Adrenal Dysfunction

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat May 10, 2014 8:18 am

I have been tested through saliva testing and found to have Adrenal Dysfunction or also called Adrenal Fatigue. The adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidneys produce cortisol and adrenaline. When they function properly they help one cope with stress whether it be physical, emotional, or mental. ( Sound familiar to our MC problem?) When they don't function properly one can become overly fatigued among many other symptoms like diarrhea. My doctor started me on Cortisol last fall at 5mg but I couldn't tell any difference. Then the end of February he doubled it but I still couldn't tell any difference. He of course tested me first. But then week before last he tested me again and doubled it again to 20mg and within 3 - 4 days I could tell a big difference. The D subsided and my allergies were all but gone. I no longer take Allegra and have no sinus issues. He says he is only replacing what my adrenal glands are failing to produce. It is a bioidentical medication. I am not having normans yet (getting close) and he may have to increase my dose again but it is so nice to have something helping so much. I am also taking Pentasa which I haven't been able to tell that it helps much. I take LDN which I also haven't been able to tell any difference and I take Uceris which I thought it did help some. Cortisol has helped the most! Cortisol is also call hydrocortisone. Another interesting fact which I like is that I have gained a few pounds even though I am not eating any more calories. I believe the Cortisol is helping with malabsorption issues! You can order the saliva test yourself if you wish. The one I did is through ZRT and is about $150.00. This test also tested my sex hormones too. You spit into a series of test tubes and send it in. The cost includes the shipping back to them. The problem is finding a doctor that understands how to treat it. I was mainly testing my sex hormones and had gotten the test kit from a compounding pharmacy and they recommended a doctor who treats this. The cortisol test was included and lo and behold it is what is helping me the most!!! Hope this helps someone else.

Pat

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sat May 10, 2014 9:01 am

Hi Pat, I'm glad you are feeling better and have something to help you. My question for you is in regard to a friend who told me she also has low cortisol as well as leaky gut, candida and, most distressing, severe chemical allergies. She is a nurse and can't be in the room with a patient wearing perfume. Did you have environmental allergies as well? She is at her wits end and I will tell her about the cortisol you are taking and the improvement in your condition. Thanks for sharing.

Sheila W

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Sat May 10, 2014 10:03 am

It's great that you found something that helps you so much! Maybe now you can drop some of those other drugs/supplements you are taking that you are not sure of.
Leah

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat May 10, 2014 4:42 pm

Sheila,

Yes, I have had chemical allergies. I had to ask my DH to stop wearing cologne many, many years ago ( been married 31 years). I don't wear perfume or anything scented. It is VERY important to do the 24 hour saliva test, not just self treat. Symptoms of high and low cortisol are similar and you can make yourself worse if you don't know the results of the tests. Many do self treat after testing though. Can use 1% hydrocortisone cream if you can't find a doctor. I got most of my info from Stop the Thyroid Madness website and book and they have a facebook page too. Very interesting.

Leah,

My GI doc is on board with the Cortisol and he wants me to stay the course with the other meds for 2 months and then he said we would take a hard look at the meds. I think I can do that! I am not having side effects from any and my insurance helps very well.

Pat

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat May 10, 2014 5:07 pm

Pat
awesome news!
and as you said, it is worth forking out for the test, to then be able to resolve the issue(s), namely the gut and absorption issues.

Pre MC Dx, i too had low cortisol levels, and for the last 13 years or so of Acupuncture treatments, Adrenal Fatigue has also been an issue.
some of the supplement ingredients I am now taking, is to help the adrenals.

for me, stressful situations (like moving house) the adrenalin and cortisol is like an inflammatory toxin to my gut.

Hope the improvements continue!

ladyathome · Post by **ladyathome** » Mon May 12, 2014 6:46 pm

I just did the saliva test about 2 weeks ago and I'm waiting on my results. A couple years back I was low, but I didn't take anything. I think with all my issues, I was afraid to do anything. I appreciate this post! I am looking forward to getting my results and addressing it this time.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Mon May 12, 2014 6:52 pm

Lady,

I was afraid of it at first too, but now I see that it really is helping me and from the explanations from my dr that he is only replacing what my body is not making I am more comfortable with it. And my GI doc is all for it too. I may still have to go up a little but will follow my dr's recommendations. Good luck with this, I think it may be more common than we think.

Gabes,

Do you take any Cortisol or hydrocortisone? What supplements do you take for Adrenal Fatigue?

Pat

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:11 pm

Pat
My recent increase of Magnesium, Vit C, Zinc to help histamine and Fibromyalgia pain - also repairs the adrenals.
One of Magnesium powders i am taking has some mag phos, that is also good for adrenal fatigue.
And the CoQ10 lingual helps kidney, hypertension and adrenals.

Having the body with less inflammation, balanced histamines will also help the adrenals.
I am now having half real coffee/half decaf (organic, non chemical decaf) coffee

Did you see the discussion recently about MTHFR gene mutation...
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=19728
Adrenal fatigue is one of the key issues

I dont think it is a co-incidence that the supps that can help the gut, the nerves, cell repair, are also good for adrenal fatigue..

