Health Update: Worrisome diagnosis, promising progress
I visited Portland with Keith today and, although we had a great meeting at the corporate office about our project, I stopped at lunchtime to visit Dr. Lommen again and review the lab results collected after my last visit.
It turns out that elevated cholesterol is the least of my problems. My level of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is really high. DHEA is a hormone that is related to testosterone and estrogen and evidently plays a part in cortisol production (in other words, critical to proper operation of your body). A bit of research indicates that DHEA is the "Snake Oil of the 90s" and thought to be a "Fountain of Youth". Based on the claims by the people selling DHEA nutritional supplements, the level of DHEA in my body should make me feeling young and looking thin. Yeah, right!
Evidently, my DHEA is so high because both my testosterone and my cortisol are extremely low and my body is trying to increase production in my adrenal gland, which it's working. The low cortisol explains my energy level since it's the hormone that leads to adrenalin and gives you energy to get though the day. A graph of my cortisol shows almost a flat-line through the day, whereas it's supposed to start high and last through the day. No wonder I've felt like I'm flat-lining every day... I am in a certain respect.
The terms for my separate, but related, conditions are "adrenal failure" or "adrenal fatigue" and "metabolic syndrome" (although I don't have most of the classic symptoms: obesity, hypertension and insulin resistance).
It sounds kind of scary, but I'm happy Dr. Lommen has a plan in mind. I'm going to be starting cortisol replacement and testosterone injections, among other things. It may take 3 months for my testosterone level to provide any improvement in my symptoms and probably 6 to 12 months for my adrenal function to return to a useful level. That's a while, but I spent that long just waiting for a return call from the last specialist I saw.
It's progress... at last.
good luck. i hope you finally start feeling better
Comment by roshua — 05/07/2005 9:43 AM
[...] uote), she was very agreeable today. Even though I've started all the pills and shots that Dr. Lommen recommended, my energy level is still very [...]
Pingback by Following Edge » House, Health and Herman — 05/10/2005 8:37 PM
[...] As reported previously, my new doctor started me on a number of treatments to correct my extreme fatigue, including Testosterone injections. The treatments have really helped my energy level, even though it's only been two months and full results aren't expected for six to twelve months, at least. [...]
Pingback by Following Edge » Testosterone Preocupation — 07/01/2005 8:59 PM
[...] Just a chicken update tonight. I'm sorry to say that I continue to be much more tired than I should, even though life has been a bit quieter with Lauren away with Grandma for a few of the recent days. I am sure that it's a health problem. I called Dr. Lommen and she wants to get another blood test to see if we need to re-increase my testosterone injection. Regrettably, my next testosterone shot will not be for 2 weeks, so, that's the soonest I might see some change. But, at least there's a good hope and things are better than they were earlier this year. [...]
Pingback by Following Edge » Just a chicken update — 08/17/2005 9:00 PM
Did you take saliva test? My naturopath doctor suggested me to take hormone test from saliva sample.
I have low cortisol and high DHEAS level, low progesterone. However my Testrosterone is in range.
Are you planning on taking herbs or natural identical cream? Please let me know how are u doing? Next week I am meeting my doctor in Portland to disucss my lab report.
Thanks,
Roopali
Comment by Roopali — 11/05/2005 2:08 PM
I hope you are still doing better - my wife had a bad experience with adrenal supplementation.
Comment by Vitamin Manufacturers — 06/06/2008 6:30 AM