![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 386 to 410 of 435. Go back in thread:
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 10:28:48
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » Simus, posted by karaS on September 30, 2004, at 21:34:37
> I'm still confused about my neighbor's condition. She doesn't have adrenal fatigue symptoms at all. She's thinking possibly hyperpituitary is her real problem. Maybe she's right.
>
> KaraHyperpituitary syndromes are really relatively common, usually due to benign tumours.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 10:43:49
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » raybakes, posted by karaS on October 2, 2004, at 16:10:34
> Thanks, Ray. Someone recently posted an article about how deficient most of us are in Vitamin D and how closely related that is to depression. The article said that you could take huge doses of Vit. D without any adverse effects. Then I read another article that said you can overdose on D and it doesn't take much. What do you think should be an optimal dosage?
Expect that the RDA for vitamin D will be substantially increased. It is very difficult to overdose on vitamin D, and many reports of vitamin toxicity have a political base, rather than a scientific one. The idea that you can obtain an optimal vitamin or mineral intake from food alone is specious.
The optimal intake of vitamin D is about 4000 IU/day.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11157326
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15225842Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 10:54:32
In reply to Re: supps for reducing antibodies » tealady, posted by raybakes on October 5, 2004, at 7:14:00
> sometimes drinking lemon juice after meal is a good test...if you feel better, it might be that the extra acidity is helping.
>
> RayMore likely the vitamin C. The normal acidity in the stomach is orders of magnitude stronger than lemon juice, or anything else you might consider swallowing.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 11:05:49
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » raybakes, posted by tealady on October 9, 2004, at 19:54:04
> Did you find that taking glutathione itself helped at all?. I've read it is not absorbed well and it's better to take the NAC and synthesise the glutatione in your body, but without one of the glutathione enzymes(I'm not sure if you mean an enzyme that helps make glut. or one that breaks it down actually).
Oral glutathione becomes rather expensive food. It does not survive the stomach. Sublingual glutathione avoids that degradation, I suppose, to the extent it is absorbed directly from the oral cavity.
The best way to increase glutathione is to supplement with whey protein powder. It's the most available source of the required amino acids.
> Just asking as a doc has just given me some glutathione...personally I would prefer to try the NAC..but I'm wondering if you found any benefit from taking glutathione itself?It'll just be digested.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 11:26:50
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » raybakes, posted by Simus on October 21, 2004, at 9:48:36
> Something you mentioned in your post to me that I find interesting was "the body can make PEA from phenylalanine, via phenylalanine decarboxylase (magnesium + p5p)". Oddly enough, I was very deficient in both magnesium and B6 and I believe I must still be to some degree (I have symptoms again within a day or two of missing my supplements).
PEA ordinarily has an extremely short half-life, being mopped up by MAO-B. One of the modes of action of selegiline, a selective MAO-B inhibitor (at low doses) is that it protects PEA. Some of the mood effects of depression may be related to PEA deficiency. Both meat and chocolate also have fairly substantial amounts of magnesium in them.
> I am going to go out on a limb and ask you a question that may seem really dumb to you. Right now I am digging through my memory archives to place where I have heard "phenylalanine" a lot in the past. Is that in over-the-counter diet pills? (Sorry if I am way off.)
There's been lots of talk about DLPA, d-,l-pheylalanine, as a mood booster or energizer. It works synergistically with selegiline.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 11:30:39
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » raybakes, posted by Simus on October 21, 2004, at 10:05:28
> That is really fascinating. Since I am still processing info and trying to tie everything together...
>
> I am very sensitive to glutamates. Do you think that this could be a vitamin D deficiency? Well, at least it sounds like D would prevent damage caused by glutamates, huh?It's part of the puzzle, but sensitivity to glutamates is more likely to be related to deficiencies in taurine. Taurine is formed from sulphur-aminos, so taurine deficiency may indicate oxidative stress. Luckily, taurine is super inexpensive. I can counteract MSG problems (I'm really sensitive) with a small dose of taurine (1-2 grams).
>
> Is "1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25-(OH)(2)D(3)]" found in the typical vitamin D, or is there a specific form of D or D complex I would need to buy?
