Posted 8/16/2014 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
gingeranne—
Cortisol is part of the "fight-or-flight" response, along with a neurotransmitter epinephrine. When it's elevated for longer than healthy, the resulting biochemical and hormonal imbalances can be challenging—especially for those of us who need to be fighting the lyme. It affects your immune system, makes your heart work harder, affects how you metabolize sugar, affects GI & inflammation, and the hormonal disruption can impact a whole boatload of symptoms.
It's a little more informative if you test your cortisol levels throughout the day. This is a simple saliva test that you take 4 times 5 hrs a part in one day. It's not cheap but your cortisol is supposed to help you jump start your day, peak in mid-day (noonish) then gradually fall towards bedtime in a parabolic shape (like the profile of a mushroom top). Most people who have cortisol issues have imbalances where it's too high when it should be low, or too low when it should be high—not just "too high" or "too low". Treatment is also specific to your personal condition. It's a good indicator for adrenal exhaustion, too. These tests usually also measure adrenals and DHEA levels, which help add context.
I would agree w/ Girlie that your cortisol levels are likely due to other hormonal imbalances that are common w/ the lyme infection(s). When your cortisol gets high, it's likely that your adrenals are overtaxed and need support—adrenal exhaustion is quite dangerous. But most people have pretty clear signs of adrenal exhaustion (extreme fatigue, for one). I was at that point and still working a 12-hr day and didn't think they were that bad but they were. It gets a little complicated—I think there are other factors at play but I was running on pure adrenaline, basically. And other neurotransmitter imbalances were at full force, as well. I eventually crashed—hard.
Anyway, the supps Girlie mentioned are probably effective. Interestingly, I don't think I tried any of them—I was on others. But you might benefit from understanding more holistically what is going on besides just high cortisol. Ironically, most MDs and endocrinologists haven't a clue how to help—it's best to work with an ND on these issues.
When I've had my cortisol tested it usually starts low in the AM and never really rises until bedtime—completely opposite of what it should be doing. My previous ND kept telling me it was stress and she put me on a couple different supplements (Isocort to help boost in first part of day) and Cortisol PM at night to help lower it, plus Adaptogen to support adrenals and Lord knows what else—I forget. Nothing ever worked because we weren't approaching it holistically. And, like you said, there is some stress you can control and some stress that is just part of life. I could also never get my neurotransmitters leveled out (methylation issues due to a DNA mutation) and if your neurotransmitter levels are out of whack (like epinephrine) you're never going to be able to "destress", and the cycle continues. AND—we didn't know about the lyme, which definitely stresses the body physiologically and psychologically, as you well know.
Now knowing that I have some DNA mutations that will prohibit methylization and impact hormone production, plus working with a different ND, I'm on a better path. I am taking some Methyl B12 and increased my thyroid meds, which has helped with energy levels during the day and help not to overtax adrenals. I bet if I tested my cortisol levels now, they would be better. I'm also sleeping better at night so they must be better at night too. I understand your situation is quite different but just wanted to share my experience that cortisol production is part of a larger picture.
Hope this helps!
-p