Your adrenal labs are pretty

close to mine, and I have learned patience above all else, in

treating my adrenals. For my case, I have had to go very slowly on

any meds, even HC (Cortef) or other brands. It is good your dr gave

an rx right away. What thyroid meds are you taking by the way.

There is a great deal of resources on this site for adrenals also,

along with the experience so many people have had with their own

situations.

I hope you respond well to your adrenal meds, let us know how it

goes and how you are doing, take care.

Duane

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > I just joined this forum. I've been a member of the natural

thyroid

> > site for a while now. Anyway, I am in pretty good shape

> > with my thyroid, but was wondering why I was still so tired and

achey

> > and was having such a hard time with managing my blood sugar. I

need

> > to lose 20 pounds and I can't say it's because I'm eating really

well

> > and and exercising. Actually, my exercise has been rather

sporadic,

> > but my biggest problem is I'm always starving and if I don't

eat, I

> > get the shakes, headachey, anxious - basically hypoglycemia

symptoms.

> >

> > My doc had me do the 4 X a day saliva testing for adrenals and

here

> > are the results and the reference ranges:

> >

> > 7:00 - 8:00 am 5 (13-24) depressed

> > 11:00 - noon 2 (5-10) depressed

> > 4:00 - 5:00 pm 2 (3-8) depressed

> > 11:00 - midninght 3 (1-4) normal

> >

> > Along with the adrenal results, there were others:

> >

> > DHEA pooled value 2 (3-10) depressed

> >

> > Insulin

> > fasting <3 (3-12)

> > post-prandial 8 (5-20) normal

> >

> > Total salivary SIgA 8 (25-60) depressed

> >

> > P17-OH Progesterone 50 (22-100) normal

> >

> > Also, my ferritin was at 20.

> >

> > As a result of this, my doc wrote me a prescription for cortef

and

> > told me to take DHEA and iron. From what I've read the adrenal

> > insufficiency could be causing the hypoglycemia. Is it other

people's

> > experience that once this is straightened out the hypoglycemia

goes

> > away and they can eat better and lose weight? Do you know how

long it

> > takes to start feeling the effects of the cortef? I feel so

awful,

> > particularly first thing in the morning. I feel like I'm 85

years old.

> > I'm also confused, and a little worried, because it sounds like

a lot

> > of people complain about gaining weight when they start taking

cortef.

> >

> > Also, does anyone have any thoughts on why my fasting insulin is

so

> > low? My doc was even stumped by that one.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Duane,

Thanks for your response. I'm currently on a combination of

synthetic T4 and dessicated thyroid. The results from my last labs

were:

Free T4: 1.7 (0.8-1.8)

Free T3: 363 (240-420)

My doc doesn't even bother with TSH. I'm looking forward to getting

started on the cortef and seeing how quickly I start feeling better.

I've noticed that it's very variable. Some days I feel almost

normal, but then other days I can hardly get out of bed.

> Hi ,

>

> Welcome, this is really a very wonderful group, I have learned so

> much since joining a few months ago. Your adrenal labs are pretty

> close to mine, and I have learned patience above all else, in

> treating my adrenals. For my case, I have had to go very slowly on

> any meds, even HC (Cortef) or other brands. It is good your dr gave

> an rx right away. What thyroid meds are you taking by the way.

>

> There is a great deal of resources on this site for adrenals also,

> along with the experience so many people have had with their own

> situations.

>

> I hope you respond well to your adrenal meds, let us know how it

> goes and how you are doing, take care.

>

> Duane

[Guest guest]

Hi Linn,

Thanks for the response. I'm a little worried about not being able to

shed the weight either. My biggest problem right now is serious

overeating. When I get hypogycemic, I head straight for the sugar and

I'll eat anything in front of me when I'm having an attack. I end up

eating way too many calories. I'm hoping that if I get the

hypoglycemia under control, then I can control my eating better.

,

>

> I found that my hypoglycemia has almost disappeared from taking

> cortisol. I haven't had much luck yet in getting off the extra

> weight that I gained over the summer when my thyroid whacked out but

> at least I've quit gaining.

>

> Linn

[Guest guest]

- I just started Isocort about 8 days ago. I noticed an

improvement in how I felt the day after i started it. I'm up to

2.5mg pills 4x/day. My saliva test came back with cortisol good in

the a.m. (23), then it tanked the rest of the day. My DHEA &

pregnenolone are also very low. (DHEA was 1 (lab range 3-20).

