Re: Repost!: new to hc, need help! Re-Post!

[Guest guest]

Dahlia, it sounds as if you just need more HC. Did you have saliva labs

to confirm your adrenal fatigue to know how bad they were? I am finding

more and more folks need 25-30MG to feel well and for the adrenals to heal.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

My Ebay Jewelry Store http://stores.ebay.com/valeriescrystalcreations

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

[Guest guest]

Dahlia,

Hives and throat twitching are both signs of an allergic reaction.

What have you been eating or taking new since this started?

Linn

> re-post! re-post!

>

> new to hc, need help!

> Posted by: " srapp785@... " srapp785@... dahlia_918

> Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:44 am (PST)

> Hi All,

> I'm new to this board, though I've been reading the posts the past few

> weeks.

>

> I recently went into adrenal crisis/thyroid crisis, with pulses of

> 41-43,

> low blood pressure and low temps. Couldn't increase my Armour beyond

> 15-30 mgs., so doc started me on Cortef--Oct 1st. Didn't really do

> much

> for about a month until someone on the Iodine board told me to start

> raising my Armour which I did to 60 mgs--thanks to the cortef, I could

> and do tolerate that dose, my pulses are usually high 50s now, even in

> the 60s and my bp is good. Temps still range, but yesterday they were

> between 97.7 and 98.0 most of day. Doc told me to raise Armour

> based on

> bp, pulse, temp, etc. I'm thinking I should stay at 60 mgs. for at

> least

> a week or two.

>

[Guest guest]

Dahlia:

Funny you should mention hives. I have not had hives in years and have

developed them on my abdoman. I believe it is due to HC increasing yeast

activity (my suppositiohn). I started diflucan pills and they are gradually

going away, as is my sugar cravings.

-- Repost!: new to hc, need help! Re-Post!

re-post! re-post!

new to hc, need help!

Posted by: " srapp785@... " srapp785@... dahlia_918

Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:44 am (PST)

Hi All,

I'm new to this board, though I've been reading the posts the past few

weeks.

I recently went into adrenal crisis/thyroid crisis, with pulses of 41-43,

low blood pressure and low temps. Couldn't increase my Armour beyond

15-30 mgs., so doc started me on Cortef--Oct 1st. Didn't really do much

for about a month until someone on the Iodine board told me to start

raising my Armour which I did to 60 mgs--thanks to the cortef, I could

and do tolerate that dose, my pulses are usually high 50s now, even in

the 60s and my bp is good. Temps still range, but yesterday they were

between 97.7 and 98.0 most of day. Doc told me to raise Armour based on

bp, pulse, temp, etc. I'm thinking I should stay at 60 mgs. for at least

a week or two.

Since I started reading the posts on this board, I've adjusted my Cortef

to 10, 5 and 5 mgs. and recently added 2.5 before bed to help with sleep.

I also take Lugol's, low dose of 7.5 mgs. I'm hyptoT with a newly growing

goiter, prob from too low Armour dose.

So, here's my question: I have terrible hives all over my body which

seem to come out at night and get better during the day as I take my

Cortef. At first I thought it was allergy and switched to prednisone:

same result, hives at night, and I was warned by some at Iodine that

pred. not as good as Cortef, so switched back to Cortef. I have some old

hydrocortisone from a previous doc, so today I will switch to that.

However, I don't think what I'm having is an allergic reaction. I think

it may be that my adrenals are shutting down and can't cope without some

form of added cortisone. I notice also that my throat feels 'twitchy', as

in pre-asthma, which would also be a sign of low cortisol. Does anyone

here have this experience? I'm slightly scared about all this.

Any ideas, suggestions, thoughts: most welcome!, and thank you.

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

How soon after you started the Lugol's did the hives start? How much

are you taking?

Sometimes people get a reaction of hives, pimpling, etc. due the de-

toxing effect iodine has for bromide, chloride & fluoride. You could

try decreasing the Lugol's & see if that reduces the reaction.

I had some mild pimpling on my chest 2 days after I started on 2

drops. Faded, then came back 3 weeks later when I had worked my dose

up to 8 drops/day. That's starting to fade now too.

>

> So, here's my question: I have terrible hives all over my body

which

> seem to come out at night and get better during the day as I take

my

> Cortef. At first I thought it was allergy and switched to

prednisone:

> same result, hives at night, and I was warned by some at Iodine

that

> pred. not as good as Cortef, so switched back to Cortef. I have

some old

> hydrocortisone from a previous doc, so today I will switch to that.

