Hello everyone, I have been browsing through some of the recent postings and thought that I might be able to add a few tips of my own.
I also have Heavy metal toxicity Mary Ellen. Specifically mercury and I am very sick from it.
I have Primary Addisons, hypothyroidism, female hormone problems, candida and a load of other stuff - ALL because of the mercury toxicity. I was diagnosed with ME 13 years ago and fibro too. I also have Ehlers-Danlos-Syndrome type III (hypermobilty type).
What I am realising is that I may possibly have other issues such as stealth viruses, lyme, biotoxins or whatever, but until I get the mercury out of my body I am never going to get better anyway.
Like many here I have spent so much money on trying to find out how to get better and on supplements etc. I had to diagnose most of these things myself before I ever got any help from Doctors.
I am now following the Andrew Cutler protocol for mercury removal as I firmly believe this is the most safe and scientifically sound protocol there is. (Having done my research of course!) But there are many dangerous protocols out there and I would like to warn those of you here who are also mercury toxic to be very very careful and do your own very thorough research.
Also, I have found, both from personal experience and that of others that Endocrinologists are often not the best Doctors to treat Addisons. Just my opinion and I’m sure there are people who are doing very well under the care of one! But sometimes a very knowledgable Naturopath or Anti-aging (bio-identical hormone using) Doctor may be of more help. I know of so many people who are kept sick by well meaning Endo’s just because they are not on the right dose of HC or Prednisolone or whatever. Lab tests can be very unreliable and as someone else said, all the hormones MUST be balanced at the same time.
This is especially true of the Thyroid which works very very closely with the Adrenals so if one is out of balance so will the other one be. Undiagnosed hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism for example can have a severe effect on the adrenal glands and is a major stress factor. And Endo’s only diagnose and treat Thyroid disease with lab tests rather than clinical judgement and patient signs and symptoms. (there is good info on this at www.stopthethyroidmadness.com). Many folk are walking around with obvious hypothyroidism and yet they can’t get any treatment because the lab tests say they are fine! Lab tests don’t tell you how your body personally metabolises things and endo’s don’t have any idea what other hormone problems, or toxicities or whatever might be lurking in your body and stressing your adrenals, causing you to need more cortisol than other people.
One other thing - someone was asking about how to get over the morning lows. As our natural cortisol would normally be highest in the morning this is when we need the most. Sometimes it helps to take a little bit of Prednisolone at nightime so that there is still some left in your system when you wake in the morning. But not too much as it may keep you awake.
Alternatively, if it’s a big problem, I would set my alarm to wake me an hour or so before I am due to get up and take the medication then.
I had big problems with hydrocortisone because I metabolise it so quickly. It would wear off within two and a half hours for me! I had to change to prednisolone and even that I have to take three times a day because it wears off quicker than in most people too. But this is a problem probably caused by the mercury affecting my liver metabolism. Some of you may find the same thing happens.
Basically, one size doesn’t fit all and we are all different. Even the dosages of adrenal meds we need to take can vary hugely. Which is why I have to disagree with people who say that the replacement dose should be the same for everyone - it’s just not. It doesn’t matter how big or small you are, it’s about personal metabolism and genes. A Tiny woman may need more than a big man - or vice versa. One person may have many more natural stressors in their life than another person.
Hope this helps someone 
Vanessa
