Re: Leg Stiffness and hormone balancing

[Guest guest]

--- > It might be relevant to think about whether it is tendons,

ligaments

> or muscles that are stiff. I am not sure what the difference would

> be, but I'm sure it might help you track down more information on

> what to do for the problem.

>

> --Thanks - that is helpful to reframe or think more

specifically about what is stiff. I wouls say muscles.

I am doing all the supplements but also wondered about magnesium.

Fish oil bugs me but I am taking EFAs in a product called biotone.

Hmmm another interesting thing to ponder. This happens on and off.

Not happening today - thank goodness. It is odd to walk around feeling

like you are walking on stilts.

Another question - can you balance hormones and chelate at the same

time. My ND has just had me tested for hormone imbalance. I am also

about to begin chelation - wondered if there would be any problems with

that.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> --- > It might be relevant to think about whether it is tendons,

> ligaments

> > or muscles that are stiff. I am not sure what the difference would

> > be, but I'm sure it might help you track down more information on

> > what to do for the problem.

> >

> > --Thanks - that is helpful to reframe or think more

> specifically about what is stiff. I wouls say muscles.

>

> I am doing all the supplements but also wondered about magnesium.

Magnesium can help with muscle tension. I had to take a good deal

more than Andy recommends, about 1200-1400 mg, before I started to

notice any benefits from it. It helps to take it several times per

day.

> Fish oil bugs me but I am taking EFAs in a product called biotone.

If it's Biotone EFA from Genestra, that is not comparable to fish

or flax oil. The latter provide omega3 that can help with

inflammation, which could be contributing to stiffness. If you have

trouble digesting fats, I suggest looking into foods and supplements

that help with bile flow and fat digestion.

> Hmmm another interesting thing to ponder. This happens on and off.

> Not happening today - thank goodness. It is odd to walk around feeling

> like you are walking on stilts.

Sounds uncomfortable. Another thing that comes to mind as a

possible help is epsom salt baths. You can absorb both magnesium

and sulfate this way.

We have different problems. I tend to be overly flexible. My knees

want to hyperextend all the time, just from walking. Wish we could

trade off our symptoms

> Another question - can you balance hormones and chelate at the same

> time. My ND has just had me tested for hormone imbalance. I am also

> about to begin chelation - wondered if there would be any problems with

> that.

No problem with that. In fact, if you have hormone deficiencies,

it is important to treat them. Many people with mercury problems

need adrenal and thyroid support, perhaps other hormones as well.

If you have test results, you can post them here for more information

and advice.

--

[Guest guest]

---Thanks again

I wasn't sure about the magnesium but will look into it. I know my ND

did not want to over load my body with everything at once. I have had

an adrenal test - very low but within " normal " (did not make me feel

better )

Good to hear that I can chelate and do hormones. I will get my test

results on Wednesday.

As for symptoms - I would just like to give some of mine away,

especially to all those folks whose adrenal response is to slow down.

My adrenal response is to speed up and feel like I have to move all the

time. It feels sort of manic (not in the traditional sense) just an

incredible urge to not stop. I would like some of the slowing down,

can't get off the couch symptoms. lol. Wouldn't that be nice.

Colette

[Guest guest]

>

> ---Thanks again

>

> I wasn't sure about the magnesium but will look into it. I know my ND

> did not want to over load my body with everything at once. I have had

> an adrenal test - very low but within " normal " (did not make me feel

> better )

Sounds like it may not really be normal.

From my experience, NDs will err on the low side with nutrients.

I was working with an ND when I discovered my need for large amounts

of magnesium. She couldn't believe I needed that much, but didn't

argue when I continued to take a lot of it, since it clearly helped

and low amounts did not.

> Good to hear that I can chelate and do hormones. I will get my test

> results on Wednesday.

>

> As for symptoms - I would just like to give some of mine away,

> especially to all those folks whose adrenal response is to slow down.

> My adrenal response is to speed up and feel like I have to move all the

> time. It feels sort of manic (not in the traditional sense) just an

> incredible urge to not stop. I would like some of the slowing down,

> can't get off the couch symptoms. lol. Wouldn't that be nice.

