Cortisol

[Guest guest]

To Judy,

Don't worry about your high level of cortisol. Mine was measured a few

yrs. ago, and it too was high like yours. This happens in CFS

occasionally, and my physician told me it was nothing to worry about.

That was about 5 yrs. ago, and I am doing well on high dose Neurontin,

Klonopin, megadose (200mg> of CoQ10 (I can work more than full time, have

TWO teaching jobs).

Am now being testing at Hemex for coagulable abormality and HHV-6.

Sincerely,

Sara Brasket

[Guest guest]

Dear Ken and all others,

I need some info. Was just tested for cortisol and my test came back with it

being quite high, 830 on a scale of 140-690. I was told that this happens at

times with CFS, but my doctor wants me to re-take the test tomorrow, using a

dexmethazone pill tonight to suppress the pituitary, to make sure that it is

from the pituitary and not from a tumor which wouldn't be affected by the

pill. I must tell you that I am quite nervous. Is 830 considered terribly

high? Do other people with CFS have a high cortisol? The only reason I was

tested was that I went to a kineseologist who diagnosed me as having cells

which were rapidly multiplying (his words) in my pituitary and he gave me

supplements and a diet to follow which he claimed would help. When I asked

if I should go for imaging or blood tests he told me not to bother, that

they wouldnt find anytihng as the pituitary upset is to small, but I asked

my MD for a test anyway and this is what came back. I feel strange and need

some feedback, my MD says that she knows of cases with CFS when the cortisol

goes haywire, some too high, some too low.

Please give me some info.

Judy

[Guest guest]

Dear Judy,

My physician was not concerned with the results of the cortisol tests (and she

is an expert in endocrinology). My numbers were in the 800s, and she did not do

any further testing.

In 1996, I was hospitalized in Dallas.Tx. and my physician, Dr. Jay Seastrunk

was the first doctor to do (2) MRIs & wrote the following dx.: " brain lesions of

the left frontotemporal lobes due to probable viral encephalitis and seizure

disorder " .

He immediately started me on Neurontin (which stops the brain from mis-firing or

seizuring), and it was the Neurontin which truly gave me my life back. The brain

is called " the master organ " of the body. It controls all that goes on, and if

it is not functionaing normally, one can be very sick. Amazingly, the Neurontin

straightened out about 90% of my physical ailments.

However, one of the HALLMARKS of CFIDS is that one cannot do aerobic work-outs

(which used to make me feel great, those endorphins in the brain are

addicting!). I have tried repeatedly to swim and run (like I used to in my

pre-CFIDS days), and every time, I try to work-out, within a day, I get

fullblown CFIDS. That is why I am convinced that I still have CFIDS. In other

words, Neurontin gives me lots of energy to be very active all day and be able

to work, however, I believe that I have not erradicted the cause of CFIDS, and I

am determined to do just that, as I would like my former life back, in which I

used to run 3-4 miles a day and feel great!

That is why I am doing the protocol for HHV-6. I am now convinced that the brain

lesions were caused by HHV-6 (which can cause encephalitis), and that is why I

have had the ISAC panel done and take Formula 560.

Hope that helps you.

Klonopin, too, is an anticonvulsant which helps the brain. If you study some of

Cheney's work, he states that Klonopin is the most widely prescribed drug for

CFIDS...and I might add, does help a great deal with cognitive dysfunction.

Sincerely,

Sara Brasket

[Guest guest]

Dear Sara,

thanks for the quick reply, how high were your levels? Did you have the

dexamethazone suppression test as well when they came out high? Have they

been retested. for example, throughout the whole thing my sedimentation rate

has been elevated and now, for the first time in 10 months of illness it

went down to almost normal (21 from a high of 35). What do the neurontin,

klonopin and coq10 do for you? You sound in great shape...

thanks,

Judy

Re: cortisol

> To Judy,

> Don't worry about your high level of cortisol. Mine was measured a few

> yrs. ago, and it too was high like yours. This happens in CFS

> occasionally, and my physician told me it was nothing to worry about.

> That was about 5 yrs. ago, and I am doing well on high dose Neurontin,

> Klonopin, megadose (200mg> of CoQ10 (I can work more than full time, have

> TWO teaching jobs).

> Am now being testing at Hemex for coagulable abormality and HHV-6.

> Sincerely,

> Sara Brasket

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Free Conference Calling with Firetalk!

> Click Here!