I've noticed that my junk carb cravings seem to have decreased

significantly. I'm back on my healthy eating plan without any

difficulties. I also tried to get off coffee before the Isocort, but

the best I could do was get it down to one cup. I felt like a Mac

truck had run me over & I had to have some strong caffeine to begin

to cope.

Now I'm on green tea only with no coffee cravings. No more body

aches. That " Mac truck " feeling is gone. I was able to take a family

member out to lunch & have energy to run a few errands. Things seem

brighter. I'm also taking some thyroid glandulars. My NP wanted to

start slowly, so I'm not on any Armour yet. I also started

supplementing with Lugol's iodine at the same time - 2 drops/12.5mg

iodine, as well as Celtic sea salt.

My energy is definitely up. I actually have interest in exercising.

Wow, that's a mindset change! I've stared walking again (briskly, 20

minutes 4x/week with 10-minute strolls on non-brisk days.). I was

even able to throw in 2 minutes of runnning into yesterday's walk.

AFA cravings - here's a sample of what I was able to do today:

Breakfast 8am : 1/2 cup of muesli cooked in a 1/2 cup of milk & a

cup of green tea. Had my iodine & 1/4tsp Celtic sea salt in a 1/4

cup of V8 juice. Took my vitamin/mineral supplements.

A.M. Snack 11am: pear & 8 almonds.

Lunch 1:30pm: 1/2 cup pinto beans, with some brocolli rabe & steamed

asperagus tips sauteed in a cast-iron pan with 1-2TBS olive oil, 1/2

onion, 3 cloves of garlic & 1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt.

For the rest of the day, here's what I plan:

P.M. Snack 4pm: Take a Kashi Almond/Flax bar & apple with me. I have

to bring my MIL to a doctor's appt. This way I won't need to stop

anywhere if I get munchies.

Dinner 7pm-ish: My MIL's leftover homemade green bean/carrot

vegetable soup with some cannellini (white) beans thrown in for a

bit of protein.

I drink water or non-caffeine herbal tea (with no sugar) throughout

the day. I'm not getting any cravings & don't feel food-deprived.

I'm so happy I found this board because otherwise I wouldn't have

started the Isocort & I think that has definitely made an

improvement!

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > I just joined this forum. I've been a member of the natural

thyroid

> > site for a while now. Anyway, I am in pretty good shape

> > with my thyroid, but was wondering why I was still so tired and

achey

> > and was having such a hard time with managing my blood sugar. I

need

> > to lose 20 pounds and I can't say it's because I'm eating really

well

> > and and exercising. Actually, my exercise has been rather

sporadic,

> > but my biggest problem is I'm always starving and if I don't

eat, I

> > get the shakes, headachey, anxious - basically hypoglycemia

symptoms.

> >

> > My doc had me do the 4 X a day saliva testing for adrenals and

here

> > are the results and the reference ranges:

> >

> > 7:00 - 8:00 am 5 (13-24) depressed

> > 11:00 - noon 2 (5-10) depressed

> > 4:00 - 5:00 pm 2 (3-8) depressed

> > 11:00 - midninght 3 (1-4) normal

> >

> > Along with the adrenal results, there were others:

> >

> > DHEA pooled value 2 (3-10) depressed

> >

> > Insulin

> > fasting <3 (3-12)

> > post-prandial 8 (5-20) normal

> >

> > Total salivary SIgA 8 (25-60) depressed

> >

> > P17-OH Progesterone 50 (22-100) normal

> >

> > Also, my ferritin was at 20.

> >

> > As a result of this, my doc wrote me a prescription for cortef

and

> > told me to take DHEA and iron. From what I've read the adrenal

> > insufficiency could be causing the hypoglycemia. Is it other

people's

> > experience that once this is straightened out the hypoglycemia

goes

> > away and they can eat better and lose weight? Do you know how

long it

> > takes to start feeling the effects of the cortef? I feel so

awful,

> > particularly first thing in the morning. I feel like I'm 85

years old.

> > I'm also confused, and a little worried, because it sounds like

a lot

> > of people complain about gaining weight when they start taking

cortef.

> >

> > Also, does anyone have any thoughts on why my fasting insulin is

so

> > low? My doc was even stumped by that one.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Linn,

I've also had hypoglycemia problems most of my life, but I usually do

a good job of keeping it in check. That's why this is so strange to

me, because I'm familiar with the problem and still can't keep it

under control.

I am on Vitamin C and I use sea salt to salt my food, but I don't

actually take sea salt in water like some folks do. I tried it for a

while, but had a hard time getting it down without gaggin.

