Re: Help interpreting adrenal test results

March 13, 2008

>

> - Q1: Could mercury toxicity itself be the chronic stressor leading

> to increased cortisol production throughout the day?

I believe it could be. The adrenal cortex is a strong magnet for

mercury accumulation (according to autopsy studies), and any

mobilization (e.g. from using the cortex) could be causing ongoing

damage. I know that when I am on a round, I can physically feel the

adrenal stress and its the strongest chelation symptom for me.

As for your question about supplementing cortisol, yes it is

recommended by the people on sttm/NTHA and to reduce it at night with

phosphatidylserine if it is interfering with sleep. If you search

their archives, you will find many threads about treating the high

cortisol stage.

Jay

March 13, 2008

Thanks for posting, . And I hope you are starting to feel better.

>

> Did I understand correctly from the test results that you had been

> taking oral cortisol within 24 h of the test? That would affect the

> results. I would think a person would have to stop for a period of

> time, maybe a week, to get accurate results.

I did not take the cortisol the day of the test. Previous dose was

taken more than 24 hours before. And the dose I was taking was, I

believe, very tiny: 0.5mg 1x per day. This dose made absolutely no

difference in how I felt. Furthermore, the morning/evening saliva

test from May '07 shows a similar trend -- too high in the morning,

too low by evening -- and I wasn't on any HC then. So I'm thinking

that this tiny supplemental dose of HC, stopped 24 hours prior to the

2/26/08 saliva test, would have a negligible impact on the test

results. But maybe I'm wrong on this...

> Do you get any of the following symptoms - poor response and crashing

> with stress,

Yes, any kind of substantial exertion, it seems.

> low BP,

Yes, it's fairly low. Was 100/60 at one point recently.

> dizziness of first standing,

Occassionally, but not too severe.

> frequent infections and difficulty shaking infections,

Not so much. But when I get sick, I get really sick. For example, I

was sick last week with what seemed like the flu. The rest of my

family was sick, but had much milder symptoms. I was incapacitated

for several days with fever, chills, etc., and am still clearing out

the congestion this week. So while I haven't been getting sick too

often, I really seem to get nailed when it happens -- like my immune

system goes on hyperdrive or something.

> aches and pains?

No.

>

> I remember Andy saying that men with low testosterone often need to

> take the testosterone by injection (with fine needles so it doesn't

> hurt). This is something that you might want to follow up on. My

> understanding is that testosterone at the right levels should increase

> a person's feeling of well being.

Good point. Maybe I'll try supplementary testosterone again. Just

need to find the right kind of endocrinologist, or perhaps a good D.O.

> Before you start T3 you might want to check blood levels of free T3

> and free T4. They should be in the top 1/3 to 1/4 of the normal

> range. I would used sustained release T3. If it makes you feel

> worse, go back to the cortisol question.

The last time I tried T3 (SR), it did seem to make me feel worse. But

I'm going to try again because, who knows, maybe I was feeling worse

for some other reason that day.

When checking for free T3 / T4, are you saying that if the result is

NOT in the top 1/3 to 1/4, then supplementing with T3 (SR) makes

sense? Or the opposite?

Here's an interesting theory: if the goal is to normalize one's

cortisol levels, and the individual has really high cortisol along

with paradoxical stress response, it seems like one should just try

and find the right level of stress/exertion that will lower cortisol

enough to get it into their personal 'sweet spot.' I'm sure this is

flawed logic... but why?

Thanks!

Darren

March 13, 2008