>

> However, I don't think what I'm having is an allergic reaction. I

think

> it may be that my adrenals are shutting down and can't cope

without some

> form of added cortisone. I notice also that my throat

feels 'twitchy', as

> in pre-asthma, which would also be a sign of low cortisol. Does

anyone

> here have this experience? I'm slightly scared about all this.

>

> Any ideas, suggestions, thoughts: most welcome!, and thank you.

>

> Dahlia

>

>

[Guest guest]

> I also take Lugol's, low dose of 7.5 mgs. I'm hyptoT with a newly

growing

> goiter, prob from too low Armour dose.

>

Hi, Dahlia,

Did you have the goiter BEFORE starting the Lugol's? If not, it might

be wise to discontinue the Lugol's. As I'm sure you know from the

iodine forum, not everyone can tolerate it & it can aggravate a

thyroid condition.

Obviously you can have a goiter from not enough Armour, too, but the

way you worded it made me question when the goiter started.

Have you been tested for 's? Are you on Florinef?

Hope you're feeling better today, Dahlia.

Warmly,

[Guest guest]

Posted by: " T " artisticgroomer@... valharly

Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:32 am (PST)

>it sounds as if you just need more HC. Did you have saliva labs

>to confirm your adrenal fatigue to know how bad they were? I am finding

>more and more folks need 25-30MG to feel well and for the adrenals to

heal.

Hi Val,

I did not have any testing done to confirm adrenal fatigue, I was too

desperate and doc willing to write rx for Cortef. Looking back, I wish I

had done saliva testing.

I find that I am needing higher than 20 mgs. to feel well--and keep the

hives under control. Also I've increased iodine since increasing Armour

and this seems to make a big difference in bp and pulse.

So, you don't think the hives is a sign that I'm doing something wrong

with my h.c. dosing?

Thanks,

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

Posted by: " Linn " linnmiller@... mlknkh

Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:20 am (PST)

Dahlia,

Hives and throat twitching are both signs of an allergic reaction.

What have you been eating or taking new since this started?

Linn

Hi Linn,

Really nothing new since this started. Not a new food or a new

supplement. Bizarre, eh? I certainly will re-check, but I believe

I've switched from Cortef to generic h.c. (but I was on the Cortef for 1

month before this happened, so seems unlikely it's an allergy to Cortef)

and I've increased the dose. I was just afraid that I was taking too

much h.c. and was possibly effecting my immune system and hence the

hives.

Thank you,

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

Posted by: " jtb14789 " jtb14789@... jtb14789

Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:41 am (PST)

>How soon after you started the Lugol's did the hives start? How much

>are you taking?

>Sometimes people get a reaction of hives, pimpling, etc. due the de-

>toxing effect iodine has for bromide, chloride & fluoride. You could

>try decreasing the Lugol's & see if that reduces the reaction.

>I had some mild pimpling on my chest 2 days after I started on 2

>drops. Faded, then came back 3 weeks later when I had worked my dose

>up to 8 drops/day. That's starting to fade now too.

>

Hi ,

That's an interesting thought. I've been taking iodine in the form of

Iosol for 2-3 months, so I'm thinking I'm probably past the detox phase

(at last!). The hives are prior to starting Lugol's, so I don't think

it's that.

Several years ago, before I got diagnosed with Grave's, I had a similar

horrendous outbreak of hives. They're called 'contact hives', which is a

good descriptor--I get hives wherever anything is in contact with any

part of my body for more than a couple of minutes. Like if I'm raking

leaves, I will get hives on the palms of one hand or both. Anywhere

there's elastic, I will get hives. Even sleeping will cause hives on my

back. Ugh!!! After many months of suffering with these, I went to a

dermatologist, he prescribed Zyrtec and they finally cleared up. I

always thought this was a placebo effect, but I may try it again anyway.

Just so no one here thinks I'm aggravating or causing the situation with

cortisone???

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

>Did you have the goiter BEFORE starting the Lugol's? If not, it might

>be wise to discontinue the Lugol's. As I'm sure you know from the

>iodine forum, not everyone can tolerate it & it can aggravate a

>thyroid condition.

Yes, I had the goiter before starting the Lugol's and before increasing

Armour. In fact, I was in pain on the left side of the goiter until I

took Lugol's, and the pain has been gone ever since, although I

definitely notice a fullness in my neck, and you can see it. Yuck!

>Obviously you can have a goiter from not enough Armour, too, but the

>way you worded it made me question when the goiter started.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. Definitely goiter on low dose Armour (15 mg)

and no Lugol's, only Iosol.