> ,

>

> I don't eat sugar so I didn't have that problem, but I just

started

> putting weight on no matter what I ate. I have a very good diet

to

> begin with, so when that happened I knew something was up with my

> thyroid again. I've been really pleased at losing the

hypoglycemia

> symptoms. I've had those basically all my life or at least since

I

> was about 10. Lots of times now, I miss eating a snack in between

> breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner and I don't even notice

it,

> no symptoms at all. That's very unusual. Are you doing the sea

salt

> and Vit C also?

>

> Linn

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm glad you're already feeling better. I can't believe your diet.

If I was that good, I'd definitely lose these 20 pounds that have

been hanging around since I had my baby last December. My doctor

wants to do some more testing - she's trying to figure out if it's my

adrenals themselves that are messed up, or if my pituitary isn't

sending the proper signals to the adrenals. As result, I'm waiting

for her office to send me the lab sheet. As soon as I get it I'm

going to get the new labs done and then start my cortef.

>

> - I just started Isocort about 8 days ago. I noticed an

> improvement in how I felt the day after i started it. I'm up to

> 2.5mg pills 4x/day. My saliva test came back with cortisol good in

> the a.m. (23), then it tanked the rest of the day. My DHEA &

> pregnenolone are also very low. (DHEA was 1 (lab range 3-20).

>

> I've noticed that my junk carb cravings seem to have decreased

> significantly. I'm back on my healthy eating plan without any

> difficulties. I also tried to get off coffee before the Isocort,

but

> the best I could do was get it down to one cup. I felt like a Mac

> truck had run me over & I had to have some strong caffeine to begin

> to cope.

>

> Now I'm on green tea only with no coffee cravings. No more body

> aches. That " Mac truck " feeling is gone. I was able to take a

family

> member out to lunch & have energy to run a few errands. Things seem

> brighter. I'm also taking some thyroid glandulars. My NP wanted to

> start slowly, so I'm not on any Armour yet. I also started

> supplementing with Lugol's iodine at the same time - 2 drops/12.5mg

> iodine, as well as Celtic sea salt.

>

> My energy is definitely up. I actually have interest in exercising.

> Wow, that's a mindset change! I've stared walking again (briskly,

20

> minutes 4x/week with 10-minute strolls on non-brisk days.). I was

> even able to throw in 2 minutes of runnning into yesterday's walk.

>

> AFA cravings - here's a sample of what I was able to do today:

>

> Breakfast 8am : 1/2 cup of muesli cooked in a 1/2 cup of milk & a

> cup of green tea. Had my iodine & 1/4tsp Celtic sea salt in a 1/4

> cup of V8 juice. Took my vitamin/mineral supplements.

>

> A.M. Snack 11am: pear & 8 almonds.

>

> Lunch 1:30pm: 1/2 cup pinto beans, with some brocolli rabe &

steamed

> asperagus tips sauteed in a cast-iron pan with 1-2TBS olive oil,

1/2

> onion, 3 cloves of garlic & 1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt.

>

> For the rest of the day, here's what I plan:

>

> P.M. Snack 4pm: Take a Kashi Almond/Flax bar & apple with me. I

have

> to bring my MIL to a doctor's appt. This way I won't need to stop

> anywhere if I get munchies.

>

> Dinner 7pm-ish: My MIL's leftover homemade green bean/carrot

> vegetable soup with some cannellini (white) beans thrown in for a

> bit of protein.

>

> I drink water or non-caffeine herbal tea (with no sugar) throughout

> the day. I'm not getting any cravings & don't feel food-deprived.

>

> I'm so happy I found this board because otherwise I wouldn't have

> started the Isocort & I think that has definitely made an

> improvement!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey - the funny thing is on that I'm still not losing weight.

You'd think I would, eating like that & doing walking again. I'm

5'4.5 " & was 142lbs. I put on 30lbs in 9 months. I was hypo before I

put on the weight, but it's gotten worse the last year. I've been

stuck at 171 lbs.

Hopefully, it will get better now that I'm getting treatment. The

Isocort definitely helps. But I'm just taking thyroid glandulars right

now. I think I'll have to step up to Armour. I noticed yesterday my

energy dropped around 3pm. I think maybe the Isocort has helped the

thyroid in my blood get into my cells finally the last week, and now

its dropping down again. I'm not up to 8 pellets yet though, just 4.

> Hi ,

>

> I'm glad you're already feeling better. I can't believe your diet.

