Re: Cortef - use w/o a Doc?

October 13, 2006

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored?

TK--- yes many. Once you are on it most doctors are concerned

enough to do testing to make sure you are not hurting yourself - one

way to get them to do the proper testing.

I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

careful

TK--- you do low dosages as we have described are ok, high dosages

are not with the exception of an occasional taper.

> with doctors, too.

TK--- most doctors are idiots when it comes to testing and treating

thyroid and adrenal problems - you need to learn what to do yourself

and then either do it on your own or present them [politely if they

are open] with the correct information if at all so you don't bruise

their egos and they can possibly help with tests and rx's. It is

difficult but can be done with the right doc.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

TK--- yes. make sure you know what you are doing first, then it is

not a problem except for adjusting the dosage optimally but you

would have to do that anyway with or without a doctors help.

>

> Thanks,

> Val

>

October 13, 2006

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored?

TK--- yes many. Once you are on it most doctors are concerned

enough to do testing to make sure you are not hurting yourself - one

way to get them to do the proper testing.

I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

careful

TK--- you do low dosages as we have described are ok, high dosages

are not with the exception of an occasional taper.

> with doctors, too.

TK--- most doctors are idiots when it comes to testing and treating

thyroid and adrenal problems - you need to learn what to do yourself

and then either do it on your own or present them [politely if they

are open] with the correct information if at all so you don't bruise

their egos and they can possibly help with tests and rx's. It is

difficult but can be done with the right doc.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

TK--- yes. make sure you know what you are doing first, then it is

not a problem except for adjusting the dosage optimally but you

would have to do that anyway with or without a doctors help.

>

> Thanks,

> Val

>

October 13, 2006

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored?

TK--- yes many. Once you are on it most doctors are concerned

enough to do testing to make sure you are not hurting yourself - one

way to get them to do the proper testing.

I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

careful

TK--- you do low dosages as we have described are ok, high dosages

are not with the exception of an occasional taper.

> with doctors, too.

TK--- most doctors are idiots when it comes to testing and treating

thyroid and adrenal problems - you need to learn what to do yourself

and then either do it on your own or present them [politely if they

are open] with the correct information if at all so you don't bruise

their egos and they can possibly help with tests and rx's. It is

difficult but can be done with the right doc.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

TK--- yes. make sure you know what you are doing first, then it is

not a problem except for adjusting the dosage optimally but you

would have to do that anyway with or without a doctors help.

>

> Thanks,

> Val

>

October 13, 2006

TK--- OR depending on where you live and finances go to someone like

[links section] who knows Andy's protocol and can help

greatly with rx's, treatment and diagnosis.

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

careful

> with doctors, too.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

>

> Thanks,

> Val

>

October 13, 2006

TK--- OR depending on where you live and finances go to someone like

[links section] who knows Andy's protocol and can help

greatly with rx's, treatment and diagnosis.

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

careful

> with doctors, too.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

>

> Thanks,

> Val

>

October 13, 2006

TK--- OR depending on where you live and finances go to someone like

[links section] who knows Andy's protocol and can help

greatly with rx's, treatment and diagnosis.

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

careful

> with doctors, too.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

>

> Thanks,

> Val

>

October 13, 2006

I'm kind of doing it " without a doc " . But I'm making sure I stick to

a schedule. If I just vary the dose any old how, I don't see how I'll

know whether it's working or not. The docs don't seem all that

interested in coaching me, so I'm having to work it out for myself.

I have a small spreadsheet application on my Palm, into which I enter

the time and amount of each dose of HC, FC and DHEA.

I also have " target " doses for the day, to remind me what the daily

total should be. (although it probably ought to vary depending on

activity level).

The spreadsheet automatically adds up what I've taken as I'm taking

it. Otherwise it's really easy to lose track and over or under-dose.

I spread the HC out over the day, with larger doses in the morning,

tapering off in the evening, and trying to time things to suit what

I'm doing (taking more around the times that I'm most active/under

stress).

I'm tapering down from 50mg/day to 20mg/day, reducing by 5mg each

day. I'll then stick at 20mg until we make progress with other

investigations (and hopefully one day I can come off it altogether).

Bear in mind that 20mg HC is meant to be approximately equivalent to

5mg Prednisolone, so 40-50mg is only about 10-15mg Prednisolone.

