Replied by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 06/14/2013

You need to get stabilized; your living conditions are contributing to your sense of desperation. If there is not a women's shelter or government shelter visit local churches to see if any can assist you if even on a temporary basis to obtain some aid... Shelter and food... as well as some human kindness and love.

Next, since Addison's disease is adrenally related, try supplements of raw adrenal... Two per meal (six a day). The destruction of the adrenal glands can collapse the whole endrocrine system... Seven glands working in sync. Once I had real fatigue problems and I'd tried everything nutritionally. After some tests that showed I had an exhausted adrenal system, my avant guard MD put me on raw adrenal... Raw adrenal being a "glandular. " Not to be confused with "adreneline" but the glandular.

Next, the source of your problems you said began about 20 years ago and I wonder if the source was a viral or bacterial infection. Some viruses "land" in particular organs and my suggestion is that you begin ingesting with two tablespoons of colloidal silver daily (a high ppm type of silver that you can get at a health food store). Something is damaging your adrenal system and there is a lot of speculation that that something is virally related. If so you have to attack the killing agent and silver can do that.

Of course, you know the cortisol route so I won't go there. My suggestions are raw adrenal glandulars and colloidal silver to kill any virus that might be attacking your adrenals.

Replied by Joy (Battleground, Wash) on 06/14/2013

EVERYONE KNOWS THE BODY IS ALWAYS IN RESTORATION MODE. We just have to find ways to help it. YOU ARE WORTH every effort it takes you to get well and regain your life and live your dreams. Imagine yourself being well. Plan what you will do when you feel better. Get a journal and write some goals to live for.

As far as allergies go, read the watercure site and start following the procedure for salt and water intake and your histamine production will stop and so will your allergic reactions. I use to be allergic to everything. I can laugh at my life trauma and drama and release healing chemicals into my body and brain.

Dr. John Lee wrote what your doctor may not tell you about menopause and there is alot in there to help with thyroid and adrenals. Wonderful book that has helped me every day. I go to it whenever I am not sure about what I'm trying. I am overcoming lots of health issues, one day at a time.

Let your crisis become the thing that transforms your life. You are not alone. Love, Joy

Replied by Robyn (Melbourne, Australia) on 06/14/2013

Replied by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 06/15/2013

Your response to the theory I raised that you are virus infected and that is the source of attack on the adrenals is confirmed by your extensive list of viral infections. I strongly recommended colloidal silver to rid your body of viral/fungal and bacterial infections. You said that you had done all you could do in Melbourn to kill the viruses. Do you mean CS is not available to you there? CS is so simple to make and I'd be amazed if it is not available in health food stores in Australia. In fact, you would need to use CS extensively over many months to rid the body of a system wide infection. Your list of infections clearly indicate such infestation. That is a deadly situation. Viruses can kill organs. So can fungi. Silver can kill both virus and fungus. I'm sure you know that antibiotics only kill bacteria and not all bacteria. If you cannot get CS, then try the same approach with the herb "echinacia" which has been taken at the amount of five drops in a glass of water three times daily and taken over a period of three months. Some writers don't like a lot of echinacia taken for that long because it might impact the immune system they reason. But echinacia kills microbes as well as enhancing the immune system. Read about echinacia. I hope it might be available there in Australia. Surely some herbal is available that has echinacia's potent anti viral qualities used by the aborigionals of Australia. You said you'd tried all kinds of things but you also said you believed you were under attack by more virus. What have you tried so far to get on top of the virus situation? I'd be interested to know what is used in Australia to attack viruses. Apparently they haven't been too effective so far. I was amazed at the list of viruses you listed... your known list of viruses... that you've been infested with.

Replied by Robyn (Melbourne, Australia) on 06/20/2013

Replied by Goldencat (Akron,oh) on 10/02/2013

Secondary adrenal insufficiency dx = Addison's. Been sick of life, fair weather friends, poverty, etc, etc. Finally better - looking for affordable ways to get WELL all the way. Maintain on 10-20mg Prednisone/day, spiked to 50mg in a crisis, like outpatient surgery.

Have had cortisone and it doesn't work well, plus has more side effects for me.

