neuro inflammation, Hashi's, and autoimmunity - hydrocortisone?

Hi all,

I'm three months into abx treatment rx'd by my LLMD in Toronto. Since shortly before starting treatment, I've had adrenal issues triggered by bee venom therapy and possibly LDN, which seems to have resolved.

In Feb. my LLMD diagnosed me with Hashimoto's along with Lyme and Bart. He said my T4 and T3 are fine but my autoimmune antibodies equal Hashi's (actually he just said "autoimmune thyroid disease").

I had been seeing progress on the abx, especially once my adrenals seemingly recovered from the crash I had in early January (happened during a bee sting session).

In late March I tried a supplement called NSI-189 (still in experimental phase, don't ask how I got it) for neuro function and had a bad reaction. It seemed to set off whatever is wrong with my HPA axis, and I've had low body temp (95ish), headaches, increased tinnitus, elevated BP, bouts of labored breathing, and coldness in my right hand (but not my left).

I'm worried that the reason I responded so badly to the NSI-189 (aside from the fact that I shouldn't tinker with grey market drugs) is of some sort of inflammation of the brain, either caused by Lyme or some related autoimmune condition.

Question: I have some hydrocostisone rx'd to me by my LLND (for my adrenal issues). I never tried it, hoping the adrenal thing would resolve on its own. Would it be okay to try it given my current symptoms? Again, thinking the neuro stuff may be autoimmune. Sort of a gamble though.

Here are my labs from February, before I started antibiotics:

ALT 32 (range: <46)
TSH 1.65 (range: 0.35-5.00)
T4 FREE 20 (range: 12-22)
T3 FREE 5.4 (range: 2.6 - 5.7)

*** THYROID PEROXIDASE: 267 (range <35) !!!!!!

So, did your labs show low cortisol? I wouldn't supplement unless you have that.

Even though steroids are not recommended with Lyme...sometimes low dose of cortisone is prescribed to support the adrenals.

What is the dose of the prescription?

Iv curcumin helped my inflammation...my step dad is on low dose hydrocordasone for adrenals ..i mah need it to...try more salt extra vitc rhodilia riaannna ,ashguanda

When was your adrenal test done? Maybe another test before you start is warranted. And was it the 4 X day saliva test?


If you do start it...can you do 2.5 mg (can you split the pill twice?)

So the hydrocortisone seemed to help a little, which concerns me somewhat. I took 4mg yesterday and 5mg today. I don't want to keep taking it. Followup tests on liver and thyroid function next week. Thoughts?

Hi Toronto -

I really wouldn't experiment with any thyroid supplementation until you know exactly what you're targeting so I would definitely wait for testing and support from an ND (LLMD probably isn't the best person for this). For some, minute amounts of thyroid replacement can cause wild swings and be difficult to reverse. I would try to get in with someone else ASAP--please don't wait.

The antibody tests showed that sometimes, the lyme bacteria has been found to cross-react with thyroid tissue which triggers "molecular mimicry" or confusion by the immune system where your immune system tags an infectious agent but also attacks the thyroid tissue that it is confusing with lyme bacteria since it has a similar protein structure. But to be safe, I would post your T3 and T4 levels and there are a couple of thyroid gurus who can help double-check that they are OK.

-p