HC and Medrol

[dseezs]

Bump

[tinkerbell]

Hi Deb, You could hold things where they are to give your latest florinef increase a bit more time.As far as the sodium goes it might be you might need to take a little more salt with your florinef.What effect on your bp has the florinef increase had? I take 2 1/4 teaspoons salt per day at present but it's usually recommended to up to 2 maximum but I guess it varies from person to person.I can't really help with the potassium though as I don't take prescription pot. so have no experience with it.

Karen

[fractal1]

Thanks for helping out Karen .

Sorry dseezs, Lethal Lee is dealing with family health issues at the moment and is limited in how much she can do.

Can you please tell me exactly what you're taking at the moment... including supplements, and your main symptoms. Also, when did you last get your thyroid tested?

Cheers Ruth

[dseezs]

Thank you for some one willing to help.
I understand about Lee, I was just hoping some one would chime in to help.
I currently take
30HC
2 Grains Thyroid
1 3/4 Tabs Florinef AM and PM
salt 1/4-1/4-1/4-1/4
1000 B-12
B-Complex
1800 Calcium
750 Magnesium
200 Selenium
2000 Vit C
5000 Vit D
1000 Fish Oil
1mg Lorazepam AM and PM wears off between doses started with only 1x on 2-22 and am now up to 2. Could use 3.
Not sure where to start with problems.
My main concern I guess is my B/P not rising from sitting to standing. No matter how much Florinef or Potass. It might go up every once in awhile, but always drops. Never rises 10 pts. Don't know if I'm doing everything right. I thought so but I guess now I'm confused.
Been working on Sod. & Potass. since 2-12
2-12 136 S and 4.4 Potass. salt 1/2-1/4-1/4-1/4 OTC Potass.300
2-20 146 S and 4.2 Potass. fasting, Florinef 1/4 Day 2, salt 3/4-1/2-1/4-1/4 OTC Potass 300
2-21 ER 137 S and 3.9 Potass. not fasting, Florinef 1/4 tab Day 3, salt and OTC Potass. same. Started me on lorazepam for uncontrollable shaking, whole body. 1 mg PM.
3-9 143 S and 3.7 Potass. fasting, Florinef 3/4 tad Day 5, OTC Potass. 500, salt 1/2-1/4-1/4-1/4 Day 12.
3-18 138 S and 4.7 Potass. fasting, Day 3 Period, Florinef 1 Tab Day 8, 1 RX Potass. (780) AM Day 6, salt 1/2-1/4-1/4-1/4 Day 7
4-8 143 S and 4.3 Potass. fasting, Florinef 1 1/2 Day 8, 1 RX Potass., Day 27, salt 1/4-1/4-1/4-1/4 Day 6
4-15 145 S and 4.3 Potass., not fasting, Florinef 1 1/2 Tabs. Day 15, 1 RX Potass, Day 34, salt 1/4-1/4-1/4-1/4
4-27 142 S and 4.2 Potass. fasting, Florinef 1 3/4 tab, Day 3, 2 RX Potass. Day6, salt 1/4-1/4-1/4 Day 3
Have since added 1/4 tsp salt back in on 4-27. But where did my potassium go? Next bloodwork done May4 AM.
I'm worried I'm not getting true B/P readings since being on the lorazepam now 2x daily. AM & PM. Takes away my shakiness and adrenaline and drops my B/P's as they used to be high when I started taking it.
I can feel exactly when the lorazepam kicks in and wears off. I don't shake, I don't feel the adrenaline in my stomach and my heart rate slows down. My B/P goes down. When it wears off in about 8 hrs. it all comes back. I wake early 3-4 AM and have trouble sleeping afterwards til 7 AM.
I started today on a 3 hr schedule with the HC , with the thought that I needed to build some adrenal reserves to get away from using the lorazepam, to stop the adrenaline. I also dropped 1/4 Grain thyroid in hopes it would help. I haven't had thyroid tested since 2-10 on 1 Grain. TSH 1.321 (0.450-4.500) Free T3 3 (2.3-4.2) Free T4 0.91 (0.61-1.76)
Temps since:
4-8 98.2
4-9 98.8
4-10 98.6 Period
4-11 98.6
4-12 98.8
4-13 98.7
4-14 98.6
4-15 98.8
4-16 98.8
4-17 99 added OTC Potass 400
4-18 98.6 OTC Potass. 600
4-19 98.4
4-20 98.6 added RX Potass. dropped OTC Potass
4-21 98.6
4-22 99.1
4-23 99.2
4-24 99.2
4-25 99.1
4-26 99.3
4-27 99.1
4-28 99.1
4-29 99.3
4-30 99.2

B/P and HR since 4-24 when adding 1/4 tab Florinef= 1 3/4
110/79-90 109/82-106, 116/78-86 114/82-97, 122/81-89 108/81-100
4-25
117/78-81 115/83-104, 116/81-86 112/84-102, 121/79-81 108/80-98
4-26
120/86-98 116/87-109, 113/81-96 115/86-114, 122/85-91 123/86-102
4-27
118/79-82 111/82-98, 124/86-91 120/80-105, 130/88-85 113/80-99
4-28
109/77-99 112/79-105, 119/81-77 113/77-93, 120/80-83 119/81-98
4-29
114/79-83 107/82-97, 115/77-85 119/80-102, 122/82-82 114/81-98
4-30
112/76-91 105/72-102, 125/84-80 117/84-93, 127/83-79 119/82-90
Thank you both so much for taking the time to help me out. I very much appreciate it.
Thanks
Deb

[fractal1]

Hi Deb, Having that much HC and florinef in your system will cause low potassium problems. While it is not optimal that your BP doesn't rise that much, I wouldn't stress about it if you feel okay. Your symptoms sound like you need medrol or prednisalone - what problems did you have in switching process? Can you remember what you were taking when you were feeling the best?

