Re: new lab results, I would like some help understanding- Cort

[Guest guest]

Phil,

I respect your opinion, experience, & suggestion. You lived through

this scenario & have " in the trenches " knowledge whereas my knowledge depends

mostly on reports like yours. In most situations, I agree with you- pills are a

better way to handle hydrocortisone replacement since the dose can be adjusted.

In the future, perhaps a cortisol pump could give variable doses based on need,

similar to the insulin pump for diabetics.

My thoughts were based on mention of forgetting to take medication regularly. I

think this is where longer lasting methods of hormone replacement (pellets) for

steroid hormones is a better option. Given that cortisol is essential for life

& that it fluctuates throughout the day, the static dose that pellets provide is

not ideal. (Would that necessarily cause problems, though?)

Testosterone likewise fluctuates significantly throughout the day, yet none of

our methods of TRT mirror nature, either. (Though testosterone doesn't have the

same priority for survival that cortisol has). We who are on hormone

replacement accept that to some degree, our treatment doesn't perfectly imitate

the natural pattern.

Could a person using hydrocortisone pellets also take hydrocortisone pills as

needed? This could provide the best of both worlds: 1) having a baseline amount

2) that one need not worry about forgetting to dose as frequently, while 3)

providing flexibility for stress & morning doses.

trannyboy- have you had an ACTH test before? I'm curious if your pituitary is

signaling your adrenals properly.

~Xian

>

>

> I would not add cortisol to your pellets I am on cortef doing about 30 mgs a

day. I need to stress does when I over do it or feel bad it took me a long time

to find the right dose to support my body with HC my brain does not tell my

adrenals to make enough cortisol. Your much better off taking the pills. I

started 5 mgs 4 x's a day but needed to stress dose to much so my Dr. upped the

dose and kept it going up until I felt better.

> Never take more then 30mgs a day if you stress dose do 5 mgs more every 15 to

30 min.'s until you feel better. I ended up in the ER 3x's and was in Adrenal

crisis they had to give me a big shot not stress dosing when I got sick or over

did it. Here are some good links to read.

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/safe-uses/

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/faq/

>

> Co-Moderator

> Phil

[Guest guest]

I never heard of pellets for HC but have heard of compounded creams one guy did

Testosterone, DHEA and HC in his cream and took the pills when he got stressed

or sick but never for more then 3 days. Dr. Jefferies says in his book Safe

uses of Cortisol that if your getting the flu he said to take 20 more mgs 4

times a day for 3 days and you will kill the flu.

Pellets are dam good for TRT but most of the Dr.'s that do them charge you an

arm and a leg and don't give you enough to last 4 months. This is what the guys

at MESO used to find a good Dr. that knows about doing them to bad they are none

in my state. One Dr. I know puts pellets in every 2 months that to me is nuts

and cost a lot of money.

Co-Moderator

Phil

> From: d00fu524 <calvin1564@...>

> Subject: Re: new lab results, I would like some help

understanding- Cort

>

> Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 7:25 PM

> Phil,

>

> I respect your opinion, experience, & suggestion. You

> lived through

> this scenario & have " in the trenches "

> knowledge whereas my knowledge depends mostly on reports

> like yours. In most situations, I agree with you- pills are

> a better way to handle hydrocortisone replacement since the

> dose can be adjusted. In the future, perhaps a cortisol

> pump could give variable doses based on need, similar to the

> insulin pump for diabetics.

>

> My thoughts were based on mention of forgetting to take

> medication regularly. I think this is where longer lasting

> methods of hormone replacement (pellets) for steroid

> hormones is a better option. Given that cortisol is

> essential for life & that it fluctuates throughout the

> day, the static dose that pellets provide is not ideal.

> (Would that necessarily cause problems, though?)

>

> Testosterone likewise fluctuates significantly throughout

> the day, yet none of our methods of TRT mirror nature,

> either. (Though testosterone doesn't have the same

> priority for survival that cortisol has). We who are on

> hormone replacement accept that to some degree, our

> treatment doesn't perfectly imitate the natural pattern.

>

>

> Could a person using hydrocortisone pellets also take

> hydrocortisone pills as needed? This could provide the best

> of both worlds: 1) having a baseline amount 2) that one need

> not worry about forgetting to dose as frequently, while 3)

> providing flexibility for stress & morning doses.

>

> trannyboy- have you had an ACTH test before? I'm

> curious if your pituitary is signaling your adrenals

> properly.

>

> ~Xian

>

>

> >

> >

> > I would not add cortisol to your pellets I am on

> cortef doing about 30 mgs a day. I need to stress does when

> I over do it or feel bad it took me a long time to find the

> right dose to support my body with HC my brain does not tell

> my adrenals to make enough cortisol. Your much better off

> taking the pills. I started 5 mgs 4 x's a day but

> needed to stress dose to much so my Dr. upped the dose and

> kept it going up until I felt better.

> > Never take more then 30mgs a day if you stress dose do

> 5 mgs more every 15 to 30 min.'s until you feel better.

