Re: cortef

[Guest guest]

Val, my understanding is that low physiologic doses, like 20mg/day of cortisol,

help the adrenals to rest and allow them to heal over time. Someone recently

posted a link for the book " Safe Uses of Cortisol " by Jefferies. If I remember

right, you're in a bigger city, and might be able to find it in a library?

There is one by Teitlebaum also, but I can't remember the name right now.

The Isocort is supposed to have 2.5mg of cortisol in each pellet, so they say 8

maximum in a day, which agrees with the above info. I have taken a little more

on some stressful days, but try to stick to that or a little less. I am still

playing with it myself, as far as dosages/timing etc.

Jackie T>

cortef

Aren't there risks to taking steroids? Does this help heal your

adrenals or just jumpstart them? I just don't want to do any more

damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better, I'd try

them.

vAl

[Guest guest]

>

> Val, my understanding is that low physiologic doses, like 20mg/day

of cortisol, help the adrenals to rest and allow them to heal over

time.

TK---- This is the correct current understanding fron the docs that

know what they are doing.

[Guest guest]

>

> Val, my understanding is that low physiologic doses, like 20mg/day

of cortisol, help the adrenals to rest and allow them to heal over

time.

TK---- This is the correct current understanding fron the docs that

know what they are doing.

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Aren't there risks to taking steroids?

The risks are associated with taking high pharmacological doses of

steroids. Those risks don't exist with physiological doses (if they

did everyone with normal adrenal function would have them).

(Physiological dose is within the range of what the body would

normally produce).

There are also risks associated with low levels of cortisol. Too

high, not good - too low, not good - the amount the body would usually

make, just right.

> Does this help heal your

> adrenals or just jumpstart them?

It helps to give the adrenals a rest so that they can heal. If it is

mercury in the hypothalmus, pituitary and adrenals that is causing the

problem, the cortef helps to replace what the body cannot make while

the mercury is being removed by chelation and the body is trying to

heal the damage.

>I just don't want to do any more

> damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better, I'd try

> them.

First you want to be sure that adrenal fatigue is part of your

problem. Do you have any of these symptoms:

- low blood pressure

- dizziness on first standing

- hypoglycemia

- frequent infections and difficulty shaking infections

- poor response and crashing with stress

- fatigue

- aches and pains

The 4x per day saliva test would help to see if cortisol levels are

unusual or if there is an unusual pattern.

J

>

> vAl

>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Aren't there risks to taking steroids?

The risks are associated with taking high pharmacological doses of

steroids. Those risks don't exist with physiological doses (if they

did everyone with normal adrenal function would have them).

(Physiological dose is within the range of what the body would

normally produce).

There are also risks associated with low levels of cortisol. Too

high, not good - too low, not good - the amount the body would usually

make, just right.

> Does this help heal your

> adrenals or just jumpstart them?

It helps to give the adrenals a rest so that they can heal. If it is

mercury in the hypothalmus, pituitary and adrenals that is causing the

problem, the cortef helps to replace what the body cannot make while

the mercury is being removed by chelation and the body is trying to

heal the damage.

>I just don't want to do any more

> damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better, I'd try

> them.

First you want to be sure that adrenal fatigue is part of your

problem. Do you have any of these symptoms:

- low blood pressure

- dizziness on first standing

- hypoglycemia

- frequent infections and difficulty shaking infections

- poor response and crashing with stress

- fatigue

- aches and pains

The 4x per day saliva test would help to see if cortisol levels are

unusual or if there is an unusual pattern.

J

>

> vAl

>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Aren't there risks to taking steroids?

The risks are associated with taking high pharmacological doses of

steroids. Those risks don't exist with physiological doses (if they

did everyone with normal adrenal function would have them).

(Physiological dose is within the range of what the body would

normally produce).

There are also risks associated with low levels of cortisol. Too

high, not good - too low, not good - the amount the body would usually

make, just right.

> Does this help heal your

> adrenals or just jumpstart them?

It helps to give the adrenals a rest so that they can heal. If it is

mercury in the hypothalmus, pituitary and adrenals that is causing the

problem, the cortef helps to replace what the body cannot make while

the mercury is being removed by chelation and the body is trying to

heal the damage.

>I just don't want to do any more

> damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better, I'd try

> them.