>
> Thanks for your patience.
>
> SimusAny old vitamin D supplement will do the trick, unless you have a genetic defect. 4,000 IU per day is recommended.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 11:37:59
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » karaS, posted by raybakes on October 24, 2004, at 14:49:45
> > >
> > So what's the point of taking captomer to prevent neurotoxicity if it can't get past the BBB?
>
> The autism people believe that it's important to remove mercury from the body before the brain, as they are concerned about transporting mercury into the brain, rather than out....not sure if any research is available though?
>
> RaySounds like captomer is a made up term. Mercaptans are sulphydryl groups (S-H analog to the alcohol O-H). -mer suggests polymer. There are a number of sulphydryl compounds used to chelate mercury for excretion. The problem is that there is blessed little mercury floating free in the blood at any one time, and these chelators are far more efficient at removing other cations than they are at removing mercury.
The best treatment for mercury exposure, chronic mercury exposure, is selenium. Selenium binds mercury irreversibly, totally and permanently inactivating it. In fact, a good part of mercury's toxic effects are due to disturbances in selenium chemistry. So, you need to replace the lost/damaged selenium, and provide a little extra to sacrifice to mercury. 200 mcg/day selenium, at least.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 11:45:31
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » tealady, posted by raybakes on October 22, 2004, at 17:14:30
>
> >
> > (I'm 33.5 and 34.5 today underarm, unless I get up above 36 my right underarm is usually 1 degree colder than left uderarm..strange no?)
>
> I wonder whether your right thyroid is more of a problem than your left?Naa. Probably evidence that politics is genetic.
Posted by JLx on October 30, 2004, at 11:46:00
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » karaS, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 10:43:49
Hi Lar,
I read the links but didn't grasp much. You did mean 4000 and not 400 I presume which is way more than we've been recommended. I've always heard 4-800 IU per day.
Is there a preferred type? Right now I'm taking a A and D combo, from fish liver oil, of 10,000 and 400 respectively but I don't want to just take more of that, do I? And increase the Vit A by that much? I'm concerned about osteoporosis as I don't drink milk any more. I also take magnesium, boron, Vit. K and only a little calcium (because it makes me crazy!) with osteoporosis in mind. My mother has it, she's in her 70's.
JL
> > Thanks, Ray. Someone recently posted an article about how deficient most of us are in Vitamin D and how closely related that is to depression. The article said that you could take huge doses of Vit. D without any adverse effects. Then I read another article that said you can overdose on D and it doesn't take much. What do you think should be an optimal dosage?
>
> Expect that the RDA for vitamin D will be substantially increased. It is very difficult to overdose on vitamin D, and many reports of vitamin toxicity have a political base, rather than a scientific one. The idea that you can obtain an optimal vitamin or mineral intake from food alone is specious.
>
> The optimal intake of vitamin D is about 4000 IU/day.
>
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11157326
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15225842
>
> Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 11:51:21
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » tealady, posted by raybakes on October 22, 2004, at 17:29:39
> I'm finding there's not enough vitamin D in fish oil for me. I use halibut oil (not sure if it's liver or not) for vitamin A, but don't know if it's any better than cod? It's the mercury and PCB content that really concerns me more than the fish.
No mercury in fish oils. Mercury binds to protein, and all protein is removed from fish oils of all types. PCBs and pesticides etc. may or may not be an issue. Those are fat soluble, and different brands have different amounts.
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/26diox.pdf
http://www.fsai.ie/surveillance/food/surveillance_food_summarydioxins.asp
Oh, off topic, but dietary measures to reduce inflammatory response:
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/lox.htmLar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 11:54:52
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » karaS, posted by raybakes on October 22, 2004, at 17:52:37
> > In answer to your post, what is "captomer" -
>
> captomer is like NAC but it is claimed that it doesn't cross the blood brain barrier, so can't carry mercury into the brain - not sur if that's true or not!Might be they're referring to DMPS. Unlike DMSA,
DMPS probably does not cross the blood-brain barrier.Lar
Posted by JLx on October 30, 2004, at 11:55:02
In reply to Re: licorice » JLx, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 9:41:19
> I hope you're still around to see this answer.
