I am not overweight; I am a 27 yr old male that is 6'2" and 180 lbs. Other than my "anxiety" symptoms in this thread I am healthy and fit.
I've had all of the symptoms mentioned in this thread my entire life from what I remember. Even when I was a small child I had racing thoughts and bowel issues at least. That attached cortisol test was the only one I ever had done.
I do not know what my blood pressure is in the morning.
I went to my PCP for "anxiety issues" about a month ago and got some blood work done. I got a call that everything was normal but I will get the results and check exactly was tested. It's possible that the lipid profile was done.
If you have had high cortisol all your life, and your symptoms point to that, then it could be genetics or some trauma in early life, which has caused a high stress level and the mind is responding unconciously in a similar way to someone who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD).
This 4 Part article from a woman who had the same problems of high cortisol all her life may strike a few chords with you,though not all her symptoms such as weight gain. At 27 your metabolic rate and diet could be preventing weight increase.
If you have had high cortisol all your life, and your symptoms point to that, then it could be genetics or some trauma in early life, which has caused a high stress level and the mind is responding unconciously in a similar way to someone who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD).
This 4 Part article from a woman who had the same problems of high cortisol all her life may strike a few chords with you,though not all her symptoms such as weight gain. At 27 your metabolic rate and diet could be preventing weight increase.
That is amazing; I can't thank you enough! EVERYTHING mentioned in that article sounds exactly like me. I just ordered the Seriphos and hope it at least helps, if not "cures" my cortisol and symptoms.
I do not suffer from PTSD and do not have a high stress life; it's got to be mainly genetics. My family (mainly Mother, but Father and Grandfather also) does have "anxiety" issues and were never tested for cortisol or anything as most PCP's have no clue about that and other important issues, at least from the doctors that I have been to in the last few years. And my Mother can also agree that no SSRI's have helped her symptoms either.
I will keep this thread updated as I begin the Seriphos.
It certainly looks like high cortisol runs in your family.
Before trying Seriphos this article may help with dosages and timings which you may have to adjust with experience. Contact them if you have questions.
Some studies on using Seriphos starting at page 6 here. Its worth noting in this article they claim that 5HTP and ashwaganda INCREASE cortisol levels, which you may want to consider.
It certainly looks like high cortisol runs in your family.
Before trying Seriphos this article may help with dosages and timings which you may have to adjust with experience. Contact them if you have questions.
Some studies on using Seriphos starting at page 6 here. Its worth noting in this article they claim that 5HTP and ashwaganda INCREASE cortisol levels, which you may want to consider.
I am definitely going to research the dosage and times before taking any Seriphos.
I also plan on eliminating all non vitamin/mineral supplements so there are no possible counteractions and fully realize the effects of using only one supplement at a time.
So it's been about 2 months since I stopped taking Effexor XR and all prescriptions. I've stopped all supplements except for my B complex, C, GABA at night, and Omega 3.
I got a bottle of Seriphos and have been taking one in the morn and one in the evening, with no noticeable results. I'm going to start taking them as the one article mentions: 1 around dinner and 2 in the evening before bed.
Truthfully I feel no different than when I was taking the Effexor. The withdrawl from Effexor still occurs a bit now and again. I have the "brain shocks" which are very odd and get annoying. I gradually lowered my dose of Effexor for about a month and after that took some left over Prozac, which seemed to help. It felt like the brain zaps disappeared until recently when I started taking the Seriphos.
I still feel (even on Effexor) extremely anxious nearly all day, for no reason. My stomach and chest is tight, I pick my hands (OCD-like), my bowels are never regular, I physically cannot get up early in the morning for work, I get extremely lethargic in the late afternoon and require a nap to regain energy, and I am always having racing thoughts. I am very uncomfortable in life and have researched and tried many things. Normal PCP doctors have no clue what to do and tell me to just keep going to the Psych, which I have not done as all they do is prescribe pills and get very expensive. Maybe they're not all bad but the 2 in have visited in the past 3 years were like that. I get very moody and get waves of deep depression to euphoria, sometimes within the same few minutes, sometimes depending on the situation and what my racing thoughts are thinking about.
I sure hope the Seriphos helps with the change in dosage and schedule.
If you have not noticed improvement within another week then Seriphos is not going to help you.
Checking your test results shows low histamine, high copper and low serotonin. These could indicate a a disease called pyroluria which is caused by a faulty genetic process in hemoglobin formation which causes low levels of Zinc and Vitamin B6. This procedure is not mentioned in big pharma mental health treatments (no big drug markups).
This could be your problem as your family also might be carriers of pyroluria if they suffer anxiety problems.
As far as the high cortisol is concerned ,this could be caused by the high inflammation in your body caused by the high copper level and subsequent oxidative stress which causes the adrenal glands to secrete high cortisol in an attempt to counteract the high inflammation.
You can get test kits for pyroluria by mail but I would recommend that you get tested by a naturopath who can suggest dosages and monitor your progress.
Thank you for the great response. This is all information that I never came across in my timeless researches and something a normal doctor would't know, from what I've seen.
I'm taking the Seriphos at night so I'll see if any results happen by the time the bottle is finished. As of right now I don't feel different other than my normal anxiety/mood swings.
The explanation and symptoms of the pyroluria seem very accurate as to my symptoms and life. It can also by why all of the meds and supplements only masked or didn't affect my symptoms and anxiety.
I just ordered the pyroluria test and will post the results of that once returned. If it comes out as positive I will then find a doc in my area that is hopefully knowledgable of this to get professional help.