Previously, people were happy for me to do Prednisolone tapers

starting at 40mg!

Does this sound like a reasonable regime? (BTW, the prescribing doc

suggested starting at 100mg/day! I'm trying to be more conservative

than that!)

Also bear in mind that if anything is helping my hearing, it may in

fact be the Fludrocortisone rather than the HC.

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be careful

> with doctors, too.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

>

> Thanks,

> Val

October 13, 2006

I'm kind of doing it " without a doc " . But I'm making sure I stick to

a schedule. If I just vary the dose any old how, I don't see how I'll

know whether it's working or not. The docs don't seem all that

interested in coaching me, so I'm having to work it out for myself.

I have a small spreadsheet application on my Palm, into which I enter

the time and amount of each dose of HC, FC and DHEA.

I also have " target " doses for the day, to remind me what the daily

total should be. (although it probably ought to vary depending on

activity level).

The spreadsheet automatically adds up what I've taken as I'm taking

it. Otherwise it's really easy to lose track and over or under-dose.

I spread the HC out over the day, with larger doses in the morning,

tapering off in the evening, and trying to time things to suit what

I'm doing (taking more around the times that I'm most active/under

stress).

I'm tapering down from 50mg/day to 20mg/day, reducing by 5mg each

day. I'll then stick at 20mg until we make progress with other

investigations (and hopefully one day I can come off it altogether).

Bear in mind that 20mg HC is meant to be approximately equivalent to

5mg Prednisolone, so 40-50mg is only about 10-15mg Prednisolone.

Previously, people were happy for me to do Prednisolone tapers

starting at 40mg!

Does this sound like a reasonable regime? (BTW, the prescribing doc

suggested starting at 100mg/day! I'm trying to be more conservative

than that!)

Also bear in mind that if anything is helping my hearing, it may in

fact be the Fludrocortisone rather than the HC.

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be careful

> with doctors, too.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

>

> Thanks,

> Val

October 13, 2006

I'm kind of doing it " without a doc " . But I'm making sure I stick to

a schedule. If I just vary the dose any old how, I don't see how I'll

know whether it's working or not. The docs don't seem all that

interested in coaching me, so I'm having to work it out for myself.

I have a small spreadsheet application on my Palm, into which I enter

the time and amount of each dose of HC, FC and DHEA.

I also have " target " doses for the day, to remind me what the daily

total should be. (although it probably ought to vary depending on

activity level).

The spreadsheet automatically adds up what I've taken as I'm taking

it. Otherwise it's really easy to lose track and over or under-dose.

I spread the HC out over the day, with larger doses in the morning,

tapering off in the evening, and trying to time things to suit what

I'm doing (taking more around the times that I'm most active/under

stress).

I'm tapering down from 50mg/day to 20mg/day, reducing by 5mg each

day. I'll then stick at 20mg until we make progress with other

investigations (and hopefully one day I can come off it altogether).

Bear in mind that 20mg HC is meant to be approximately equivalent to

5mg Prednisolone, so 40-50mg is only about 10-15mg Prednisolone.

Previously, people were happy for me to do Prednisolone tapers

starting at 40mg!

Does this sound like a reasonable regime? (BTW, the prescribing doc

suggested starting at 100mg/day! I'm trying to be more conservative

than that!)

Also bear in mind that if anything is helping my hearing, it may in

fact be the Fludrocortisone rather than the HC.

>

> Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be careful

> with doctors, too.

>

> Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

>

> Thanks,

> Val

October 13, 2006

Thanks, . I'm going to order some Cortef. After reading these

posts I feel better about trying it. I also think I have definite

adrenal problems. Not sure if Cortef will help me since I've felt

this way for sooooooo long. Hopefully, it will.

Speaking of Hopkins, a kidney doctor (he was recommended by a good

friend's father)I saw here pulled some strings and got all these

appts for me at Hopkins. He thought my mercury diagnosis was so

bogus and that the docs at Hopkins would get to the bottom of it. I

never went. What's your experience with them and mercury?

Val

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

> I'm kind of doing it " without a doc " . But I'm making sure I stick

to

> a schedule. If I just vary the dose any old how, I don't see how

I'll

> know whether it's working or not. The docs don't seem all that

> interested in coaching me, so I'm having to work it out for myself.

