Re: Could my Cortisol be too high?

[Guest guest]

> In our area (kansas city) not just just the mold peaks but Ragweed.

Both mold and ragweed was extremely high here this year. I hate

Sept & Oct here for that reason.

>>>>>>>>

I never gave any thought to allergies. I didn't have any obvious

allergies as a kid. I grew up in Oregon, and every year, I always had

a cold during my birthday on October 28th. I remember being pissed

off b/c my cold took away my cake enjoyment. Things didn't taste the same.

Tasia

[Guest guest]

,

I have been reading this thread and am a little concerned for you.

I have to ask you if you had testing done before going on Cortef? I

also am wondering why you are on such a high dose of Cortef? I got

into major trouble with dosing my cortef in March and am now weaning

down from a too high dose of it....I basically ended up with Pseudo-

Cushings, which includes a buffalo hump--my suggestion is to maybe

think about lowering the dose of Cortef you are on.....35mg. is a

high dose and you could be experiencing high cortisol. And, if you

haven't tested, please wean off and get tested ! There seems to be a

fine line here and I would never wish my experience upon anyone

else.....good luck

Dana

p.s. I also had skin symptoms show up....scarring easily, bruising &

round face, hump, weight gain, can't lose weight, depression, hairloss

> >

> > ,

> > Remember the skin issues are symptoms of not just high cortisol

but

> too low

> > too. My labs were way too low and I suffer from them. Also, just

> because you

> > felt good in August doesn't mean your adrenals were optimized for

> the long

> > run. September events seemed to be too much of a strain on your

> adrenals.

> >

> > I currently don't have those other symptoms you describe (like

> shakiness)

> > now either and I am still not optimized and at stage 7.

> >

> > I think Val is right. It's still your adrenals. Maybe get another

> saliva

> > test and see where you are?

> >

> > Cheri

> > Re: Could my Cortisol be too high?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > In August, I felt really good adrenal wise, then in September,

I

> got

> > severe poison ivy, difficult houseguests lol, a cold (which I

> never

> > actually got full blown-thanks to vit c) and pms which lasted 3

> weeks

> > because my period was so late. That is when I crashed.

> >

> > Right now I'm taking 35mg HC and am having spymptoms of what

seems

> > like high cortisol (especially the poor healing and scarring

> which is

> > very unusual for me).

> >

> > I'm so confused! Thank you for your help,

> >

> >

> > .

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Dana-Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner, but I

haven't checked the board for a couple of days.

Yes, I was tested before starting HC, and was at stage 5. When I

first went on HC, however, I had alot of problems with low blood

pressure and high blood sugar. Also, it seemed that I couldn't make

it from dose to dose w/o symptoms, so I raised. In retrospect, I

believe some of those symptoms may have been from low DHEA and

Aldosterone. In stage 5 adrenal fatique, one doesn't have low DHEA,

but once you start the HC, it can go really low, which mine did.

The more I think and pray on this, the more I think I need to both

lower HC, at the very least down to 30mg, *and* add Armour back in. I

never thought I would be this fat- ever! And my skin is really

scaring me. My skin used to heal so fast, but this is weird- cuts

lasting for weeks at a time and leaving dark scars. However, I am

also having pain in my hands and feet like before I went on Armour,

and am just soooo tired. Not adrenal exhausted (like you just can't

stand up any more), but more like I just can't keep my eyes open-

which to me is more thyroid.

Thankyou for sharing your experience,

> > >

> > > ,

> > > Remember the skin issues are symptoms of not just high cortisol

> but

> > too low

> > > too. My labs were way too low and I suffer from them. Also,

just

> > because you

> > > felt good in August doesn't mean your adrenals were optimized

for

> > the long

> > > run. September events seemed to be too much of a strain on your

> > adrenals.

> > >

> > > I currently don't have those other symptoms you describe (like

> > shakiness)

> > > now either and I am still not optimized and at stage 7.

> > >

> > > I think Val is right. It's still your adrenals. Maybe get

another

> > saliva

> > > test and see where you are?

> > >

> > > Cheri

> > > Re: Could my Cortisol be too high?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > In August, I felt really good adrenal wise, then in

September,

> I

> > got

> > > severe poison ivy, difficult houseguests lol, a cold (which I

> > never

> > > actually got full blown-thanks to vit c) and pms which lasted

3

> > weeks

> > > because my period was so late. That is when I crashed.

> > >

> > > Right now I'm taking 35mg HC and am having spymptoms of what

> seems

> > > like high cortisol (especially the poor healing and scarring

> > which is

> > > very unusual for me).