I was like that for years (the can't slow down part). Was probably

adrenaline keeping me going when I couldn't make much cortisol. At

some point it became a pretty non-productive energy, mostly spinning

my wheels. Adrenal support definitely helped me slow down.

--

> Colette

>

[Guest guest]

>

>

> I was like that for years (the can't slow down part). Was probably

> adrenaline keeping me going when I couldn't make much cortisol. At

> some point it became a pretty non-productive energy, mostly

spinning

> my wheels. Adrenal support definitely helped me slow down.

>

>

,

Yes that is exactly what my body has been doing for years too!! It

is mostly undercontrol but I wonder what you did for adrenal

support. I tried licorice but had a reaction to it - much faster

heart rate feeling like I was going to explode - well at least my

hear. It was very uncomfortable. Ever heard of that? It would be

nice to have other options to discuss with my ND.

At least my ND doesn't believe she knows everything and pauses to

listen to me.

Thanks

[Guest guest]

>

> >

> >

> > I was like that for years (the can't slow down part). Was probably

> > adrenaline keeping me going when I couldn't make much cortisol. At

> > some point it became a pretty non-productive energy, mostly

> spinning

> > my wheels. Adrenal support definitely helped me slow down.

> >

> >

> ,

>

> Yes that is exactly what my body has been doing for years too!! It

> is mostly undercontrol but I wonder what you did for adrenal

> support.

The first time I used a lot of ashwagandha along with some licorice.

I tolerated the ashwagandha well. Licorice was somewhat mixed -

sometimes it gave me bad anxiety.

I went off adrenal support for several months - felt like I was

doing better, but ended up in the same state. Now I am taking

hydrocortisone.

I tried licorice but had a reaction to it - much faster

> heart rate feeling like I was going to explode - well at least my

> hear. It was very uncomfortable. Ever heard of that? It would be

> nice to have other options to discuss with my ND.

If you are chemically sensitive, licorice can increase the problem

because it speeds up liver phase 1. I think it is also high phenol,

so if you are sensitive to phenols, that can be a problem.

If you are low in cortisol, getting it in Rx form is the most direct

way to supplement. If you are getting spikes in cortisol along with

lows, there are some herbs that improve cortisol effect and prevent

spikes (both licorice and ashwagandha can do this). Ginseng is

another good herb for adrenals - I don't know exactly how it works.

Sometimes you just have to choose one option and see how you do.

You can always switch if your first choice doesn't work out.

> At least my ND doesn't believe she knows everything and pauses to

> listen to me.

Having a doctor who is a good listener can be nice.

In my experience, the best doctors are the ones who can answer

questions to my satisfaction, regardless of whether they are good

listeners or not. Sometimes it is a great effort to extract the

" why " of their recommendations in any detail. They tend to say

things like " a lot of my patients do well on this " . What I want

to know is who doesn't do well on it. If they don't know of people

who do poorly on it and can't characterize them, then they aren't

very experienced (or don't collect data well) and working with them

is going to involve a lot of trial and error.

--

> Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

> >

This was a good way to frame for me how to deal with my doctor. I

have had two ND - one who was very detail oriented but getting info

out was like pulling teeth (she was a strong introvert)

My other is less attentive to detail - moves quickly through data and

processes information very quickly - sometimes too quickly. Slowing

her down to answer some of the things you want to know sounds like a

good place to start - thanks. This last year it was hard to engage

my brain in anything analytical since I was too busy surviving. Now

I am functioning better I can hopefully steer us both through this

more successfully. We will see, I see her on Wednesday!!

> In my experience, the best doctors are the ones who can answer

> questions to my satisfaction, regardless of whether they are good

> listeners or not. Sometimes it is a great effort to extract the

> " why " of their recommendations in any detail. They tend to say

> things like " a lot of my patients do well on this " . What I want

> to know is who doesn't do well on it. If they don't know of people

> who do poorly on it and can't characterize them, then they aren't

> very experienced (or don't collect data well) and working with them

> is going to involve a lot of trial and error.

>

> --

>

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> > Thanks

> >

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