>

> I have a small spreadsheet application on my Palm, into which I

enter

> the time and amount of each dose of HC, FC and DHEA.

>

> I also have " target " doses for the day, to remind me what the

daily

> total should be. (although it probably ought to vary depending on

> activity level).

>

> The spreadsheet automatically adds up what I've taken as I'm

taking

> it. Otherwise it's really easy to lose track and over or under-

dose.

>

> I spread the HC out over the day, with larger doses in the

morning,

> tapering off in the evening, and trying to time things to suit

what

> I'm doing (taking more around the times that I'm most

active/under

> stress).

>

> I'm tapering down from 50mg/day to 20mg/day, reducing by 5mg each

> day. I'll then stick at 20mg until we make progress with other

> investigations (and hopefully one day I can come off it

altogether).

>

> Bear in mind that 20mg HC is meant to be approximately equivalent

to

> 5mg Prednisolone, so 40-50mg is only about 10-15mg Prednisolone.

> Previously, people were happy for me to do Prednisolone tapers

> starting at 40mg!

>

> Does this sound like a reasonable regime? (BTW, the prescribing

doc

> suggested starting at 100mg/day! I'm trying to be more

conservative

> than that!)

>

> Also bear in mind that if anything is helping my hearing, it may

in

> fact be the Fludrocortisone rather than the HC.

>

> >

> > Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought

you

> > had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

careful

> > with doctors, too.

> >

> > Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Val

>

October 13, 2006

Thanks, . I'm going to order some Cortef. After reading these

posts I feel better about trying it. I also think I have definite

adrenal problems. Not sure if Cortef will help me since I've felt

this way for sooooooo long. Hopefully, it will.

Speaking of Hopkins, a kidney doctor (he was recommended by a good

friend's father)I saw here pulled some strings and got all these

appts for me at Hopkins. He thought my mercury diagnosis was so

bogus and that the docs at Hopkins would get to the bottom of it. I

never went. What's your experience with them and mercury?

Val

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

> I'm kind of doing it " without a doc " . But I'm making sure I stick

to

> a schedule. If I just vary the dose any old how, I don't see how

I'll

> know whether it's working or not. The docs don't seem all that

> interested in coaching me, so I'm having to work it out for myself.

>

> I have a small spreadsheet application on my Palm, into which I

enter

> the time and amount of each dose of HC, FC and DHEA.

>

> I also have " target " doses for the day, to remind me what the

daily

> total should be. (although it probably ought to vary depending on

> activity level).

>

> The spreadsheet automatically adds up what I've taken as I'm

taking

> it. Otherwise it's really easy to lose track and over or under-

dose.

>

> I spread the HC out over the day, with larger doses in the

morning,

> tapering off in the evening, and trying to time things to suit

what

> I'm doing (taking more around the times that I'm most

active/under

> stress).

>

> I'm tapering down from 50mg/day to 20mg/day, reducing by 5mg each

> day. I'll then stick at 20mg until we make progress with other

> investigations (and hopefully one day I can come off it

altogether).

>

> Bear in mind that 20mg HC is meant to be approximately equivalent

to

> 5mg Prednisolone, so 40-50mg is only about 10-15mg Prednisolone.

> Previously, people were happy for me to do Prednisolone tapers

> starting at 40mg!

>

> Does this sound like a reasonable regime? (BTW, the prescribing

doc

> suggested starting at 100mg/day! I'm trying to be more

conservative

> than that!)

>

> Also bear in mind that if anything is helping my hearing, it may

in

> fact be the Fludrocortisone rather than the HC.

>

> >

> > Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought

you

> > had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

careful

> > with doctors, too.

> >

> > Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Val

>

October 13, 2006

> I'm kind of doing it " without a doc " . But I'm making sure I stick to

> a schedule. If I just vary the dose any old how, I don't see how I'll

> know whether it's working or not. The docs don't seem all that

> interested in coaching me, so I'm having to work it out for myself.

IM--------This is probably to your advantage

>

> I'm tapering down from 50mg/day to 20mg/day, reducing by 5mg each

> day. I'll then stick at 20mg until we make progress with other

> investigations (and hopefully one day I can come off it altogether).