> 1/5480/5/_/531724/_/963243328/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Judy,

I agree with Sara that cortisol levels fluctuate with

CFIDS. One of the first symptoms I had was high

cortisol due to the stress in my life. I didn't do

anything about the stress though, and eventually burnt

out my adrenals so they weren't producing cortisol at

all, and had to start taking steroids to replace them.

Now my levels are close to normal again, even a

little high on the last test, and I am tapering off

the cortef use.

I suggest you talk to your doctor about natural ways

to reduce stress and the load on your adrenals. One

good way is to use something like Kava to help you

relax - it's natural and I've used it with no side

effects.

Good luck - Jennie

--- corner <corner@...> wrote:

> To Judy,

> Don't worry about your high level of cortisol. Mine

> was measured a few

> yrs. ago, and it too was high like yours. This

> happens in CFS

> occasionally, and my physician told me it was

> nothing to worry about.

> That was about 5 yrs. ago, and I am doing well on

> high dose Neurontin,

> Klonopin, megadose (200mg> of CoQ10 (I can work more

> than full time, have

> TWO teaching jobs).

> Am now being testing at Hemex for coagulable

> abormality and HHV-6.

> Sincerely,

> Sara Brasket

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Jennie,

I'm on cortef for the same reason you are/were, but I don't notice any

affect...what benefit are you supposed to get on cortef?

Thx,

Ellen

Re: cortisol

> Judy,

>

> I agree with Sara that cortisol levels fluctuate with

> CFIDS. One of the first symptoms I had was high

> cortisol due to the stress in my life. I didn't do

> anything about the stress though, and eventually burnt

> out my adrenals so they weren't producing cortisol at

> all, and had to start taking steroids to replace them.

> Now my levels are close to normal again, even a

> little high on the last test, and I am tapering off

> the cortef use.

>

> I suggest you talk to your doctor about natural ways

> to reduce stress and the load on your adrenals. One

> good way is to use something like Kava to help you

> relax - it's natural and I've used it with no side

> effects.

>

> Good luck - Jennie

>

> --- corner <corner@...> wrote:

> > To Judy,

> > Don't worry about your high level of cortisol. Mine

> > was measured a few

> > yrs. ago, and it too was high like yours. This

> > happens in CFS

> > occasionally, and my physician told me it was

> > nothing to worry about.

> > That was about 5 yrs. ago, and I am doing well on

> > high dose Neurontin,

> > Klonopin, megadose (200mg> of CoQ10 (I can work more

> > than full time, have

> > TWO teaching jobs).

> > Am now being testing at Hemex for coagulable

> > abormality and HHV-6.

> > Sincerely,

> > Sara Brasket

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hi all -

I was interested to see this comment about cortisol.

I had forgotten that it suppresses the immune system.

I had been taking Cortef for the last year to help my

adrenals rest and to increase cortisol, and recently

it tested high. So I quit last week on the advice of

my doctor, and almost immediately had increased

energy. Perhaps this is due to my adrenals coming

back?

Just a thought - Jennie

--- mcamp10139@... wrote:

> In a message dated 8/1/00 4:45:58 PM Central

> Daylight Time,

> egroups writes:

>

Obviously, we do not want more cortisol

> because that would

> suppress our immune systems even more (esp. in my

> case).

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Message text written by INTERNET:egroups

>Hi all -

I was interested to see this comment about cortisol.

I had forgotten that it suppresses the immune system.

I had been taking Cortef for the last year to help my

adrenals rest and to increase cortisol, and recently

it tested high. So I quit last week on the advice of

my doctor, and almost immediately had increased

energy. Perhaps this is due to my adrenals coming

back?

Just a thought - Jennie

<

oooh! Cortisol- Had to add a say. I was given a form of it in an iv

(against my will/judgement) when hopitalized for a never ending headache.

I tapered off with the tablets and even with my doc having me go more

slowly than most- I crashed. My boyfriend had to carry me into his office

while he gave me a cortisol test and some more pills to taper off even more

slowly.

It was a horrible experience and my internist explained that with my cfids

I'm more prone to adrenal exhaustion, especially when these drugs are

started, then taken away. They also have side effects, after just a short

time. i'm very, very wary of them. Ok, I absolutely won't take them. Not

after that!

Christa

[Guest guest]

Christa et al.,

Me too on the never never list for cortisone or any derivative....I

believe it to be the culprit that began my problems as it was given in

abundance for anaphalactoid to ciprofloxacin......and halted without

weaning---adrenal exhaustion, never recovered from--hence

cfs/mcs..........