>Have you been tested for 's? Are you on Florinef?

No, haven't been tested for 's, not on Florinef...what is the test

for 's btw? I'm prob being very naive, but what makes you ask

about 's/Florinef?

>Hope you're feeling better today, Dahlia.

Thanks , I really am feeling better today. (Pulse up to 68, temp

up to 98.0)

>Warmly,

>

[Guest guest]

Posted by: " C. Mannelli, Ed.D. " smann

guiltedgirls

Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:01 am (PST)

>Funny you should mention hives. I have not had hives in years and have

>developed them on my abdoman. I believe it is due to HC increasing yeast

>activity (my suppositiohn). I started diflucan pills and they are

gradually

>going away, as is my sugar cravings.

>

,

That is really interesting! I used to have candida issues and really

when I think back to previous experience with hives, I was untreated for

candida at the time. Also I have recently increased my in-take of

fermented veggies and increased my intake of kefir--Linn, that is the

only new thing, didn't think to mention it. Ah hah! Could certainly be

related. Wow, this is really interesting. I'll report back fer sure.

Hmmmm, I may try Candex (which has worked for me in the past) for a

couple of days and see what happens!

Thank you very much,

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

Posted by: " "

>>So, you don't think the hives is a sign that I'm doing something wrong

with my h.c. dosing?<<,

>Only that it could mean you are not taking enough.

Hi Val,

I upped my dose today from 20 to 25 mgs., as follows:

15 mgs a.m., when I first get up

5 mgs. around noon

5 mgs. around 4 or 5 p.m.

What do you think?

thanks!

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>The HC should actually help an allergic reaction. But it's just like

>other meds in that it would stop or cover up the reaction itself,

>when what you want to find out is what's causing it, so you can stop

>it from happening.

>Linn

Hi Linn,

yes, I think you're right--early in the day when I take my biggest dose

of h.c., the hives don't bother me at all. It's as the day progresses

and I'm taking smaller doses--and at night when I'm not taking any h.c.

at all, that the hives are at their worst.

argh.....

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>Is the kefir made from regular milk or raw milk?

>Linn

actually it's made from pasteurized goat's milk, as I'm allergic to cow's

milk. I keep thinking I need to get raw goat milk....is that what you're

thinking? I've been drinking this for over a year w/o a problem, but I

did recently increase the amount I'm drinking, plus I just got some

kimchee and gingered carrots, eating those in small amounts, once a day.

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>

> Posted by: " Linn " linnmiller@... mlknkh

> Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:20 am (PST)

> Dahlia,

>

> Hives and throat twitching are both signs of an allergic reaction.

> What have you been eating or taking new since this started?

>

> Linn

>

> Hi Linn,

> Really nothing new since this started. Not a new food or a new

> supplement. Bizarre, eh? I certainly will re-check, but I believe

>

> I've switched from Cortef to generic h.c. (but I was on the Cortef for 1

> month before this happened, so seems unlikely it's an allergy to Cortef)

> and I've increased the dose.

Hi, Dahlia,

I'm not suggesting that you are allergic to anything in Cortef,

because I just don't know what's causing your hives.

However, drug and food allergies don't always occur on first usage.

More often, it's when you have repeat exposure, then you have a reaction.

All of the drugs that I've become allergic to has been after using

them multiple times.

Warmly,

[Guest guest]

>

> Posted by: " T " artisticgroomer@... valharly

> Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:32 am (PST)

> >it sounds as if you just need more HC. Did you have saliva labs

> >to confirm your adrenal fatigue to know how bad they were? I am

finding

> >more and more folks need 25-30MG to feel well and for the adrenals to

> heal.

>

> Hi Val,

> I did not have any testing done to confirm adrenal fatigue, I was too

> desperate and doc willing to write rx for Cortef. Looking back, I wish I

> had done saliva testing.

Hi again, Dahlia,

IMO, I don't think that the saliva testing would have told you much

that you don't already know...you have SEVERE adrenal fatigue. I'd

say the biggest indicators are your low pulse and BP.

I can't remember...have you ruled out 's? If I were you, I

would ask for bloodwork to test for adrenal antibodies. Forgive me if

I've already said this & am repeating...I'm still forgetful!

Take care, Dahlia!

Warmly,

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Sorry if I wasn't clear. Definitely goiter on low dose Armour (15 mg)

> and no Lugol's, only Iosol.

Was there a point that you had the goiter without and iodine? Iosol

is iodine, right?