>

> Bear in mind that 20mg HC is meant to be approximately equivalent to

> 5mg Prednisolone, so 40-50mg is only about 10-15mg Prednisolone.

> Previously, people were happy for me to do Prednisolone tapers

> starting at 40mg!

Unless ou think you really know what ou are doing, I woudl stick to the

low physiopogic doses of H/C. If you feel that the 20 M/C is not enough

for you, then I would suggest prednisolone. That is what I had to use

until my own adrenals ganed some strength. Then I was able to back down

to H/C, and eventually off alltogether.

>

> Does this sound like a reasonable regime? (BTW, the prescribing doc

> suggested starting at 100mg/day! I'm trying to be more conservative

> than that!)

IM---------I have never been really clear on this. Check the Amalgam

Illnes book on this. In the book, Andy talks about the tapers being

hard on the adrenals, and it has always seemed to me that tapers serve

a different purpose than taking the steroids for adrenal support. .I

have had this discusison with many peopel before....Maybe somebody here

has some real clarificaton on this. Tapers VS Support

~Inga

>

> Also bear in mind that if anything is helping my hearing, it may in

> fact be the Fludrocortisone rather than the HC.

>

> >

> > Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> > had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

> careful

> > with doctors, too.

> >

> > Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Val

>

October 13, 2006

> I'm kind of doing it " without a doc " . But I'm making sure I stick to

> a schedule. If I just vary the dose any old how, I don't see how I'll

> know whether it's working or not. The docs don't seem all that

> interested in coaching me, so I'm having to work it out for myself.

IM--------This is probably to your advantage

>

> I'm tapering down from 50mg/day to 20mg/day, reducing by 5mg each

> day. I'll then stick at 20mg until we make progress with other

> investigations (and hopefully one day I can come off it altogether).

>

> Bear in mind that 20mg HC is meant to be approximately equivalent to

> 5mg Prednisolone, so 40-50mg is only about 10-15mg Prednisolone.

> Previously, people were happy for me to do Prednisolone tapers

> starting at 40mg!

Unless ou think you really know what ou are doing, I woudl stick to the

low physiopogic doses of H/C. If you feel that the 20 M/C is not enough

for you, then I would suggest prednisolone. That is what I had to use

until my own adrenals ganed some strength. Then I was able to back down

to H/C, and eventually off alltogether.

>

> Does this sound like a reasonable regime? (BTW, the prescribing doc

> suggested starting at 100mg/day! I'm trying to be more conservative

> than that!)

IM---------I have never been really clear on this. Check the Amalgam

Illnes book on this. In the book, Andy talks about the tapers being

hard on the adrenals, and it has always seemed to me that tapers serve

a different purpose than taking the steroids for adrenal support. .I

have had this discusison with many peopel before....Maybe somebody here

has some real clarificaton on this. Tapers VS Support

~Inga

>

> Also bear in mind that if anything is helping my hearing, it may in

> fact be the Fludrocortisone rather than the HC.

>

> >

> > Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> > had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

> careful

> > with doctors, too.

> >

> > Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Val

>

October 13, 2006

> I'm kind of doing it " without a doc " . But I'm making sure I stick to

> a schedule. If I just vary the dose any old how, I don't see how I'll

> know whether it's working or not. The docs don't seem all that

> interested in coaching me, so I'm having to work it out for myself.

IM--------This is probably to your advantage

>

> I'm tapering down from 50mg/day to 20mg/day, reducing by 5mg each

> day. I'll then stick at 20mg until we make progress with other

> investigations (and hopefully one day I can come off it altogether).

>

> Bear in mind that 20mg HC is meant to be approximately equivalent to

> 5mg Prednisolone, so 40-50mg is only about 10-15mg Prednisolone.

> Previously, people were happy for me to do Prednisolone tapers

> starting at 40mg!

Unless ou think you really know what ou are doing, I woudl stick to the

low physiopogic doses of H/C. If you feel that the 20 M/C is not enough

for you, then I would suggest prednisolone. That is what I had to use

until my own adrenals ganed some strength. Then I was able to back down

to H/C, and eventually off alltogether.

>

> Does this sound like a reasonable regime? (BTW, the prescribing doc

> suggested starting at 100mg/day! I'm trying to be more conservative

> than that!)

