Re: Pain -Follow up after dose increase

[Guest guest]

[** This is dated 9/4 but did not show up until today. I believe I received a

notice from Yahoo Groups that there was an issue with lost posts.--]

HI ,

I'm sorry. I guess I inadvertently left out needed information in my

attempt to keep emails form getting too long.

The stomach pain is never there by itself. It always comes after and in

addition to mid-upper back pain and upper chest pain.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia so maybe it's related to that. I have

bilateral shoulder/upper arm pain (arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, bone

spurs). I have lower back pain (degenerative disc disease,

spondylolysthesis at L5 S1, bulging disc, bone spurs and other stuff I

can't remember). All of this is affected by how much and where I sit,

and how much I lift/push/pull.

Other diagnoses include hypothyroidism, chronic pelvic pain, lichen

sclerosus, vulvar vestibulitis, interstitial cystitis, gluten and casein

sensitivities. I'm a recovering alcoholic (22 years sober) and a sugar

addict.

Adrenal saliva test results in 2008 were 8:00am 12 (ref 13-24), Noon 8

(5-10), 5:00pm 2 (3-8), Midnight 1 (1-4). DHEA, Estradiol, Progesterone

and Free Testosterone were also tested. DHEA was borderline at 3, and

Testosterone was borderline low at 7. I was taking naturethroid,

antidepressant and benzo at time of testing and also using progesterone

cream. I don't know in what way these throw off the test results.

My doctor prescribed Cortef in 2008 for adrenals. I was not able to

tolerate it -- caused insomnia, palpitations, chest pain. Then he

prescribed dessicated adrenal which was OK for a while but as I lowered

benzo dose I was no longer able to tolerate it due to anxiety, anger,

hostility. Then dr prescribed black currant seed oil which didn't seem

to have any affect other than maybe more anxiety so I stopped it.

Currently, I am not taking anything to treat adrenals. The only meds I

take are Naturethroid and Zoloft.

My doctor closed his office in my area and I now have to drive 1.5 hours

to Philadelphia to see him. I'm just too tired and nervous for that, so

I'm trying to find a doctor that's closer and takes Medicare and that

isn't going to do more harm than good. No an easy task! :-)

What do you recommend as far as the zoloft goes. Should I start

deceasing it again 5% at a time?

Thanks,

>

> Hi & group,

>

> As you recommended on 8/23, I increased my Zoloft (twice) to the last

> dose at which I felt well. Actually, I can't remember the last time I

> felt " well " . I don't know if I ever felt well but it was at least more

> than 20 years ago. So I increased to the last dose at which I felt as

> good as it gets (June).

>

> The pain in my back, chest, stomach is improved but it seems to be

> related more to how much I lift/push/pull than anything else. Overall,

> I'm feeling worse since the increase -- more fatigue, less motivation,

> more depression, more mental fog -- very difficult to function.

>

> I'm wondering if this isn't all related to my thyroid/adrenal problems.

> I had to lower my NatureThroid several months ago because it was greatly

> increasing my anxiety, sleeplessness, fear. My cortisol is low (as per

> saliva test several years ago), but I was unable to tolerate the Cortef

> or the dessicated adrenal my doctor prescribed.

>

> Maybe my adrenals should be checked again? I've been waiting until I'm

> completely off the Zoloft so the test will be more accurate. What do

> you think?

>

> Thanks for your help.

>

>

>

> ** , unless you give all the information initially, I'm going to

> tell you what to do based upon what you tell me. Yes, it is most

> likely your other problems causing the difficulty for you except for

> the stomach issues. I seriously doubt it's about pushing, pulling,

> etc. The " feeling worse " you report are normal feelings from

> antidepressants. The symptoms I was looking to alleviate were the ones

> you reported as problematic -- the stomach pain. That's a classic

> symptom of someone who has dropped a drug too quickly or too much.

>

> If you have adrenal problems this should always be the 1st suspect in

> almost any difficulties. You should also be constantly monitoring it

> if you had difficulty stabilizing thyroid drugs. If you're not

> satisfactorily stabilizing the thyroid drug, chances are the thyroid

> is not truly a problem, it is just a symptom of the adrenal problem.

> How are you addressing the adrenal problem?

>

> Regards,

>

>

> .

>

>