> Licorice root has the effect of creating an illusion that the adrenal output is higher than it really is. It does so by increasing the half-life of cortisol. This could have two possible observable effects, if adrenal output was bad before the licorice. If adrenal output is unstable or fluctuating (what some call sputtering), licorice will stabilize both mood and energy somewhat. If adrenal output was stable but low, the energy and mood will gradually improve. If licorice makes you feel wired, jumpy, or anxious, then it's likely that there wasn't a problem with the adrenals to begin with. It takes a good four to six weeks of licorice use to determine the outcome.
Hmm...interesting. Ok. Sometime I think I'd like to try it but right now I'm concerned about my blood pressure.
> > What would be the "something" that would be noticeable when taking licorice that would indicate the adrenal stress?
>
> See above.Very clear, thanks.
> > Good to see you are still here, btw. :) I've been away for quite a few months myself, but now I'm thinking that I need to check in here as much as I need to do other things as it helps me to keep thinking in terms of solutions and to be motivated.
> >
> > JL
>
> Had a little slump, myself. Still vulnerable to external influences. We teach each other what useful and helpful. Gotta love that.
>
> LarAh, yes the dreaded external influences! ;) Glad to see you have bounced back up again.
I'm feeling pretty good myself these days. I've been taking tryptophan, about 1 gram at night along with my usual magnesium (500 mg), glycine (500 mg), calcium (90 mg). I've also added evening primrose oil just recently too. I still only sleep 6 hours but it's good sleep and I feel pretty good in the morning. Then during the day I take about 500 mg of DLPA. (Also the other "usual suspects" of Bs, etc.) The tryptophan, EPO, and DLPA are new things. I had been taking tyrosine, which along with magnesium apparently straightened out my low-thyroid symptoms. Will the DLPA have the same effect there as tyrosine? Or perhaps I don't need to worry about it now.
JL
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 12:02:07
In reply to Re: Hives » karaS, posted by raybakes on October 25, 2004, at 13:52:40
> Yeah, anything that stabilizes the mast cells that store histamine should help.
>
> RayNiacinamide stabilizes mast cells.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 12:06:28
In reply to Vitality and Longevity analysis? » raybakes, posted by tealady on October 26, 2004, at 4:58:23
> Hi Ray,
> Just wondered if you had ever had one of these done?
> The doc who is into the Gut-liver detox ran one on me,. It involved someting like a ECG I guess..stick circles on your hands etc and run something electrical..great description I know<g>I'm not in agreement with much of what is on this site, but when it comes to dubious diagnostic tests, I'm right there.
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/tests.html
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 12:10:34
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » karaS, posted by raybakes on October 27, 2004, at 11:02:51
> >I'm trying to remember the sequence of events in the brain. Tyrosine becomes dopamine and then some of that gets metablized to norepinephrine. Does the process ever go backwards and NE becomes DA again? I doubt it but I want to be sure of this because I'm going to make some decisions where this is critical to know.
>
> As far as I know, it only goes one way - never heard of enzymes that work the other way, but is probably best to check with a few people.
>
> RayAll enzymes work equally well in both directions. The limiting factors are the relative concentrations of the raw materials and the products. Your body makes most enzymes work in one direction only by near instantaneously removing the products.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 12:23:00
In reply to Re: Vitamin D » Larry Hoover, posted by JLx on October 30, 2004, at 11:46:00
> Hi Lar,
>
> I read the links but didn't grasp much. You did mean 4000 and not 400 I presume which is way more than we've been recommended. I've always heard 4-800 IU per day.Absolutely. I meant 4,000 IU/day. What got people looking back at vitamin D was the link between sun exposure and multiple sclerosis. The link turned out to be vitamin D. There was also a concurrent examination of the link between vitamin D and osteoporosis, and voila! they figured out that the RDA was deficient altogether. Rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency, is on the rise in the United States. Seriously.
>
> Is there a preferred type? Right now I'm taking a A and D combo, from fish liver oil, of 10,000 and 400 respectively but I don't want to just take more of that, do I? And increase the Vit A by that much?No, you don't want to increase the A any more. Just add in some more D. Any type will do.
