posted
Recently went to an endocrinologist and among the tests she did she discovered that my cortisol level was a little high. Has anyone else had this problem as related to chronic lyme? Although there are other causes for high cortisol, I believe that one cause can be stress or the stress of having a chronic infection, so this is my personal hypothesis. Anyone know about this?
I have been having some high blood sugars too, and from what little research I've done it seems that high cortisol levels can cause this problem. I had high blood sugars about a year ago when I was feeling pretty bad and then that problem seemed to go away as my other symptoms improved and now all is pretty bad again.
I'm still trying to figure all of this out! Thanks for your help!
Posts: 14 | From Indianapolis, IN | Registered: Nov 2008
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I too have had spikes in cortisol and my blood sugar. However, when any all day tests were done, I was in normal range.
Most with Lyme seem to have problems with low cortisol. My doctor's hypothesis on this was that my body was still in a sort of 'fight' mode....and maybe producing the excess cortisol. If you read about adrenal insufficiency, it's generally proposed that adrenal insufficiency (a medical term, a prescursor to Addison's) or adrenal fatigue (a more alternative medicine term for a subclinical condition) are thought to be preceded by OVER stress on the adrenals.
The odd extra thing I have had is very high DHEA--which again, is not normally seen in Lyme, though I've seen some people post on Lyme boards with it. DHEA is a good thing--though neither my lyme doc nor my endocrinologist know why this is. It could be that I've always had it naturally, but just found out in my batteries of tests...
-M
Posts: 322 | From Venice, CA | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
I am having symptoms of high cortisol, and am actually being tested for Cushings Syndrome.
I have developed the hump on my neck, rapid weight gain, and moon face. These are all signs of cushings, and I now have to get checked to make sure I do not have something on my pituitary or adrenal glands.
Good Luck!!
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Regardless of one's weight, this book is invaluable in understanding how the endocrine system is affected by lyme and Cpn (and other chronic stealth infections and stress from that). This book is all about effects of high CORTISOL:
The Potbelly Syndrome: How Common Germs Cause Obesity, Diabetes, And Heart Disease (Paperback) - 2005
by Russell Farris and Per Marin, MD, PhD
8 customer reviews and you can look inside the book
=====
This book, by an ILADS member LLMD, holds great information about treatments options and support measures. The endocrine system is thoroughly discussed here - with suggestions for achieving improvement:
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