posted
I went to an endocrinologist and had the Insulin Tolerance Test done. It stresses the entire HPA axis and they can check different hormone levels. What they do is give you enough insulin to drop your blood sugar below 40 then they draw blood every 15 min for 5 or 6 times.
Posts: 383 | From Ar | Registered: May 2007
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The ITT test for blood sugar and Insulin. The Pituitary is a Prolactin test. Also a ACTH can test the adrenals as well as a salivary 24hr test for cortisol levels. An MRI can find any thing on Pituitary or adrenals. PTH and calcium level ratio can tell you what the parathyroid is doing.. All of these are important as BB can affect all of these.
Posts: 871 | From orange county, ca. | Registered: Jan 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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- Many functions just can't be tested. How we feel can give good clues, though.
Imaging can help, of course, if there is a structural problem.
For any test that lowers blood sugar, there are risks. Even a short time being hypoglycemic can cause damage that can last a while. Some lyme patients also have porphyria. For those, low blood sugar can be fatal. See thread below.
For any test that is a steroid challenge, that can also bring risks. I had a friend who was bed bound for 6 months after a steroid challenge adrenal test.
It's best to convey HPA concerns to a LL doctor as lyme can change everything - and, again, some of the usual tests just cannot always show dysfunction. A saliva test is the safest way to start but a LLMD or LL ND (naturopathic doctor) should guide the process.
Also keep in mind that until lyme is in remission, the HPA will be stressed and support is required. The stress of infection is huge.
See page 4 where Dr. Burrascano describes a bit about the considerations of the dysfunction with the HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY AXIS
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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.
Topic: How to find an ILADS-educated LL ND (naturopathic doctor), L.Ac. (acupuncturist), etc.
Includes how to find an ILADS-educated LL ND, an Acupuncturist, a doctor of Oriental Medicine (O.M.D.), or a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine (D.Ay.), certified herbalists or nutritionists, etc.
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