[Guest guest]

In line with all this conversacion about prednisone, I was wondering the

following. Have any of you ever had your am blood cortisol levels or saliva

levels of cortisol checked? One reason I'm wondering if atleast some of us

have pain is because our body doesn't produce enough cortisol, which to my

understanding is what you get with prednisone or its effect. What made me

wonder this is my wife changed laundry detergants to Surf and I got contact

dermititis and it took a while to figure out what caused the problem. While

the rash was breaking out my reiter's pain dropped significantly. Did the

rash cause cortisol levels to increase and thus pain and inflamation to

decrease? Something to ponder, and I thought maybe there would be some good

opinions in the group or some you have had your body's cortisol levels

checked.

Dave in NC

[Guest guest]

Interesting observation, Dave. I don't know too much about this..I do know

they are doing studies for AIDs and MS with the different levels of cortisol.

I don't know what my level is and was never tested since I was pregnant with

complications for my second child. They gave me cortex. I believe doctors do

this test only when they think someone has a problem with their adrenals or

pituitary glands. Either tumors...or Cushing Disease, s disease, etc.

from either too much cortisone or too little. Here is another article on a

disease when one takes too much cortisone over long term. Dawn, I have heard

several people who have had your type problems and worse. I don't know the

reasons why one would have problems and another not. Most think it is dose

related and length of time on the steroid. My girlfriend took oral prednisone

every time she had iritis flares. After a couple of years she developed all

the symptoms of cushing syndrome...round face, etc etc. Her bones broke very

easily.I remember one time, she just bumped her wrist on the sink. broke.

Another time, just turning, a rib broke. Broken hips are quite serious. She

was in her early 40s. Like all our meds...we weigh carefully the benefits to

the side effects. I guess we have to rely on our doctors to check us for

problems linked to steroid use and try to only use them when necessary.

That's why steroid use is a paradox...it can saves lifes/it can cause

problems. Best regards, Connie (granny)

<A HREF= " http://health./health/encyclopedia/000389/0.html " >!

Health Encyclopedia: Cushing's syndrome - exogenous</A>

[Guest guest]

Hey Dave, my new doctor about whom I'm cautiously optomistic , tested

my cortisol levels. He suggested that if they were low, I could take

low measured doses of cortisol to bring my body up to normal levels

and this shouldn't cause the side effects of prednisone. It didn't

work out though because I could not function off prednisone long

enough to not skew the test. I will though, some time in the

future. It makes sense to me on a logical level. Does anyone else

have any experience with this?

[Guest guest]

I am not sure if this product works according the the ingredientsI already

have all these suppliments in my daily routine. It can't hurt. I can't say if

it all helps me loose weight because my levels are off right now.

CortiSlim Ingredients

[Guest guest]

Cortef (hydrocortisone) is completely natural in the sense that it is

bio-identical. 's disease is very rare I guess but adrenal

insufficiency seems to be common and ignored. Cortisol gets a bad rap from

the way doctors use it at high doses. Wonder why they do that???

Gracia

> What I am confused about is why not take the adrenal glandular

> instead of cortef? Why not take in the natural cortisol which is the

> glandular form in the adrenals just like you would for thyroid in

> armour? Unless in the case of she said her adrenals are not

> producing any or very little cortisol and maybe for her the cortef

> works best as it does produce both natural and synthetic results.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Using high doses of cortisol, it must just shut down the adrenal

gland therefore the disease it is meant to help it actually destroys.

The gland just atrophies and is no longer needed since you are

supplying it with higher doses of cortisol. Which in turn must tax

the thyroid as well, not to mention the liver and kidneys.

Everything has to be in moderation and precisely balanced. Which I

don't think is achieved with today's standards. The difficulty being

that that body is always influx with different hormonal amounts

needed when they are called upon. This rhythm is very complex and no

one has yet to have a handle on it. For example:

I think about all those woman who took HRT---in just 11 months of

using it one of my girlfriends had breast cancer at 39. It's been 6

years and she is still here. Back then I told her it had to be from

the pills they gave her. We found no other cause for her cancer at

that time. Her doctor gave it to her for no good reason, she had no

problems, he told her to ease into peri-menopause.

That along with all the prozac's and everything else they give to us

woman instead of testing us for the real source of our problems. It's

no wonder today's woman are filled with hormonal problems!!

>

> Cortef (hydrocortisone) is completely natural in the sense that it

is

> bio-identical. 's disease is very rare I guess but adrenal

> insufficiency seems to be common and ignored. Cortisol gets a bad

rap from

> the way doctors use it at high doses. Wonder why they do that???