First you want to be sure that adrenal fatigue is part of your

problem. Do you have any of these symptoms:

- low blood pressure

- dizziness on first standing

- hypoglycemia

- frequent infections and difficulty shaking infections

- poor response and crashing with stress

- fatigue

- aches and pains

The 4x per day saliva test would help to see if cortisol levels are

unusual or if there is an unusual pattern.

J

>

> vAl

>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Aren't there risks to taking steroids?

Very big risks -- but only on high dosages. I just read (OK, skimmed!)

Dr. Jeffries's book, " The Safe Uses of Cortisol " , and over and over he

talks about how low dosages (> 40 mgs/day in divided doses) do not

have *any of the problems that high doses do -- osteoporosis being a

big one.

> Does this help heal your

> adrenals or just jumpstart them?

It provides the hormone your adrenals aren't currently making, so the

gland gets a rest, but not so much of a rest that it won't work anymore.

>I just don't want to do any more

> damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better, I'd try

> them.

I got scared off after reading the side effects of HC, and thinking my

symptoms were mostly thyroid-related. But the Armour I was taking for

that wasn't even getting into the cells becasue of low adrenal

function. I second the recommendation another poster made for the

naturalthyroidhormone yahoogroup, they are really helpful in

explaining how all this stuff works together.

Another quick story -- I'm currently experimenting, trying to figure

out how much to take and when. I took 2.5 mg this morning, was feeling

great, went off to parent conferences at my kids' school. A little

ways in, I felt like I fell off a cliff: suddenly a wave of anxiety

and weakness came over me (not from anything the teacher was saying,

lol). As soon as I got home and took more, I was fine. I know I keep

saying this, but it is unbelievable the difference it makes. I go from

feeling like an invalid to feeling strong and normal in about 20 minutes.

Nell

[Guest guest]

>

> > Does this help heal your

> > adrenals or just jumpstart them?

>

> It provides the hormone your adrenals aren't currently making, so the

> gland gets a rest, but not so much of a rest that it won't work

anymore.

As soon as I got home and took more, I was fine. I know I keep

> saying this, but it is unbelievable the difference it makes. I go

from

> feeling like an invalid to feeling strong and normal in about 20

minutes.

>

> Nell

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

Your experience sounds similar to what I had taking Adderall. It's a

stimulant medication for " ADHD " . After taking it for about a month,

WOW!. What a transformation. I swear, it felt like I was

experiencing a miracle. However, when it wore off I felt like I was

crashing. Didn't want to do that to my body over and over again.

Can you tell me what test and what kind of doc gave you Cortef? The

Doc I saw yesterday is not impressing me much. He gave me a fasting

adrenal test script but didn't give me any directions about fasting.

Val

[Guest guest]

Testing-wise, a low-dose ACTH stimulation test was the winner for me.

It might be a bit expensive but it is the " gold standard " test for

figuring out whether your adrenals are working, and whether you have

any " adrenal reserve " for times of stress.

Back in January I had an " morning blood cortisol " sample taken. It

was taken after enduring London's rush hour public transport, running

up a dead escalator at the tube station, and then running to the

hospital (I was a bit late) - so hardly likely to be typical of my

morning cortisol level. Needless to say, the result was deemed to be

within range and so that particular endocrinologist stopped looking

at adrenal function. In fact, he stopped helping me altogether. (he

also considered a TSH of nearly 4 and low-borderline FT3 as " within

range " and therefore not responsible for my symptoms).

Then another " metabolic specialist " (who told me the first

endocrinologist was one of the most conservative in the country) took

a look at me, did sitting/standing blood pressure, heart rate and

tendon reflexes, and immediately suspected adrenal fatigue. He

ordered a 4-sample saliva cortisol test and it was fine... even

though I felt like crap.

Two tests coming back okay threw me off the scent and I stopped even

considering adrenal problems. It's taken until now to find out that

it really is (at least in part) adrenal-related.

As I say, I failed the ACTH test miserably (though it's also quite

possible that my adrenals have got worse since the beginning of the

year... but something was definitely up even a year and a half ago,

when I was so tired I was almost crawling up the sidewalk on all fours).

If you do ACTH, they should also check Aldosterone levels, both

baseline, and at the same intervals they check your cortisol.

Don't ask me what you do if your ACTH test comes back normal though!

>>

>>> Does this help heal your

>>> adrenals or just jumpstart them?