> I'm concerned about osteoporosis as I don't drink milk any more. I also take magnesium, boron, Vit. K and only a little calcium (because it makes me crazy!) with osteoporosis in mind. My mother has it, she's in her 70's.
>
> JLMaybe with extra vitamin D your response to calcium will diminish.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 12:25:28
In reply to Re: licorice, DLPA » Larry Hoover, posted by JLx on October 30, 2004, at 11:55:02
> Will the DLPA have the same effect there as tyrosine? Or perhaps I don't need to worry about it now.
>
> JLAbout 30 to 40% of a dose of DLPA will go on to tyrosine. Taking both DLPA and tyrosine will put them into competition for various uptake pumps. You could take them the same day, just don't take them together.
Lar
Posted by TeeJay on October 30, 2004, at 21:03:35
In reply to Re: Excuse me for elbowing my way in here.......... » TeeJay, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 9:45:12
cheers for that Lar,
As it turns out, I think it was just the "random walk" nature of the waxing and waning of my symptoms, ie I was just going through a prolonged and particularly nasty bad patch.
I slowly dropped each thing (with the exception of selenium which i want to continue taking as I discovered this year I have cancer risk in my family and also to try and combat all the years I smoked too) and it really didnt seem to make a whole lot of difference.
Curiously, Ginkgo used to be one of the few supplements I tried that actually gave me a definite boost...although with poop out and my often opposite reactions to things (I feel worse if I take a B100 supplement for example) who knows what does what anymore.
Seems to me the more I experiment, the more confused I get!!!
Thanks anyway LAr........and nice to see your brain is back in top gear again :-)
Posted by tealady on October 30, 2004, at 21:28:22
In reply to Re: Cholesterol metabolism ? Lar » tealady, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 8:40:40
>
>Cholesterol does a lot of things in the body. It's much more than a substrate for tranformations. It dissolves into neuronal membranes, and modulates receptor sensitivity, for example. I'd also be concerned about the ratio of cholesterol to DHEA/DHEA-S. I think more in patterns than in absolute measurements.>Your liver cranks out cholesterol by the bucket, even if you eat none.
>Frankly, I think the whole hoohah about dietary cholesterol intake is bogus. Far more important is to control the intake of de novo (new) cholesterol synthesis modulators. Some fatty acids increase synthesis, and some decrease it.
***********************************************************************************Thanks Lar for your input to many posts<g>,
What I'm aiming at with these thoughts is..cholesterol is a recognised problem with many, probably more so with age.
I was under the impression that cholesterol is an essential part of ALL cell membranes not just neuronal ones..it stiffens them? , I'm not sure though as I haven't really tried to investigate cholesterol..I do know its important to not be too low as well as too high though..and I agree empathically with your opinion about the hoohah about cholesterol levels.back to what I'm aiming at...
I think inhibiting cholesterol production if one is too high is the wrong approach! like the statins, ACe inhibitors etc..).
On thing is CoQ10 production is inhibited,, but that's sure to be only one thing of many..
I'm at present being pushed by a couple of docs , and I agree my cholesterol is too high,
BUT all the things cholesterol is supposed to convert to in the steroid hormone pathway are too low.
This is probably the difference between 20yr old and 40 yr old..
I don't agreed that one should take statins though!!
What I think we should be looking for is what is stopping the cholesterol from breaking down like it did at 20 into the steroid hormones..and the other path ..with bile..and maybe another path with CoQ10?
Like why not approach the condition of high cholesterol from the opposite tack?Now one thing that does help (and this happens with just about everyone who was low thyroid) is thyroid hormones. One "symptom" of low thyroid hormone utilisation is slightly raised cholesterol. Many hypos get their cholesterol down just with thyroid hormone supps. I'm "typical" here in that my cholesterol has reduced..just not enough for my liking..and more importantly..I want to help my body make more oestrogen/DHEA/testosterone/cortisol etc
So I was looking at the pathways trying to find what supps one can take to encourage cholesterol to follow the pathways it should take and break down. like it should do.
I was trying to find what I might be lacking that was slowing down the breakdown..obviously I get some.
