Re: What could this mean--high cortisol levels!
From: Barbra (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 26 Feb 2002 04:03:01 -0600 (CST)
At Mon, 25 Feb 2002, Belle wrote:
>
Belle,
This was an informative post.
I am currently on Ketoconazole and was told it blocks the adrenal
production of cortisol..My understanding from my doctor ,is that it is
anti-fungal.
In reference to this part of the post on Cushings...
Adrenal carcinomas (cancer) can be cured if removed early.
Unfortunately, they are usually discovered after they have already
spread
beyond the adrenal gland and are then not curable. Chemotherapy
including o, p'DDD and other medicines are often used to try to
control the tumor but do not cure it. The excess cortisol production
can be controlled with o, p'DDD or by other medications like
those mentioned for ectopic ACTH production: metyrapone,
aminoglutethimide and ketoconazole. These medicines can be used to
treat any form of inoperable or incurable Cushing's Syndrome, including
Cushing's disease, but they can have serious side effects
and require very careful monitoring and balancing with steroid hormone
replacement therapies. Surgical cure of the primary cause of
the Cushing's Syndrome is always the best, if possible.
>I am not aware of any studies that indicate insulin resistance is caused
>by cortisol levels, but I am aware that increased cortisol levels will
>raise your blood sugar by stimulating your body to increase those
>levels.
>IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT I HAVE AN ADRENAL TUMOUR?or Cushings?No-one will elaborate and I am not on any steroids.
I AM EXTREMELY CONFUSED,AS I HAVE NOT HAD ALL THE TESTS MENTIONED IN
THIS POST AND DO PRESENT WITH ALOT OF THE SIGNS.I HAVE A VERY
MASCULINE,MUSCULAR BODY NOW...I didn"t before!MY FACE IS MOON SHAPED AND
I HAVE THIS BLOATED BELLY.
THEY WERE RULING OUT THE PHEOCHROMATOMA(I know my spelling is incorrect
here),but am constantly told that it is my pituitary gland causing alot
of problems,yet I have to wait months to get the brain scans or whatever
else the doctor has requested.This leaves me wondering alot.Dhea's
now....here are the latest results.......17.3 (1.2-7.3 micromoles/L),,,I
am in Canada and I cannot make heads nor tails out of this.I was told
the bracket numbers indicate results within normal limits,so it would be
accepable for me to think that this is very high?Now my latest free
androgen index is 15.5 (0.55-4.40),,again,the brackets indicate
normal...again,is it wise to assume these are very high?
My testosterone is now 3.0(>2 nanomoles/litre)....can you give me
advice,as getting the advice from the specialist is like pulling teeth.I
have tried researching these results to no avail.
Thanking you in advance for the time and effort put into answering each
and every post!
>I do not know if you have seen this page or not. It is the best page
>that I have seen on Cushing's Syndrome (and other adrenal problems). The
>symptoms of Cushing's can be very similar to PCOS.
>
>http://www.medhelp.org/nadf/
>
>At Mon, 25 Feb 2002, cat wrote:
>>
>>I wondered if I had cushings because I have accumulaiton of fat all on
>>my belly and also on my back and shoulders (buffalo hump), with fairly
>>normal size arms, legs etc. I have been trying to find out if high
>>testosterone alone causes this, but everything I've read says it is high
>>cortisol.
>>
>>How does insulin resistance cause high cortisol? Is it because it is a
>>form of stress? And are there any drugs or other ways to reduce
>>cortisol? If you correct the insulin resistance by taking metformin does
>>the cortisol reduce?
>>
>>Thanks for any help,
>>
>>--
>>Cat xxx
>
>--
>Hope this helps,
>
>Belle
>
--
Gentle hugs to all,
Barbra Camara
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