Re: Anyone here tried supplementing DHEA?

[Guest guest]

Hello Debs,

Sorry to hear you're feeling so down.I wanted to reply to your query but this probably isn't what you want to hear...

I too have extremely low DHEA.Saw Dr Hertoghe (Hormone Specialist/Belgium) in 2008 who prescribed DHEA sulphate 15mg for me which is a fairly low dose and unfortunately it did not agree with me at all.In fact,I actually felt like I was dying on it.The only positive effect I felt was a heightened sex drive which was completely unwelcome considering it made me feel so bad in other ways.

I experienced extreme weakness and fatigue and abrubt heart palpitations and had to stop it after a few weeks.Dr Hertoghe thought it might have been because I suffer from low cortisol and taking DHEA actually lowers cortisol.That is why you are supposed to take the two together to balance things out, but even that did not work for me.

There are other options such as Keto-7-DHEA but I have read that this does not raise the blood levels of DHEA and therefore seems pretty pointless to me.Another possibility is trying Pregnenolone dubbed the "mother" hormone which is a precursor to the sex and adrenal hormones and could possibly help raise your production of DHEA.It's a case of trial and error as usual.

However we are all different and you may find that you are able to tolerate DHEA.I do hope so Debs.Hopefully a few others will share their experiences with it too.

Regards Peary>> Hi all> > Sat here feeling very sorry for myself and wanting to be positive. I know I need to take things very slowly but, like most people, I just want to be better. > > I have had very low DHEA for years and no-one has ever looked into this, doctors just ignore it and I'm wondering if I should consider taking a DHEA supplement.> > I wonder if anyone has tried it and if so how it worked for you?> > Debs>

[Guest guest]

Go to our FILES SECTION and do the Adrenal Questionnaire and let

us know how you scored thyroid treatment/files/ADRENALS/

and then click 'Adrenal Stress Questionnaire. Also, how were you diagnosed with

low DHEA many years ago. Was this done privately and what treatment did you try

at that time? It would be good if you could get the Genova Diagnostics 24

hour salivary adrenal profile to test both your levels of cortisol and DHEA at

four specific times during the day - here is the link thyroid treatment/files/DISCOUNTS%20ON%20SUPPLEMENTS%20and%20TESTS/

- and then open the 'Genova Diagnostics' document.

DHEA coverts into many hormones. most actions of DHEA are achieved

after conversion into more potent hormones such as male and female sex

hormones, including androstenedione. Through these other hormones, DHEA expresses

typical male and female hormone activity, as well as enhances the immune

system. One of the ways it reinforces immunity is by converting into the very immune-enhancing

androstenediol and androstenetriol.

Second, DHEA appears to have actions of its own probably through

DHEA receptors in target cells, in particular endothelium cells of blood vessels

and immune cells as suggested in several studies. It is believed that DHEA

boosts the immune system and protects blood vessels against atherosclerosis partially

by binding to these receptors.

Here is some further information about DHEA http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2001/aug2001_briefs.html

For some people, it can take up to three months for them to

start feeling any positive effect from taking DHEA so you need to continue to

take this daily and not stop it because you think it isn't doing you any good.

The recommended daily dose is 25mgs and there are many Internet Pharmacies who

sell it - but use only reputable pharmacies.

Luv - Sheila

I have had very low DHEA for years and no-one has ever looked into this, doctors

just ignore it and I'm wondering if I should consider taking a DHEA supplement.

I wonder if anyone has tried it and if so how it worked for you?

Debs

No

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[Guest guest]

Hi there Peary

Thank you so much for getting back to me even though you are right - not what I

had hoped to hear at all!!

I've been reading about it and getting mixed messages but the good seems to

outweigh the bad. Having said that I don't want to do anything that might make

the situation worse, I'm so sorry to hear it didn't work for you. I'm really

sensitive to medication so have a horrible feeling I may get similar results.

I had hoped that bad results would be more likely in those who take it as a

supplement for all those 'fountain of youth' promises as opposed to those who

can prove that they are deficient but your story would seem to suggest not.

You reply has really helped me and I will look into it a lot more now - thank

you. How are you doing in general?

Debs

>

>

> Hello Debs,

>

> Sorry to hear you're feeling so down.I wanted to reply to your query but

> this probably isn't what you want to hear...

>

>

Moderated to remove older messages.

[Guest guest]

I took 25mg of DHEA and absolutly LOVE it. It mademe feel SO good, happy,

cheerful and everything else good! I even upped it to 50mg because I couldn't

find 25mg. I have to go back to the dr that prescribed it now so I am not

taking it right now but really really miss it.

