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hypothalamic - pit uitary axis

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Posted 6/29/2016 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
I was just reading Burrascano's paper, and he talks about the hypothalamic - pituitary axis malfunctioning due to chronic lyme disease.

I am pretty sure this is what I have. Chronic lyme disease that affect the brain. Has anyone else who has neurolyme found a drug cocktail that helps the hypothalamic - pit uitary axis issue? My guess would be that steroids play a role in the axis, but I've heard that lymies aren't supposed to take steroids due to the weakening of the immune system.

He says this: Varying degrees of pituitary insufficiency are being seen in these patients, the correction of which has resulted in restoration of energy, stamina and libido, and resolution of persistent hypotension.

This seems to suggest there is some sort of a treatment out there for "pituitary insufficiency", but I wonder what it is.

I could sure use some energy back.

Post Edited (gfields) : 6/28/2016 11:18:17 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/29/2016 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
He also mentions Methylcobalamin. Has anyone here tried this? He says you can use this for neurological symptoms. I guess it's related to B12.
Posted 6/29/2016 7:31 AM (GMT 0)
Methylcobalamin - is methylated B12
Posted 6/29/2016 9:58 AM (GMT 0)
Many nutritional deficiencies contribute to HPA axis issues. The goal is to increase the levels of these deficient nutrients back to standard levels. You first must determine what elements that are low. I used the Doctor's Data Urine Amino Acid Test and a Urine Toxic and Essential Elements Test. That showed me where I stood and what I needed to increase or decrease. I saw I needed to increase my levels of selenium, zinc, copper, chromium, manganese, and vanadium.................and I thought I was eating good! We must adjust what we eat to correct our deficiencies. Unless you know your deficiencies, you can't do that.
Posted 6/29/2016 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
I use methylcobalmin daily. It's the only one that seems to help me.

As for the pituitary issues, a person must get all the hormones that they are low in supported is the only treatment. I believe it's thought that once Lyme heals, the pituitary gland will recover, but some may need to take hormones the rest of their life if they pituitary doesn't come back fully.

www.hormone.org/questions-and-answers/2013/hypopituitarism
Posted 7/4/2016 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Is there some special treatment for this issue, which can support pituitary gland, or it is resolved when Lyme is resolved?
Posted 7/4/2016 8:16 PM (GMT 0)

blueberrymuffin said...
Is there some special treatment for this issue, which can support pituitary gland, or it is resolved when Lyme is resolved?

Even without Lyme, everyone should support a healthy pituitary gland.

2-3 servings of fruits per day, 5-7 servings of vegetables, 3-4 servings of proteins vitamin E, and Vitamin A and omega 3.

I can attest that all these are important, but I saw the greatest quality of restoration when I started supplementing Vitamin A and my numbers increasing. My doctor has me on a liquid formula, 10 drops per day.
Posted 7/4/2016 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you I will include vitamin A in my protocol.

Do you think liquid is better than capsules?
Posted 7/4/2016 8:35 PM (GMT 0)

blueberrymuffin said...
Thank you I will include vitamin A in my protocol.

Do you think liquid is better than capsules?

I guess it depends on your rate of absorption. I seem to be doing very well with the liquid. I do them sublingual, hold for about 15 seconds and swallow. Though, you can try the capsules as well.

I was doing a blend of vitamins in powder form from nutramedix which had 10,000 IU but it wasn't taking, so my doctor recommended the liquid A because he said he has had tremendous success with his patients. I would recommend having your Vitamin A levels checked first, especially if you are going to consume more than the recommended amount. My doctor prescribed 25,000 to bring my levels up.
Posted 7/4/2016 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have secondary adrenal insufficiency, secondary Addison's, which is due to pituitary malfunction.

The steroid dose I take is replacing what my body would normally make. I think Burrascano is talking about the mega-doses of steroids that are prescribed.
Posted 7/5/2016 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Yazz aka Boyd,

My daughter has been well for 5-6 years, but she was diagnosed with "secondary adrenal nsufficiency" 3.5 years ago. She takes bioidentical replacement hydrocortisol in "physiological doses".

The extremes of too little or too much cortisol is what is dangerous. Normal cortisol levels are associated with good health and a competent immune system. You are quite correct!

Don
Posted 7/15/2016 9:05 AM (GMT 0)

gfields said...
I was just reading Burrascano's paper, and he talks about the hypothalamic - pituitary axis malfunctioning due to chronic lyme disease.

