I am new here and have a few questions regarding hydrocortisone supplementation. Does anyone here take hydrocortisone/cortef alongside treating their lyme?
Also I am wondering if anyone here been tested for cortisol and found to be low but found that their cortisol levels and their adrenal function improved once they had been treated for lyme without having to take hydrocortisone?
I have recently found to be very low in cortisol but I am undecided whether to just continue treating my lyme and hope that my adrenals will improve from the treatment or whether to take h/c at the same time.
I have heard conflicting opinions of this.
Would like to how others in the same position have approached this.
Thanks very much.
Anne
Posts: 4 | From UK | Registered: Apr 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
My adrenal function was whacked out from lyme..they take a long time to improve. I chose to take an herbal adrenal support to help them, I was afraid to add cortef to my mix.
My function is better, as I've treated lyme and co's, but I still take the adrenal support.
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
I personally had no adrenal function - literally was non responsive to a ACTH stimulation test and had a morning corisol output of 18 reference range was 280-600. I was therefore diagnosed with clinical addisons.
I was put on IV rocephin and within 5 months my adrenal function started to return, the endo could not believe it, I was suddenly responsive to an ACTH stim test and my morning cortisol was 212, low but the adrenals were working - I then started to lower my steriod dosage and today I have regular day curves done to ensure I am not over medicated - I am presently on 12.5mg cortef in 3 divided dosages which sets me in the middle of a day curve.
Remember that if you suppress adrenal function and over medicate you suppress the immune system and that causes havoc with lyme although if you just supplement what you body is not making, that enhances immune function - the adrenals glands naturally make 30-40mg per day of cortisol and more in a stressful situation.
My LLMD says he sees this often and he beleives the spiros like to live in the adrenal and pituitary gland.
So I am a prime example of adrenal function returning with treatment, even when there was no function whatsoever.
posted
Hi Shoney and Rianna, many thanks for the replies.
Shoney, I'm glad to hear that you are feeling a lot better these days, would you mind saying what herbal support do you take? I have tried ashwagandha and I'm taking Ginseng and glandulars at the moment, they are helping a bit but I'm interested in what others find helpful too.
Rianna, your story is amazing and very inspiring to hear, thanks a lot for sharing! It just shows how much recovery we can make when we are properly treated even when things look hopeless. And just shows too how much havoc lyme & co can wreak on the endocrine system. Ive not had an ACTH test but my cortisol levels were extremely low eg morning was 5.5 (12-22) and I got pretty much the same results throughout the rest of the day. I havent spoken to my doc yet and dont know whether I would be considered to have Addisons.
Yes it seems quite tricky when you have lyme to get the right balance between having enough cortisol to support the immune function but not oversupplementing to cause too much suppression.
I did take hydrocortisone for 6 months at a low dose but since weaning off and my adrenals have not really recovered and I guess that is why they are testing low now. I didnt know that I had lyme when I was taking the h/c so I was not under any treatment for the infections at the time which obviously didn't help.
What dose were you on when you were your adrenals had shut down? Does your LLMD hope or think that you might be able to wean off cortef completely at some point? I know that is a difficult question to answer though.
Its interesting what your LLMD said about the spiros liking the adrenals & pituitary I think I've read that somewhere else too and it would make sense with all the endocrine dysfunction we get.
All the best in your recovery anyway and thanks again for sharing your story, its been very encouraging to me!
Anne
Posts: 4 | From UK | Registered: Apr 2007
| IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
If you are found by a reliable saliva test to be low cortisol, what's called "adrenal fatigue" yes, you need hydrocortisone.
Hydrocortisone is bioiodentical to the cortisol your body makes. It is technically a steroid, however, the amount that you take is tiny. When you hear about the dreaded prednisone or steroids some athletes take, you are talking 1.) Not bioidentical and 2.) A dose that is way higher than the dose of hydrocortisone.