> I ended up in the ER 3x's and was in Adrenal crisis they

> had to give me a big shot not stress dosing when I got sick

> or over did it. Here are some good links to read.

> > http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/safe-uses/

> > http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/faq/

> >

> > Co-Moderator

> > Phil

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Phil- Sadly that is normal living conditions for me. However I grasp your point

and will have it done shortly after waking. I am curious though, my normal wake

time is roughly 12 noon to 1PM but they often use the terms AM sample and

afternoon sample when talking about testing times. Are they just meaning a test

as soon after waking as possible or is there something unique about the AM that

is independant of the sleep cycle? I have located a lab nearby to have the test

done but I just need to know the answer to the above question. Would it be

helpful to include an ACTH test at the same time? I was also thinking of getting

a 24hr urine cortisol test kit at the lab when I get the cortisol/ acth done.

Then I will consider a dexamethasone suppression test, after that if needed I

will get the saliva testing but I don't have the money to get it right now.

Xian- What you mentioned was the only way I could think of that would work

because of the variable nature of cortisol. I like the idea of a pump though,

that might prove to be the best possible method for someone like myself who has

never been capable of remembering to use my medications. Also there is no reason

I can see that a insulin pump couldn't be modified to deliver cortisol. I

haven't had an ACTH test but as I said earlier I am thinking it would be wise

for my next testing.

trannyboy

P.S. ernest I am preparing my response to you still. I haven't forgotten about

you but your post requires a more detailed response.

[Guest guest]

I know of a doctor in costa rica who makes custom hormone pellets for custom

thyroid, sex and adrenal hormone treatments. In fact he offers other types of

pellet treatments as well. He inspired me to see exactly how far I could take

pellet treatments.

YOu are right about the problems with the doctors not putting enough in. If

pellet treatment is to work you need the correct dosage. It does no good for the

doctor to put in less then needed. The doctor who does it every 2 months might

be using just compressed pellets which dissolve faster then melt and form or

heated and compressed pellets. The cost to implant them is silly as it comes, I

know of much better ways to implant them and it costs about 50 bucks. If you

wanted to you could even do it yourself if you had the tools and skills.

Eventually I will probably implant them myself but I would rather get more

skilled under supervision first.

trannyboy

[Guest guest]

Your wake cycle is 12 to 1pm so use this as morning to start. ACTH and 24 hr

Urin are good labs also if your DR. is good at reading 24 urine labs. Dr.

does them all the time.

Co-Moderator

Phil

> From: trannyboy84 <trannyboy@...>

> Subject: Re: new lab results, I would like some help

understanding- Cort

>

> Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 2:44 PM

> Phil- Sadly that is normal living conditions for me. However

> I grasp your point and will have it done shortly after

> waking. I am curious though, my normal wake time is roughly

> 12 noon to 1PM but they often use the terms AM sample and

> afternoon sample when talking about testing times. Are they

> just meaning a test as soon after waking as possible or is

> there something unique about the AM that is independant of

> the sleep cycle? I have located a lab nearby to have the

> test done but I just need to know the answer to the above

> question. Would it be helpful to include an ACTH test at the

> same time? I was also thinking of getting a 24hr urine

> cortisol test kit at the lab when I get the cortisol/ acth

> done. Then I will consider a dexamethasone suppression test,

> after that if needed I will get the saliva testing but I

> don't have the money to get it right now.

>

> Xian- What you mentioned was the only way I could think of

> that would work because of the variable nature of cortisol.

> I like the idea of a pump though, that might prove to be the

> best possible method for someone like myself who has never

> been capable of remembering to use my medications. Also

> there is no reason I can see that a insulin pump

> couldn't be modified to deliver cortisol. I haven't

> had an ACTH test but as I said earlier I am thinking it

> would be wise for my next testing.

>

> trannyboy

>

> P.S. ernest I am preparing my response to you still. I

> haven't forgotten about you but your post requires a

> more detailed response.

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yep read about this some time ago I think in the day Collage would do this with

Pellets. I have not used them in yrs. so don't know what they are doing now. I

am level and doing good so I don't plain to change anything with my TRT.

http://www.collegepharmacy.com/menshealth/andropause.asp

Co-Moderator

Phil

> From: trannyboy84 <trannyboy@...>

> Subject: Re: new lab results, I would like some help

understanding- Cort

>

> Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 2:54 PM

> I know of a doctor in costa rica who makes custom hormone

> pellets for custom thyroid, sex and adrenal hormone

> treatments. In fact he offers other types of pellet

> treatments as well. He inspired me to see exactly how far I

> could take pellet treatments.

>

> YOu are right about the problems with the doctors not

> putting enough in. If pellet treatment is to work you need

> the correct dosage. It does no good for the doctor to put in

> less then needed. The doctor who does it every 2 months

> might be using just compressed pellets which dissolve faster

> then melt and form or heated and compressed pellets. The

> cost to implant them is silly as it comes, I know of much

> better ways to implant them and it costs about 50 bucks. If

> you wanted to you could even do it yourself if you had the

> tools and skills. Eventually I will probably implant them

> myself but I would rather get more skilled under supervision

> first.

>

> trannyboy

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>