After low cortisol (adrenal fatigue?), and low testosterone, my doctor prescribed me the bioidentical hormones. I am starting them today.
Hope it helps with the chronic anxiety, fatigue, etc. I wouldn't have thought that being low can cause the anxiety I have, but I guess it's worth a try. Anybody here take these hormones?
I am also starting Levaquin for Bartonella right now. My system is too weak to handle much, and those abx combos were too much for me.
Hopefully these hormones will get me back on track. Trying to stay hopeful.
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
Up. ^^^
Posted by dsiebenh (Member # 5353) on :
I'm taking testosterone; my levels were quite low. It would supposedly make me feel stronger, but I haven't noticed that. I have noticed it makes me more optimistic and less weepy / hopeless feeling.
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
Started cortisol this morning. I've described my patterns of stress, anxiety, and fatigue here before (about how it gets worse in the afternoon, and better in evening), and that seems to fit the description I've been reading at some websites. One website says:
"Patients with adrenal fatigue have a distinct energy pattern. They are usually very fatigued in the morning, not really waking up until 10 AM, and will not usually feel fully awake until after a noon meal. They experience a diurnal lull in their cortisol (the stress hormone produced by the adrenal gland) and as a result, they feel low during the afternoon, generally around 2-4 PM. Patients generally begin to feel better after 6 PM; however, they are usually tired after 9 and in bed by 11 PM These patients find that they work best late at night or early in the morning."
While that's not my exact pattern since my circadian rhythm is a bit shifted, it's close. However, even though I feel fatigued in the afternoon, I still feel extremely agitated and stressed. Night is almost always much better.
Maybe it's partly untreated bartonella? While all my tests come back glowing CDC+ for Lyme, my LLMD clinically suspects bartonella since I am more consistent with bartonella than Lyme. Tests run through LabCorp (I believe PCR) all came back negative. I have a prescription for Levaquin. We are going to leave Lyme alone since I had a couple really rough gos at trying to treat everything at once.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
They helped me!!
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: They helped me!!
Did you take thyroid as well? I seem to feel cold all the time, and I need to find a good thermometer for measuring body temperature in the morning for 5 days. I tried doing that before per my LLMDs request, but I was told by the other doctor I am seeing that I need to use an accurate oral thermometer (I was using a temporal lobe one).
It's not like me to feel cold. I used to be one that felt warm all the time. A year ago, before this all started, cold never bothered me. I was usually the one dressed the lightest, and I lived in a snow community. My body temperature during the day is pretty much normal according to my exergen scanner, so I have no idea why I feel so cold. I never cared for hot weather, but 85-90 degrees or so would sound really nice right now.
Posted by Lulu44 (Member # 23420) on :
[QUOTE]Originally posted by kday: [QB] After low cortisol (adrenal fatigue?), and low testosterone, my doctor prescribed me the bioidentical hormones. I am starting them today.
Are you on Cortef?
If so what dosages are you taking
Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
I have Addison's so I need to take hydrocortisone-and yes-its made a huge difference. I basically went from thinking I was going actually crazy-hearing things, simple partial seizures, panic, anxiety, and horrific derealization/depersonalization (to the point that i left my fiance and tried to move out of my apartment with him because my entire life felt "foreign" all the sudden-luckily I realized this was organic in nature and I am now back at my apartment with my fiance haha) to now being able to think rationally and when i do have bad days i know why and can reason with myself.
Now like I said, mine is full blown Addison's not adrenal fatigue, meaning my adrenal glands are basically useless. I just wanted to let you know though, that yes, adrenal issues and low cortisol, or really any endocrine problem can really mess you up mentally.