Test Results - Andy, Dean, Others?

[Guest guest]

I'm really struggling with what to do based on recent test results

for hormones, cholesterol, etc.

Background info on hormones: I've shown all-day borderline low

cortisol (per saliva testing). I clearly benefit in small degrees

from taking Isocort, have benefitted going off & on with Adrenal

Stress Formula, & recently seem to benefit from a bit of

hydrocortisone cream each day. All of my hormones are low or

borderline low, have been for years, and are very hard to treat.

Prior to initiating treatment 5 years ago, T4 was high in proportion

to T3 (each just within normal ranges), so I wound up on

T3/Cytomel. Early response to Cytomel & natural creams such as

progesterone & testosterone was surprisingly good, but follow-up

tests showed I was accumulating them at dangerous levels in my

bloodstream, even though I didn't recognize problems/symptoms at

all. After getting dosages lowered and undergoing a lot of detox &

amalgam removal, ability to metabolize Cytomel improved, but not the

others.

Other than progesterone, oral pregnenalone & 7-keto DHEA, I've given

up on the rest. Both DHEA & estrogren metabolize incorrectly, so

I'm going on without detectable estradiol, & DHEA and testosterone

are well below normal in blood work.

I've long assumed this is very much pituitary/hypothalamic problems

and know other hormone deficiencies unchecked via bloodwork exist.

I work out every other day because it's essential that I sweat

regularly, but the workouts do often leave me more fatigued for the

rest of the day. Maybe it's bad for adrenals, but I know it's good

in so many other respects I wouldn't think of giving it up. I'm low

sulfate, but epsom salts baths seem harder on me. I take all

appropriate supplements in hypoallergenic forms, including minerals,

and seriously doubt I'm missing anything.

We did comprehensive testing on lipids. Pre-dental work, I was

borderline low for cholesterol, especially triglycerides. I've

increased the percent of fats in my diet significantly in following

years & all cholesterol levels are up - high & touching past high

normal now, including a bad form of LDL. It's now apparent

cholesterol simply doesn't get converted into hormones.

Also to understand things better, I had the liver detox profile test

done, and I was fast Phase I and slow Phase II in areas critical for

hormone detoxification, such as glucuronidation & glutathione

levels. The cysteine & sulfate levels were low, but I don't know if

that's useful info for our purposes? Oxidation assessments were

high. I'm extremely chemical sensitive & have problems with lots of

phenol compounds found in foods, too.

Based on experience & testing, I have a serious concern about trying

to process/detox any more supplemented hormones on a daily basis

until chelation can perhaps improve my body's ability to both

produce, metabolize, and appropriately break down hormones. The

Geneva Labs hormone analysis clearly shows that with supplemented

compounded progesterone in the center normal range, conversion to

other hormones is quite poor. SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin)

is high, which I suspect is unavoidable & perhaps a result of taking

T3 and using 1/2 of my low-dose estradiol patches. The estradiol

only registers as converting to other estrogens, including the

metabolite associated with breast cancer. I'm not pushing to do

more with cortisol at this time, knowing it has to detox via the

same pathways as estrogen, testosterone, etc. Does this sound

appropriate?

Is this a sensible approach? It's probably more a gut instinct than

anything. I'm certain my whole CNS is downregulated, as thyroid is

only helpful when a small dose of stimulant is taken with it (i.e.,

heart palpitations, fluid accumulation, low body temp, extreme

fatigue & joint pain, slow/very dull thinking process, etc.). It

seems the worst damage has come when I tried to do things as

naturally as possible (including years of strict avoidance of

anything with stimulant qualities) and had a severely low metabolism

as a consequence.

We also tested for and found low normal Vit D levels with high

normal calcium. Is this typical? I was already supplementing both

at lowish levels & my doc wants me on more D. I supplement a much

higher amount of magnesium and occasionally use Mag/Potass forms. I

feel like trying to balance this group of minerals is guesswork &

have been at it for five years. My hair tests weren't done until

after the fact and long-term supplementation, so they don't meet

counting rules. But they still show the expected high Ca, Mg,

Strontium, low Lithium, and center range Na & K.

A final question - why do I feel more energetic & function best not

eating much - as in until 2-3 pm? My diet's quite rigid - whole

food/organic based on multiple allergy testing plus known responses

to certain things. I never feel like or want to eat until later as

it easily messes up feeling good enough to get a few things done.

I've wondered if insulin levels increase appropriately, but that's

yet another gland/hormone, and haven't shown low glucose or other

blood indicators for hypoglycemic problems on tests. I'm starting to

monitor glucose levels a bit myself.

Any thoughts are appreciated. I have a great, well-intentioned

doctor but she doesn't truly understand Hg toxicity or particularly

wish to. I need to get back with her as she wants me back on DHEA,

estradiol, etc., but won't touch cortisol. It's an ongoing struggle

to keep learning, relearning, and piecing together all the

information myself to determine what best to do.

Thanks,

Joanne