If you test low, it is completely necessary in order to recover from Lyme and coinfections. Cortisol affects a lot. A person can have adrenals making too much, normal, or a little fatigued--and low, what's called "adrenal fatigue." This requires an alternative doc.
Suggestion: This may be at your library--Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled, by Richard Shames MD and Karilee Shames RN and PhD.
Thanks a lot for your message Yes I know about hydrocortisone and the difference between taking physiological doses and pharmacological doses and I have some books on adrenal fatigue. But I am just curious to see if others have been able to recover from lyme and adrenal fatigue without taking h/c. Have you taken cortef yourself to help you recover from lyme? If so were you eventually able to wean off it? Thanks.
Thanks for the welcome DakotasMom01
Anne
Posts: 4 | From UK | Registered: Apr 2007
| IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
Hello Anne,
Yes, I am taking cordef, currently, and supporting my "fatigued" adrenals with non-iodized sea salt at every meal, panax ginseng and about 700 mg of B5 (pantothenic acid) a day, split into two doses. I include what's in my multiple.
Do you need cordef? That depends. Some who don't have Lyme have adrenal fatigue--adrenal insufficiency. Some use the above support, some also take cordef.
However, if you have Lyme, then fighting Lyme is hard on the adrenals. If you trust that the test was good, talk it over with your LLMD.
Healthy cortisol levels--not too much, not too little--is just so completely important for fighting Lyme ...
That's why I recommended the Shames'book: it is very detailed and available on Amazon. Maybe it's at your library in the UK. It's written for patients.
I began taking cordef and right away I felt better. According to conventional literature going back decades, my body was now better able to fight infections and inflammation (what infections are) because cortisol is needed by the immune system.
If your body makes too much or too little, that damages the cells in our muscles and tissues, and much more. It helps inflammation, helps your blood vessels, etc.
It's real important--everybody--to use the bioidentical cortisol, called hydrocortisone = cordef. Prednisone is out if you want to get well from Lyme disease! Athletic steroids for performance are way, way out in left field and taking those is a good way to suffer later.
Predisone and athletic steroids are administered in very high doses. Bioidentical Cordef for adrenal insufficiency is a tiny dose.
If you have been found to need hydrocortisone, or if you have had a TRIAL of hydrocortisone after saliva testing to see if it's a good fit--then, well, you need it.
And if you need it, then your body has a new, powerful tool to help you get rid of Lyme! Clue: How do you feel after taking it? Can you sleep better? Do you feel sturdier? Relief is immediate.
Conventional docs poo-poo adrenal fatigue. Do they, as well, in the UK?
Saliva testing takes 4 samples over a one day time frame.
I take a tiny amount of cordef, 5 mg twice a day at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Anyone: if you have a bad reaction to appropriate exercise, like machine weightlifting, that could indicate an adrenal problem--see the Shames' book!
I am on it long-term, mine is so bad.
At first, the adrenals will work too hard (showing anxiety, nervousness, increased inability to fight Lyme.)
Then it burns out like a bright star and becomes fatigued, unable to make enough cortisol for what the body needs, and having Lyme is very demanding on the adrenals. You are tired, can't fend off infections very well and so forth.
The adrenals make other hormones, as well. It's complicated, holy cow!
Anne, could you write back and let us know your progress on this same thread? That will bring the thread to the forefront, again, on the medical forum.
Thanks very much for your reply. I definitely have very low adrenal reserve, I cant tolerate any exercise or any kind of stress, otherwise I crash badly and really do feel like a basketcase! I think the inflammation just gets completely out of control due to the lack of cortisol. I'm virtually housebound and can just about get through the day. My cortisol levels are very low, well below the ref range for all 4 saliva samples. So I definitely am in need of cortisol, my doctor wants me to take 5mg twice a day so I'll see how I get on with that. When I have taken it before I have had side effects though so not sure how I'm going to manage those!
