Re: Help with Adrenal Cortex - Darren

[Guest guest]

Darren,

Sorry I missed this, I am behind on reading posts. Replies below.

>

> Thanks for the follow-up, . I reviewed some of those pages

> in AI...

>

> If I understand correctly, then, the pre/post exercise ACTH test is

> diagnostic for secondary adrenal insufficiency (where the pituitary

> and/or hypothalamus are the root of the problem). The ACTH

> stimulation test, on the other hand, would be used to test for primary

> adrenal insufficiency (e.g., when given exogenous ACTH, the adrenals

> simply can't make enough cortisol). Someone could have both primary

> and secondary adrenal problems, of course.

I think that's basically right, yes.

> The only testing I've done is the saliva cortisol/DHEA panel (ZRT

> labs), which showed adrenal fatigue (too high in the morning, too low

> in the evening). That was 8 months ago and I'm about to run it again

> (this time with 4 time points instead of just 2). But this testing

> doesn't distinguish primary vs. secondary.

I think some patterns might be suggestive of secondary adrenal

insufficiency, but it is not always clear.

> But without actually going through the more expensive and complicated

> ACTH testing, I already feel pretty confident that secondary

> hypoadrenia applies in my case, for two reasons. Firstly, I know that

> I have the paradoxical stress response when it comes to exercise. I

> had to quit basketball several years ago, then running, because I felt

> worse during and especially after both of these activities. And I

> discovered last summer that even a brisk walk gives me a

> post-exertional flare-up of symptoms. The other reason is because of

> Andy's insightful description of the effects of mercury, which I'm

> convinced I'm poisoned with, on the pituitary and hypothalamus.

Yes, symptoms sounds pretty consistent.

> I may or may not also have primary adrenal problems. But regardless

> of how well I try and nurture my adrenals themselves back to health

> (with proper rest, adrenal glandulars perhaps, adrenal-friendly diet,

> etc), the adrenal problems won't go away until the H and the P (of

> HPA) are working well again. I know this because I've pampered my

> adrenals over the past 8 months and still feel as lousy as ever,

> pretty much. (Thankfully I didn't stop looking for answers after

> reading 's Adrenal Fatigue book. A good book, but not the whole

> story, of course.)

>

> So I think that supplementing cortisol (or prednisilone?) to help me

> manage during the upcoming months/years of chelation is probably the

> way to go. I am currently on a wimpy .5mg of HC 1x per day and it

> does nothing, as expected. (I tried 5mg 1x per day several years ago

> and noticed no effect then, either.) I hope to use these ZRT lab

> results, once I run the test and they come back, to convince my doctor

> to up the dosage.

Sounds like a good idea. You may have to experiment to see what

dose works for you. If you don't notice anything from 5 mg, you

can try a higher dose, especially in the morning.

> I believe Andy is convinced that doses under 20mg of cortisol per day

> will not cause any adrenal suppression. Page 120 1st paragraph. (And

> he states why this isn't even a valid concern in these cases on Page

> 119, third paragraph.) Do you know if there is any medical reference

> (e.g., journal article) supporting the idea that 20mg will not lead to

> adrenal suppression, or that it's not really a concern anyway if the

> patient is already adrenally suppressed? That might be helpful to

> show a doctor.

Someone already pointed you to The Safe Uses of Cortisol, which is

what I would suggest.

--

> Thanks!!!

> Darren

>