I'm looking for any documentation/literature on the effects of Lyme on endocrine function. If you have links, please share them!
Posts: 922 | From Philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2012
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poppy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5355
posted
From a book:
"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."
posted
You can Google Dr. B's Lyme Treatment Guidelines. I know he touches on the HPA axis.
Posts: 478 | From Third Coast | Registered: Feb 2011
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Topic: NATURAL SLEEP & ADRENAL SUPPORT -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- AVOID STERIODS
Some doctors who know nothing about lyme may prescribe various kinds of steroids but they can be very harmful to someone with lyme. You need to know this:
However, for some with adrenal dysfunction, very low dose CORTEF, a hydrocortisone in ONLY the same physiological dose as the body should make on its own but may not be doing so in someone with lyme . . .
well, then if other adrenal support methods are not enough, a LLMD or LL ND (naturopathic doctor) may prescribe low dose CORTEF.
This has helped many. Refer back up the the ADRENAL thread for more detail here about that (though the book is not about lyme)
SAFE USES OF CORTISOL by William Jeffries (get most recent edition) -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- While, IMO, EVERY person dealing with lyme need adrenal support of some kind, you can do all that until the cows come home and get nowhere - or even worse - if lyme or other tick-borne or other coinfections are not adequately identified and thoroughly addressed.
Do not assume you will just feel better with adrenal support. While that may be the case for a while, or to a degree, INFECTIONS MUST BE TREATED, somehow. Support is vital, though is not enough alone.
(What ILADS is) . . . WHY you need an ILADS-educated, Lyme Literate Doctor - starting with assessment / evaluation. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I had a lot of low hormone levels of all kind when I was sick but before I knew it was lyme. I could also feel certain hormones surge causing unpleasant symptoms.
Interestingly, I had a lot of stim tests including thyroid, HGH, cortisol, and glucose and they were all normal with the exception of low glucose.
That showed me the adrenals, pituitary and thyroid had functioning capability but because of neuro lyme there was a lot of miscommunication or perhaps no communication to these glands.
Posts: 478 | From Third Coast | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
Thanks everyone! I'll be reading theses over in the next few days. If anyone has more links, please do so! I hope to really make some headway figuring out the connections here.
Posts: 922 | From Philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2012
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