> Gracia

>

> > What I am confused about is why not take the adrenal glandular

> > instead of cortef? Why not take in the natural cortisol which is

the

> > glandular form in the adrenals just like you would for thyroid in

> > armour? Unless in the case of she said her adrenals are not

> > producing any or very little cortisol and maybe for her the cortef

> > works best as it does produce both natural and synthetic results.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I remember crying day and night when I was on the high dosages of

cortisone for the rash, and eating the house. The first dinner I had

on the drug was 2 apples, a large pizza and a 12-serving flan...

My aunt has been on cortisone for years for allergies, I can't

believe the doctor keeps her on that almost non-stop. She had always

been thin and now she is obese, but she refuses to see it is the

drug, she thinks there is a psychological cause for overeating, not

that the medicine makes her hungrier.

Maybe they want us to get fat on the cortisone so we later get diet

pills? LOL

Jan

>

> Cortef (hydrocortisone) is completely natural in the sense that it

is

> bio-identical. 's disease is very rare I guess but adrenal

> insufficiency seems to be common and ignored. Cortisol gets a bad

rap from

> the way doctors use it at high doses. Wonder why they do that???

> Gracia

>

[Guest guest]

All this info is known but I don't understand why docs do not know it. I

guess they are relying on drug companies for treatment protocols, and it's

the higher dose steroids that are marketed to them. Brilliant. I don't

see how drug company tactics are any different from tobacco companies.

Gracia

> Using high doses of cortisol, it must just shut down the adrenal

> gland therefore the disease it is meant to help it actually destroys.

> The gland just atrophies and is no longer needed since you are

> supplying it with higher doses of cortisol. Which in turn must tax

> the thyroid as well, not to mention the liver and kidneys.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well it just took me what 9 months to figure it out and my daughter

says to me today--mom how can I talk to my doctor to explain to him

what kind of thyroid problem I have. And I don't know what to say to

her. How do I tell her he just doesn't understand. It's very sad

indeed.

I get too emotional about it the disappointment from doctors. It

appears they just do not care to really find out what is wrong. And

then all the wrong treatments for so many patients!!!!!!!! This is

why we must do all we can to help others!!!!

higher dose just equals more drug sold!!!! And damage occurs and then

you need it forever!!!!!! UGGGG

>

> All this info is known but I don't understand why docs do not know

it. I

> guess they are relying on drug companies for treatment protocols,

and it's

> the higher dose steroids that are marketed to them. Brilliant. I

don't

> see how drug company tactics are any different from tobacco

companies.

> Gracia

>

> > Using high doses of cortisol, it must just shut down the adrenal

> > gland therefore the disease it is meant to help it actually

destroys.

> > The gland just atrophies and is no longer needed since you are

> > supplying it with higher doses of cortisol. Which in turn must tax

> > the thyroid as well, not to mention the liver and kidneys.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

a friend of mine has been hurt very badly by a doc who gave her cortisol and

didn't know what he was doing. i was afraid she was going to die a few weeks

ago. lord only knows how much he gave her, but she had symptoms of having a bad

reaction to it and he ignored her. She finally stopped on her own. Anyway, that

was 2 years ago. her doc told her it could take 2 years for her to recover. That

two years is just now up. sad thing is this doc is a member of her congregation

at church...someone she really trusted. sheila

tina83862 <tina8386@...> wrote:Well it just took me what 9 months to

figure it out and my daughter

says to me today--mom how can I talk to my doctor to explain to him

what kind of thyroid problem I have. And I don't know what to say to

her. How do I tell her he just doesn't understand. It's very sad

indeed.

I get too emotional about it the disappointment from doctors. It

appears they just do not care to really find out what is wrong. And

then all the wrong treatments for so many patients!!!!!!!! This is

why we must do all we can to help others!!!!

higher dose just equals more drug sold!!!! And damage occurs and then

you need it forever!!!!!! UGGGG

>

> All this info is known but I don't understand why docs do not know

it. I

> guess they are relying on drug companies for treatment protocols,

and it's

> the higher dose steroids that are marketed to them. Brilliant. I

don't

> see how drug company tactics are any different from tobacco

companies.

> Gracia

>

> > Using high doses of cortisol, it must just shut down the adrenal

> > gland therefore the disease it is meant to help it actually

destroys.