I am pretty sure this is what I have. Chronic lyme disease that affect the brain. Has anyone else who has neurolyme found a drug cocktail that helps the hypothalamic - pit uitary axis issue? My guess would be that steroids play a role in the axis, but I've heard that lymies aren't supposed to take steroids due to the weakening of the immune system.

He says this: Varying degrees of pituitary insufficiency are being seen in these patients, the correction of which has resulted in restoration of energy, stamina and libido, and resolution of persistent hypotension.

This seems to suggest there is some sort of a treatment out there for "pituitary insufficiency", but I wonder what it is.

I could sure use some energy back.

Hi,

I couldn't work out how to send a private message, but was just curious if you had looked into this further?

HPA-axis failure is one of my worst issues. I tried Hydrocortisone, but didn't really like it. I know Dr Mariano (a neuropsychoendocrinologist) likes low doses of SSRIs to alleviate inflammation and bolster the HPA, but I can't tolerate them.

My thyroid is elevated, which I know will wreck the HPA as well; however, addressing the thyroid didn't really work either.

My hope was that clearing a possible infection could possibly resolve the issue, but maybe that's wishful thinking.
Posted 7/15/2016 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
To send a private message, just click on the little envelop under the person's screen name on the left of the post. If it's lit up in blue (like mine), they have listed their email address, if it's not lit up in blue, then they haven't enabled their email address.

Clearing these infections will help, but you need the support (if you can find one that works) during treatment as well. Have you ever tried an adaptogenic herb for the thyroid and adrenals? I'm using ashwagandha (thanks to the good folks on this forum!!) and it's been a big help to me. I still have to take adrenal and thyroid supporting meds, but the ashwagandha really has helped.
Posted 7/15/2016 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Gfields
Dysfunction within the HPA axis (which involves 3 distinct organs) can be a little complicated and you're probably better off testing for specific info so you have a better idea of what levels to target. Naturopaths are your best bet - endocrinologists generally don't have this training, although are helpful if you should have, say, thyroid cancer.

The HPA are also interconnected - it's your pituitary that generates signals to the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones that are required for numerous functions throughout the body. Neurotransmitters are also using associated chemicals and hormones to function normally.

A 24-hr saliva test can help you understand how your adrenals and neurotransmitters are functioning (incl. cortisol) and I would also ask for a thorough thyroid work up, which includes T4, T3, Reverse T4 & T3 and Free T4 and T3. You'll also get TSH by default but make sure that isn't the only level that is checked. TSH is the hormone produced by the pituitary that signals the thyroid to produce the other T4 & T3 versionS.
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3665057&g=3665506#m3665506

There are other specific tests for pituitary, should results start leaning toward pituitary dysfunction but most of them have clear symptoms.

There are multiple forms of B12 due to methylation issues people have. So you'll see cyanicobalamin (synthetic), hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin, etc. that are basically B12 broken down into simpler versions for the body to metabolize. you can do a search for other conversations about B12 versions. Without knowing what your specific methylation issues might be, you might need to test out different versions to see what works best for you.

Hope this is helpful -

-p
Posted 7/15/2016 5:42 PM (GMT 0)

Traveler said...
To send a private message, just click on the little envelop under the person's screen name on the left of the post. If it's lit up in blue (like mine), they have listed their email address, if it's not lit up in blue, then they haven't enabled their email address.

Clearing these infections will help, but you need the support (if you can find one that works) during treatment as well. Have you ever tried an adaptogenic herb for the thyroid and adrenals? I'm using ashwagandha (thanks to the good folks on this forum!!) and it's been a big help to me. I still have to take adrenal and thyroid supporting meds, but the ashwagandha really has helped.

Thanks.

Yeah, my body is so sensitive, I can't tolerate anything. If I try to lower cortisol, then a lot of my neuro-symptoms get worse, weirdly .. i.e. the rocking, sinking, off-balance feelings etc. I don't think those symptoms are inherent to low cortisol, so I wonder why. Maybe they are part of POTS or connected to the thyroid (since lowering cortisol affects the thyroid too). I tried Ashwagandha and the air-hunger was unbearable, I thought I was suffocating .. again, anything that lowers cortisol does that to me. Rhodiola also made me worse.

I tried some other herbs but never had much luck .. felt like they crashed me. HC was no good either. I've become so sensitive to everything. Hence, my only hope at this point was possibly working on the infections, whatever they might be.
Posted 7/15/2016 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, I'm so sorry for the position you are in. Keep on looking for answers though, the are out there!!

A really good LLMD might have some of these answers, if you can find one and get in to see them. A really good Lyme literate herbalist might be of help as well - just some things to keep in mind. They will know a lot more than we do about the possible ways to help you.
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