>>

>> It provides the hormone your adrenals aren't currently making, so the

>> gland gets a rest, but not so much of a rest that it won't work

> anymore.

> As soon as I got home and took more, I was fine. I know I keep

>> saying this, but it is unbelievable the difference it makes. I go

> from

>> feeling like an invalid to feeling strong and normal in about 20

> minutes.

>>

>> Nell

>

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

>

> Your experience sounds similar to what I had taking Adderall. It's a

> stimulant medication for " ADHD " . After taking it for about a month,

> WOW!. What a transformation. I swear, it felt like I was

> experiencing a miracle. However, when it wore off I felt like I was

> crashing. Didn't want to do that to my body over and over again.

>

> Can you tell me what test and what kind of doc gave you Cortef? The

> Doc I saw yesterday is not impressing me much. He gave me a fasting

> adrenal test script but didn't give me any directions about fasting.

>

> Val

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Andy actually says that most mercury toxic people will pass an ACTH

stimulation test, so you were lucky to fail. He says that the gold

standard is the exercise stress test. So the answer to the question of

what to do if you fail the ACTH would be to do an exercise stress test.

BTW what were your experiences with the nhs? Did you manage to get

them to prescribe/diagnose you with anything in the end?

.

Hurt wrote:

>

> Testing-wise, a low-dose ACTH stimulation test was the winner for me.

> It might be a bit expensive but it is the " gold standard " test for

> figuring out whether your adrenals are working, and whether you have

> any " adrenal reserve " for times of stress.

>

> Back in January I had an " morning blood cortisol " sample taken. It

> was taken after enduring London's rush hour public transport, running

> up a dead escalator at the tube station, and then running to the

> hospital (I was a bit late) - so hardly likely to be typical of my

> morning cortisol level. Needless to say, the result was deemed to be

> within range and so that particular endocrinologist stopped looking

> at adrenal function. In fact, he stopped helping me altogether. (he

> also considered a TSH of nearly 4 and low-borderline FT3 as " within

> range " and therefore not responsible for my symptoms).

>

> Then another " metabolic specialist " (who told me the first

> endocrinologist was one of the most conservative in the country) took

> a look at me, did sitting/standing blood pressure, heart rate and

> tendon reflexes, and immediately suspected adrenal fatigue. He

> ordered a 4-sample saliva cortisol test and it was fine... even

> though I felt like crap.

>

> Two tests coming back okay threw me off the scent and I stopped even

> considering adrenal problems. It's taken until now to find out that

> it really is (at least in part) adrenal-related.

>

> As I say, I failed the ACTH test miserably (though it's also quite

> possible that my adrenals have got worse since the beginning of the

> year... but something was definitely up even a year and a half ago,

> when I was so tired I was almost crawling up the sidewalk on all fours).

>

> If you do ACTH, they should also check Aldosterone levels, both

> baseline, and at the same intervals they check your cortisol.

>

> Don't ask me what you do if your ACTH test comes back normal though!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> >>

> >>> Does this help heal your

> >>> adrenals or just jumpstart them?

> >>

> >> It provides the hormone your adrenals aren't currently making, so the

> >> gland gets a rest, but not so much of a rest that it won't work

> > anymore.

> > As soon as I got home and took more, I was fine. I know I keep

> >> saying this, but it is unbelievable the difference it makes. I go

> > from

> >> feeling like an invalid to feeling strong and normal in about 20

> > minutes.

> >>

> >> Nell

> >

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

> >

> > Your experience sounds similar to what I had taking Adderall. It's a

> > stimulant medication for " ADHD " . After taking it for about a month,

> > WOW!. What a transformation. I swear, it felt like I was

> > experiencing a miracle. However, when it wore off I felt like I was

> > crashing. Didn't want to do that to my body over and over again.

> >

> > Can you tell me what test and what kind of doc gave you Cortef? The

> > Doc I saw yesterday is not impressing me much. He gave me a fasting

> > adrenal test script but didn't give me any directions about fasting.

> >

> > Val

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Andy actually says that most mercury toxic people will pass an ACTH

stimulation test, so you were lucky to fail. He says that the gold

standard is the exercise stress test. So the answer to the question of

what to do if you fail the ACTH would be to do an exercise stress test.

BTW what were your experiences with the nhs? Did you manage to get

them to prescribe/diagnose you with anything in the end?