I thought this would be important for many here..well in the over 40's anyway. It should in theory help maintain godd testosterine levels etc. I would think as well as lower the cholesterol figure?
***************************************************************************-------------------
>I get confused with the variety of lab tests, and reporting protocols. Often, when talking about cholesterol, very different concepts are being described.>What is your HDL:LDL ratio?
--------------------------
My test results follow..same units as rest of world minus the US...hmm I can't work out how to put any formatting on this site ..so its here
http://www.geocities.com/jan_narelle_tea/Cholesterol.htm> Still looking for something to aid in the breakdown of cholesterol(or even some research!)besides thyroid hormones....as opposed to a synthesis inhibitor. I need more of everything cholesterol is supposed to break down into<g>.
Actually I'm 100% sure that thyroid hormones do lower cholesterol..happens to all I think...but how I'm not sure of..whether by inhibiting synthess slightly or promoting its metabolism..which seems more likely but not certainSo then I looked at the pathways and posted this
I have read too that potassium helps in the breakdown from cholesterol as well as angiotensionII---------------------------------
<snipped from a post of mine>
"Angiotensin II stimulation leads to increased transfer of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane and increased conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone and corticosterone to aldosterone. (12, 13).""High dietary potassium intake increases plasma aldosterone and enhances the aldosterone response to a subsequent potassium or angiotensin II infusion (11). The primary action of potassium for stimulating aldosterone secretion is to depolarize the plasma membrane, which activates voltage-dependent calcium channels, that permit influx or exflux of extracellular calcium (11). The increased cytosolic calcium stimulates the same two steps in aldosterone biosynthesis that angiotensin II does "
http://www.endotext.org/adrenal/adrenal24/adrenal24.htmIn my last blood test my increased my estrogen intake ..and my blood levels of both potassium and calcium were up (calcium up very slightly 2.40 to 2.42 normal..potassium right mid normal!) I read somewhere that estrogen increases the vitD3 receptors in the intestine lining allowing you to absorb more calcium into the blood from the intestines...not sure if really applies here.
I've been trying to reduce licorice too so that would definitely have something to do with the potassium increase..as well as a higher food potassium intake (I doubled the amt of potasium rich foods I'm eating!..now just to stop gaining weight!LOL)
<snip>--------------------------------
So then I started looking at the pathways as below
> > OK I looked up what is needed maybe in the pathways
> > http://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway/map/map00140.html
> > "AND CLICKING on 1.14.15.6
> > Oxidoreductases
> > Acting on paired donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen
> > With a reduced iron-sulfur protein as one donor, and incorporation
> > of one atom of oxygen"
> >
> > so as well oxygen maybe I need iron-sulfur...there's that sulfur again!!!! (and iron)
>
> Oxygen is the second most reactive element of them all....more so than is chlorine (from electronegativity standpoint). Fire is an uncontrolled oxygenation chain reaction. Currently, the atmosphere contains about 17% oxygen. If it got up to 22%, it would be impossible to put out fires with water (itself burned hydrogen), as the exothermic reactions would not be cooled enough by the heat absorption capacity of water (specific heat), and the latent heat of vapourization.
>
> The point is, our bodies work only because Mother Nature has learned how to slow fire down, to control it somewhat. Sulphur loves oxygen. Oxidative stress depletes sulphur compounds in the body.
>
> > OK so for sulfur I need TMG, NAC, NAG ??
>
> TMG remethylates one particular sulphur compound, homocysteine, but it is not a source of sulphur.
>
> Common sulphur sources are methionine, SAMe, cysteine, taurine, creatine (a tripeptide with methionine). NAC is N-acetyl-cysteine, so it is a source. MSM too.
>
> > I guess something like magnesium sulfate is different?? I have epsom salt baths but they always make me very tired after..actually usually drift in and out of sleep in the bath. Note sure if that's the sulfates or just the relaxation.
>
> More likely the magnesium. It is taken in transcutaneously, though only slightly. Sulphates are not a good metabolic source of sulphur, as they're already fully oxidized (SO4--).
>
> >
> > Lar mentioned sulfur stuff to me last year too re thyroid hormones.
