Hi Tricia,
am feeling about the same as when I posted originallySorry to hear that!!!!
I am still really tired, shaky, and anxious/nervous stomach feeling. Caffeine makes me shake like I have Parkinson's. (not every time I drink caffeine but sometimes). Also very mildly stressful situations can also set off the shaking- and then I'm just drained afterward.Well certainly you still have some Adrenal issues for sure!!!
It could be Cortisol but it also could be Aldosterone electrolytes.
Caffiene...I had the same reaction for a long time both with Caffiene & Alcohol. The Solution is to NOT drink any of course??
At some point you will be able to have again (in moderation).
I'm fine with it now but actually rarely have it because the "craving" is gone!! Likely IF you crave it it is a symptom & means you should AVOID it!!
I am still with Chris' doctor, however he won't prescribe anything else- I had a really hard time getting him to raise me from 20mg HC to 30mg...then when that didn't work going to Medrol. I talked to Chris about it a while ago, and he said that doc won't prescribe Dexamethasone. So here I sit trying to figure out something else. Well I would be scared of Dexamethasone too!!! Its so powerful & difficult to dose from what I've read. The potency is really individual too.
I am on 10mg Prednislone myself dosed 5 mg am + 5 mg bedtime.
Thats 20mg HC am + 20mg HC bedtime = 40mg HC equivalent. Chris has said this is too much & to consider Dex instead.
But I dont have access to Dex as no Doc would RX it here either. I am fine on the Pred. I have no symptoms of high Cortisol & since clearing RT3 at Xmas (on T3 since Sept ) I am now losing weight. Currently on 60-80mcg T3 daily but had got up to 150mcg. Since Xmas have lost 5 kilos!!!! No exercise no change of diet either.
I had Sodium and Potassium tested way back in .
Nov. 07Sodium was 137 (135- 148)
*VERY low in rangePotassium 3.9 (3.5- 5.5) *
VERY low in rangeJuly 08 was fasting salt Aldosterone 13.3 (6.0- 28)
Chris' rangeRenin 1.23 (3- 24)
*deficientWow BOTH Sodium & Potassium were really low!!!
You know optimal Potassium is ~5 & Sodium is ~145?
Aldo pretty low too & Renin deficient!!!
With that Potassium level I would have been supping at least 1200mg RX Potassium before any Florinef.
Nor can I believe that Sodium & Potassium havent been retested since Nov '07!!! Both definitely should have been tested since going on Florinef. Florinef really does a number on Potassium (lowers it) . You would likely have even lower maybe deficient levels after Florinef!!!
I am on 3000mg RX Potassium (1800mg am + 1200mg bedtime)
and 1 1/2 tabs Florinef usually (1 tab am + 1/2 tab bedtime).
My Jan'09 results were......
Sodium 142
Potassium 4.5
From your night time peeing its obvious you need MORE Florinef & likely RX Potassium too. This could really be contributing to how you are feeling & lack of progress.
I use Alkala N (Sodium Bicarbonate) product for my Salt needs as I avoid Sea Salt due to Iodine & Mercury sensitivity. Its made by Sanum & is available in USA if interested. Its a powder easily dissolved in water sold as an alkaliser. My kids even love it!! The only thing that quenches my thirst .
Have you tried different timing & doses? You are on equiv of only 30mg HC I think you have room to increase that some. I think Crystalyn sees the same Doc? She is on 8 mg Medrol. have you tried taking your night time does later closer to bedtime? What about increasing the night time dose?
Gee I hope you got Sodium & Potasium tested too!!!
What are you doing for your low Ferritin? I didnt see any Iron or Vit C in your supps above? What about Vit D, B12, RBC Folate have they been tested & at optimal?
Are you supping a good Mutli-B that is essential for Adrenals???
I looked up your Hypopit RTH post
forums.realthyroidhelp.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=8235With low ACTH, Cortisol, Renin, Potassium no wonder Chris said you look Hypopit. I see also you have Hashis (elevated TPOAbs).
No Florinef is what supplies Mineralocorticoid properties. You need MORE Florinef!!!!!
You CANT use Medrol for stress dosing!! It takes too long to kick in. You MUST have RX for stress dosing & Doc that Rxed Medrol should DEFINITELY be giving you a HC script for that purpose. Negligent in fact IF he/she doesnt!!!
In Fact you should also have a RX for an emergency Solu-Medrol injection kit. Thats to have it on hand to inject if you cant take Medrol orally (bad vomiting or diarreah, when you cant eat). Or if you were incapacitated (unconscious) then someone else must inject you. You should have a Medical ID bracelet or similar too saying something like.....
"Adrenal Insuffiency - If incapacitated/unresponsive inject 100mg Solumedrol."
Definitely - no question!!!
Note your RX for Florinef should be enough to allow you to make some dose adjustments when needed. For instance it is very hot Summer this year in Oz. I had to increase from 1 1/2 tabs to 2 tabs for part of the last 2 months. Whenever I did that had to have more Potassium & Alkala to balance it too. You may also need more Florinef etc if did physical sweaty work, or had a fever & was sweating more, or had vomiting & dirarreah.