Yes unfortunately it is the same situation here in the UK, doctors do not recognise adrenal fatigue, its either you are completely fine or you have Addisons, nothing inbetween!
I'm glad you are feeling so much better and I will let you know how I get on. I've just started rifing for lyme too and feel its doing something good.
Take care, thanks for your support.
Anne
Posts: 4 | From UK | Registered: Apr 2007
| IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi Anne,
You wrote that your cortisol levels were very low, well below the reference range on all 4 saliva samples for that day. You poor thing. You must be miserable.
Mine were low for three of those samples, but very low (literally off the chart) for the first-thing-in-the-morning sample. That's why I have to take cordef long-term.
You may already know about the following, yet others are probably reading this thread, so I'm gonna go ahead and elaborate.
Everybody: The adrenals sit above the kidney and make a number of hormones and cortisol is one of them.
When the adrenal is overworked, first, it burns like a bright star, before it begins to fail. When it burns like a bright star, which adrenal hormones are in excess? Well, cortisol, for one, that's very important.
(Or, for a time, cortisol can test normal--perhaps because the levels were high, they are dropping, but are not yet low.)
When the adrenals begin to fail, cortisol levels drop--yet other adrenal hormones may still be high. In that interim we can be especially miserable. (And especially with Lyme disease--when it overworks our adrenals and we really need balanced cortisol to fight Lyme!)
There are over 100 hormones the body uses. Most of those aren't understood yet, as to what they do and how they affect each other and how our cells are affected--thus how it affects our body.
Examples are thyroid, insulin, sex hormones and the various hormones manufactured by the adrenals.
When people talk about steroids, they are referring to prednisone or stuff athletes take. These are pharmaceuticals and very dangerous.
When you take steroids that are bioidentical hormones to what your body makes--that's different, like thyroid, insulin, sex hormones, cortisol. The key is balancing hormone levels--not too high, not too low.
Important: Never take bioidentical hormones unless you have been tested and found to need these, or you could actually throw-off levels. For example, DHEA (an androgen) is a hormone and bioidentical DHEA supplements are easy to buy at healthfood stores.
However--never take these unless you have been tested and evaluated and shown to need DHEA. The DHEA found in off-the-shelf DHEA very often contains more DHEA than the label says--or not enough.
Go through a knowledgeable doctor who can also prescribe a consistent brand.
Another example of not affecting hormone levels unless you have been tested and evaluated by a knowledgeable doctor, is the use of progesterone cream. ~ Caution ~ too much progesterone can act like a sedative!
If you haven't been found to need it, don't take it. Levels in the body that are too high could throw-off other hormone levels.
The following information is from the Shames' book. Please bear in mind that the following is for the general population. With Lyme, it follows, that if cortisol levels are off, then giving adrenals a rest becomes crucial to recovery.
The adrenal are given a rest with supplements and if you have been found to need it, then with cordef. This gives the adrenals a chance to heal.
Signs and symptoms: High levels of adrenal hormones, including cortisol: Often tired and wired at the same time; anxiety; insomnia (metabolic mayhem); do well using vigorous exercise to burn off excess adrenal hormones--experiment with exercising at various times of the day.
Usually, first thing in the morning works best as adrenal hormones are likely to be highest. That is, if you are high adrenal. With adrenal excess, adrenaline levels run high and this can make you very jittery.
Signs and symptoms: Low levels of adrenal hormones, including cortisol: feel just plain exhausted (we don't need more of that, with Lyme) with very low tolerance for any stress at all. Needs much less exercise.
(They don't say what type of exercise, for instance, aerobic--a no no for Lyme patients--or machine weightlifting, which is appropriate for Lyme patients.)
The Shames' explain that the adrenal is one gland that, when altered (i.e. by whatever means) can quickly make you feel very good or very miserable.
Sometimes supplements (and more, yet smaller meals) that support adrenals are all that is needed, to help give the adrenals a bit of a rest.
