Hello PR community!
I am looking for help with my new diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency. Any treatment input you can offer, I would be quite grateful.
Background
Test results (via Quest Labs)
Adrenal saliva test results (also via Quest Lab)
Why don’t they have something that says what is TOO low instead of just what is too high?
After seeing my test results, my doctor said I have Adrenal Insufficiency. He wanted me to do a saline IV ASAP, but I'm homebound and can't get one at home.
So my treatment regime for the Adrenal Insufficiency is as follows, and this is what I'm hoping to get your input on:
Currently taking
Suggested by doctor, but not yet started
Confusing and complicting things
Any other ideas about what I should take to remedy the Adrenal Insufficiency?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
I am looking for help with my new diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency. Any treatment input you can offer, I would be quite grateful.
Background
- I've been sick with ME for 27 yrs. Much of it spent homebound/bedridden.
- Recently my exhaustion became so extreme I did not know if I would survive, literally. It was likely an "adrenal crisis" (as described here: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-in...ciency-addisons-disease/Pages/fact-sheet.aspx).
- Recently my exhaustion became so extreme I did not know if I would survive, literally. It was likely an "adrenal crisis" (as described here: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-in...ciency-addisons-disease/Pages/fact-sheet.aspx).
Test results (via Quest Labs)
- My sodium & chloride levels are way below ref. range, which happens w/ Adrenal Insufficiency.
- Potassium level is in the normal range, but low.
- Calcium level is in the ref. range but high (it always is).
- EBV is active (it often is, and has been for 27 yrs).
- Potassium level is in the normal range, but low.
- Calcium level is in the ref. range but high (it always is).
- EBV is active (it often is, and has been for 27 yrs).
Adrenal saliva test results (also via Quest Lab)
0.06 at 6:30 am (8-10 am: ref range: 0.04-0.56 mcg/dl)
0.04 at 11:30 am (noon-2 pm: ref range: < or = 0.21 mcg/dl)
0.03 at 4:30 pm (4-6 pm: ref range: < or = 0.15 mcg/dl)
<0.03 at 10:05 pm (10 pm-1am: ref range: < or = 0.09 mcg/dl)
(Note: < or = means “less than or equal to”)
0.04 at 11:30 am (noon-2 pm: ref range: < or = 0.21 mcg/dl)
0.03 at 4:30 pm (4-6 pm: ref range: < or = 0.15 mcg/dl)
<0.03 at 10:05 pm (10 pm-1am: ref range: < or = 0.09 mcg/dl)
(Note: < or = means “less than or equal to”)
Why don’t they have something that says what is TOO low instead of just what is too high?
After seeing my test results, my doctor said I have Adrenal Insufficiency. He wanted me to do a saline IV ASAP, but I'm homebound and can't get one at home.
So my treatment regime for the Adrenal Insufficiency is as follows, and this is what I'm hoping to get your input on:
Currently taking
- Salt and water (lots!)
- Licorice root extract (by Allergy Research Group)
- Adrenal Health (by Gaia Herbs: Siberian Rhodiola root extract, Holy Basil extract, Oats milky seed extract, Ashwagandha root extract)
- Adrenal (by Pure Encapsulation: Cow adrenal)
- Kava Kava and/or Ativan on an "as needed" basis for the heart pounding and shaky feeling (anxiety?). These really help, though I'm trying to limit how often I take them.
- Coconut water (lots) to get potassium and electrolytes up
(I am also on other meds and supplements not related to Adrenal Insufficiency, such as Famvir and more.)
- Licorice root extract (by Allergy Research Group)
- Adrenal Health (by Gaia Herbs: Siberian Rhodiola root extract, Holy Basil extract, Oats milky seed extract, Ashwagandha root extract)
- Adrenal (by Pure Encapsulation: Cow adrenal)
- Kava Kava and/or Ativan on an "as needed" basis for the heart pounding and shaky feeling (anxiety?). These really help, though I'm trying to limit how often I take them.
- Coconut water (lots) to get potassium and electrolytes up
(I am also on other meds and supplements not related to Adrenal Insufficiency, such as Famvir and more.)
Suggested by doctor, but not yet started
- GABA Calm (by Source Naturals)
- Theanine (by Jarrow)
- Cortef (a hydrocortisone): My doctor said I could hold off on this, as I react badly to most meds, and also I heard how hard it is to get off of Cortef once you start it. If you have experience with Cortef, I'd welcome hearing about it.
- Theanine (by Jarrow)
- Cortef (a hydrocortisone): My doctor said I could hold off on this, as I react badly to most meds, and also I heard how hard it is to get off of Cortef once you start it. If you have experience with Cortef, I'd welcome hearing about it.
Confusing and complicting things
- In the past, my blood pressure was always to low. But now with this episode my blood pressure (BP) is very high, and the weird thing is that usually with Adrenal Insufficiency blood pressure is low. Taking in more salt and licorice will make my BP higher, one would think. But so far it is not making my BP higher all the time, just sometimes.
- My potassium is low. In the reference range, but on the low end. Usually with Adrenal Insufficiency potassium is high.
- My potassium is low. In the reference range, but on the low end. Usually with Adrenal Insufficiency potassium is high.
Any other ideas about what I should take to remedy the Adrenal Insufficiency?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
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