>

>

>

> >Have you been tested for 's? Are you on Florinef?

>

> No, haven't been tested for 's, not on Florinef...what is the

test

> for 's btw? I'm prob being very naive, but what makes you ask

> about 's/Florinef?

Ooops...I didn't read far enough & just posted another post with this

question. See...I AM forgetful! LOL!

I just ask about 's since it seems that your adrenal fatigue is

pretty severe, at least based on your pulse & BP. Even with the HC,

your pulse is still pretty low.

You might want to be tested for low aldosterone soon:

Aldosterone

Aldosterone belongs to a class of hormones called mineralocorticoids,

also produced by the adrenal glands. It helps maintain blood pressure

and water and salt balance in the body by helping the kidney retain

sodium and excrete potassium. When aldosterone production falls too

low, the kidneys are not able to regulate salt and water balance,

causing blood volume and blood pressure to drop.

If aldosterone is also deficient, it is replaced with oral doses of a

mineralocorticoid called fludrocortisone acetate (Florinef), which is

taken once a day. Patients receiving aldosterone replacement therapy

are usually advised by a doctor to increase their salt intake.

Here is a link to Specialty Labs, who does serum adrenal antibody testing:

http://www.specialtylabs.com/tests/details.asp?id=1130

If it were me, I would ask my dr for these tests soon. At least then

you'll know for sure how you need to approach the situation.

Let us know how you're doing, Dahlia!

Warmly,

[Guest guest]

>>I would go to 4 times a day dosing like this:

10MG when you wake up, 7.5MG in four hours, 5mg in four hours and 2.5MG

at bedtime<<

thank you very much Val. I will try that dosing schedule.

at the moment, I am dosing Armour twice a day, with HC about an hour or

so after the Armour...is that what you would advise?

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>>I thought you said it was a recent addition since the hives showed

up. If it's not then it's probably not the culprit. Anything new

since the hives showed up?

Linn<<

Sorry, Linn to be so confusing! The kefir is new in quantity only; and

the fermented veggies are new, although have eaten lots in the past year

or so without any problem. This info would make sense if there was a

Candida problem. Otherwise nothing new at all,

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>>I just ask about 's since it seems that your adrenal fatigue is

pretty severe, at least based on your pulse & BP. Even with the HC,

your pulse is still pretty low.

You might want to be tested for low aldosterone soon<<

Thanks ...what you say worries me! I just had a bunch of blood

drawn, but not for 's. I'll certainly report back what I find,

esp. if low sodium.

Today, my temp is finally up to 98.4, pulse 68, bp 109/60....so pretty

good, eh?

Dahlia

[Guest guest]

>

> - Is it the ACTH test that looks for adrenal

> antibodies? This is to check for 's I thought.

>

No, the ACTH stim test doesn't check adrenal antibodies, but it can

determine if you have 's. However, I was told here (prior to

having the ACTH stim test) that it really only determines if you have

full-blown 's. I would have to agree with that assessment now.

The ACTH stim test assesses your baseline ACTH, then they give you an

injection of synthetic ACTH which should raise your cortisol level.

According to the Merck Manual...

Normal preinjection plasma cortisol ranges from 5 to 25 & #956;g/dL (138 to

690 nmol/L) and doubles in 30 to 90 min, reaching at least 20 & #956;g/dL

(552 nmol/L). Patients with 's disease have low or low-normal

values that do not rise above 20 & #956;g/dL at 30 min.

Here is a link to an adrenal antibody test...

http://www.specialtylabs.com/tests/details.asp?id=1130

This is a blood test that looks for the antibodies.

[Guest guest]

>

> >>I just ask about 's since it seems that your adrenal fatigue is

> pretty severe, at least based on your pulse & BP. Even with the HC,

> your pulse is still pretty low.

>

> You might want to be tested for low aldosterone soon<<

>

> Thanks ...what you say worries me! I just had a bunch of blood

> drawn, but not for 's. I'll certainly report back what I find,

> esp. if low sodium.

>

> Today, my temp is finally up to 98.4, pulse 68, bp 109/60....so pretty

> good, eh?

>

Glad to hear that your temps & BP are finally up, Dahlia! That's

great! perhaps all you needed was more HC.

Don't worry about it being 's - statistically, chances are

small that it is. I think the more critical aspect is whether your

aldosterone is low.

I didn't mean to worry you, Dahlia. More that I want to share what

I've learned on my path, and if I'd known then what I know now, I

would have been asking a whole different set of questions.

Keep us posted on how you're doing, Dahlia!!!

Warmly,