.

Hurt wrote:

>

> Testing-wise, a low-dose ACTH stimulation test was the winner for me.

> It might be a bit expensive but it is the " gold standard " test for

> figuring out whether your adrenals are working, and whether you have

> any " adrenal reserve " for times of stress.

>

> Back in January I had an " morning blood cortisol " sample taken. It

> was taken after enduring London's rush hour public transport, running

> up a dead escalator at the tube station, and then running to the

> hospital (I was a bit late) - so hardly likely to be typical of my

> morning cortisol level. Needless to say, the result was deemed to be

> within range and so that particular endocrinologist stopped looking

> at adrenal function. In fact, he stopped helping me altogether. (he

> also considered a TSH of nearly 4 and low-borderline FT3 as " within

> range " and therefore not responsible for my symptoms).

>

> Then another " metabolic specialist " (who told me the first

> endocrinologist was one of the most conservative in the country) took

> a look at me, did sitting/standing blood pressure, heart rate and

> tendon reflexes, and immediately suspected adrenal fatigue. He

> ordered a 4-sample saliva cortisol test and it was fine... even

> though I felt like crap.

>

> Two tests coming back okay threw me off the scent and I stopped even

> considering adrenal problems. It's taken until now to find out that

> it really is (at least in part) adrenal-related.

>

> As I say, I failed the ACTH test miserably (though it's also quite

> possible that my adrenals have got worse since the beginning of the

> year... but something was definitely up even a year and a half ago,

> when I was so tired I was almost crawling up the sidewalk on all fours).

>

> If you do ACTH, they should also check Aldosterone levels, both

> baseline, and at the same intervals they check your cortisol.

>

> Don't ask me what you do if your ACTH test comes back normal though!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> >>

> >>> Does this help heal your

> >>> adrenals or just jumpstart them?

> >>

> >> It provides the hormone your adrenals aren't currently making, so the

> >> gland gets a rest, but not so much of a rest that it won't work

> > anymore.

> > As soon as I got home and took more, I was fine. I know I keep

> >> saying this, but it is unbelievable the difference it makes. I go

> > from

> >> feeling like an invalid to feeling strong and normal in about 20

> > minutes.

> >>

> >> Nell

> >

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

> >

> > Your experience sounds similar to what I had taking Adderall. It's a

> > stimulant medication for " ADHD " . After taking it for about a month,

> > WOW!. What a transformation. I swear, it felt like I was

> > experiencing a miracle. However, when it wore off I felt like I was

> > crashing. Didn't want to do that to my body over and over again.

> >

> > Can you tell me what test and what kind of doc gave you Cortef? The

> > Doc I saw yesterday is not impressing me much. He gave me a fasting

> > adrenal test script but didn't give me any directions about fasting.

> >

> > Val

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Val,

It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals a

chance to rest and get stronger on their own

If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are very

small to none.

THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for awhile...I

couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use something

stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns. However,

about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

completely off the support for good now. I got off once before, only to

need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after a

little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off with

zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am completely

off!

The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it makes

your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are already

getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve pool of

cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a period

of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is to

take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness or

surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful activity, a

near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays perhaps,.....those

types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

yourself and know when you need extra.

If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c use,

you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception that

it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people indiscrimainately,

and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have surgery,

they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give people

extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms of

keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them extra

cortisone, and people died.

This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when taken in

small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are also

talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing: If

your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good idea to

take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It certainly

worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is doable. It

took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders and

say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a lot of

it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if I

felt I couldn't get by without it.

~Inga

>

> Aren't there risks to taking steroids? Does this help heal your

> adrenals or just jumpstart them? I just don't want to do any more

> damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better, I'd try

> them.

>

> vAl

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Val,

It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals a

chance to rest and get stronger on their own

If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are very

small to none.

THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for awhile...I

couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use something

stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns. However,

about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

completely off the support for good now. I got off once before, only to

need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after a

little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off with

zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am completely

off!

The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it makes

your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are already

getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve pool of

cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a period

of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is to

take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness or

surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful activity, a

near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays perhaps,.....those

types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

yourself and know when you need extra.

If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c use,

you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception that

it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people indiscrimainately,

and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have surgery,

they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give people

extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms of

keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them extra

cortisone, and people died.

