We are going to an endocrinologist and wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions or what we should discuss with the doctor re: lyme?
I don't think the doctor sees lyme patients so theres that. Going to have all hormones checked.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Posts: 165 | From lymeland | Registered: Apr 2010
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
My LLMD handles all my hormone checks, and has even taken over my thyroid management since my endo, who is one of the so-called best in the area, is not Lyme Literate.
If this guy doesn't see Lyme patients don't try to educate him on your first visit. Just my 2 cents.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I would only let a LL doctor assess. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Topic: NATURAL SLEEP - Links to articles & supplements
ADRENAL SUPPORT - articles and books also included here.
==========================
LL NDs are particularly knowledgeable about endocrine support but, again, ONLY LL NDs. If any doctor is not LL, they simply can't know all that is needed to assess a lyme patient's endocrine system. Lyme changes everything. ----------
Topic: How to find an ILADS-educated lyme literate (LL) professionals in these areas:
Naturopathic doctor (ND); Acupuncturist (L. Ac.), a doctor of Oriental Medicine (O.M.D.), or a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine (D.Ay.), certified herbalists or nutritionists, . . .
. . . Holistic MDs, and also Doctors of Osteopath (DO) and Doctors of Chiropractic (DC), etc.
�� Includes many professional links, articles and books on complementary / integrative methods - & RIFE links -- all by LL authors.
Also included are basic links explaining the principles of herbal medicine.
BODY WORK considerations (geared to lyme patients) are discussed; with links. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- If you go to a non-LL endocrinologist anyway, be VERY careful if they suggest a challenge test with steroids. That set a friend of mine back 6 months with a complete adrenal collapse. Of course the endocrinologist had never seen anything like that because he knew nothing about lyme.
Personally, I think it's a waste of time and money - and putting yourself in harm's way to see a non-LL endocrinologist. See if your LLMD can suggest one who at least will not do a steroid challenge.
Still, and I just don't know how much more emphatic I can be, it is likely to be a huge waste unless the endocrinologist is ILADS-educated and lyme and TBD-literate. They simply will not have the knowledge base you need -- unless your LLMD has a list of tests and extremely specific instructions for how those tests should be drawn and processed. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- You might want to read this book (in addition to other adrenal books in the Sleep thread): ------------
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.
See page 4 where Dr. Burrascano describes a bit about the considerations of the dysfunction with the HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY AXIS
=====================
The "Find a LL ND" thread and the "Sleep" thread both have some excellent sources so that you can learn what you can do on your own with basic adaptogen support. That might be enough to get you back on track.
Of course, discuss this with your LLMD. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
Jeff, assuming you're a guy, could you let me know what kind of tests this doctor does for you, checking hormones?
I'm thinking my hubby needs this also but not really sure where to start.
My LLMD is a DO and seems very literate of female hormones but not sure about mens'.
I know if I came to him with some starter info (what tests, what labs, etc), he would work with us.
You could PM me the info if you feel like it.
Thanks, Hens
Oh, here you are asking for advice and i turn it around and ask you to help me. Sorry.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
This book is based on interviews with 13 Lyme-Literate Health Care Practitioners. Each practitioner is given one chapter in which to share their healing strategies
On-line Sample Chapter from the book: Chapter One here: ------------------------
Excerpt (from just over half way down the page): . . .
Treating Hormonal Dysfunction
Balancing hormones is a remarkably important component to healing from Lyme disease. In Lyme, the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) is severely impaired and it�s one of the more difficult areas of the body to heal.
Plant stem cells seem to help the HPA-axis to some degree, but I think that hormones are one of the areas in medicine that still needs to be researched, if practitioners really want to optimize their patients� whole endocrine system.
Bioidentical hormones, when used properly, can help to restore HPA function in some with Lyme disease.
���� Borrelia likes to destroy the body�s connective tissue, and endocrine glands have a lot of connective tissue, so it is important to get antibiotics and other antimicrobials into those glands.