IM---------I have never been really clear on this. Check the Amalgam

Illnes book on this. In the book, Andy talks about the tapers being

hard on the adrenals, and it has always seemed to me that tapers serve

a different purpose than taking the steroids for adrenal support. .I

have had this discusison with many peopel before....Maybe somebody here

has some real clarificaton on this. Tapers VS Support

~Inga

>

> Also bear in mind that if anything is helping my hearing, it may in

> fact be the Fludrocortisone rather than the HC.

>

> >

> > Has anyone taken this without being monitored? I just thought you

> > had to be careful with this stuff - of course, you have to be

> careful

> > with doctors, too.

> >

> > Can you just take lose doses throughout the day on your own?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Val

>

October 13, 2006

Only that low dosages of prednisolone really weren't working for me.

And higher doses seemed to make me a bit better... then much worse a

few hours later.

It's the fludrocortisone that I'm especially interested in... recent

research connects low aldosterone with hearing loss (a bit of a long

shot, but I don't think the low dose Florinef I'm taking can hurt.

Oh, and I always lose my hearing when I lie down! Aldosterone

production halves when lying down... crazy maybe, but..).

HC has a greater level of minerlocorticoid activity than Prednisolone.

I'm interested to hear how other people have got on with what

dosages of HC.

> Unless ou think you really know what ou are doing, I woudl stick to

> the

> low physiopogic doses of H/C. If you feel that the 20 M/C is not

> enough

> for you, then I would suggest prednisolone.

October 13, 2006

Only that low dosages of prednisolone really weren't working for me.

And higher doses seemed to make me a bit better... then much worse a

few hours later.

It's the fludrocortisone that I'm especially interested in... recent

research connects low aldosterone with hearing loss (a bit of a long

shot, but I don't think the low dose Florinef I'm taking can hurt.

Oh, and I always lose my hearing when I lie down! Aldosterone

production halves when lying down... crazy maybe, but..).

HC has a greater level of minerlocorticoid activity than Prednisolone.

I'm interested to hear how other people have got on with what

dosages of HC.

> Unless ou think you really know what ou are doing, I woudl stick to

> the

> low physiopogic doses of H/C. If you feel that the 20 M/C is not

> enough

> for you, then I would suggest prednisolone.

October 13, 2006

Only that low dosages of prednisolone really weren't working for me.

And higher doses seemed to make me a bit better... then much worse a

few hours later.

It's the fludrocortisone that I'm especially interested in... recent

research connects low aldosterone with hearing loss (a bit of a long

shot, but I don't think the low dose Florinef I'm taking can hurt.

Oh, and I always lose my hearing when I lie down! Aldosterone

production halves when lying down... crazy maybe, but..).

HC has a greater level of minerlocorticoid activity than Prednisolone.

I'm interested to hear how other people have got on with what

dosages of HC.

> Unless ou think you really know what ou are doing, I woudl stick to

> the

> low physiopogic doses of H/C. If you feel that the 20 M/C is not

> enough

> for you, then I would suggest prednisolone.

October 14, 2006

>I have a small spreadsheet application on my Palm, into which I enter

>the time and amount of each dose of HC, FC and DHEA.

Hi ,

Your efforts in healing yourself are to be commended, although I'm sure, like

all of us, they are motivated by desperation induced by a uncaring and dangerous

medical fraternity. Sadly medicine is no longer and art, but rather a business

that has lost focus on integrity and moved all focus towards fortune. It is a

pity you do not have a medical professional willing to stick it out with you and

find out is going on no matter what - even if they have to admit they don't know

what the hell is happening. Doctors don't have to know everything, they just

have to be willing to walk the path with you to figure it out. They don't

realise that it is support we often need more than anything else while we are

trying to figure it out.

Do you take the 'good' oils or pregenolone? Of course these have to be converted

in the adrenals to the hormones you require and that is where you seem to have

the problem. But I'm wondering whether everybody treating their adrenals should

make sure that they are starting at the beginning and supplying the good

building blocks for the hormones from the onset.

Where do you believe your problem in the pathway is

http://www.livingnetwork.co.za/files/adrenal_pathway.gif

In the adrenals or in the pituitary, or both?

Thanks,

Dean

October 14, 2006