Fibro Sufferers Read This

[tamij]

i was diagnoised w/fibro-cfs -and a multitude of other ailments over the past 10 years-w/ little to know relief.
Until recently when i was diagnosed w/ diabetes-what does this have to do w/ the others-

Well my general Dr. sent me to a Endocronoligist and the first blood test he ran was to check my cortisol levels(stress reaction hormone) mine were off the chart-my life is no more stressful than anyone else-however based on this info-before starinf me on glucophage(oral insulin)he advised i read the book The Cortisol Connection asap-and try a natural approach to reduce my cortisol levels-I did both immediately
I got the book at barnes and noble(found on line also)-i did a ton of research on line about cortisol and its effects on the body(went to google and typed in word"cortisol")and went to The National Society for Endocronoligists web page-found out a ton of info

Elevated cortisol levels torture the body w/heart disease-diabetes-belly fat-sad-cfs-fibro-blod sugar issues-carb cravings and Syndrome X (insulin resistence syndrome)and a multitude of other ailments our over stressed society is plagued with-READ THE BOOK-OPEN YOUR DOOR TO A PAIN FREE LIFE-and help others do the same-

my Dr. also suggested I take Relacore(found at GNC)or Rela-cortin and the change is amazing-i really can not describe it in word-go on line do some research and find some info if I do not convince you ----

But I swear my life is soooooo much better now I want to shout it to everyone!!!!!
tamij

[conbom]

tamij-This sounds VERY interesting! I was told about cortisol a few years ago but never followed it up but maybe I will get this book and read up on it. The two things that stuck out of your list for me were the belly fat (moi) and the SAD (DH). Even though the days are getting longer and the SAD should be diminishing it isn't and he has been under a lot of stress lately.

Thanks again for the info!

Connie

[tamij]

Connie-
Plz at least go on line and use a search engine to do a little homework-I am very much a sceptic about alot of things so I approached this the same way-but after dealing w/ fibro-and afs and now dibetes type 2-I needed something.This was and is the somthing--just type in cortisol into google search or whatever search engine you use-the info avail. is great and w/ no cost initially--I even went under The National Board of Endocronoligist to med. medical backing-and cortisol is linked to Syndrome X(insulin resistence syndrome)Plz do the homework and I really wish you the very best-as you know this is not a fun way of life ---not for you or the people who love you.
take care and be well-
Tamij

[FrecklFluf]

How long did it take you to feel better after taking the Relacore? My husband has fibro and suffers immensely. (I'm trying to convince him to do Atkins as well.)

I am going to Barnes & Noble tomorrow to pick up the book.

[simplydawn]

Interesting, I am going to do some reading on this too.. My body doesnt react well in 'stress'ful situations..like it used to.. my sugars go up, and I actually get quite nauseated.. i dont like that 'endorphin' rush.. as i have been calling it, but perhaps it has more to do with this cortisol!

[tamij]

Fleckl-
It took about 2 weeks for BIG CHANGES-but relacore helped almost instantly-but I felt alot better inabout two weeks-read up on it -it really mad a big diff. for me--I hope it helps your hubby-I wish I had been told about it alot sooner-I would not have suffered for as long as I have if I did.
good luck
Tamij

[FrecklFluf]

Thanks. I got the book and started reading it yesterday. I just feel so bad for him; he's always in pain, and he says he can't think now ("brain fog"), which is even worse. It breaks my heart to see him like this.

[tamij]

good luck to your hubby I really hope it helps alot like it did w/ me-the advice in this book is so logical and helpful-take care
tamij

[sunflower4]

You might also want to read the book Adrenal fatigue by Dr. Wilson.

[auroramae]

I posted part of this message today to a thread about cortalean.
I have suffered from Fibromyalgia symptoms for years.
This product has changed my life in a matter of a few days. I was completely skeptcal as I have a drawer full of supplements that claim to help with pain, mood and memory.

I like Relia-lean.

It has only 3 ingredients and boasts 20% honokiol, which is the primary active cortisol inhibiting ingredient in magnolia bark. The other products I've read about don't have as much honokiol. The other two ingredients are phellodendron amurense and garcinia cambogia.

I am sold on it. I lost 5 pounds without changing anything else in 2 weeks and the nagging muscle pain in my upper back that I have suffered with for about 20 years has diminished greatly.

AND I'M REGULAR --- no matter what I've done in the way of diet, natural supplements, psyillum seeds, laxatives -- you name it, I've tried it. I've never been regular in my ENTIRE adult life. My husband says that's why I'm losing the weight....whatever the reason-- I like the product.