Any chance you are ex-military or a child of, or grew up near a base? I am wondering about environmental toxins, bioweapons drift (test sites like an arsenal nearby or upwind of your home before all this - junk - started. ) Grow up near a strong source of Electromagentic radiation (EMF)? High power lines, power substation, nuclear plant, electric transformer such as the trashcan sized ones on phone poles here in USA? All can screw up biology in severe and rare ways.

IDK what your medical system is like. I assume you have limited access to comprehensive medicine, TCM, naturopaths? And limited money to buy supplements and experiment.

So, what I know of the condition is this: steroids screw up the entire hormone cascade in the body, not merely cortisol and aldosterone. You probably need bio identical hormone replacement as I do - and can't afford right now - hence the mood swings, inertia, malaise, poor coordination, bizarre sleep patterns, hypersensitivity to stimuli, inability to cope with normal stressors (like making a phone call or opening an email)...

Autoimmune just means the body is hyperreacting to attack. Asthma and allergies are in this group. Your Ige antibodies are probably off the scale. Been there too.

Steroid use means elevated need for vitamin D. Maybe 5k units/day, maybe 50k units 3x/week until your blood level normalizes. (I did this) 5k daily keeps me slightly high-normal!

Also you must replace the minerals or suffer side effects over time like osteoporosis. Got that too! (in my 30s! ) Assume an elevated need for potassium, magnesium and calcium. You have to exceed the rate of use by the body to de-acidify the steroids in circulation, to replace what is lost. And yes, you CAN regrow bone, so all isn't lost. There is a Japanese study on Boniva, vitamin D and K2, and calcium supplementation. Reverses osteoporosis!

A key to taming over reactive immune system is EPA/GLA. That means either fish oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, and/or flax oil. Whatever you tolerate. Slowly go to a high dose, like 2400 units a day. Start at 800. Your body is trigger happy now.

NEVER stop EFA supplements, or high dose (6, 000mg+) vitamin C, cold. You are likely to relapse and it will be ugly.

Magnesium calms nerves. I use aspartate form. You must have potassium for adrenals plus for magnesium absorption - or the body can't pick it up to use. Ugh. Complex bugger, isn't it? Take it to bowel tolerance, which means loose stools. Then take a little less. It can halt an asthma attack if given in IV form. Have done it.

Megadose vitamin C has stopped asthma attacks, and allergy attacks. Maybe for you, too. Vitamin C also alerts you to maximum tolerated dose by loose stools. You may tolerate lots now, and in 6 months, less. That is ok. Your body will change.

Get a mineral salt like grey sea salt, himalayan pink salt, or any other non-bleached mineral salt. Add to your water a pinch to a gallon or so. Use liberally. Such salts are low sodium but high minerals. Refined salt is the opposite and is toxic. Yeah, another debate. Just please try. If extra mineral salt makes you feel better, you know your aldosterone was low too. Ditto the potassium supplement.

There IS a rx for low aldosterone, Florinef.

I also use a progesterone cream from the Vitacost company, not as good as a custom rx compounded for me, but affordable. Addison's can cause progesterone steal - endocrinology is complex - but progesterone can be made into lots of other needed hormones. The low cortisol may have made your body steal it to make cortisol, and dang the other hormones, they don't get made then. You rub in about 1/2 teaspoon a day and see what happens in a couple days. I'm clearer headed and calmer with it - telling me these hormones were deficient too.

DHEA is also a hormone precursor, but can have masculinizing effects, so maybe you want to try progesterone first? DHEA you would take 10mg sublingually and see in a few days what happens. The form affects absorption.

A book called the Maker's Diet might help. Yes, Dr Rubin uses his own supplement line, but, the principles can be applied on your own. The man nearly died of Crohn's Disease. Yes, there is hope for you.

Replied by Kierra (Bay Area, Ca) on 10/12/2013

I'm not saying that it's to be used instead of any remedies here. THey have been so incredible to me during this time of unbalanced health. It won't necessary be anything someone feels an immediate result, but yes, it sure can help the body heal and balance itself! Peace and Good Health. ~K