This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when taken in

small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are also

talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing: If

your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good idea to

take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It certainly

worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is doable. It

took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders and

say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a lot of

it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if I

felt I couldn't get by without it.

~Inga

>

> Aren't there risks to taking steroids? Does this help heal your

> adrenals or just jumpstart them? I just don't want to do any more

> damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better, I'd try

> them.

>

> vAl

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Val,

It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals a

chance to rest and get stronger on their own

If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are very

small to none.

THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for awhile...I

couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use something

stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns. However,

about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

completely off the support for good now. I got off once before, only to

need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after a

little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off with

zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am completely

off!

The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it makes

your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are already

getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve pool of

cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a period

of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is to

take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness or

surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful activity, a

near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays perhaps,.....those

types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

yourself and know when you need extra.

If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c use,

you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception that

it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people indiscrimainately,

and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have surgery,

they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give people

extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms of

keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them extra

cortisone, and people died.

This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when taken in

small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are also

talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing: If

your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good idea to

take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It certainly

worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is doable. It

took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders and

say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a lot of

it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if I

felt I couldn't get by without it.

~Inga

>

> Aren't there risks to taking steroids? Does this help heal your

> adrenals or just jumpstart them? I just don't want to do any more

> damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better, I'd try

> them.

>

> vAl

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This sounds like exactly what I need. By the way, I've had 2

major surgeries in my life. The first one left me bedridden for 3

months. I've never felt the same after it and that was a long long

time ago. So sad how pathetic our " medical " system is. Anyway, I

was diagnosed with adrenal problems by an osteopath but he didn't

believe in drugs. I didn't either but now I'll try them. Jeez, I

want my quality of life back.

If you also have thyroid problems, how does cortef handle that?

By the way, I was kneeling at work today, stood up and felt dizzy.

Also, I think my blood sugar is all messed up because I go through

some pretty wicked moods during the day.

Now, how the heck do I get some Cortef?? The yokel I went to

yesterday didn't inform me to fast for this adrenal test and he

didn't call me back like his nurse said he would today. AAAAAArhg.

Val

More questions - Did you chelate while you were on Cortef? I really

think stress (extreme with 2 surgeries) plus metal toxicity has

screwed up my health. So, I guess I support the adrenals while

chelating out the metals??

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

> Val,

> It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals

a

> chance to rest and get stronger on their own

>

> If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are

very

> small to none.

> THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

> higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

>

> For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for

awhile...I

> couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use

something

> stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns.

However,

> about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

> completely off the support for good now. I got off once before,

only to

> need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after

a

> little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off

with

> zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am

completely

> off!

>

> The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it

makes

> your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are

already

> getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve

pool of

> cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a

period

> of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

> normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is

to

> take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness

or

> surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful

activity, a

> near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays

perhaps,.....those

> types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

> yourself and know when you need extra.

>

> If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c

use,

> you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception

that

> it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people

indiscrimainately,

> and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have

surgery,

> they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give

people

> extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms

of

> keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them

extra

> cortisone, and people died.

>

> This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when

taken in

> small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are

also

> talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

> inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

>

> My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing:

If

> your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good

idea to

> take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It

certainly

> worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is

doable. It

> took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

> completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders

and

> say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a

lot of

> it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if

I

> felt I couldn't get by without it.

>

> ~Inga

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Aren't there risks to taking steroids? Does this help heal your

> > adrenals or just jumpstart them? I just don't want to do any

more

> > damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better,

I'd try

> > them.

> >

> > vAl

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

This sounds like exactly what I need. By the way, I've had 2

major surgeries in my life. The first one left me bedridden for 3

months. I've never felt the same after it and that was a long long

time ago. So sad how pathetic our " medical " system is. Anyway, I

was diagnosed with adrenal problems by an osteopath but he didn't

believe in drugs. I didn't either but now I'll try them. Jeez, I

want my quality of life back.

If you also have thyroid problems, how does cortef handle that?

By the way, I was kneeling at work today, stood up and felt dizzy.

Also, I think my blood sugar is all messed up because I go through

some pretty wicked moods during the day.