> > >

> > > I'm so confused! Thank you for your help,

> > >

> > >

> > > .

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Val- I think my response to you above got buried a couple of days

ago. Any more thoughts?

Also, I did not go to get my labs done yet b/c I sprained my ankle

over the weekend. Is day 8 or 9 of my cycle too late to get

Aldosterone done? I remember some talk on the old board concerning

having aldosterone tested during the first week of one's cycle (for

women, of course).

Thanks,

> >

> > >>Right now I'm taking 35mg HC and am having spymptoms of what

seems

> > like high cortisol (especially the poor healing and scarring

which is

> > very unusual for me). <<

> >

> > OK recap, on NO thyroid. Have you graphed your temps? Are they

> stable? Why did you not restart thyroid?

> >

> > --

> > Artistic Grooming- Hurricane

WV

> >

> > http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

> >

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

> >

>

[Guest guest]

It is best to have Aldosterone tested day 2 of your cycle. I do nto know

how quickly the change in sex hormones affects it, btu I think I would

wait if I were you as it is an expensive test and you want it done right.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

[Guest guest]

Hi- This thread is pretty long now and I'm not quite sure where I

should post this, but I wanted to update and ask some more questions.

So... I started to develop these crazy abcesses on my face- Areas

where blemishes got infected under my skin and caused huge lumps,

along with sore swollen glands on the affected side of the face. (I'm

sorry, I know this is really gross). I decided to start Armour on

Tuesday, since all these problems are rather recent since stopping

Armour. I also decided to increase DHEA to 20mg since it is so tied

into immunity as well, and if my cortisol is too high, I understand

that I'll need more DHEA anyway.

Also, I remembered from the old board that Deborah Sue always

recommended doubling up on your HC dose when increasing Armour, and

since I was fighting an infection anyway, I decided I should follow

her advice (though I know Val does not recommend this- i just took a

chance). So I've been taking 70mg HC for the past few days. Yikes.

But, though I am still fighting the infection, my face has otherwise

cleared up quite a bit, and I am not having the all-cycle crampiness

that I was experiencing before. I'm not sleeping great, but I have

alot on my mind as well and it could just be from that.

So, I'm wondering where I should go from here. I know 70mg HC is way

too much, yet I'm still fighting this infection. What does it mean

that my acne is clearing up? I guess it was silly to increase all 3

hormones at the same time.

Thanks,

> > >

> > > >>Right now I'm taking 35mg HC and am having spymptoms of what

> seems

> > > like high cortisol (especially the poor healing and scarring

> which is

> > > very unusual for me). <<

> > >

> > > OK recap, on NO thyroid. Have you graphed your temps? Are they

> > stable? Why did you not restart thyroid?

> > >

> > > --

> > > Artistic Grooming-

Hurricane

> WV

> > >

> > > http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

> > >

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

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

you really should NEVER take that much HC unless oyu have the flu!

UI dont;l care waht Deborah says, it si WRONG. How long have oyu been on

this dose? If over three days ti will probably take you over a month to

get back to a good dose and you are VERY likely to have symptoms of high

cortisl before you can lower it. But I would start cutting 5MG from each

dose ASAP. You didnlt say how you are dosi so I cna;lt help you there.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

[Guest guest]

Oh no, I feel so stupid! I guess I was really concerned about these

abcesses on my face, with my glands so swollen and everything.

I've only been on this dose for 3 days. I haven't taken my morning

dose for today yet b/c I slept in.

My usual 35 mg dose was 12.5,10,7.5,5, and I've just been doubling

these the last three days.

>

> you really should NEVER take that much HC unless oyu have the

flu!

> UI dont;l care waht Deborah says, it si WRONG. How long have oyu

been on

> this dose? If over three days ti will probably take you over a

month to

> get back to a good dose and you are VERY likely to have symptoms of

high

> cortisl before you can lower it. But I would start cutting 5MG from

each

> dose ASAP. You didnlt say how you are dosi so I cna;lt help you

there.

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

>

[Guest guest]

>>My usual 35 mg dose was 12.5,10,7.5,5, and I've just been doubling

these the last three days.<<

OK 5MG off every dose today adn plan on feeling very tired. That should put you

today at

20 - 15 - 10 - 5

tomorrow go to

15 - 15 - 10 - 5

then the next day

12.5 - 10 - 7.5 - 5

And I would tyr to go lower than that as 35 is still too high for most people.

Did you knwo HIGH cortisol can cause blemishes too?

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

[Guest guest]

Thankyou so much, Val.