Whatever the result of the pyroluric test I recommend that you get a Hair Mineral Tissue Analysis (HTMA) Test.
This test not only gives you a clear picture of what is happening on all 16 main minerals (including copper and zinc) in body tissues, but also the extent of heavy metal contamination which affects all people in todays world.
Getting rid of excess copper requires adequate amounts of a binding protein called ceruloplasmin formed in the liver, which also also needs healthy adrenal glands to form this enzyme.
Besides providing a mineral blueprint of glandular activity, a hair tissue mineral analysis can provide pertinent information about one's metabolic rate, energy levels, sugar and carbohydrate tolerance, stage of stress and immune system.
I received my results back from the Pyroluria test:
Patient was not taking Vitamin B or Zinc 24-48 hours prior to specimen collection
PROCEDURE KRYPTOPYRROLE (URINE) CORRECTED (calculated) **
RESULT: 10.33 High
PROCEDURE KRYPTOPYRROLE (URINE) UNCORRECTED (actual)
RESULT: 4.25
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 1.007
KRYPTOPYRROLE REFERENCE RANGES:
Optimal Range 0-10 mcg/dl
Borderline Pyroluria 10-20, may benefit from treatment depending on symptoms
Pyroluria 20 and above, especially if symptoms are present.
Should this "above optimal" result be treated?
Other than a few days before doing this test, I have been taking a Bcomplex and zinc. I still have good and bad days but I almost want to say that I have been feeling better overall. And, I have been remembering some of my dreams, which from what i've read is a positive working from the zinc.
What is a good specific form/band of B6 and zinc to be taking?
According to Dr Edward Group, orotate is the best form of zinc. Only real opinion i could find. Advanced Research was the brand I wound up with at around $11 for 60mg/200 tabs.
I received my results back from the Pyroluria test:
Patient was not taking Vitamin B or Zinc 24-48 hours prior to specimen collection
PROCEDURE KRYPTOPYRROLE (URINE) CORRECTED (calculated) **
RESULT: 10.33 High
PROCEDURE KRYPTOPYRROLE (URINE) UNCORRECTED (actual)
RESULT: 4.25
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 1.007
KRYPTOPYRROLE REFERENCE RANGES:
Optimal Range 0-10 mcg/dl
Borderline Pyroluria 10-20, may benefit from treatment depending on symptoms
Pyroluria 20 and above, especially if symptoms are present.
Should this "above optimal" result be treated?
Other than a few days before doing this test, I have been taking a Bcomplex and zinc. I still have good and bad days but I almost want to say that I have been feeling better overall. And, I have been remembering some of my dreams, which from what i've read is a positive working from the zinc.
What is a good specific form/band of B6 and zinc to be taking?
I've already given you my advice that you should have a Hair Mineral Test (TMA) which would enable you to get an accurate test of your minerals in the tissues which is totally different than serum blood levels.
Most people in your position are also low in magnanese and magnesium as well and taking any or all of these minerals, as well as B6, for long periods on their own can create mineral imbalances.
Minerals dont operate in the body on their own but are directly related in optimum ratios and when these are upset by guesswork supplementation taken over a long period you can swop one health problem for a worse problem.
From the diagram you can see for instance that too high a zinc dosage could lower iron levels over time and cause anemia, as well as bone problems due to lower phosphorus.
Taking individual minerals at higher dosages for long periods of time requires monitoring by hair analysis. Anything else is guesswork.
Ok. Yes, I understand and agree. It has been and still is a guessing game and I need to pinpoint everything that's wrong to see what exactly what to treat/supplement.
I think the Hair Mineral Test would be useful.
Although you have borderline pyroluria the main problem is still the very high cortisol which also seems to be reversed,ie rising in the early evening when it should be dropping.
I havent mentioned before Cushing's disease, which is caused by a tumour either on the adrenal gland itself or in the pituitary gland which makes the ACTH hormone that controls cortisol levels. Full blown Cushing's is very rare and causes quite distinct physical features but a milder version called Pseudo Cushing's, which can have none of these features is more common and usually requires an endocrinologist to diagnose it.
The reason for mentioning this is it may be one more thing that needs checking especially as you say you are not stressed out or overweight (the main reasons for high cortisol)and may have had the problem since puberty.
Is hyperthyroidism a possible culprit of all of my problems? Reason being, it seems that the right side of my neck is and has been swollen for some time. Not hugely, but enough that I can tell. What's the best test/doctor to have my thyroid checked?
Does the high DHEA from my saliva test mean anything?
Is hyperthyroidism a possible culprit of all of my problems? Reason being, it seems that the right side of my neck is and has been swollen for some time. Not hugely, but enough that I can tell. What's the best test/doctor to have my thyroid checked?
High cortisol can affect thyroid, but normally causing hypothyroidism.
Only one study I know of states cortisol can be implicated in both hypo and hyperthyroid.
High cortisol normally causes neck and shoulder pain.
All your thyroid readings, TSH,T4,T3,RT3 from your past test results are within normal range, although your TSH is slightly low which could indicate a problem in the anterior pituitary gland. If you are going to go down this path you would need to see an endocrinologist
Quote:
Does the high DHEA from my saliva test mean anything?
Cortisol/DHEA ratio indicates adrenal strength, with high cortisol you would expect a high DHEA indicating normal adrenals. High Cortisol with low DHEA would indicate adrenal exhaustion.
.
Linear Mode