Now, how the heck do I get some Cortef?? The yokel I went to

yesterday didn't inform me to fast for this adrenal test and he

didn't call me back like his nurse said he would today. AAAAAArhg.

Val

More questions - Did you chelate while you were on Cortef? I really

think stress (extreme with 2 surgeries) plus metal toxicity has

screwed up my health. So, I guess I support the adrenals while

chelating out the metals??

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

> Val,

> It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals

a

> chance to rest and get stronger on their own

>

> If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are

very

> small to none.

> THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

> higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

>

> For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for

awhile...I

> couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use

something

> stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns.

However,

> about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

> completely off the support for good now. I got off once before,

only to

> need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after

a

> little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off

with

> zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am

completely

> off!

>

> The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it

makes

> your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are

already

> getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve

pool of

> cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a

period

> of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

> normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is

to

> take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness

or

> surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful

activity, a

> near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays

perhaps,.....those

> types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

> yourself and know when you need extra.

>

> If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c

use,

> you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception

that

> it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people

indiscrimainately,

> and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have

surgery,

> they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give

people

> extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms

of

> keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them

extra

> cortisone, and people died.

>

> This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when

taken in

> small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are

also

> talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

> inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

>

> My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing:

If

> your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good

idea to

> take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It

certainly

> worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is

doable. It

> took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

> completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders

and

> say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a

lot of

> it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if

I

> felt I couldn't get by without it.

>

> ~Inga

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Aren't there risks to taking steroids? Does this help heal your

> > adrenals or just jumpstart them? I just don't want to do any

more

> > damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better,

I'd try

> > them.

> >

> > vAl

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

This sounds like exactly what I need. By the way, I've had 2

major surgeries in my life. The first one left me bedridden for 3

months. I've never felt the same after it and that was a long long

time ago. So sad how pathetic our " medical " system is. Anyway, I

was diagnosed with adrenal problems by an osteopath but he didn't

believe in drugs. I didn't either but now I'll try them. Jeez, I

want my quality of life back.

If you also have thyroid problems, how does cortef handle that?

By the way, I was kneeling at work today, stood up and felt dizzy.

Also, I think my blood sugar is all messed up because I go through

some pretty wicked moods during the day.

Now, how the heck do I get some Cortef?? The yokel I went to

yesterday didn't inform me to fast for this adrenal test and he

didn't call me back like his nurse said he would today. AAAAAArhg.

Val

More questions - Did you chelate while you were on Cortef? I really

think stress (extreme with 2 surgeries) plus metal toxicity has

screwed up my health. So, I guess I support the adrenals while

chelating out the metals??

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

> Val,

> It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals

a

> chance to rest and get stronger on their own

>

> If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are

very

> small to none.

> THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

> higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

>

> For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for

awhile...I

> couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use

something

> stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns.

However,

> about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

> completely off the support for good now. I got off once before,

only to

> need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after

a

> little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off

with

> zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am

completely

> off!

>

> The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it

makes

> your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are

already

> getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve

pool of

> cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a

period

> of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

> normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is

to

> take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness

or

> surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful

activity, a

> near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays

perhaps,.....those

> types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

> yourself and know when you need extra.

>

> If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c

use,

> you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception

that

> it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people

indiscrimainately,

> and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have

surgery,

> they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give

people

> extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms

of

> keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them

extra

> cortisone, and people died.

>

> This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when

taken in

> small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are

also

> talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

> inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

>

> My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing:

If

> your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good

idea to

> take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It

certainly

> worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is

doable. It

> took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

> completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders

and

> say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a

lot of

> it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if

I

> felt I couldn't get by without it.

>

> ~Inga

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Aren't there risks to taking steroids? Does this help heal your

> > adrenals or just jumpstart them? I just don't want to do any

more

> > damage - but if it would dramatically help me to feel better,

I'd try

> > them.

> >

> > vAl

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I emailed you offline with the web address fro H/c

~Inga

> Now, how the heck do I get some Cortef?? The yokel I went to

> yesterday didn't inform me to fast for this adrenal test and he

> didn't call me back like his nurse said he would today. AAAAAArhg

[Guest guest]

>>>SO did they diagnose you as having addisons?

> As I say, I failed the ACTH test miserably (though it's also quite

> possible that my adrenals have got worse since the beginning of the

> year... but something was definitely up even a year and a half ago,

> when I was so tired I was almost crawling up the sidewalk on all fours).