But then there are those who must have hyrocortisone (bioidentical to cordisol, plus some appropriate supplements, because the adrenals are very much fatigued.
Shames' quote: "The best use of cortisone (hydrocortisone) is as a temporary assist in running your metabolic engine, while the adrenal gland has an opportunity to recuperate and heal."
They write about how it is necessary to gently taper up and then to taper done, toward the end of treatment. That's because hormone levels are sensitive to change. You taper so as not to interfere with all hormone levels.
They have excellent tapering instructions--excellent instructions on how to take cordef, on page 167-68, and other pages.
Better balance of adrenals glands brings better balance of sugar-regulatory mechanisms. Better fluctuating blood sugar. If cortisol was a problem, then you are no longer hypoglycemic.
Those with diabetes are directly affected, for example, by their insulin levels. Better balance of cortisol brings a stronger, more resilient person.
Better cortisol brings a more blanced electrical activity in the brain. Sleep is more normal.
Aldosterone is an adrenal hormone. It controls kidney function, water retention and blood pressure.
The Shames' recommend aerobic activity. However, we have Lyme disease. Dr. Burrascano advises against aeroboc exercise. He advises that physical therapy is often needed to regain freedom of movement.
Then strengthening exersize, machine weightlifting (or use of dumbbells.) My own experience is that Dr. Burrascano is right! This is really important! My Lyme disease state is incredibly better with appropriate exercise.
He advises no aerobic activity. That would use too much energy and could hurt us. We need our energy to fight and recover from Lyme. Then we go home and lie down for a nice Lyme nap.
However, a bad reaction to exercise could be telling of adrenal hormones being unbalanced, for example, our body is making not enough cortisol and too much of the other adrenal hormones, while the adrenal glands are burning out.
The Shames' caution that not everyone needs vigorous activity, that if you are completely adrenal exhausted (stage three adrenal failure) you need to conserve your energy, or things could get worse.
The book has self-tests (questions) to try and determine if you need blood testing and proper assessment for thyroid problems. Or saliva testing for sex hormones and cortisol levels.
If one hormone level is off, that can affect the levels of those other hormones.
(The signs and symptoms for hypothroidism are many and they could not be more common--actually, epidemic--in the general population. Along with that, Lyme can attack the thyroid.)
Anne wrote about how exercise affects her badly. But me--I'm the oppposite and that's due to the state of our adrenals, as the Shame's write about (and probably the state of our chronic Lyme disease.)
Anne wrote: "Yes unfortunately it is the same situation here in the UK, doctors do not recognise adrenal fatigue, its either you are completely fine or you have Addisons, nothing in between!"
Ya! Why is that? It's nuts that conventional docs don't take it seriously.
Everyone: Addison's (what President Kennedy had) is an extreme example of adrenal disease (very, very low cortisol levels.)
On the other extreme side of the scale is, for example, a cortisol hump at the back of your shoulders, under your neck, indicating way too high cortisol levels. Do you then have Cushings?
Yet, unbalanced adrenals in the middle of these two extremes is boo-hoed by conventional doctors. Good grief!
Cortisol levels directly affect your body's biorhythms: insomnia.
Anne, I am sorry to hear that you are house bound. You also said that you had side affects taking cordef (hydrocortisone.) You want to try it again. I wish you the best.
Together I hope we've made a difference on cortisol trouble for others.
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
my levels tested low.
llmd ordered cortef 5mg 3x a day
primary says he will drop me as patient if i take cortef cuz i am now pre diabetic (actually my numbers aren't-but my lipids are up, blood pressure a little up(used to be low like my sugar), and i am gaining weight around the middle) so he says it is too dangerous for me to take steroids
kinda wierd to hear llmd say take steroids and primary say don't
llmds' other patients are doing well on low dose cortef
i'm afraid to to take it now-primary has saved my life more than once-and llmd is many miles away. i need someone close.
i ordered book...i take herbal adrenal supps from dr. k b office in ny.
also thyroid is low---on armour-having trouble getting it
recently have virus and chest congestion. many times in last month my blood pressure has again tested very low and my temp has been 95.6
any ideas what is going on?
