I have just looked at my wife's report and it shows elevated cortisol, especially morning and evening, Active adrenal cortex, Cushing's Syndrome, stress, depression, mental changes, skin thinning, osteoporosis, and increased risk of stroke have all been mentioned but no specific suggestion as to what to do is spelled out.
Is there any particular supplements she should be taking to help this? Any thoughts?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
What kind of a report is this? Is it from a lyme doctor? From some kind of exam? If so, by whom? Cleveland Clinic? A regular internist? A group of medical specialties? After numerous tests?
If there were tests, what were the tests?
It takes a bone scan to diagnose osteoporosis. Did they do that test?
Did a vascular doctor examine her and determine she had an increased risk of stroke? That's the kind of doc that would make that assessment. And, there is a test that is done to measure blood flow at various points in the body. You should be given a report of that test if it was done.
If she has Cushing's syndrome, it can cause everything you have listed--elevated cortisol, depression, skin thinning, osteoporosis, high blood pressure (which increases risk of stroke), etc.
If she has Cushing's, that same website tells you the various treatments for it.
Posted by greengirl (Member # 25316) on :
Cortisol is a stress hormone. I've never been tested, but believe my stress hormones are running high when I first wake up and in the evening, based upon the anxiety levels that I feel around those times. In addition to cognitive things (meditation, prayer, nice music, affirmations), I've also added antidepressants before sleep, which help both my sleep and the anxiety I feel when I wake up. There are also some good anti-stress teas out there (grocery or natural food store). Some work better for me than others.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I would see an Endo who should look further. Cushings syndrome is just that. As a syndrome it can be caused by many things.
There are many other things that should be examined to rule out in Cushings.
But I do believe organisms may be another cause of Cushings or in tandem with other causes.
The most worrisome are the ones with uncontrollable BP.
I am glad you brought this up. My sis is seeing one at Vandy now to determine if she has a Pheo.
But I also suspect an infection is at play as she has worked for a Vet for years.
Maybe someday soon we will discover Diabetes is the same---infectious.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Sorry, being out for the day...
TF - It's ordered by Dr. H and done by Aeron Lab in CA. I had a phone consult before I saw the test result, and I assume that the test report wasn't a big surprise to them so no additional supplements or suggestions were made during the phone consult.
green - thanks. I will suggest that she tries some herb teas. IN a sense, I myself am not surprised that she is stressed to a [pretty high level. Just to remember taking her meds could drive one insane, And i have to do a better job coming out a better manageable schedule so that she doesn't get all too overwhelmed.
Pine - Thanks for the links. I will look into them.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Her adrenals are whacked out. I was the same until I started treating Lyme and supporting my endocrine system.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- ADRENAL LINKS: -----------------
This book is specific to lyme and other chronic stealth infections. The author discusses the endocrine connection and effects of STRESS on a person with such infections. You can read customer reviews and look inside the book at this link to its page at Amazon.
The Potbelly Syndrome: How Common Germs Cause Obesity, Diabetes, And Heart Disease (Paperback) - 2005
by Russell Farris and Per Marin, MD, PhD
==================
Remember that lyme really messes up the HPA axis (Hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal network). The pituitary has much to do with weight/growth. Mess up any part of the endocrine system and other parts suffer, too.
Curcumin Prevents Some Stress-Related Changes (By CP Staff)
Excerpts:
A recently published study investigated the effects of curcumin, a constituent of the botanical turmeric, on changes in cognition and memory caused by stress. . . .
. . . In this new study, researchers investigated the effect of curcumin supplementation on stress-induced learning defects in mice. . . .
. . . In addition, curcumin reversed the stress-induced increase in the levels of serum corticosterone, the primary hormone secreted during the stress response. . . .
. . . The researchers concluded, ``Thus, curcumin may be an effective therapeutic for learning and memory disturbances as was seen within these stress models, and
its neuroprotective effect was mediated in part by normalizing the corticosterone response, resulting in down-regulating of the phosphorylated calcium/calmodulin kinase II and glutamate receptor levels.''
The Potbelly Syndrome: How Common Germs Cause Obesity, Diabetes, And Heart Disease (Paperback) - 2005
by Russell Farris (Author), Per Marin (Author)
Much about stress reactions here. - you can read customer reviews at the link. Attention is given to lyme and other chronic stealth infections however, it does not go into details about solutions.
===========================
This is not a lyme book.
This book has only one reference to lyme (in the historical use of sarsarparilla for another spirochetal infection). However, it is a vital first book to read - or a reference - for anyone interested in understanding nutritional methods.
Search for Ashwagandha; Cordyceps; Siberian Ginseng in this book:
Graciously, much of this book is on line. It can also be purchased from this site or through Amazon where you can look inside the book and see many customer reviews.
The Rhodiola Revolution byt Richard P. Brown, MD and Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD, et.al.
See this at Amazon. -
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Thank you for the collection of links. That's a lot of reading to do.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Well, people really seem to like it complicated here. I do not get that.
Maybe it is cooler if it is more complicated. Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Hormones are complicated!!!
The problem is most hormone tumors are never diagnosed until found on autopsy!
Of which there are many that cause the syndromes. Elevated cortisol can rid you of all your tendons and ligaments-turn to mush, and should not be ignored.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
And I think massman's point is...
Why make it more complicated than it has to be? Synthetic drugs and when to take them and how much to take and blood tests and anxiety yada yada yada
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- The thing is that any post with a moving icon is impossible to read - for some people. I may not be the only one who has to scroll down fast to bury fast and furious little creatures.
So, any posts with moving objects are not as likely to be read. -
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Well ! A really tough 2 sentence post !
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
massman - if that was the point you tried to make as "translated" by canefan, I completely understand. In any normal day, I would say the same.
Except that I have said so and even have done so, but she is so confused to not even be able to take the meds on the schedule.
Oh well...one man's disease can never be understood by another man...
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