RE: Press release: Cortisol in CFS and FM

[Guest guest]

Passing along a response from a member who did more research on

this topic… I find the very

last sentence interesting since I have had meningitis so many times…

Shari Ferbert

www.AFFTER.org

From: Sherry W

'Shari Ferbert'

Subject: RE: Press release:

Cortisol in CFS and FM

Hi Shari

Just wanted to show you a few things I found on a couple

of sites. Nothing specific about FMS but it does say things that indicate that

cortisol could be a factor in FMS. It has been said that FMS comes from some

form of a stressful situation and the section highlighted gives some

indication.

I have also been told that those who have both autoimmune

and FMS that the autoimmune develops first that FMS doesn’t develop

before an autoimmune disease. Below states that low levels of cortisol can develop

from some autoimmune disease.

The last thing I found was from Mayo Clinic about

meningitis complications and this is something I have seen in my research on

FMS that it could be caused from viral, bacterial, or fungal

infections. So with this information from Mayo you could say it is a

possibility of low cortisol as the problem.

I had been

told at least 5 years ago from my doctor that it is a hormonal disorder but

because of the cost of treatment it isn’t a option for most people

because insurance won’t cover it. Now it is coming out that the problem

is hormonal but they haven’t pin pointed it. Just a bit of information

from me but I would be interested if anyone else has been told that it is

hormonal from their Doctor. I will ask my Rheumatologist what she think about

it unfortunately my other Dr. isn’t practicing so I can’t ran it

pass him he was the one who said it was hormonal.

Thanks for

all the great information and have a wonderful Easter,

Sherry

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High

values

A high level of cortisol in the blood can

mean Cushing's

syndrome, a disorder that can be caused by

overactive adrenal glands, a pituitary or adrenal gland tumor, some types of

cancer, or long-term use of corticosteroids.

One cause of Cushing's syndrome is Cushing's

disease, a condition caused by a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland

(adenoma). An adenoma causes the pituitary gland to

make too much of the hormone adrenocorticotropic

hormone (ACTH), which in turn causes the adrenal glands to make too much

cortisol.

A high blood cortisol level can be

caused by severe liver or kidney disease, depression, hyperthyroidism, or obesity

..

Conditions such as

recent surgery, illness, injury, or whole-body infection (sepsis) can cause

high cortisol levels.

Low values

A low level of

cortisol in the blood can mean 's disease,

which is caused by damage to the adrenal glands. If

the pituitary gland is not working well, it can cause low levels of the hormone

ACTH, which in turn causes low levels of cortisol. Symptoms

of pituitary gland failure are like those of 's disease. Conditions that can damage the adrenal glands or pituitary

gland include some infections, head injury, and some autoimmune diseases.

A low level of

cortisol can be caused by internal bleeding that leads to shock. For example, severe bleeding during childbirth that causes

damage to the pituitary gland of the mother (Sheehan's syndrome)

can cause a low level of blood cortisol.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/cortisol-14668

Post-traumatic

Stress Disorder Causes

When you are

afraid, your body activates the " fight or flight " response —a

reference to our caveman ancestors facing a tiger. In reaction, your body

releases adrenaline, which is responsible for increasing blood pressure and

heart rate and increasing glucose to muscles

(to allow you to run away quickly in the face of immediate

danger). However, once the immediate danger (which may or may not

have actually existed) is gone, the body begins a process of shutting down the

stress response, and this process involves the release of another hormone known

as cortisol.

If

your body does not generate enough cortisol to shut down the flight or stress

reaction, you may continue to feel the stress effects of the adrenaline. Trauma

victims who develop post-traumatic stress disorder often have higher levels of

other stimulating hormones (catecholamines) under normal conditions in

which the threat of trauma is not present. These same hormones kick in

when they are reminded of their trauma.

Physically,

your body also increases your heart rate. After a month in this heightened

state, with stress hormones elevated, you may develop further physical changes,

such as heightened hearing. This cascade of physical changes, one triggering

another, suggests that early intervention may be the key to heading off the

effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

Meningitis

- Non-neurological complications may include kidney failure and adrenal gland

failure. Your adrenal glands produce a number of

important hormones including cortisol, which helps your body deal with stress.

This was from Mayo clinic

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