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have had lyme with many co infections since sometime in 1999 early. I have had all those cortisone tests. I have even called the dr and said I am very sick today you need to see me now. Then when he was telling me it was depression I passed out on him. Sent me for all those ACTH tests in the hospital over nite. Staff watched me non stop. The staff told him I wasn't depressed. He finally released me and told me to eat salt on everything I ate. That seemed to help. But to make a long story short after having to change drs several times, I was finally at a true LLMD recommended by this first dr and VB12 shots weekly help the most. Steroids cause the lyme arthritis to be out of control. Almost all my symptoms are helped by my weekly VB 12 shot.
Posts: 5 | From Eagle River, WI | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi Binks,
Steroiods are way, way bad for you, yes, like prednisone and the type of steroids some athletes take. For one, they destroy your immune system.
Neither type is bioidentical to what the human body makes. They can't lock-in to cells correctly. The doses for these are VERY HIGH. Both of those ways are a nightmare.
However, the doses for "low cortisol" (adrenal fatigue--unless you have Addison's disease, which is way low cortisol, etc.) are very tiny.
You take cordef, which is hydrocortisone and that is bioidentical to the cortisol your body makes. If you need it, then you need it, to fight serious disease, such as Lyme
Yes--you need cordef. You have been found to have low levels.
Yes--it's technically a steroid. Please read the above post.
Your LLMD is trying to help you fight Lyme. Your conventional duck doesn't know what he or she is doing. Quack Quack.
Often, ducks don't like patients who take Armour. It is threatening to their business relationship with Synthroid, or their fear of doing anything at all that is unconventional.
Commonly, ducks have no respect for metabolic mayhem.
Why are you having trouble getting Armour Thyroid? It is available from any pharmacist, coast to coast.
Does the prescription say that it is to be compounded for time-release? That's very important so that you don't get too much T3 all at once: pain in the head, jittery, high blood pressure, more fatigue, etc, for a few or several hours after you take it.
T3 is fast acting. T4 is not--it's stored in your body (i.e. Levoxyl, Synthroid, etc.) Armour is prescribed and taken because it contains T3 (and a small amount of T4.)
In that case, it would need to be taken to a compounding pharmacist who can formulate the Armour for time-release. This method is usually not covered by insurance.
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
thanks daise.
i need 45 mg. they have stopped making the 15 mg. my hand arthrits is so bad i can't break them.
i am now taking 2 30's mon, wed, fri and one 30 the other days
if i only take 30 or take 60 my numbers go crazy
i want to be brave enough to take the cortef...but so many other things keep happening
now i am one month from double knee replacement and i am going to have to live w/o ibu and probably will not be able to walk...and maybe not sleep from pain. but i need it done. i'm going downhill fast since sept when stopped doing my exercise walk-can only stand 10 now...not enough
thanks for your help
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi Ipkayak,
Oh my gosh are you having problems!
I'm sorry you need knee replacement. My Mom had that--she doesn't have Lyme, she has osteoarthritis. After physical therapy, she is doing very well.
But wait a minute--HOLD ON! You said, "i need 45 mg. they have stopped making the 15 mg. my hand arthrits is so bad i can't break them."
Cortef (and generic hydrocortisone) does make 5 mg tablets! I ask, because before you said, "llmd ordered cortef 5mg 3x a day.
I'm confused.
I'm just wondering if that is actually cortef--hydrocortisone? It is bioidentical to cortisol.
Or is it a nonbioidentical steroid that is bad, bad, bad news, especially with Lyme disease?
In other words, I'm wondering if you were prescribed a steroid that is not bioidentical?
May I make a suggestion? Check the prescription for the cortef name, or for generic hydrocortisone, that it is indeed hydrocortisone.
