A progress report from Jen R. to her Doc - groups thoughts appreciated

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Drisko,

A quick update on my progress. First off I want to thank you. I just

returned from an 11 day tour of the west with my truck-driving husband. I

wasn't sure I would ever be able to go with him again. Beginning last

January the thought of traveling sent me into a panic attack. We had two

trips planned this summer that I cancelled due to anxiety. Just thinking

about traveling sent me running for cover. I felt fine almost the whole

trip - one night didn't feel up to par but I think that was mild PMS

(another thing that had been a problem for the last several years but has

improved.) Anyway, I feel like I have regained some semblance of control,

and for that I am very grateful (beyond words).

Now for the complaints

Right after our last visit on 09/10/2004 I raised my Armour to 3.5 grains

due to increased hypo symptoms (lethargy, nails splitting and breaking, etc)

I started the Cortef at 5 mg around 10:00 am. I was falling asleep sitting

up in the afternoons so I tried 5 mg at 10:00 and 5 mg at 2:00 pm. Still

falling asleep. Started taking 10 mg with lunch and that seemed to help -

still get the falling asleep problem but can fight it off (before there was

no choice I was just going to have to sleep). I have incorporated the

fish/bonage oil, the serene and BalanceD as you have described so far. I

have avoided the dairy, cheese, and yeast to the best of my ability. On the

trip (which was a month after our meeting) I had bread a couple of times and

cheese a couple of times and seemed to do okay. No dairy though. I am

taking the Selenium also. I have added 50 mg of iron on a daily basis and I

think this is helping my brain fog - I feel more in control of my memory.

Now my main problems right now are that my fingernails and cuticles are a

mess (normally I have very strong hard nails), I can't even describe the

acne problem I'm having on my nose, and still struggling with intolerance to

heat. I took tetracycline from 1994 to Feb. 2004 for acne problems

(problems began in 1990) but once I switched to Armour in Feb my skin

cleared up. The problem has returned with a vengeance. I look like WC

Fields if that helps describe the problem. I'm still struggling with

fatigue and have not obtained the energy level I felt during my honeymoon

period in Feb/Mar on Armour, but it is helped with the 10 mg of Cortef at

noon. I'm thinking that it has been about six weeks since my increase in

Armour and maybe it is time for another increase. I am preparing to start

the BalanceD and GABA Max. Reading over your instructions maybe I should

verify with you that I am understanding them correctly.

Serene 2 at night for a week

Week One

Balance D 1 at night

Serene 2 in morning and 2 at night

Week two through four

Balance D 1 in morning and 1 at night

GABA Max 1-2 at night

Week five through eight

Optimum S 3 morning and night

Balance D 1 morning and night

GABA Max 1-2 night and as needed

I'm getting ready to start weeks two through four if I am understanding the

instructions correctly. Straighten me out if I have it confused.

Looking forward to your insights.

Reid

jreid69@...

P.S. My nose is truly repulsive to look at and to the point where I feel I

am scaring small children. It is also very tender to the touch. Red, bulbous

with constant white heads erupting. Should I return to taking the

tetracyline?

Group:

The hypo symptoms seemed to increase once I started the Cortef. This unusual or

right on target?