> >

> > Hi all

> >

> > Sat here feeling very sorry for myself and wanting to be positive. I

> know I need to take things very slowly but, like most people, I just

> want to be better.

> >

> > I have had very low DHEA for years and no-one has ever looked into

> this, doctors just ignore it and I'm wondering if I should consider

> taking a DHEA supplement.

> >

> > I wonder if anyone has tried it and if so how it worked for you?

> >

> > Debs

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Debs,

I am taking DHEA - 15mg at present having started on 5.

I have Hashis and am also on Armour thryoid now, 5 grains.

I was having a real problem with hypoglycemia (I'm not diabetic) and assuming it

was reactive (it fitted) and did everything to help: I've always had a good

diet, low GI, lots of veg, no refined starches etc (no gluten either as I

discovered I was intolerant) and eating every few hours and during the night but

I just couldn't seem to overcome it and was virtually permanently 'jittery': the

higher the thyroid dose, the worse it became. So, I did a private saliva test

and found very low DHEA.

I'm taking the Labs sublingual pills, as recommended to me by someone on

the NTH adrenals forum, and I'm finding them brilliant! I eat fairly normally

now and am NOWHERE NEAR as jittery; I'm so hoping it lasts and doesn't 'wear

off'! (I've been taking them since 30th Nov)

I would go up to 25mg but no further, especially as I'd not get another test

unless I do it privately - when I showed my adrenal stress test results to my

Dr, she dropped the paper on the floor and said: " I know nothing about it and I

don't need to know " ...!!!

So, fingers crossed for you if you try it.

Good luck,

Carolyn

PS if you use the same pills as me I buy them via Amazon.co.uk but they come

from USA so take a little time.

>

> Hi all

>

> Sat here feeling very sorry for myself and wanting to be positive. I know I

need to take things very slowly but, like most people, I just want to be better.

>

> I have had very low DHEA for years and no-one has ever looked into this,

doctors just ignore it and I'm wondering if I should consider taking a DHEA

supplement.

>

> I wonder if anyone has tried it and if so how it worked for you?

>

> Debs

>

[Guest guest]

Hiya

That gives me some hope! were you low before you started? what did you use and

where did you get it? Are you on thyroid meds too? My test results have been

exceptionally low for many years - did you have hair problems as well? has it

cured any symptoms? (sorry - I'm full of questions!!)

Debs

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

Hi Carolyn

Oh God - why do these doctors keep insisting they don't need to know when so

many of us are suffering so much?

I'm really ken to try this but will wait until I get the up to date test results

(although why it would change after at least 16 years I don't know!)

There are a number of types available on-line but I don't know the best one to

get, I am keen on a very low dose to start with though. Has it cleared up any of

your symptoms other than the jittery feeling? Do you have hair problems? I also

have severe hard skin on my elbows and knees - convinced this is something to do

with adrenals but may be wrong.

I so hope this continues to work for you - thank you so much for giving me a

little bit of hope, I'm reading a lot of positive things about DHEA - a few

cautions but overwhelmingly positive, it's just that bit of hope that this might

be the final bit of the jigsaw.

Thank you so much

Debs

x

>

>

>

>

> Hi Debs,

>

> I am taking DHEA - 15mg at present having started on 5.

>

> I have Hashis and am also on Armour thryoid now, 5 grains.

>

>

>

> I would go up to 25mg but no further, especially as I'd not get another test

unless I do it privately - when I showed my adrenal stress test results to my

Dr, she dropped the paper on the floor and said: " I know nothing about it and I

don't need to know " ...!!!

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

I am sorry but I don't have my test results to give exact numbers but I know I

have adrenal fatigue low cortisol. No my hair was not falling out but I have

always had extremely thick hair, I eat a lot of nuts and avocados I think that

helps with my hair. Before I always felt lousy, fatigued, unable to function

because of being so tired always. I also take 10,000 mg Vitamin D and Ferrous

Sulfate (it's actually 325 mg 2x a day I posted it wrong in my own post) but my

results were strictly from the DHEA because when I stopped taking it I went back

even though I continued the other two. I have extremely low iron and

obvisiously vitamin D but the DHEA really made a huge difference. I was able to

get up and actually do the house work AND enjoy it because I wasn't so tired.

My sex drive improved greatly too and I REALLY liked that so did my Husband

after years of being in park all the time, LOL.