I just checked my bottle and the pharmacy literature I got and it just says hydrocortisone, but not cortef: I guess that means it's generic.
You are prediabetic. Are you aware that cortef (or a nonbioidentical to cortisol) can affect your blood and urine sugar (and maybe insulin levels?)
That is, for diabetes however, you are prediabetic. It just means to get your levels tested periodically while taking it. Maybe you are already aware of that.
Hydrocortisone will help your prediabetes! Hurray!
Any others with diabetes or prediabetes out there who might possibly be helped with cortef (hydrocortisone?) taken temporarily to give your adrenals a rest so they can recuperate?
Daily stress that goes on for a long time can cause adrenals to make too much cortisol and then to get fatigued, making not enough. That's for the general population.
But for we Lymies, stress is our middle name until we get on the other side of Lyme disease--but then there is often financial stress, mental stress from a wrecked life of Lyme, certainly emotional stress.
That stress has a price.
Hydrocortisone shouldn't be taken unless a 4 spit saliva test shows you need it, and it was done by a reliable saliva testing company.
This, of course, is the realm of alternative doctors--the good ones!
By the way, everybody. My Medicare Advantage Plan paid for saliva testing. Does yours?
posted
I have Lyme and also have had low ACTH tests.
My doc prescribed Cortef for me but for some reason it makes my hair fall out. I have glaucoma and the Cortef also raises my eye pressure.
I just had glaucoma surgery so I hope that I can start taking the Cortef again, but still am at a loss as to why it would make my hair fall out. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.
I definitely feel better on the Cortef and want to continue taking it!
Thanks.
-------------------- sunnymalibu Posts: 192 | From california | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
quote:Originally posted by daise:
Why are you having trouble getting Armour Thyroid? It is available from any pharmacist, coast to coast.
Does the prescription say that it is to be compounded for time-release? *************************
That's very important so that you don't get too much T3 all at once: pain in the head, jittery, high blood pressure, more fatigue, etc, for a few or several hours after you take it.
T3 is fast acting. T4 is not--it's stored in your body (i.e. Levoxyl, Synthroid, etc.) Armour is prescribed and taken because it contains T3 (and a small amount of T4.)
In that case, it would need to be taken to a compounding pharmacist who can formulate the Armour for time-release. This method is usually not covered by insurance.
Straight Armour is commonly covered by insurance. daise
daise and all,
i didn't have the armour or compounded med you're talking about here,
BUT my 2nd llmd put me on 2 COMPOUNDED RX MEDS; both were REIMBURSED BY BCBS when I fought them; that's all the llmd expenses they would pay beyond regular tests done; not experimental!
so check into the RX compounded meds; read your HEALTH INSURANCE BOOKLET to see if it's listed as DO OR DO NOT PAY expense.
daise, what were you wanting me to read about diabetes from the PM you sent me? i read it but what was i suppose to know?? darn lyme...
you've had wonderful detailed notes on adrenal function, etc. i could follow most of it. thanks for your constributions daise, you celebrity you! lol Betty
IP: Logged |
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
daise-thanks for the pm and sorry for the confusion.
my cortef is 5 mg. i have not started it yet. i appreciate what you wrote . it helps me understand.
now that i am less than a month from surgery i am on a new regimin of meds/supps/exercise. i probably won't add the cortef cuz i really like to do ONE thing at a time so i can figure out what it changes. i will do it asap after the surgery.
it is armour i am having trouble getting. i guess they are not making 15 mg anymore and my doc is a "nut" about me getting the exact dose i need cuz my numbers change so quickly.
ps-i said "nut" lovingly. i appreciate how he carefully watches my tests and prescribes according to them.
thanks for caring and for the explanation-it helped.
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
If you have to use Cortef, use small doses like 2.5-5 mg daily and don't go higher. You can shut off your adrenals if you go higher, gain weight, and screw up your immune system permanently which is bad new if you have Lyme.
IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi sunnymalibu,
Great name.
I don't know anything about glaucoma, however, hair falling out is metabolic mayhem going on: hypothyroidism causes hair loss as does being treated for that with Synthroid.
Levoxyl for hypothyroidism has never caused that, for me.
Meds or med combinations can cause metabolic mahem and hair loss. It may be individual to the patient.
I wish you the best on cortef. Since you just had surgery, I hope you don't get more eye pressure.
Here is why knowing about adrenals is important for diabetes and prediabetes. It's the realm of alternative doctors.
Here's what I wrote, from above.
Once again, my knowledge comes mostly from the book, Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled, by Richard Shames MD and Karilee Shames RN PhD. Is it at your library?
Here goes: ________
You are prediabetic. Are you aware that cortef (or a nonbioidentical to cortisol) can affect your blood and urine sugar (and maybe insulin levels?)
That is, for diabetes, however, you are prediabetic. It just means to get your levels tested periodically while taking it. Maybe you are already aware of that.
Hydrocortisone (Cortef or generic hydrocortisone--not a nonbioidentical steroid) will help your prediabetes! Hurray!
Any others with diabetes or prediabetes out there who might possibly be helped with cortef (hydrocortisone?) taken temporarily to give your adrenals a rest so they can recuperate?
Daily stress that goes on for a long time can cause adrenals to make too much cortisol and then (adrenals) to get fatigued, making not enough. That's for the general population.
But for we Lymies, stress is our middle name until we get on the other side of Lyme disease--but then there is often financial stress, mental stress from a wrecked life of Lyme, certainly emotional stress.
That stress has a price.
Hydrocortisone shouldn't be taken unless a 4 spit saliva test shows you need it, and it was done by a reliable saliva testing company.
This, of course, is the realm of alternative doctors--the good ones!
(Maybe THEY can prescribe, by an ACTH result.)
(Also not known to conventional doctors is that then there are TRIALS of hydrocortisone to help with the daily scheduled times of taking hydrocortisone. And tapering up and tapering down, off it.)
By the way, everybody. My Medicare Advantage Plan paid for saliva testing. Does yours? _______________
Adrenal cortisol problems can also throw off thyroid and sex hormones levels.
I'M printing that off to take to dr.; next month are blood labs again from pcp! thanks!
IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi Ipkayak,
I'm glad!
Hey, the confusion is Lymie brain. Please don't sweat it! We all do that. Oh ya.
Yes, last I checked, the smallest amount of Armour is 25 mcg.
Your LLMD and you know best about the amount of Armour you need.
Idea: This is from way out in left field, but could you take 25 mcg of Armour--but only 4 days a week?
I take Levoxyl (T4), 75 mcg 6 days a week plus 1/2 grain of Armour in the morning. I also take 1/2 grain in the afternoon, however, only five days a week.
I like that arrangement because it's easy to forget to take in the afternoon---what with needing to take it two hours after food and one hour before any food.
That way, when I forget, I can take it on one of the other two days a week!
I love your website. I was touched by your story of your long struggle. A lot of it has stayed with me.
Did I ever tell you that?
Anyway, your caution about too much hydrocortisone is well founded, I agree. Yes--it's powerful and affects many body systems, tissues and the whole endocrine system.
Certainly, the immune system!
In the case of me and some others, our adrenal problems are serious and we have no choice but to use hydrocortisone more often than you mentioned. For example, I take 5 mg twice a day.
My 4 spit saliva test showed low cortisone at 8 AM--that was actually off the chart.
It tested just "low" at the other three times of day. I tested OK 2 1/2 years ago (with a 4 spit.)
Everybody, I want to spread the word, please:
I've determined that was because my cortisol output was in the process of swinging from high levels, to seemingly balanced levels, to low levels.
The test must have been taken during that interim time of seemingly balanced levels.