Yes, I thought that high cortisol might be causing my blemishes and

scarring. Why do you think they cleared up over the last few days of

taking such a high dose?

>

> >>My usual 35 mg dose was 12.5,10,7.5,5, and I've just been

doubling

> these the last three days.<<

>

> OK 5MG off every dose today adn plan on feeling very tired. That

should put you today at

> 20 - 15 - 10 - 5

> tomorrow go to

> 15 - 15 - 10 - 5

> then the next day

> 12.5 - 10 - 7.5 - 5

> And I would tyr to go lower than that as 35 is still too high for

most people. Did you knwo HIGH cortisol can cause blemishes too?

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

>

[Guest guest]

Total immune supression. Which with adrenal fatigue you do NOT want to do.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

[Guest guest]

Do you mean that my acne cleared up b/c my body is no longer even

trying to fight the bacteria????

>

> Total immune supression. Which with adrenal fatigue you do NOT want

to do.

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

>

[Guest guest]

>>Do you mean that my acne cleared up b/c my body is no longer even

trying to fight the bacteria????<<

Yes because the inflammation is your immune system trying ot rid the infection

and takign high dose steroid reduces the inflammation by supressing the immune

system. Actully doctors use high dose TAOERS just this same way to stop

inflammatory problems much the same way btu they also cause alot of adrnela

problems and people on regular HC dosing should NOT do a high dose taper as it

can finish the job on your adrneals if it is extended too long. Healthy adrenals

can bounce back fom this supression, weak ones sometimes do not.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

[Guest guest]

Wow. Thank you for the information.

Val, If I want to get down to 30mg HC or even less, can you suggest a

plan for after I get down to my usual 35 mg? I am currently taking

60mg Armour and will be due to increase the week after next.

Thank you,

>

> >>Do you mean that my acne cleared up b/c my body is no longer even

> trying to fight the bacteria????<<

>

> Yes because the inflammation is your immune system trying ot rid

the infection and takign high dose steroid reduces the inflammation

by supressing the immune system. Actully doctors use high dose TAOERS

just this same way to stop inflammatory problems much the same way

btu they also cause alot of adrnela problems and people on regular HC

dosing should NOT do a high dose taper as it can finish the job on

your adrneals if it is extended too long. Healthy adrenals can bounce

back fom this supression, weak ones sometimes do not.

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

>

[Guest guest]

>>Val, If I want to get down to 30mg HC or even less, can you suggest a

plan for after I get down to my usual 35 mg? I am currently taking

60mg Armour and will be due to increase the week after next.<,

I would wait until at least 2 weeks after this for any repercussions to be over,

then go to 10 - 10 - 5 - 5

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

[Guest guest]

So I should go from 35 to 30 without going to 32.5 first?

Thanks,

>

> >>Val, If I want to get down to 30mg HC or even less, can you

suggest a

> plan for after I get down to my usual 35 mg? I am currently taking

> 60mg Armour and will be due to increase the week after next.<,

>

> I would wait until at least 2 weeks after this for any

repercussions to be over, then go to 10 - 10 - 5 - 5

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

>

[Guest guest]

I woiuld try it. You will be lowering your AM dose which will allow your

ACTh to come up much better. This should cover some of the difference in

cortisol levels.

>>

So I should go from 35 to 30 without going to 32.5 first?<<

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

[Guest guest]

Hi Val- This will be my first day back on 35 mg, but I woke up with a

sore throught that seems to be getting worse quickly. I want to be

cautious about stress dosing now, and am wondering if it is still

okay to take an extra 20mg (as usually advised " at the first sign of

illness " ) even though I am already probably taking too much at

35/day. Should I be stress dosing throughout the day?

I just took my morning 12.5, and my subsequent doses are 10, 7.5, 5.

Thanks so much,

>

> I woiuld try it. You will be lowering your AM dose which will allow

your

> ACTh to come up much better. This should cover some of the

difference in

> cortisol levels.

>

> >>

>

> So I should go from 35 to 30 without going to 32.5 first?<<

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

>

[Guest guest]

I would take an extra 2.5mg with each dose today and gargle with salt

water.

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

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[Guest guest]

Thank you, Val. So in the future (at least till I get to a lower dose),

the 20mg stress dose is to be reserved for extreme situations? Or not

used at all?

>

> I would take an extra 2.5mg with each dose today and gargle with salt

> water.

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

> http://www.seewell4less.com/Valspage.htm Medical Alert Bracelets

>

[Guest guest]

Yes. That way you will not get yourself even higher and into suppression

stages where it can actually make you sicker.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

http://www.seewell4less.com/Valspage.htm Medical Alert Bracelets