[dseezs]

Ruth
I just didn't feel well. B/P was going really high, felt like vomiting ans these symptoms got worse at period time. Didn't have S&P testing as I didn't have a doc then, so that was a mess. Didn't feel well at any time.
I'm feeling better overall this time, but I don't feel well at all if I don't have the lorazepam in my system. I've never felt like this before.
I've had MAJOR stress going on in my lifes ince Oct. of last year. When I ended up in the ER in Jan is when all this happened with the adrenaline and I just don't think I've ever caught up. And then trying to get S&P balanced out and some more thyroid on board kinda gets some stress going for me too. That's why I'm thinking I need to try to build some adrenal reserves as I just don't think I have any.
I know the lorazepam shuts down the adrenaline. If I go up on HC how will I know if its working? How much will it affect my B/P sitting to standing? Is the lorazepam shutting down adrenaline going to affest my using of the HC to biuld reserves? What does it do to my S&P results? or thyroid for that matter?
My temps seem relatively stable at 30 HC w/the exception of them going up every month about 11-13 days after period. And then they seem pretty stable. I have to wonder if this is from progester. being low.
My doc is really of no help except that she will write the RX's I ask for. I'm certain this is a learning experience for her also, so I can't give up on her. It's hard for me to decide which path to take by myself. I feel alone and flying by the seat of my pants most of the time. I don't want to be worse off than I am now.
I guess I'm asking if it's alright to continue my current path?
Wait for results of S&P on Mon and add Potass., Florinef and salt as neded to get my levels up. Keep eye on B/P+HR. Check in another week. See if it helps adrenaline. That and 3 hr 30HC schedule. I f that not helping go to 35 HC 2hr dosing schedule and see if that helps.
I'll get blood drawn for thyroid at 2 Grains, 30HC, and 2 lorazepam done also. See what that tells.
Does this sound reasonable for the time being?
Thanks so much
Deb

[fractal1]

Unless you feel your health is particularly concerning, I would suggest you hold everything as is and re-assess once your labs come in.

Adrenaline-like problems arise in about 20% of us, and switching from HC to medrol or prednisalone normally resolves it. In addition, those taking florinef often cannot take HC, because the MC properties in HC stuff up electrolyte balancing. I am not sure what lorazepam does. Progesterone can also muck around with aldosterone receptors.

It is good you are getting thyroid tested. Electrolyte demands change dramatically with thyroid status. Sodium and potassium can 'appear' low when thyroid is low; and aldosterone requirements increase, with increasing thyroid. In fact, if thyroid goes too high, sodium needs get so high that potassium must be supplemented with high doses of florinef to compensate ... this is not an optimal situation to be in and makes you feel like dirt. Your florinef is already high, and because of this, I am not willing to recommend increasing either salt or potassium.

The effects of HC, the required doses and dosing schedule, and changes in BP are very much individual. I am on 5mg pred/6mg HC/1tab florinef and my average BP rises by 5pts... I feel fine, so I am not concerned.

I think it is important that you find a doctor who is more knowledgeable in this area. There is nothing stopping you seeing more than one doctor either. I would also try to reduce stress in your life wherever you can... otherwise it's impossible to stabilize hormones.

Cheers

[dseezs]

Hello,
I'm still at a loss!
Haven't gotten anywhere with 3 hr HC schedule. Still need my lorazepam at least 2x a day.
Here's some info on S&P results of past:
3-18 138 S 4.7 P fasting, Florinef 1 Tab Day 8, 1 RX Pot. (780) AM Day6, salt 1/2-1/4-1/4-1/4 Day 7
4-8 143 S 4.3 P fasting, Florinef 1 1/2 Tab Day 8, 1 RX Pot. AM Day 27, salt 1/4-1/4-1/4-1/4 Day 6
4-15 145 S 4.3 not fasting, Florinef 1 1/2 Tab Day 15, 1 RX Pot. AM Day 34, salt 1/4-1/4-1/4-1/4 Day 13
4-27 142 S 4.2 P fasting, Florinef 1 3/4 Tab Day 3, 2 RX Pot, 1 AM and 1 PM Day 7, salt 1/4-1/4-1/4
5-4 143 S 3.9 P fasting, Florinef 1 3/4 tab Day10, 2 RX Pot. 1 AM and 1 PM Day 14, salt 1/4-1/4-1/4-1/4 Day 6
Uhhhh now what? Leave Florinef alone and add more Potass.? I'm scheduled for my next S&P check on May 11.
Thanks
Deb