calming down excess cortisol

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 3:30:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, rleyva@...

writes:

>

> If I was to start progesterone cream, what are the odds that the

> progesterone would be converted into more cortisol, thus making the

> situation worse.

>

i think on this one a person would want to know for sure they were low in

progesterone, wouldn't they?

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 3:30:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, rleyva@...

writes:

>

> If I was to start progesterone cream, what are the odds that the

> progesterone would be converted into more cortisol, thus making the

> situation worse.

>

i think on this one a person would want to know for sure they were low in

progesterone, wouldn't they?

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 3:30:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, rleyva@...

writes:

> Correct me if I am wrong, but if my cortisol is high, doesn't that

> mean that my adrenals are working? Meaning, not adrenal fatigued--

> yet?

>

great questions on that post.

one person has explained to me that cortisol levels may show high before they

burn out...sorta spurting out the cortisol in an irregular way.

dysfunctional i suppose.

but i had the same concerns as you. is supplementing with adrenal support

appropriate.

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 3:30:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, rleyva@...

writes:

> Correct me if I am wrong, but if my cortisol is high, doesn't that

> mean that my adrenals are working? Meaning, not adrenal fatigued--

> yet?

>

great questions on that post.

one person has explained to me that cortisol levels may show high before they

burn out...sorta spurting out the cortisol in an irregular way.

dysfunctional i suppose.

but i had the same concerns as you. is supplementing with adrenal support

appropriate.

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 3:30:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, rleyva@...

writes:

> Correct me if I am wrong, but if my cortisol is high, doesn't that

> mean that my adrenals are working? Meaning, not adrenal fatigued--

> yet?

>

great questions on that post.

one person has explained to me that cortisol levels may show high before they

burn out...sorta spurting out the cortisol in an irregular way.

dysfunctional i suppose.

but i had the same concerns as you. is supplementing with adrenal support

appropriate.

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 3:30:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, rleyva@...

writes:

> What if there is some genetic defect causing adrenals to make excess

> cortisol? What is there was a problem with the " signals " from

> pituatary or even the hypothamalus?

>

yikes. how do we check all this. and even if we know, what can we do?

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 3:30:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, rleyva@...

writes:

> What if there is some genetic defect causing adrenals to make excess

> cortisol? What is there was a problem with the " signals " from

> pituatary or even the hypothamalus?

>

yikes. how do we check all this. and even if we know, what can we do?

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:17:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> Exercise combined with relaxation is the only way to do it

i guess I'm only gonna get half better if this is the cure.

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:17:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> Exercise combined with relaxation is the only way to do it

i guess I'm only gonna get half better if this is the cure.

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:17:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> Exercise combined with relaxation is the only way to do it

i guess I'm only gonna get half better if this is the cure.

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:26:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> I'm betting you never relax, do you? All that exercize! shame on you!

> Morning noon and night? You need to balance all that out, you know??

>

rofl. how did you know?

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:26:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> I'm betting you never relax, do you? All that exercize! shame on you!

> Morning noon and night? You need to balance all that out, you know??

>

rofl. how did you know?

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:26:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> I'm betting you never relax, do you? All that exercize! shame on you!

> Morning noon and night? You need to balance all that out, you know??

>

rofl. how did you know?

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:26:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> If I so much as go

> walk around walmart I need a nap.

>

oh - i thought it was just me. that is a BIG store. it really does tire me

to go shopping there. and i too, take a nap when i get home.

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:26:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> If I so much as go

> walk around walmart I need a nap.

>

oh - i thought it was just me. that is a BIG store. it really does tire me

to go shopping there. and i too, take a nap when i get home.

cindi

September 23, 2004

In a message dated 9/23/2004 4:26:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

littlenancy@... writes:

> If I so much as go

> walk around walmart I need a nap.

>

oh - i thought it was just me. that is a BIG store. it really does tire me

to go shopping there. and i too, take a nap when i get home.

cindi

September 23, 2004

How does one go about calming down high cortisol and DHEA-S?

If I was to start progesterone cream, what are the odds that the

progesterone would be converted into more cortisol, thus making the

situation worse.

What if there is some genetic defect causing adrenals to make excess

cortisol? What is there was a problem with the " signals " from

pituatary or even the hypothamalus?

What kind of lab tests would confirm or rule-out these problems?

Correct me if I am wrong, but if my cortisol is high, doesn't that

mean that my adrenals are working? Meaning, not adrenal fatigued--

yet?

Lets put our brains together on these ideas...thanks!

September 23, 2004

> How does one go about calming down high cortisol and DHEA-S?

Exercise combined with relaxation is the only way to do it. Cortisol

responds directly to ACTH stimluation, and gives off cortisol and

another hormone that tells the hypothalamous to tell the pit to slow

the production of ACTH. ACTH is released in responce to allergens,

infections, viruses, physical stress, to some degree mental stress,

and to moderate the body's blood sugar and a few other things. High

levels of corticol steriods in the system lead to obesity, diabeties,

cataracts, and other nasties. Keeping yourself healthy, your stress

low, exercize AND relaxation (a nap, yoga, meditation, etc) lowers

cortisol levels without drugs or supplements like " cortislim "

>

> If I was to start progesterone cream, what are the odds that the

> progesterone would be converted into more cortisol, thus making the

> situation worse.

None. Progesterone is not a corticol steriod, it is a sex hormone.

>

> What if there is some genetic defect causing adrenals to make

excess

> cortisol? What is there was a problem with the " signals " from

> pituatary or even the hypothamalus?

There are a few I am aware of, but the genetic issues are there from

childhood and generally cause deformaties at birth. Cushing's disease

is generally a severe disorder of the pituitary gland that causes an

over-abundance of cortisol, and can be fatal. An ACTH secreting tumor

is usually the reason. Also, I guess a cortisol secreting tumor on

the adrenal cortex could do it, too. All of these things are rare.

> What kind of lab tests would confirm or rule-out these problems?

ACTH blood levels, ACTH stimulation test, and that other one I cannot

spell the deprasomething supression test.

>

> Correct me if I am wrong, but if my cortisol is high, doesn't that

> mean that my adrenals are working? Meaning, not adrenal fatigued--

> yet?

>

I talked with my DO about this recently, to get the real skinny. Some

pop docs say it should be treated with more cortisol....to get the

adrenals to slow down and not produce as much. However, he says this

does not work, it just makes a person gain weight, and puts them at

risk for infection (as steriods supress the immune system, which is

why they are useful in treating allegies and autoimmune problems),

injury (as corticol steriods in excess will cause muscle weakness),

cataracts, and diabeties. And, if the patient does not wean off

properly, it can cause steriod induced addisions, such as people with

asthma get from time to time.

He said that while its feel-good medicine, made to make the patient

feel like something is being done, in the end its a useless therapy

to add steriods to someone who already has a high cortisol level in

the blood. In the end, after weaning off properly, if the person does

nothing to make the lifestyle changes that caused the high cortisol

content to begin with, its a waste of time. The lifestyle changes

would have sufficed to begin with.

We talked about this because of the investigation for lesions on my

adrenals and I'll be getting scanned. He said he would treat me as

complimentary as possible, and truly leans toward the holistic side,

he is young and outgoing and not jaded, but is looking to balance my

body out. As for people who have high cortisol rather than the low

hormone problems I have, he says its really a bad idea, that its a

temp " fix " like a patch on a hole rather than new tire. Eventaully

the hole will get bigger and worse if the real proble isn't addressed.

September 23, 2004