> If I was that good, I'd definitely lose these 20 pounds that have

> been hanging around since I had my baby last December. My doctor

> wants to do some more testing - she's trying to figure out if it's

my

> adrenals themselves that are messed up, or if my pituitary isn't

> sending the proper signals to the adrenals. As result, I'm waiting

> for her office to send me the lab sheet. As soon as I get it I'm

> going to get the new labs done and then start my cortef.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

If I understand correctly, you're on isocort, but not on any thyroid

medication yet? It definitely sounds like your metabolism is way off.

>

> Hey - the funny thing is on that I'm still not losing

weight.

> You'd think I would, eating like that & doing walking again. I'm

> 5'4.5 " & was 142lbs. I put on 30lbs in 9 months. I was hypo before

I

> put on the weight, but it's gotten worse the last year. I've been

> stuck at 171 lbs.

>

> Hopefully, it will get better now that I'm getting treatment. The

> Isocort definitely helps. But I'm just taking thyroid glandulars

right

> now. I think I'll have to step up to Armour. I noticed yesterday my

> energy dropped around 3pm. I think maybe the Isocort has helped the

> thyroid in my blood get into my cells finally the last week, and

now

> its dropping down again. I'm not up to 8 pellets yet though, just 4.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Anyone know of a definitive vitamin & mineral resource that explains

which type of a vitamin to take and why?

Every time I hear someone talking about vitamins & minerals, there

always seems to be a differing opinion about which is the best to take.

Perfect example...my mom's dr told her to take calcium citrate. Mine

told me to take calcium carbonate. My mom's previous dr had told her

someting different.

I guess I'd like to be able to make an informed decision. Anyone have

any resources?

Thanks!

>

> 300 mg/day is not much at all. And what form are you taking? My

doc. told

> me to take Mangesium Malate for fibro pain, so I take 500 of that,

plus 500

> of a mixed supplement (oxide, orotate, aspartate).

>

[Guest guest]

Do we have high calcium diets? Everyone generally? Or is this a hypo

thing you're referring to?

Warmly,

>

> To balance out the high calcium in our diets, also hypo's are

generally mag.

> deficient due to absorption, I think.

[Guest guest]

Hi yes I agree , these are chocolate cravings and I think

they might all well be tied together as magnesium supports the

adrenals and so helps to regulate hormones plus presumably a drop in

cortisol levels could maybe exacerbate candida. I've also heard that

chocolate helps mimic prostaglandins which help regulate our hormones

so maybe theres another link there.

Mo, its interesting we've had similar cravings but I didnt have any

chocolate cravings whilst weaning off h/c but I did a week after I

stopped so the last few days I've been craving lots of chocolate and

I ended up eating some every day! Actually I felt pretty good on it,

maybe due to the mineral content as I'm low in iron too. I'm a bit

annoyed with myself actually as eaten chocolate for well over a year

and wondered why these cravings came all out of the blue. Its a bit

suspicious and I'm thinking now it must just be my adrenals adjusting

to coming off the h/c and maybe needing the extra energy and the

magnesium. I think chocolate is high in copper too.

I've been taking a liquid ionic magnesium and I'm sure its helping.

I also doubled my dose of probiotics for damage limitation and it

seems to have helped a bit. This is quite an interesting page on food

cravings.....

http://www.naturopathyworks.com/pages/cravings.php

Take care,

Anne

>

>

>

> In a message dated 26/10/2006 04:57:28 GMT Daylight Time,

> smann writes:

>

> Carb cravings could be adrenals craving sugar for energy, or could

be

> candida. Chocolate cravings could be sugar for adrenals or

candida, or

> magnesium deficiency.

>

>

> Thanks . Well I am weaning off h.c so that could be

implicated I

> suppose.

> And stressed.

> Stress affects the adrenals right? and then there is a knock-on

effect with

> the blood sugar dropping - hence cravings?

> Is this correct?

> I really want to try to understand the actual step-by-step process

in the

> body if I can get the information.

>

> Mo

>

> NOVA Counselling & Healing Services

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oops I just reread my msg and realised I've missed a few words out so

I hope it makes sense. I meant to say I agree these are the main

reasons behind chocolate cravings. Looks like the chocolate got to me

more than I realised.

Anne

> >

> >

> >

> > In a message dated 26/10/2006 04:57:28 GMT Daylight Time,

> > smannelli@ writes:

> >

> > Carb cravings could be adrenals craving sugar for energy, or

could

> be

> > candida. Chocolate cravings could be sugar for adrenals or

> candida, or

> > magnesium deficiency.