I had a small cortisol hump at my back, under my neck. Too much cortisol causes anxiety, among other things.
I think of my history, that has been real hard on my adrenals:
1.) PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) can cause the adrenal to make high cortisol levels: it causes high insulin (and insulin resistance) and androgen sex hormone levels to be high (such as testosterone and DHEA, for example.)
My cortisol has been high for awhile (because I've had signs and symptoms of high cortisol.)
PCOS usually starts at puberty.
I'm now 56 years old. Damage over a lifetime. Ugh.
How do a lot of women get diabetes and heart trouble? From undiagnosed and untreated PCOS. Period.
Most of the ducks resist PCOS diagnosis and treatment, of course!
That situation is improving as women demand, one on one with their doctors, that it be taken seriously!
I take metformin, a diabetes drug, even though I don't have diabetes or prediabetes. It has straightened-out my insulin and pretty well--magically--straightened-out my other hormones.
Loosing weight has a great affect on cell re-shaping, so that insulin resistance is not as much--or not--a problem.
Yay!
Hints of PCOS: excess hair growth, light or dark, on upper lip, chin, thighs, etc; acne and oily skin at puberty and beyond; messed up periods, weight gain or obesity--but sometimes not, a triangle shape (meaning wide shoulders and big boobs) and more.
For more information, Google PCOS. But it's best to read the book, The Savvy Womans Guide To PCOS, By Elizabeth Lee Vliet MD)
Or search this site for my article on PCOS (I'm Diane. Please forgive me, my Lyme brain forgot something important, in that. Isn't that a great excuse?)
2.) High stress of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress) over a lifetime can cause the adrenals to make too much cortisol.
3.) Chronic Lyme disease, itself, causes the stress of serious disease on the body. There is that word again, "stress."
4.) A wrecked life and frightful experience from having chronic Lyme can cause the adrenals to make too much cortisol (financial stress, mental stress, emotional stress, family stress, etc.)
5.) I was diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism. One of the fall-outs from that can be that the adrenals are fatigued--or will be fatigued.
6.) People in the general population can have stress, not from the above, but from the stress of contemporary life, producing "Fight Or Flight" responses, causing the adrenals to make too much cortisol, then wearing-down the adrenals so they can't make enough.
Any one of those can poop the adrenals, huh?
Me--I have all six reasons.
Our bodies needs balanced levels of cortisol, that's the key.
By the Shames' recommendation I use non-iodized sea salt liberally at meals, I take a lot of B5 (pantothenic acid) and Panax ginseng to support adrenal fatigue.
Cortisol trouble can give bad reactions to exercise--a telling hint. See the whole thread, please, if you are having bad reactions to exercise.
I love hydrocortisone! I imagine it must be allowing my immune system to do its "thing", getting over Lyme, etc, because I'm getting way better!
aklnwlf
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5960
posted
Hi! I did the saliva test too about maybe close to a year and a half ago. I tried alternative bio-identical hormone supplementation that hasn't worked for me.
My GP yesterday stated that she's sending me to an endocrinologist to get straightened out.
My cortisol was too low all during the day with low DHEA and HGH and other things I can't recall at the moment.
I'm hoping that I can afford the supplementation that's prescribed. I'd definitely take Cortef. I was surprised that my Cortisol was so low.
After I go and find out the 411 I'll post the info that I learn in my case and hope it'll help you and others.
-------------------- Do not take this as medical advice. This comment is based on opinion and personal experience only.
Alaska Lone Wolf Posts: 6918 | From Columbus, GA | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi aklnwlf,
Cortisol levels!
First they can be high, then going low. Pooped adrenals.
Good grief.
I look forward to hearing how you're doing with it.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
![[cussing]](graemlins/cussing.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[lol]](graemlins/lol.gif)
Betty ![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)
![[spinning smile]](graemlins/spinsmile.gif)
Everybody, I want to spread the word, please: 
Printer-friendly view of this topic