Long term Stage 7 -- was 'irritable on cortisol'

[Guest guest]

Thanks to all for your responses. It's very difficult to keep up with all

the posts!

I was first diagnosed at Stage 7 in the summer of 2005, with the saliva

samples taken in the US and FedExed to Diagnos-Techs. I am as positive as

any of us can be that the results were accurate. I had gone to the Nurse

Practitioner while on holiday in America because I wondered if my female sex

hormones were off. I sat down in her office, she took one look at me and

said " Wow, your thyroid is really swollen " (or something to that effect). I

had been under severe stress - emotional, financial and physical - for a few

years so she had me do the saliva tests and then started me on a very

conservative treatment program of 2 Isocort on waking and 2 more before

lunch, along with supplements and regular salt. I think she felt that my

ability to function so well meant that I should not be treated too

aggressively. I continued to function pretty well for the next month and

then, when we returned to Kathmandu, I had a CRASH for about a month. I

continued on the Isocort and supplements. The following spring I was

retested and still at Stage 7. Honestly, I don't remember what, if any,

changes we made to my treatment. In the summer of 2006, in the US, I was

Stage 7 still and VERY frustrated and confused but still functioning pretty

well. All during this time, basically, since my hysterectomy/oophectomy in

2000, I had a SEVERE perspiration problems.

That fall (2006) I had a complete blood work up done in Bangkok. It said

EVERYTHING was fine, with one exception, and I was totally confused and fed

up. Only recently, thanks to Val and others (congrats, Val), have I begun to

understand why the blood and saliva would contradict each other. My NP said

to believe the blood! In the meantime I went on estrogen, as the serum

levels indicated was needed. For a year I did NOTHING for my adrenals except

try not to stress when things were terrible, get LOTS of sleep and eat well,

with supplements.

In late September of this year I had another stress-induced CRASH, but

immediately went on the only thing available here - prednisolone. It was a

miracle god send! But I weaned myself off after only few days. Then I

ordered a Diagnos-Techs kit and did a new test with virtually the same

results as my first and subsequent round. I'm self-treating and am using

Isocort for now though I have ready access to HC cream and/or can order it

for international shipment. My kids are on a 3 week holiday now so I'm not

doing my first dose til I wake up late, around 9:30. Any thoughts on whether

I should set my alarm and take it earlier? I'm doing 5mg (2 Isocort) on

waking and 5mg 4 hours later.

So, that's the long and short of it. I'm working through the hyper-irritable

feeling I began having when I restarted the Isocort. I had been using very

small doses of HC cream before the Isocort arrived so did ramp up a bit. I

will begin taking my temp after I get through the holiday.

I'd be VERY interested to hear - on or off list - from anyone who has a

similar history. I'm also very open to suggestions to help with my

treatment. I believe I would benefit from licorice and possibly from the

aldosterone drug (forget it's name).

I guess I'm very, very lucky to be able to lead a relatively normal life.

Still, I wish I could figure out WHY I am 'sort of' sick and continue to

slowly but steadily gain weight. I have to be ever so careful with food and

stress, and sleep 10 hours a day.

Thanks to everyone,

Ellie