Before I start taking this stuff..I was diagnosed yesterday based on my blood work with high cortisol. Has anyone else had success with taking this for high levels and not low? My adrenals were normal until I got Lyme and Babs. Thanks.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Why would your Dr want you to take MORE Cortef if your levels are HIGH??
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Exactly. LymeToo is correct:
Cortef is NOT for those with high cortisol.
Was it your LLMD who prescribed this for you or your GP?
Is the dose ONLY up to what a normal physiological dose would be, NO higher but also
starting even lower than a physiological replacement dose with the plan to taper up slowly only if needed and never more than a physiological dose? [That range is discussed in the next post.]
CLARIFICATION about that TESTING? Really high or reversed?
I wonder, though, if you have testing for cortisol at various times throughout the day and it's low when it should be high but high when it should be low. That tends to happen with lyme but the
first step is a change in habits, when possible, regarding activity and light before bedtime, getting the lights out earlier
and adrenal support.
IF your cortisol was high when it should be low but VERY low when it should be higher then - maybe- you'd be put on a LOW dose of Cortef
if previous attempts with earlier "lights out" and adrenal support were not enough.
Go back and look at your tests. Were they done at various times throughout the day? Were the values opposite of what they should have been for ALL times?
You'd still need some good adrenal support and be sure to have a reasonable "lights out" time, though (something very hard for most with lyme but easier with the right kind of support measure when taken at the correct time of the day). -
[ 09-12-2012, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I have a hard time formulating words. I hope I can explain this adequately but see Jefferies book, for sure. He's better at this.
IF the dose prescribed is higher than what a normal physiological replacement dose would be,
or prescribed when you don't need it (if you do have high cortisol across the board, not just reversed)
you might have to be on this RX for life as the adrenals could atrophy, ("dry up" and just stop working) from more than the physiological replacement dose (or if your adrenals PLUS the Rx result in more than what your body would normally make).
With most lyme patients who would take only low replacement dose, after remission is reached and with other support,
Cortef can be gradually tapered down, adrenal support maybe still on board though, and the adrenals heal enough to take over on their own again.