> >

> >

> > Thanks . Well I am weaning off h.c so that could be

> implicated I

> > suppose.

> > And stressed.

> > Stress affects the adrenals right? and then there is a knock-on

> effect with

> > the blood sugar dropping - hence cravings?

> > Is this correct?

> > I really want to try to understand the actual step-by-step

process

> in the

> > body if I can get the information.

> >

> > Mo

> >

> > NOVA Counselling & Healing Services

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

>

> Thanks. I am only at 1 and a half grains. My temps are not

particularly

> low during the day but get low in the morning. I cannot lose the

weight and

> get terrible sugar cravings in the afternoon.

Hi, ,

How are your thyroid numbers on 1.5? (Are you on HC...I think I

recall that you are?)

Anecdotally speaking, I have been up & down on Armour & Naturethroid -

probably to the detriment of my thyroid & adrenals, but that's another

story (my theme song is Barry Manilow's " Trying to Get the Feeling

Again " ...I've been high, low, everywhere I possibly can...)

Anyway, I digress...anecdotally, I can tell you that when I went down

from 3 grains to 1.5 (I think, if I remember correctly), I had

HORRIBLE sugar cravings. That was the point at which I was eating hot

fudge out of the jar first thing in the morning...

Right now, I'm on 2.75 grains, and still hypo for sure by numbers &

symptoms, but the sugar & cravings are gone, with the exception of

occasional chocolate cravings, which I am going to attribute to

magnesium. My blood sugar crashes are also gone, assuming that I eat

in reasonable intervals. That was the case even before I started the

Isocort & prior to losing my appetite due to poor adrenal function.

However, one point I must mention is that slow increases on the

thyroid meds have worked much better for me, even when seriously hypo.

When I've increased according to manufacturer instructions, I've had

nothing but problems...probably due to adrenals.

Just my 2 cents!

Warmly,

[Guest guest]

Anyone have " weirdness " with magnesium?

Last night I took a little extra as advised by someone knowledgeable,

to help with sleep, and woooo...weird!

Had " visual disturbances " ...like seeing shadows & movement where there

was none.

Any thoughts? (Aside from my initial thought...OK, it is now OFFICIAL

- I have lost it!)

Thanks!

Warmly,

>

> Mo,

>

> I take 1200 mgs of magnesium usually, I try to keep it between

> 800-1200 mgs. You might try adding a little more to see if it helps.

>

> Linn

>

[Guest guest]

Well, my understanding is that you need magnesium to absorb calcium

properly.

There are conditions in which calcium will deposit in the joints if it

is not used by the body properly. I wonder if that's the case with

the breast calcium deposits.

My mom has osteopenia & has had the breast calcium deposits as well.

Her doc has her on calcium as well, but not magnesium. I told her she

should try adding it in.

She had calcium deposits removed from her breasts about 9 years

> ago, YET the doctors have her taking Caltrate for osteoporosis.

>

[Guest guest]

I don't have a problem with magnesium usually, but when I take magnesium

chloride I have these hyperadrenal symptoms...they go away when I stop it.

---------------------------

Anyone have " weirdness " with magnesium?

Last night I took a little extra as advised by someone knowledgeable,

to help with sleep, and woooo...weird!

Had " visual disturbances " ...like seeing shadows & movement where there

was none.

Any thoughts? (Aside from my initial thought...OK, it is now OFFICIAL

- I have lost it!)

Thanks!

Warmly,

---------------------------------

How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Guest guest]

>

> Do you have any idea which form is stressful and which isn't?

>

> If there are large stones that get stuck in teh ducts during

passage, you

> will feel pain like a gall bladder attack.

How stabilized are you on the HC? (I think I recall that you're on it...)

A gallbladder attack. i.e., passing a stone, is horribly painful &

VERY stressful!!! While I understand the concept of the flush, and

that it seems like perhaps it should speed the process, passing a

stone is an all-night affair!

Did your gallbladder stuff just start since you went on adrenal

support? Because I've been having some twinges since I started

Isocort, and I swear it's related, but don't know how.

If you pass a particularly large stone, it can get stuck & require

surgery. I don't know how common it is, but it is one of the risks a

former dr gave me with regard to keeping or removing the gallbladder.

I kept mine & haven't had a problem since about 8 years ago, with the

exception of when I went on BC pills for about two minutes 6 1/2 years

ago after I had my son...but I immediately started with the

gallbladder attacks & went off. Often female hormone flux causes it.

Personally, if it were me, I would let sleeping stones lie.

Just my 2 cents.