Optimizing endocrine function is also important, but if practitioners improperly prescribe hormones, then their patients can get �out of whack.� For that reason, I often refer my patients to an endocrinologist or skilled naturopathic physician who can more properly deal with this aspect of their healing. . . . -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
HEAL THE HORMONES TO HEAL FROM LYME DISEASE � by Connie Strasheim
From The Townsend Letter - July 2010
Excerpt:
. . . [author's voice] . . . for the purposes of this article, I will focus on hormonal balance, because it is one of the oft-ignored areas of treatment and perhaps one of the more difficult aspects of healing to address. At least, I have found this to be true in my own case of chronic illness involving Lyme disease!
Below I share insights into balancing hormones, based on excerpts from my book and representing the opinions of some of the health-care providers whom I interviewed. . . .
. . . .
- - Link above. This is a very well-written article highlighting the approaches of several LLMDs and LL NDs regarding addressing lyme-induced endocrine damage and dysfunction. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Jeff you need to go to a alternative endo or just an alternative MD. Do not go to a reg endo. They will give you synthetic Thyroid, synthetic drugs for pre diabetic when you dont have it and they do not know how to treat adrenal fatique except for cortisol !!!! Pls see your PM
Posts: 871 | From orange county, ca. | Registered: Jan 2006
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Hambone
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29535
posted
In my experience, endocrinologists are THE WORST as far as being arrogant and cocky.
You have to have thick skin when you go to an endo, don't ask questions, and NEVER EVER question them about their treatment.
I feel like psychiatrists and endos go into the medical profession for the title of "doctor", the presteige and money, more than they do for the reason of wanting to help people. There is very little "thinking outside of the box" that is necessary for them to do their job.
They would flounder in other branches of medicine because they don't know how to solve mysteries or think on their feet. They only know how to read data on a lab report, and/or how to pick a drug from their closet that the drug reps keep filled.
Sorry...I am very scarred by the treatment I received from endos. "Arrogance on steroids" is how I describe them.
Posts: 1142 | From South | Registered: Dec 2010
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I'm only half way through it, but it brings up some good points about which lab tests to look for, especially in figuring out if you are TH-1 or TH-2 dominant.
It goes into more detail about Hashimato's and Grave's Disease, but there is mention in there of how Lyme (being an aggressive bacterial infection) can induce the immune system to attack the thyroid.
My doc is monitoring my endocrine "stuff" with lab tests right now, but in my next follow up I'm going to demand she dig a little deeper than the standard tests used to monitor.
So far, I think it's a helpful addition to the Lyme-curing arsenal. A lady in town who has been undiagnosed for 13 years said she started getting great results after following the protocol. She is a woman probably in her 40's or so, said it really helped with her hormonal stability.
posted
Just want to say...in the beginning of my saga, after two ID docs treated me for two weeks each for babesia, denied any possibility of lyme,they then sent me to an endo.
The unspoken suggestion, of course, was menopausal madness.
The endo interviewed me for half an hour, looked through my tests, and folded his hands. "Look", he said, "I'm pretty sure you have Lyme disease."
He then gave me the name of a local Lyme-friendly doctor who carried me over until my first LLMD.
They're not all bad.
Posts: 520 | From Maryland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
Yes except we are in Calif where no docs think we have lyme !!!! Read Stop the Thyroid Madness
Posts: 871 | From orange county, ca. | Registered: Jan 2006
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We are just going to get tested first before we do any kind of therapy. I read in an article by Dr. kinderlehrer that people dealing with infections (and chronic infections at that) need to have their hormones worked up well.
Please tell me what tests should be run. We are testing for:
adrenals thyroid sex (especially testosterone) growth anti diuretic
After we get the results, then we can think about which therapies to employ. I'll def. need some help.
Feel free to PM if you feel more comfortable. Thank you.
Posts: 165 | From lymeland | Registered: Apr 2010
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I will be happy to lend you whatever knowledge I gain after our appt. Just PM to remind me or I'll send you a message if I remember.
Posts: 165 | From lymeland | Registered: Apr 2010
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-------------------- Corinne Posts: 529 | From Raleigh, NC | Registered: Jun 2006
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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
Just a quick note: if you can't find an LL-endo, you might want to try searching for one who works with other autoimmune issues, chronic fatigue, and the like. They might be more open-minded and understand your issues/needs a bit more.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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