>

> [Ed]

>

[Guest guest]

Carolyn- interesting what you said about hypoglycemia, I never experienced this

until recently and I wonder now if I start the DHEA up again if this will go

away as well. I know I too am not diabetic and I live a gluten free vegan diet

that is mostly sugar free except maybe 1-2 days a month. when I have a gluten

free vegan cookie or two. Oh and I do not take thyroid meds haven't but think I

need to since I can only lose weight eating 500 cal a day and my basal body temp

is between 96.1-96.4 and many other symptoms. But I am not sure where to figure

out what to take. My Test results are always normal

>

>

>

>

> Hi Debs,

>

> I am taking DHEA - 15mg at present having started on 5.

>

> I have Hashis and am also on Armour thryoid now, 5 grains.

>

>Moderated to remove older mess ages

[Guest guest]

DHEA will not raise cortisol. Infact it may lower it. It can have an inverse

effect.

DHEA is on a different pathway and is a precursor to Androstenedione,

Testosterone, Estrone, Estriol, Estradiol and DHT.

It can be very complicated but if you are having blood sugar issues it is a good

sign your cortisol output is low or disfunctional.

Have you had a diurnal (4 times through out the day) saliva test done?

This is a good start to see if your cortisol output is normal through out the

day.

Hypoglycemics often need to consume more protien.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi Debs,

> >

> > I am taking DHEA - 15mg at present having started on 5.

> >

> > I have Hashis and am also on Armour thryoid now, 5 grains.

> >

> >Moderated to remove older mess ages

>

[Guest guest]

Hi yes, I had a 4 times test done which showed:

CORTISOL:

Sample 1: 27.3 [12-22] H

Sample 2: 12.7 [5-9] H

Sample 3: 4.2 [3-7] N

Sample 4: 2.3 [1-3] N

Total Daily Cortisol : 46.5 [21-41] H

DHEA:

Mean: 0.14 [0.2-0.7] L

DHEA:Cortisol Ratio 0.3 [0.6-3.0] L

" Resistance Stage 2 - Maladaptation: This is a relatively rare scenario.....The

morning cortisol is above the normal range......This may be a reflection of low

night time blood sugar levels....The noon cortisol level is above normal range.

This may be indicative of low blood sugar levels before lunch, instructing the

adrenals to make cortisol... "

Interesting about the protein; I upped my protein intake a lot - and it did help

- BUT I had a urea etc test done a short while ago and it shows .. too much

protein..! However, now my levels are far more stable I have been able to

reduce the protein intake to more normal levels.

>

> DHEA will not raise cortisol. Infact it may lower it. It can have an inverse

effect.

>

> DHEA is on a different pathway and is a precursor to Androstenedione,

Testosterone, Estrone, Estriol, Estradiol and DHT.

>

[Guest guest]

Debs, please remove most of previous messages and leave just a small portion

before clicking 'SEND'. Luv - Sheila

___________________________________

Hi Debs,

I haven't really had too many hair problems - except for dandruff and spots but

they go when I'm properly medicated with thyroid meds.

Your skin problems could be thyroid related(?) - my skin has improved since

having decent levels of thyroid meds but I do still have dry and itchy skin.

However, I do know - categorically - that it's the carbs that make my arms, in

particular, itch/sting/burn (they drive me bonkers) and so if I avoided carbs

(of any type) it would stop. However, of course, I need carbs so I'm hopeful

the DHEA will help as, as the DHEA seems to be tackling the hypoG, by definition

it should assist with this..?!

>

> Hi Carolyn

>

> Oh God - why do these doctors keep insisting they don't need to know when so

many of us are suffering so much?

>

> I'm really ken to try this but will wait until I get the up to date test

results (although why it would change after at least 16 years I don't know!)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

From what you say here, you certainly sound as if you could be hypothyroid,

especially the calorie intake (NB if you are hypoT reducing your calories so low

will INCREASE the chance of increasing your weight...!!)

You say your results are normal..? is that your doctor's 'normal' ..?! do make

sure you get your actual results and the tests' reference ranges (you are

entitled to all your notes).

I wouldn't recommend anyone taking DHEA if they haven't had saliva tests done as

some symptoms can be the same if low/high cortisol, low/high DHEA so you need to

know; I'm taking it because my Dhea is very low.

Good luck and your first job I reckon, is to get your actual proper results and

none of this 'normal' rubbish they palm you off with..!