>

> If you do ACTH, they should also check Aldosterone levels, both

> baseline, and at the same intervals they check your cortisol.

>

> Don't ask me what you do if your ACTH test comes back normal though!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>>>SO did they diagnose you as having addisons?

> As I say, I failed the ACTH test miserably (though it's also quite

> possible that my adrenals have got worse since the beginning of the

> year... but something was definitely up even a year and a half ago,

> when I was so tired I was almost crawling up the sidewalk on all fours).

>

> If you do ACTH, they should also check Aldosterone levels, both

> baseline, and at the same intervals they check your cortisol.

>

> Don't ask me what you do if your ACTH test comes back normal though!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>>>SO did they diagnose you as having addisons?

> As I say, I failed the ACTH test miserably (though it's also quite

> possible that my adrenals have got worse since the beginning of the

> year... but something was definitely up even a year and a half ago,

> when I was so tired I was almost crawling up the sidewalk on all fours).

>

> If you do ACTH, they should also check Aldosterone levels, both

> baseline, and at the same intervals they check your cortisol.

>

> Don't ask me what you do if your ACTH test comes back normal though!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

when you were taking cortef how did you divide the dosage

>

> Val,

> It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals a

> chance to rest and get stronger on their own

>

> If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are very

> small to none.

> THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

> higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

>

> For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for awhile...I

> couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use something

> stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns. However,

> about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

> completely off the support for good now. I got off once before, only to

> need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after a

> little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off with

> zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am completely

> off!

>

> The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it makes

> your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are already

> getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve pool of

> cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a period

> of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

> normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is to

> take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness or

> surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful activity, a

> near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays perhaps,.....those

> types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

> yourself and know when you need extra.

>

> If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c use,

> you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception that

> it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people indiscrimainately,

> and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have surgery,

> they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give people

> extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms of

> keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them extra

> cortisone, and people died.

>

> This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when taken in

> small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are also

> talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

> inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

>

> My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing: If

> your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good idea to

> take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It certainly

> worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is doable. It

> took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

> completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders and

> say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a lot of

> it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if I

> felt I couldn't get by without it.

>

> ~Inga

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

when you were taking cortef how did you divide the dosage

>

> Val,

> It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals a

> chance to rest and get stronger on their own

>

> If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are very

> small to none.

> THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

> higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

>

> For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for awhile...I

> couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use something

> stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns. However,

> about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

> completely off the support for good now. I got off once before, only to

> need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after a

> little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off with

> zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am completely

> off!

>

> The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it makes

> your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are already

> getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve pool of

> cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a period

> of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

> normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is to

> take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness or

> surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful activity, a

> near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays perhaps,.....those

> types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

> yourself and know when you need extra.

>

> If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c use,

> you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception that

> it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people indiscrimainately,

> and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have surgery,

> they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give people

> extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms of

> keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them extra

> cortisone, and people died.

>

> This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when taken in

> small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are also

> talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

> inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

>

> My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing: If

> your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good idea to

> take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It certainly

> worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is doable. It

> took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

> completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders and

> say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a lot of

> it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if I

> felt I couldn't get by without it.

>

> ~Inga

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

when you were taking cortef how did you divide the dosage

>

> Val,

> It not only helps you feel better, but it gives your own adrenals a

> chance to rest and get stronger on their own

>

> If you stay within the physiologic dosing range, then the risk are very

> small to none.

> THis is 20 mg h/c for most people ..for some it can be a little

> higher, but for most people it is safest to keep it under 20 mg

>

> For myself, I had quite a rough time with my adrenals for awhile...I

> couldn't even get by with hydrocortisone (h/c) but had to use something

> stronger...Prednisolone, or I would have griedvous meltdowns. However,

> about 1 1/2 years down the road , I am happy to report that I am

> completely off the support for good now. I got off once before, only to

> need to be back on them for a little while longer, and then after a

> little while longer (at low doses) I was finally able to stay off with

> zero problems. It has been about 1 1/2 months now that I am completely

> off!