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue May 13, 2014 10:05 am

I'm confused.

and I take Uceris which I thought it did help some

Uceris is budesonide, a corticosteroid. That means you are taking 2 forms of steroids. Did your docs have any concerns about that? 20 mgs hydrocortisone is equivalent to 5 mgs prednisone, which is considered a full replacement dose (replacing the amount or cortisol your body typically makes). How much Uceris are you taking? The D and symptoms may be improving because you are suppressing the inflammation with both forms of steroid on board. The weight gain may be related to water retention, increased sodium, increased blood sugar, and greater appetite, which are all side-effects of steroids. I'm not saying you should stop what you're doing if it's helping, but you should calculate your total steroid dose.

Post by **tex** » Tue May 13, 2014 1:16 pm

Zizzle,

I tend to agree with your thinking on this, but remember that Pat is supposedly taking only enough cortisol to replace the amount that her adrenals are failing to produce. IOW, theoretically at least, she now has normal amounts of cortisol in her blood. (At least that's her doc's position).

Also remember that Uceris is claimed to provide absolutely no significant systemic effect (IOW, none of it gets into the blood stream, according to the manufacturer). Therefore, while her corticosteroid level is elevated in her colon, the Uceris should have no significant effect on her blood level of cortisol.

So I'm guessing that this is how her doc sees this situation, and that's how he justifies the double steroid treatment.

Tex

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue May 13, 2014 1:24 pm

Tex,
I'll agree with you, but I would point out that "adrenal fatigue" is a fairly new concept, and is not equivalent to Addison's Disease, which is a true and dangerous cortisol deficiency. If cortisol were nearing zero, one would be in BIG trouble, so assuming there is a minimum amount of cortisol already available (otherwise there would be an adrenal crisis), adding 20 mgs hydrocostisone is going past the replacement dose level, and thus helping to supress inflammation.

Post by **tex** » Tue May 13, 2014 3:55 pm

Zizzle,

The problem is that there is no fixed value for the amount of cortisol that the adrenals of the average human produce each day, so opinions differ widely on what is truly a "normal" amount of production, but the range typically noted seems to be 40 – 60 mg. Your estimate is quite low. Consider this quote from the ADRENALS FAQs, on the stopthethyroidmadness website:

30) How much cortisol does the body normally produce? In doctor Peatfield’s book, he says “The natural output of hydrocortisone is actually variable and may be as much as 200 mg. daily under stress and 40 – 6o mg. in a normal resting state. Obviously then, a dose significantly greater than 40 mg. daily will tend to take over the adrenal production of cortisone, and the adrenals could shut down completely. It must be said at once, so long as this suppression doesn’t last too long, the adrenals will pick themselves up again, and restart producing the necessary cortisone for themselves as before.”

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

IOW, a supplemental dose of more than 40 mg would exceed the replacement dose level (based on the numbers noted above). But hey, I don't claim to be an adrenal expert, by any means.

Tex

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Tue May 13, 2014 7:08 pm

Thanks, Tex for posting the Stop the Thyroid Madness quote. I just know that 3 days after raising Cortisol to 20 mg I was so much better and had been on Uceris for approximately 2 months with only a slight improvement. I am hoping that when I go back to see my GI he will let me wean off the Uceris. I may still have to up my Cortisol cause I am not convinced that I am optimal yet. And then when I am optimal hopefully I will be able to take enough thyroid meds to get me optimal there too. It's a slow process. I am not really eating any more calories than I was before. I was already hungry all the time and eating lots of food ( the same few foods just a lot of them) and not absorbing. I am not as hungry as I was and have been cutting back on rice and trying new vegetables. Tried very well sautéed bell pepper, orange variety, tonight! Peeled of course.

Zizzle,

Thanks for your concern. I feel cared for! My dr doesn't feel that the 20 mg of Cortisol is going to affect me like a true steroid so for right now I am going to trust him. He has helped me more than any other dr so far. I took prednisone a few years ago, 40mg, and it really didn't help a lot and I had side effects that were unpleasant. I am not having side effects so far except weight gain and I think that is just because I am not malabsorbing anymore!!! I needed to gain weight and couldn't.

Here is a link to symptoms of low cortisol. Check out the diarrhea and IBS symptoms. I also had many others too. For years!!!!!

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ad ... -cortisol/

Pat

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Wed May 14, 2014 1:28 pm

WOW, that's some list of symptoms!! I've definitely had several of them now (while on pred) and in the past. If I forget my prednisone, I get major jitters by afternoon.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Wed May 14, 2014 6:44 pm

Zizzle,
That is one of the main symptoms that I have had for years!!! I felt shaky inside not on the outside. I would ask my doctors and get a blank look. This doctor who is also treating my thyroid said that is a symptom he hears about from his adrenal fatigue patients. It has slowly dissipated since taking enough Cortisol. I am so thankful to have found this doctor!!!

Gabes,

I am taking the Vit C and Zinc and would like to try Magnesium but have been afraid to because of the laxative effect. Maybe someday soon I will be able to take some. I would also like to be tested for the MTHFR gene. Thanks!

Pat