[Guest guest]

> Within days of starting on Progesterone cream in

> August, the cravings stopped. They were just GONE. It

> was like a huge monster off my back, like being able

> to stand up and breathe the fresh air and look around

> for the first time in five years.

, this is very interesting to me. How much progesterone cream did

you start with? I'm afraid to start with too much because birth

control pills wigged me out big time, even the low dose type.

Thanks!!

~~

[Guest guest]

But I've also heard that if you're using Guai for fibromyalgia you should avoid

Castor Oil??

----------------------

Oh yes! I forgot all about that one. I used to work as

a volunteer in the library at the ARE (Association for

Research and Enlightenment) otherwise known as the

Edgar Cayce Center and they are just huge, huge

promoters of the Castor Oil pack. I met a LOT of

people for whom this treatment worked very well. I've

always meant to try it myself.

---------------------------------

Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Yahoo! Small

Business.

[Guest guest]

Hi -

Yes, that's correct. I'm taking Isocort, but not any of the

thyroid " medications " (Armour, etc.). My NP did give me some thyroid

glandulars to take for now, but as you know, that's very mild. She

wanted to see how I did on it for two weeks. She doesn't know yet

that I started the Isocort. My next appointment is 11/2 & I'll tell

her then.

My CC saliva tests from 10/5/06 showed mild adrenal problems:

7am-8am - 23 normal (13-24nM)

11a-noon: 8 normal (5-10nM)

4pm-5pm: 2 DEPRESSED (3-8nM)

11pm-MDT: 1 normal (1-4nM)

Cortisol burden: 34 (23-42)

DHEA 1 DEPRESSED (3-10ng/ml

Cortisol-DHEA Correlation - #4. MALADAPTED, Phase II

Patient Result Interpretations

Anabolic enhancement suggested: DHEA or Pregnenolone augmentation.

Anabolic support suggested.

Hormones:

E2 Estradiol 11 (Luteal range 7-20 pg/ml)

P1 Progesterone >1ooo (Luteal range 65-500 pg/ml) *Note: I take

progesterone cream & was off it only 3 days prior to test. There's

some research that indicates serum levels may be more accurate for

persons supplementing with bio-ident.progesterone

TTF Free Testosterone 12 Normal (normal range 8-20 pg/ml)

Thyroid Results:

fTSH >600 HIGH (normal 26-85, borderline 86-120 nIU/ml) YOWZA, HIGH!

fT4 L-Thyroxine .22 normal (normal range .17-.42 ng/dl)

fT3 Triiodo-thyronine .39 normal (normal range .28-1.1 pg/ml )

TPO Thyroid Microsomal Ab, SIgA Negative (normal = negative)

My blood tests from 1/10/2006 showed:

Total T3: 145 In range (ref 60-181 ng/dl)

Free T4: 1.2 In range (ref .8-1.8 ng/dl)

TSH 2.66 In range (ref .4-5.5 mIU/L) ACK, these are the OLD ref

ranges!

No free T3 was done (sigh)

My blood tests from 12/14/2005 showed:

Cortisol (AM) 10.8 (ref range 4.0-22.0 mcg/dL *Lab printed it in

the " In Range " column, but my NP circled it/flagged it as LOW

DHEA 110 (ref range 25-220 mcg/dL)

Vitamin D,25-Hydroxy 14L LOW (ref range 20-100 ng/mL)

Pregnenolone 24 (ref range 10-230 ng/dL *Lab printed as " In Range "

but my NP circled it/flagged as LOW

Candida Ab (IgG) 1.08 POSITIVE (negative: less than .89,

equivocal .89-.99, positive equal to/greater than 1.00)

I'm still waiting to get my blood tests from HealthCheckUSA in the

mail, along with the iodine-loading results. Should be here any day.

My NP sent me for blood tests too. I should have those results any

day too.

As I said, I have another appointment with her on 11/2. I didn't

mind getting just thyroid glandulars, since I knew it was important

to start adrenal support before supplementing with Armour & this

gave me the opportunity to do so.

I just WISH I had known in January the info from these groups and

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com. Now I know that 2.66 TSH reading,

along with all the hypo signs I was having, plus those low hormonal

readings, were clear signs of thyroid issues. ACK. I could have

started treatment earlier. When I asked her what she thought of my

thyroid reading, she said it was normal <sigh>.

I have been having hypothyroid symptoms since 1998. The allopathic

docs have checked my for congestive heart failure, lymphadema, deep

vein thrombosis, lymphatic blockage in the pelvis/abdomen & a host

of other problems. Nada, of course. I'm as healthy as a horse .

