posted
I really am trying not to take drugs to feel better. My doctor felt i would really benefit from taking Cortef. Well, i took 2.5mg this morning and cant believe how much a difference it makes. I actually felt human. I mean, i have energy, kinda wired though.
I know steroids are terrible for people with lyme.
I have been using ginseng, which really helps, but not like this!
Is anyone taking this? I guess i could try licorice. I have tried some adrenal support supplements, but, i have never really had any results with them.
When i get stressed, i feel REALLY sick. Once the stressful situation is over, its amazing how much better i feel. Its so weird.
Are there any really good natural adrenal supplements?
Thanks,
Jordan
Posts: 593 | From Miami, Florida | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
I take 5 mg Cortef. In the beginning I felt the most dramatic improvement. After awhile you tend to forget because your body adjusts.
If I went off my body would notice. It has to be done gradually.
Bug
-------------------- Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see....Corrie Ten Boom Posts: 343 | From Northcentral Iowa | Registered: May 2005
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I like Shchizandra Adrenal Complex by Planetary Forumulas.
Be careful about staying on the cortef long term, your body will adapt to it and it may be difficult to come off. I was on cortef for five months and it took a couple of months to taper off slowly.
Posts: 628 | From the south | Registered: Dec 2005
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I really feel that it would be best to take natural stuff.
I dont want my body to get addicted to any MORE drugs. Im already taking meds for depression, insomnia, and elavil for my leg pain. I only take 10mg of the elavil though.
Its so difficult trying to decide what is the right thing to do.
Jordan
Posts: 593 | From Miami, Florida | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Tutu, The natural stuff I believe you are referring to is glandulars, I worry about the source of these animal products and safety.
You could try coming down to 7.5 mg on your cortef if you doctor agrees.
Now that your lyme load is down and you don't need abx your body may not need the cortef. But you've gotta give your adrenals a chance to see if they can do the job on their own. As long as you are on the cortef, your adrenals will suppress endogenous (your bodies own) production of cortisol.
Jordan, There was a recent thread on natural adrenal support/products started by Lymetoo. I posted all the adrenal products I am on there-it's a long list.
The cortef did worsen my lyme and candida during the five months I was taking it. I don't want to worsen your anxiety. You have only taken it a short while. And I wasn't on antibitotics at the time, and didn't know I had a chronic infection.
So the lyme got worse, I thought it was my adrenals and gradually increased the dosage of the cortef. As soon as I was diagnosed I started tapering.
It's good you are informed and have this board for information and support. take care
Posts: 628 | From the south | Registered: Dec 2005
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been considering several approaches to the adrenals, but with soem trepidation, given how they're tied into endorcrine sys. overall.
one radio doc, an allopath(m.d.), when addressing a caller about a thyroid issue(s) stated taht he would first assess and treat adrenal gland functioning, then see how the thyroid functioned. if the thyroid then also needed medical attention then it would be addressed.
2 years ago i found a yahoo selfsupport group, devoted to adrenal gland issues,and several approaches, but the group, or more specifically, the owner/moderator seemed to encourage membership, ONLY if one is already versant in adrenal gland problems, and by extension, i'd presume the entire endocrine sys. the primary focus, however, seemed to be the adrenal gland, and perhaps to the exclusion of the impact adrenal gland treatment had on the other organs of the endocrine sys.
natcell glandulars? anyone use these?
i too have a concern about the animal sources of glandulars, because i don't want to be somewhere on that african plain with some of my wildebeast brethren, "turning in circles," thereby piquing the curiosity of that pride of lions, and all ya'll with the safari hats and the binoculars, rubber-necking, and elbowing each other for the view.
any organic sources of glandulars?
Posts: 2708 | Registered: Feb 2005
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quote:Originally posted by pq: i too have a concern about the animal sources of glandulars, because i don't want to be somewhere on that african plain with some of my wildebeast brethren, "turning in circles," thereby piquing the curiosity of that pride of lions, and all ya'll with the safari hats and the binoculars, rubber-necking, and elbowing each other for the view.
serendipity....what is the source of the one you mentioned above?
What symptoms will I have if I decrease my dosage too quickly?
I've been lowering it for about 3 wks now. I go from 10mg to 7.5 then back up to 10... then down to 5 .... back and forth.
I haven't taken 10 mg for about a week.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TuTu, this is important because cortisol is the major hormone that our body produces when there is in infection. If it gets too low (if you go too fast on the taper) the lyme that you have worked so hard to put in remission/cure can rear it's ugly head. So be careful.
Ok, take care
[ 04. September 2006, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: serendipity ]
Posts: 628 | From the south | Registered: Dec 2005
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When you talk to your doctor: Tell him any symptoms you have experienced since the taper Any symptoms you should be watching for
Also, get bloodwork for cortisol (am) and ACTH. If ACTH is high it indicates your body has suppressed adrenal function. Mine was high, and therefore I was careful. I would get the bloodwork before making any further changes.
Lastly, you may want to consider consulting an endocrologist for the taper. My primary was wonderful but sent me to an endo when it was time to come off the cortef.
OK, that's enough for now. Need to go buy some vodka....for the cilantro tincture my doctor recommended.
Posts: 628 | From the south | Registered: Dec 2005
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Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
I had good results with Corted. Was alarmed at first, but went up to 25mgs per day with no problem. Gave mee a boost.
Have you level tested to be sure. Those adrenal suppliments didn't do much for me either. Lots of Licorice can raise your blood pressure, so be careful.
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
I wouldn't worry about taking 10 mgs of cortef a day. That amount is not going to suppress your immune system at all. It's only replacing what your body isn't making. Now if you had to take over 20 mgs a day, then that could possibly have some effect on it, but I wouldn't worry about that amount either as long as your cortisol levels were normal.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by micul: I wouldn't worry about taking 10 mgs of cortef a day. That amount is not going to suppress your immune system at all. It's only replacing what your body isn't making.
Well....that's all I was taking.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
My salivary cortisol levels were low in all four time frames. When I added even 1/4 of a 5mg tablet at bedtime, it helped me sleep better.
For those of you with sleep issues, you might check your cortisol levels! Both very high levels and low levels can negatively impact sleep.
Posts: 211 | From NC | Registered: Dec 2005
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Foggy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1584
posted
Yes, good point, my sleep improved significantly from Cortef. I'm down to 2.5 per day with no problems. If my am ACTH is OK, I'll probably be taken off.
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
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