>

> Carolyn- interesting what you said about hypoglycemia, I never experienced

this until recently and I wonder now if I start the DHEA up again if this will

go away as well. I know I too am not diabetic and I live a gluten free vegan

diet that is mostly sugar free except maybe 1-2 days a month. when I have a

gluten free vegan cookie or two. Oh and I do not take thyroid meds haven't but

think I need to since I can only lose weight eating 500 cal a day and my basal

body temp is between 96.1-96.4 and many other symptoms. But I am not sure where

to figure out what to take. My Test results are always normal

>

>

[Guest guest]

That's interesting - does DHEA help at all?

>

>

> Hi yes, I had a 4 times test done which showed:

>

> CORTISOL:

> Sample 1: 27.3 [12-22] H

> Sample 2: 12.7 [5-9] H

> Sample 3: 4.2 [3-7] N

> Sample 4: 2.3 [1-3] N

> Total Daily Cortisol : 46.5 [21-41] H

>

> DHEA:

> Mean: 0.14 [0.2-0.7] L

> DHEA:Cortisol Ratio 0.3 [0.6-3.0] L

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

I am hopeful about DHEA although not holding my breath!

Sorry Sheila - I thought I had done on all I replied to, been really strict on

doing that, will keep plugging away.

Debs

x

>

> Debs, please remove most of previous messages and leave just a small portion

before clicking 'SEND'. Luv - Sheila

> ___________________________________

>

> I need carbs so I'm hopeful the DHEA will help as, as the DHEA seems to be

tackling the hypoG, by definition it should assist with this..?!

>

[Guest guest]

I thought I'd just mention that some women have unpleasant side-effects from

DHEA - skin outbreaks, hair growth in the wrong places! - and men who have had

or are at risk of androgen-related cancers (i.e. prostate) shouldn't take it.

[Guest guest]

Yes, that's true - women with breast cancer/risk too shouldn't use it either.

The skin and hair problems are meant to activate only with high doses though -

when they do research the amounts they use can be high or even stratospheric but

it certainly seems that 25mg for women and 50mg for men are 'safe' doses.

There has been a lot of research which shows its help with improving insulin

action and decreasing insulin resistance and, if my experience is anything to go

by so far, I'd agree with those findings.

>

> I thought I'd just mention that some women have unpleasant side-effects from

DHEA - skin outbreaks, hair growth in the wrong places! - and men who have had

or are at risk of androgen-related cancers (i.e. prostate) shouldn't take it.

>

[Guest guest]

I did post my results on a different post

> >

> > Carolyn- interesting what you said about hypoglycemia, I never experienced

this until recently and I wonder now if I start the DHEA up again if this will

go away as well. I know I too am not diabetic and I live a gluten free vegan

diet that is mostly sugar free except maybe 1-2 days a month. when I have a

gluten free vegan cookie or two. Oh and I do not take thyroid meds haven't but

think I need to since I can only lose weight eating 500 cal a day and my basal

body temp is between 96.1-96.4 and many other symptoms. But I am not sure where

to figure out what to take. My Test results are always normal

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , there are thousands of messages on this forum so

impossible to check through them to find your original message. Can you tell us

what the subject heading was of the message where you posted your results here.

You need to stick to the same subject heading whenever you write about a

certain problem otherwise, you will not get the responses you need. If you go

to the messages page of this forum thyroid treatment

and type in your email address in the little search box at that top, that will

bring up all the messages you have posted. When you find it, post the message

number on the forum so we can check out your results again. It is impossible to

remember the results of nearly 3000 members.

Luv - Sheila

I did post my results on a different post

>

> Hi ,

>

> From what you say here, you certainly sound as if you could be

hypothyroid, especially the calorie intake (NB if you are hypoT reducing your

calories so low will INCREASE the chance of increasing your weight...!!)

>

> You say your results are normal..? is that your doctor's 'normal' ..?! do

make sure you get your actual results and the tests' reference ranges (you are

entitled to all your notes).

>

[Guest guest]

EDITED TO REMOVE PREVIOUS MESSAGES. PLEASE DO THIS BEFORE SENDING YOUR MESSAGE

OTHERWISE THERE MAY BE A DELAY IN APPROVING YOUR MESSAGE IF THE MODERATORS DO

NOT HAVE TIME TO DO IT FOR YOU, OR ALTERNATIVELY YOU MESSAGE WILL BE REJECTED

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MEMBERS.

MODERATOR

I took the questionnaire and I would like to post my results.

Predisposiing factors 12

Key signs and symptoms 53

Energy patterns 36

frequently observed events 21

food patterns 21

aggravating factors 11

relieving factors 10

total points 152

# answered 59

severity index 1.7

asterisk total 8

your imput would be appreciated. Thank you

>

> Go to our FILES SECTION and do the Adrenal Questionnaire and let us know how

> you scored

> h