Oh, but my PCP said she'd prescribe an anti-depressant for me if I

want. Uh, thanks - NOT.

One of my last PCP reports said that if I was still having the leg

edema problems, she was going to refer me to a " vascular surgeon " .

Sheesh. I had them give me my records from 1998-2005, but for some

reason it's only the typed doctors notes & no lab results. I know I

had bloodwork with them, but I can't say what my TSH or anything

else was from that time. I'll have to go back & bug them for the lab

results.

At least my NP does now agree that I have thyroid problems. And she

was the only doc to catch my Vitamin D problem when I was having

excrutiating muscle pains. She's familiar with iodine therapy,

willing to work with patients, is a good listener, understands the

interworkings of hormonal & nutritional issues, so those are good

too.

I would just want to monitor how long she wants to go the herbal

route. I fully believe in good nutrition & a holistic approach to

body health. But there comes a time when stronger measures are

needed to get back quality of life on some sort of reasonable

timetable. I feel that's the case with me using some Armour now. Too

many years wasted.

The Isocort has definitely helped. My energy level at 3pm used to

just die and I often took a nap. I can see clearly why in the saliva

test results. The " run-over-by-a-truck " feeling has gone away. I

don't usually get that big slump in the afternoon. I've actually

been able to use my treadmill again & be enthused about walking. I

can't add any running yet - too soon. I get overtired the next day.

But, before the Isocort, the last time I went for three 30-minute

walks in one week, I slept the whole weekend. Not good for someone

that used to run marathons

But I still have a host of hypo symptoms that haven't gone away.

Isocort's only going to help so much. That TSH is up so high because

my body is trying desperately to get some T4/T3 pumped out. Armour

is definitely the next step.

Oh, in case you were wondering, I started the Celtic sea salt &

Lugol's iodine two weeks ago also. I'm up to 6 drops/day of Lugol's.

I also do vitamin supplementation - multi, 1000mg Vitamin C 3xday,

2000iu Vitamin D3, 15mg beta-carotene, 400mg E, 600mg Calcuim 2xday,

150mg Magnesium 2xday, Vitamin B 50-mg Complex, 25mg Zinc, 200mg

Selenium, 50mg Co-Q10, probiotics 3xday, Omega-3 oil capsules 3xday

(Udo's). I was doing 500mg Vitamin C/day, but I've had a cold

lingering for 3 weeks & a bout of cellulitis, so I upped my dose to

help support my immune system.

I've just gone back to grinding up 2TBS organic flax seed/day for

more Omega-3's. I'm thinking of switching to Cod Liver Oil instead

of the beta-carotene/Vitamin D pill combo. Gives A & D, plus the

benefit of Omega-3's, EFAs, etc. I plan to ask my NP about that.

Hypos don't metabolize beta-carotene into Vitamin A very well, so I

think I'll be better off with direct A supplementation. And oil-

based Vitamin A, especially when combined with D, doesn't have

anywhere the toxicity issues that supplement or water-soluble forms

have.

Anyway, that's where I stand right now - a work in progress

-- In NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS , " Karl

Pohlmann " wrote:

>

> Hi ,

>

> If I understand correctly, you're on isocort, but not on any

thyroid

> medication yet? It definitely sounds like your metabolism is way

off.

>

>

> >

> > Hey - the funny thing is on that I'm still not losing

> weight.

> > You'd think I would, eating like that & doing walking again. I'm

> > 5'4.5 " & was 142lbs. I put on 30lbs in 9 months. I was hypo

before

> I

> > put on the weight, but it's gotten worse the last year. I've

been

> > stuck at 171 lbs.

> >

> > Hopefully, it will get better now that I'm getting treatment.

The

> > Isocort definitely helps. But I'm just taking thyroid glandulars

> right

> > now. I think I'll have to step up to Armour. I noticed yesterday

my

> > energy dropped around 3pm. I think maybe the Isocort has helped

the

> > thyroid in my blood get into my cells finally the last week, and

> now

> > its dropping down again. I'm not up to 8 pellets yet though,

just 4.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

: did I ask you before if your Vitamin D levels were ever

checked to see if that might be what's causing your back pain?

I had excrutiating back pain (especially on the right side), along

with burning hip pain. My NP finally figured it out when the

allopathic docs couldn't.