> >
> > Another cholesterol path
> > http://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway/map/map00120.html
> > needs that NADPH again and oxygen
> > "With NADH or NADPH as one donor, and incorporation of one atom of
> > oxygen"
> >
> >
> > I thought that CoQ10 (ubiquinone) should be somewhere around cholesterol too? as the drugs that inhibit cholesterol synthesis also stop CoQ10 synthesis? But I can't find the link there.
> >
> > Jan
>
> The statin drugs do block CoQ10. That may be the mechanism of some of the side effects. You're likely going to see recommendations to supplement CoQ10 with statin drugs.
>
> Lar
Posted by Simus on October 31, 2004, at 1:13:41
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » Simus, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 10:26:09
http://www.ohsuhealth.com/pituitary/patients/hormone.asp
>
> LarLarry,
First of all, it is wonderful to hear from you again!
That site you posted started me down another path of research, and I have found much to my amazement that I fit the Cushing's Disease profile to a tee. Now I am trying to figure out if what I thought was adrenal fatigue from some unknown cause could actually be a pituitary tumor releasing too much ACTH, thereby causing adrenal problems. Does that make any sense??? Now I have a question of lesser concern, but it could be related. I have had nasal blockage to some degree my whole life. At times I can easily breath through one nostril but the other air flow through the other nostril is almost completely blocked. But then it can switch to partial restriction of air through both nostrils. Could this possibly be from a pituitary tumor pressing on the sinuses/airways?
Also, if a person has Cushing's Disease, would taking the new cortisol-restricting supplement be beneficial or harmful?
Any help would be appreciated.
Simus
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 31, 2004, at 8:21:07
In reply to Cushings??? Help! » Larry Hoover, posted by Simus on October 31, 2004, at 1:13:41
> http://www.ohsuhealth.com/pituitary/patients/hormone.asp
> >
> > Lar
>
> Larry,
>
> First of all, it is wonderful to hear from you again!Thank you. Back with a blast, eh?
> That site you posted started me down another path of research, and I have found much to my amazement that I fit the Cushing's Disease profile to a tee. Now I am trying to figure out if what I thought was adrenal fatigue from some unknown cause could actually be a pituitary tumor releasing too much ACTH, thereby causing adrenal problems. Does that make any sense???
It makes sense all right. Pituitary problems are often first diagnosed by the patient.
If Cushing's is associated with literal adrenal fatigue (one option in your intuitive response), then it has caused your adrenals to fail from overwork. However, bizarre as it may sound, both overactive and underactive adrenals cause fatigue.
What to do about it? Work your way around that site, as it is very well put together. Pay some attention to this link:
http://www.ohsuhealth.com/pituitary/patients/find_out.asp
The first investigation needs to be cortisol monitoring, both total urinary and sequential serum levels, to check diurnal output.
> Now I have a question of lesser concern, but it could be related. I have had nasal blockage to some degree my whole life. At times I can easily breath through one nostril but the other air flow through the other nostril is almost completely blocked. But then it can switch to partial restriction of air through both nostrils. Could this possibly be from a pituitary tumor pressing on the sinuses/airways?
Very unlikely. Pituitary tumours can have effects on vision, as the pituitary is close by the optical chiasm (an X-shaped (Greek for X is chi) structure where the optic nerve crosses over to the opposite side of the brain). You probably have sinuses with poor drainage. If you get head colds from hell, you should probably see an ENT doctor.
> Also, if a person has Cushing's Disease, would taking the new cortisol-restricting supplement be beneficial or harmful?
Probably would make you feel worse, if you're thinking about using licorice, for example. The adrenals would still be pumping out hormones, and the licorice would extend their half-life, making it seem like the adrenals were releasing even more hormones than they are.
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> SimusFirst bit, is to consider a well thought out plan of action. Bursting into a doctor's office with the declaration that you have Cushing's may not be met with the enthusiasm you wish to see.
I propose, to the best of your ability, to consider each of the symptoms of adrenal/pituitary dysfunction separately, and write down when the symptom started, how it affects you, how it responds to increased stress in your life, and so on. You want to paint a picture that even a dismissive doctor will have to take into account.