> > The gland just atrophies and is no longer needed since you are

> > supplying it with higher doses of cortisol. Which in turn must tax

> > the thyroid as well, not to mention the liver and kidneys.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

By her email, she said it was cortisol typically used for IVs - that

starts in dosages of 200mg and goes up to 400mg. Cortef, for

instance, is 5mg - people take up to 20mg a day. He essentially

mimicced Cushing's disease. The adrenals only make 40mg a day... He

was an alternative doctor though, who knows if he even studied the

endocrine system before he decided to treat it.

Jan

> a friend of mine has been hurt very badly by a doc who gave her

cortisol and didn't know what he was doing. i was afraid she was

going to die a few weeks ago. lord only knows how much he gave her,

but she had symptoms of having a bad reaction to it and he ignored

her. She finally stopped on her own. Anyway, that was 2 years ago.

her doc told her it could take 2 years for her to recover. That two

years is just now up. sad thing is this doc is a member of her

congregation at church...someone she really trusted. sheila

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan, I don't think he had any training in endocrinology. If he did, I doubt

my friend would be in the position she is today. I don't know how much cortisol

he gave her either.

All I know is she's lucky to be alive. Hugs, Sheila

janjv1311 <janaina@...> wrote:

By her email, she said it was cortisol typically used for IVs - that

starts in dosages of 200mg and goes up to 400mg. Cortef, for

instance, is 5mg - people take up to 20mg a day. He essentially

mimicced Cushing's disease. The adrenals only make 40mg a day... He

was an alternative doctor though, who knows if he even studied the

endocrine system before he decided to treat it.

Jan

> a friend of mine has been hurt very badly by a doc who gave her

cortisol and didn't know what he was doing. i was afraid she was

going to die a few weeks ago. lord only knows how much he gave her,

but she had symptoms of having a bad reaction to it and he ignored

her. She finally stopped on her own. Anyway, that was 2 years ago.

her doc told her it could take 2 years for her to recover. That two

years is just now up. sad thing is this doc is a member of her

congregation at church...someone she really trusted. sheila

>

[Guest guest]

She said she found out it was the IV kind, so even if he was telling

her to take 1/4 of the recommended dosage, it was still way too much.

Especially cause there is no proof she needed it in the first place.

Jan

> > a friend of mine has been hurt very badly by a doc who gave her

> cortisol and didn't know what he was doing. i was afraid she was

> going to die a few weeks ago. lord only knows how much he gave her,

> but she had symptoms of having a bad reaction to it and he ignored

> her. She finally stopped on her own. Anyway, that was 2 years ago.

> her doc told her it could take 2 years for her to recover. That two

> years is just now up. sad thing is this doc is a member of her

> congregation at church...someone she really trusted. sheila

> >

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I typed in " cortisol " on the search engine and found several brands. The

most popular that I've found is Cortislim and you can purchase it on the

internet. I have the same problem as you do.all around my middle area.so I

am planning on purchasing some also. I am going to check at Vitamin World

and GNC first though.and see what they have.

Good luck!

cortisol

I can remember people talking about cortisol before. What is it and where

can I get some? :-) All my weight gain is in my stomach area and ugh! I am

sick of it!! Is it something I can get locally? What should I ask for?

Thanks :-)

~Leah

[Guest guest]

cortislim is NOT cortisol, and I think it's a scam.

Gracia

> I typed in " cortisol " on the search engine and found several brands. The

> most popular that I've found is Cortislim and you can purchase it on the

> internet. I have the same problem as you do.all around my middle area.so

I

> am planning on purchasing some also. I am going to check at Vitamin World

> and GNC first though.and see what they have.

>

> Good luck!

>

> cortisol

>

> I can remember people talking about cortisol before. What is it and where

> can I get some? :-) All my weight gain is in my stomach area and ugh! I

am

> sick of it!! Is it something I can get locally? What should I ask for?

> Thanks :-)

> ~Leah

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome!

Addressing the symptom, instead of the cause will result in a short

success. Even if it works, what happens after you stop taking the

product?

You can reduce cortisol by following the BTD guide lines. I bet that you

are not grain free, don't work out enough and don't eat enough greens,

proteins and fats. I also bet that you eat too many carbs.

ABO Specifics Inc. - http://www.foodforyourblood.com

cortisol

I recently heard about the stress hormone called cortisol.Seems that if

there

is too much of it in your system, it makes losing weight(among other

things)

hard to do.

first, it this true? does anybody know of a saliva test to track

cortisol?

Second, has anybody tried this new product called cortislim which

addresses

this issue?