On 12/24/05 my Vitamin D results came back as:

Vitamin D,25-Hydroxy 14L LOW (ref range 20-100 ng/mL)

My NP started me on 2000IU of Vitamin D3 (needs to be

cholecalciferol/D3, not the ergocalciferol/D2). In about a month, it

suddenly dawned on me my pain was gone.

I posted some links on Vitamin D & muscle/bone pain here:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/m

essage/7777

Just another option for you to double-check, especially before doing

a harsh liver cleanse to resolve back pain.

Hope you feel better soon,

>

> I'm not sure how stablizied I am, I'm on 30 mg. right now, and was

doing

> well until just this week and have been having some weirdness,

like some

> dizzyness. I'm also on Diflucan and doing candida diet, so who

knows how

> much is related to a die-off or a side effect, kwim?

>

> I don't know if this is for sure a " gall bladder attack " I'm

having. I

> don't think so, but this pain in my back is pretty excruciating,

and I have

> been told by my chiro. and a biochemist that this area of pain is

related to

> liver/gall bladder.

>

> Best,

>

> http://www.ChestnutHillDesigns.com

> http://www.CurlyRescue.com

>

> > How stabilized are you on the HC? (I think I recall that you're

on it...)

> >

> > A gallbladder attack. i.e., passing a stone, is horribly painful

&

> > VERY stressful!!! While I understand the concept of the flush,

and

> > that it seems like perhaps it should speed the process, passing a

> > stone is an all-night affair!

> >

> > Did your gallbladder stuff just start since you went on adrenal

> > support? Because I've been having some twinges since I started

> > Isocort, and I swear it's related, but don't know how.

>

[Guest guest]

Just FYI - since we are both in the N.E. - at this lattitude, your

body can not make enough Vitamin D from the sun during November to

March. It does tend to use stores created during the summer months,

but by the end of winter many people are deficient. Even though

you're outside with the horses, don't count on that giving you

sufficient D during the colder months. The body needs UV light from

the sun at certain height in the sky & during the winter the sun is

too low at our lattitudes.

You supplement with more Vitamin D than the average person does, so

you may be ok. Just remember that the body does get less efficient

with metabolizing Vitamin D as it ages. Also there is more & more

research pointing to the body needing closer to 2000IU for optimum

health. Next time you are due to get bloodwork done, it might not

hurt to ask the doc to consider throwing in a Vitamin D serum level

test. You do have joint/muscle pain - a typical symptom. Also,

Vitamin D deficiency does seem to crop up among hypothyroids. Might

not hurt to rule out a deficiency.

Just a thought for you...

>

> Thanks, . I doubt its Vit. D3, I take b/t 800 to 1,000

IU/day and have

> been for a number of years. Plus I am outside every single day

(horses to

> feed), and have only full-spectrum lighting in the house.

>

> I did talk to Linsey about the cleanse and my concerns. She said

that the

> only time anyone has ever had a problem with the cleanse is if

they did not

> follow through with the 2nd day instructions. She also said that

you can't

> detox until your liver is cleared out and ready.

>

> I'm goig to make sure I do it on a weekend when my husband is

around (and

> those days are getting slim this time of year).

>

> Best,

>

> http://www.ChestnutHillDesigns.com

> http://www.CurlyRescue.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

Are you sure the weight gain isn't from hypo? You're really not on

much Armour...

>

> It does not seem to be. I think it is related to only taking hc at

> breakfast and lunch. By 3:00 it is gone. I just hate to add doses

cause I

> have gained so much weight.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm not sure how stablizied I am, I'm on 30 mg. right now, and was

doing

> well until just this week and have been having some weirdness, like

some

> dizzyness. I'm also on Diflucan and doing candida diet, so who

knows how

> much is related to a die-off or a side effect, kwim?

>

> I don't know if this is for sure a " gall bladder attack " I'm having. I

> don't think so, but this pain in my back is pretty excruciating, and

I have

> been told by my chiro. and a biochemist that this area of pain is

related to

> liver/gall bladder.

>

Well, they can do an ultrasound to see if you have gallstones & if the

gallbladder & ducts are healthy. Don't know if you're up for that.

Does the pain go away? Does it last for a number of hours, maybe even

up to 12, then die down?

Gallbladder is upper right quadrant of the back, and you might also

feel a lot of pressure inside the entire ribcage, like maybe

indigestion and/or gas.

My concern is that if you're having an ongoing problem, like daily,

that it's not just that you passed a stone on one or more occasions,

but rather that there's something else going on, like that the ducts

are having problems or whatever.

IMO, I would get that all checked out before doing a flush. And I

would NEVER do one if I was having weirdness.

Just my 2 cents...