Also, at the outset, you must consider that you want to soon find a doctor with extensive experience in treating this disorder, if it is verified. Pituitary tumours are almost always benign (non-spreading), and tiny (seldom as big as a pea), but they are very hard to reach (just in front of a line between your ears, directly in line with the tip of your nose). And there may be non-surgical options, too.
The treatment for Cushing's can be debilitating, as the body winds down from being under ACTH stress. ACTH does more than signal the adrenals to produce hormones. It is a systemic hormone.
I'm both relieved and saddened if you have found your answer. Solving your problem is itself a problem.
If you want to bounce some ideas around, I have babblemail on. I'll give you my email address there, rather than posting it.
Good luck,
Lar
Posted by JLx on October 31, 2004, at 10:14:46
In reply to Re: licorice, DLPA » JLx, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 12:25:28
Posted by JLx on October 31, 2004, at 10:38:21
In reply to Re: Vitamin D » JLx, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 12:23:00
> > Hi Lar,
> >
> > I read the links but didn't grasp much. You did mean 4000 and not 400 I presume which is way more than we've been recommended. I've always heard 4-800 IU per day.
>
> Absolutely. I meant 4,000 IU/day. What got people looking back at vitamin D was the link between sun exposure and multiple sclerosis. The link turned out to be vitamin D. There was also a concurrent examination of the link between vitamin D and osteoporosis, and voila! they figured out that the RDA was deficient altogether. Rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency, is on the rise in the United States. Seriously.I'd heard that! And it's outrageous, isn't it? Makes you wonder just how much some parents are paying attention.
> > Is there a preferred type? Right now I'm taking a A and D combo, from fish liver oil, of 10,000 and 400 respectively but I don't want to just take more of that, do I? And increase the Vit A by that much?
>
> No, you don't want to increase the A any more. Just add in some more D. Any type will do.
> > I'm concerned about osteoporosis as I don't drink milk any more. I also take magnesium, boron, Vit. K and only a little calcium (because it makes me crazy!) with osteoporosis in mind. My mother has it, she's in her 70's.
> >
> > JL
>
> Maybe with extra vitamin D your response to calcium will diminish.
>
> LarHmm...really? That's interesting. It's not as pronounced as it was when I first quit taking/eating so much calcium and started supplementing with magnesium, but it's still bothersome at least by supplement. Eating calcium rich foods doesn't seem to bother me.
I'm going to start adding Vit D and I'll find out. Thanks, Larry.
JL
Posted by raybakes on October 31, 2004, at 10:52:10
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » raybakes, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 12:10:34
>
> All enzymes work equally well in both directions. The limiting factors are the relative concentrations of the raw materials and the products. Your body makes most enzymes work in one direction only by near instantaneously removing the products.
>
thanks Lar, that's exactly what Jan said! I thought there had to be specific enzymes to go one way or the other..Ray
Posted by raybakes on October 31, 2004, at 13:13:19
In reply to Re: Supplements for brain fog? » raybakes, posted by Larry Hoover on October 30, 2004, at 11:51:21
> > I'm finding there's not enough vitamin D in fish oil for me. I use halibut oil (not sure if it's liver or not) for vitamin A, but don't know if it's any better than cod? It's the mercury and PCB content that really concerns me more than the fish.
>
> No mercury in fish oils. Mercury binds to protein, and all protein is removed from fish oils of all types. PCBs and pesticides etc. may or may not be an issue. Those are fat soluble, and different brands have different amounts.
>
> http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/26diox.pdf
>
> http://www.fsai.ie/surveillance/food/surveillance_food_summarydioxins.asp
>
>
> Oh, off topic, but dietary measures to reduce inflammatory response:
> http://www.itmonline.org/arts/lox.htm
>
Thanks Lar, it was a fish oil supplier that told me that most brands have high levels of mercury! Thanks for the article on eicosanoids too, I found it yesterday too while looking up asthma links for a friend!! The theory about aspirin intolerance and asthma increasing leukotriene synthesis was interesting - do you think that's true - I wondered whether it was due to poor sulphation?
Ray
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