merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
I am just wondering if there are any steroids that are ok to take with Lyme?
I am THINKING about it. I really need some relief.
Is there a low dose "safe" Steroid?
I know it isnt the best idea but the fevers and pain is out of control.
I appreciate your input-
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
merry, from what i know, steroids, any steroids, are a big no no....
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
If you have fevers, I don't think steroids would help. Steroids reduce inflammation. They often make infections worse, and fevers are usually symptoms of infection.
posted
i agree with foggy small doses of steriods made by the adrenals (not the synthetic like predinisone) could be helpful and make u feel better with little bad side effects. brian
Posts: 217 | From Everywhere | Registered: Nov 2006
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daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi!
I take a tiny amount of hydrocortisone, which is identical to the cortisone hormone that your body makes. I take it specifically for adrenal insufficiency. One of the things it does is to let your immune system work right.
This is a foreign area to conventional docs. It requires saliva testing by a reputable company.
Any other steroids are not good when you have Lyme: they hurt your immune system.
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
thanks everyone.
Could somone tell me what dose of hydrcortisone you are on? thanks
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
When I was at the FFC I was given many bioidentical hormones, T3 and Cortisol (the "natrual" form of cortisone, - which is technically a steroid but more like a hormone).
I didn't need ANY of these things and my body freaked out. You need to have specific tests (which I had) and a good doctor (I had a quack)that can interpret the tests to see if you need hormones or thyroid meds.
The Cortisol kept me from sleeping for about two months until I figured out what was wrong. I was early in in my Lyme treatment so I was herxing, not sleeping and was just an anxiety ridden mess. I even felt suicidal. It was the most horrible thing I've ever been through.
My point is, you don't want to take anything, including adrenal support (corisone) without proper testing and diagnssis from a good dr.
Hang in there, Merrygirl - you've got a good head on your shoulders, kiddo.
bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
Cortef, cortisol, hydrocortisone (all the same stuff) is usually prescribed between 5-20 mg per day.
The body is supposed to make about 40 mg a day.
The body may actually need much more than that when dealing with chronic high grade infection.
If your adrenals are not cranking it out, it really helps to get supplements to keep your immune system functioning, reduce inflammation, and increase your energy level and resilience, and make it so you can think.
The idea is to not take more than your body needs, or would be making on it's own under the circumstances.
For more info you can read James R. Wilson, Adrenal Fatigue.
I was on an unusually high dose of 35mg for a couple of months, but I had raging infections and my adrenals were barely functioning.
Now I am down to about 10-12 mg a day.
To find a practitioner you can look in the yellow pages for a compounding pharmacy. Call them and ask who prescribes Cortef.
Sometimes a compounding pharmacy will run the saliva test without a doctor, and then refer you if the results warrant.
I wouldn't take this stuff without saliva test. High cortisol levels can really mess with you. I experienced this before my adrenals burned out. I couldn't sleep and was having horrible panic attacks.
Then they quit completely, the pain kicked in and I couldn't wake up enough to get out of bed at all, but the pain wouldn't let me sleep. The Cortef prescription saved me.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512
posted
Merrygirl, some people have experienced increased pain relief by adding Vitamin D3 to their regimen. The active form of Vitamin D is a ``steroid'', of sorts. Now, I don't know about the `fevers' aspect. You might check out the recent thread on Vitamin D3.
In the past, I've tried somewhat pricey products like Moducare Sterinol, which contains plant `steroids', and felt no difference. But I have had fewer `episodes' with back pain since bumping up my own D3 intake the past 3 weeks or so.
It might be worth a little investigation before you make a final decision.......
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Hydrocortisone is not used for pain relief. It is used for adrenal fatigue. It's possible that adrenal fatigue could cause pain, but it would reduce pain like a steroid injection for pain would.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Thanks again- I know they checked my cortisol levels through blood testing. I will hold off steroids for now.
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
You might want to get a saliva test that checks cortisol levels at different times during the day.
Good luck finding some relief. Check out the pain resources I posted. Don't give up on finding pain relief. It can take a long time to find the right relief, but it's worth it.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi merrygirl,
Not very often, blood testing for cortisol levels will tell if you have adrenal fatigue. But only if it's severe, moving towards addisons disease.
A saliva test, with 4 samples at specific times throughout a day, tells if you are low in cortisol and what dosage might be appropriate. It is testing at the cellular level.
I encourage you to read, Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled, By Richard Shames MD and Karilee Shames PhD RN. You may find it at your library.
It affects both men and women.
When a hormone level is "off" that may throw off other hormones levels (thyroid, sex hormones.) This book addresses that. It's very good at describing how the adrenal gland, when overworked, will first burn like a bright star (excess cortisol) before burning out (low cortisol levels.)
I want to add something else. On one hand, this is off the subject, but on the other hand, it could dramatically help others--especially with Lyme: I got adrenal trouble from having undiagnosed PCOS for decades and undiagnosed hypothyroidism for decades (the two can go hand in hand.)
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.) is common. For females, having excess hair on your arm or chin lip or thighs, etc, can be a tip-off to PCOS. Usually, you notice symptoms (acne and weight gain, too) about the time of puberty.
The saying that many women of Mediterranean origin inherit excess hair is up for grabs, now. Do they have PCOS? It affects females of all races. It is a direct route to diabetes. Most gain weight or are obese--some are thin or average weight.
It is a disease of insulin resistance: cells! 6-10% of US females have this. I suggest: The Savvy Woman's Guide TO PCOS, by Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet. Having Lyme, my cells now work better with Metformin--wow! I don't have diabetes: Metformin helps straighten-out a number of hormones, including insulin!
Sooner or later untreated PCOS causes metabolic syndrome--the triangle/apple shape. Using weightlifting machines for Lyme did double-duty for me as (along with Metformin) I got ladies shoulders!
I'll post a new thread.
My Medicare Advantage Plan paid for the saliva test. That has been unheard of.
Merrygirl you sign, "Fight or Flight" and that is certainly the area of adrenal/cortisol problems. (I'm not saying you have PCOS.)
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