>

> The thing with steroids that you have to understand is that it makes

> your brain tell your body to make less cortisol since you are already

> getting it from an outside source. This means that your reserve pool of

> cortisol is dimished. When this happens, and you happen upon a period

> of great stress, your body does not have the reserve back-up it

> normally has to compensate for this. The way to deal with this, is to

> take extra h/c when some thing of stess happens...like an illness or

> surgery (VERY important for a surgery), or highly stressful activity, a

> near miss in a car accident, a big party, holidays perhaps,.....those

> types of situations. Generally, you will be able to feel this fro

> yourself and know when you need extra.

>

> If you do some research and study the history of steroid and h/c use,

> you will understand why so many physicians have the misconception that

> it is dangerous. They used to give it to some people indiscrimainately,

> and they did a lot, lot bettter. But then, if they had to have surgery,

> they were not aware of the fact that they would have to give people

> extra cortisone becasue their own body had been " resting " in terms of

> keeping a back-up reserve. Subsequently, they did not give them extra

> cortisone, and people died.

>

> This has given cortisone a bad rap, but it really is safe when taken in

> small doses. Most of the people who are against it, I think are also

> talking in terms of the high doses that some folks take for

> inflammatory conditions, but that is a whole different ball of wax.

>

> My take on it is this, and I think Andy says about the same thing: If

> your adrenals are really stressed already anyway, it is a good idea to

> take the hydrocortisone to give them a chance to heal. It certainly

> worked for me. Weaning off of them can be poopy, but it is doable. It

> took me several months...probablhy about 6 montsh to finally get

> completely off, but now that it is behind me, I shrug my shoulders and

> say no big deal...but it can be a bit trying at tiomes. I did a lot of

> it by lowering my doses, and then keeping extra on hand to take if I

> felt I couldn't get by without it.

>

> ~Inga

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> Hi ,

> Andy actually says that most mercury toxic people will pass an ACTH

> stimulation test, so you were lucky to fail.

Ha ha, that's quite funny, I know what you mean, " lucky to fail " !.

When you have so many tests come back " normal " it's a cause for

celebration when something finally comes back unarguably bad. Though

I suspect they're still going to come up with some dumb excuse for my

test result rather than actually investigate the problem.

I would presume (I'm hardly an expert) that mercury toxic people fail

the ACTH stim test because their adrenal glands are fine, but they

have a malfunctioning pituitary, so don't produce endogenous ACTH

properly.

My test failed because I think I might have actually physically

injured an adrenal gland. Even so, Hopkins are insisting on a

tremendously expensive MRI to look for pituitary disease. Doesn't

seem too likely to me, but if ruling out pituitary problems is the

only way we're going to move forward, so be it.

> He says that the gold

> standard is the exercise stress test. So the answer to the question of

> what to do if you fail the ACTH would be to do an exercise stress

> test.

I haven't heard of that, but sounds interesting. Even moderate

exercise knocks me out completely an hour later. I suppose if you

measure both ACTH levels and cortisol levels you can get an idea of

whether the problem's primary or secondary.

>

> BTW what were your experiences with the nhs? Did you manage to get

> them to prescribe/diagnose you with anything in the end?

I gave up on the NHS in the spring. The local NHS gastros I saw were

disinterested, stupid, insulting, and of course, slow. No-one seems

to hold my local hospital in particularly high esteem though. I've

had a couple of investigations at the Royal London in Whitechapel (as

seen regularly on BBC TV), which of course is NHS, and they were

superb. A whole different experience.

The thing is, private treatment in the UK isn't necessarily any

better than the NHS, because almost everyone you see privately is

also an NHS consultant. Certainly if you go private in my home town,

the only people you end up seeing are the same f* & %kwits that work at

the local NHS hospital. You might see them quicker, and they might

have a nicer office, but they don't get any more intelligent just

because you're paying them out of your own pocket.

I'm only getting anywhere since coming to the US... and even then

it's because I finally worked out what might be wrong, and asked them

to do the right test.

Hopkins is only a slight improvement over my UK experiences. It's

luck of the draw here. Some of their docs have been great (thanks Don

, Bruce Bochner, Marshall Bedine), but others behave like

you're an irritating distraction that stops them getting on with

their real work. (Just got back from another ridiculously unhelpful -

and expensive - consultation this morning).

Sorry if I'm giving doctors a bad name. But a lot of them suck. You

pay them a fortune for their expertise, then end up having to work it

out for yourself.