I feel like a different person. I sleep better and I am not as stressed out as I was.

It is also MUCH CHEAPER than the other products I've looked into. It might just be on sale now but even at its listed price it is less expensive.

8.95 + shipping for 90 500mg caps suggested dose is 3 a day with meals
netrition.com link:
http://www13.netrition.com/global_relialean_page.html

[tamij]

auroramae
thanks for the added info I love to learn about new products and and i also lost 7 lbs in 2 weels w/ no dietary changes and the sleep alot better also.
tamij

[twinkles10]

Heym Tamij

What is the dosage you take on the reliacore?

[Micha2]

Hi Tamij

I have symptoms of CFS and I got my adrenal stress test results yesterday. Although I haven't got all the details yet, the nutritionist told me that I have an abnormally high level of cortisol early in the morning (and therefore also at night) which then drops very low in the day.

I have been feeling so bad for over a year (actually not getting any better which I hoped would happen eventually with CFS) and yes, I think we are onto something here.

I really hope that treating the adrenal glands will make a difference provided the old thyroid gland hasn't become upset, too.

Being in the UK, I am not sure what options I have but I am going to discuss it with my nutritionist later this month.

Best regards
Michaela

[tamij]

TWINKLE-
I take three a day as recommended-I found it works miracles and more isnt always better-it also has dhea in and you do not want to exceed that amnt in this supplement-read the directions included and get feeling better-it is great and i ha e lost 6 more lbs w NO effort.
good luck and read up on it.
tamij

[tamij]

michela_
great to hear you got tested it will be the best thing you have done for yourself i promise-it is important to read a book on it.it explains alot try The Cortisol Connection it is great found it at barnes and noble-best thing i ever did-good luck
tamij

[Spac3y]

The info on Relia-Lean says not to take it if you're on antidepressant meds. Have any of you taken this with antidepressants, or dropped your a/ds to take it? I have fibro symptoms--esp major leg pain & morning fogginess, but I'm a long term a/d user and afraid to drop them--I'm non-functional w/o them.

Spac3y

[Jems]

Saw my nutritionist a couple of days ago and shes testing me for adrenal stress and cortisol. I've just received the book so I'll get stuck in and see what happens! Why can't UK G.Ps look into this sort of thing? I've had no quality of life for the past 15 years, just painkillers handed out! Yet nutritionists etc know all about the tests! Its costing me a fortune but it'll be worth it if I can get well again!

:yay:

[jessicakjj]

Tamij,

Was just reading the beginning of this thread and you mentioned Glucophage as being oral insulin. It is not oral insulin. It is a drug that prevents sugar from being absorbed in the gut and prevents the liver from releasing too much glucose into the system. Just for your info.

[deb_o]

It's been a while now, how are you guys doing with this treatment? Has it really helped?

[cindy_cfid]

A hormone profile differentiates persons with CFS versus those suffering from major depression (versus reactive depression).
It's fairly accepted that patients with major depression have higher cortisol levels and patients with CFS have lower cortisol levels.
---------------------------------------------
The following are examples from government
websites - National Institutes of Health, Surgeon
General's Office & Center for Disease Control -
better examples are available but this at least
backs up this statement:
------------------------------------------
AS PER NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH WEBSITE:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/events/prosteo.cfm

"Although its causes are unclear, major
depression is associated with hormonal
abnormalities. ... higher cortisol levels, often
found in depressed patients, ..."
------------------------------------------
AS PER SURGEON GENERAL'S WEBSITE:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter3/sec5.html

Biological Factors
"Some of the core symptoms of depression, such as
changes in appetite and sleep patterns, are
related to the functions of the hypothalamus. The
hypothalamus is, in turn, closely tied to the
function of the pituitary gland. Abnormalities of
pituitary function, such as increased rates of
circulating cortisol and hypo- or
hyperthyroidism, are well established
features of depression in adults (Goodwin &
Jamison, 1990)"
------------------------------------------
AS PER CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs/info.htm

C. Hypothalamic-Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis
"Multiple laboratory studies have suggested that
the central nervous system may have an important
role in CFS. Physical or emotional stress, which
is commonly reported as a pre-onset condition in
CFS patients,
activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
axis, or HPA axis, leading to increased release
of cortisol and other hormones. Cortisol and
corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), which are
also produced during the activation of the HPA
axis, influence the immune system and many
other body systems. They may also affect several
aspects of behavior.
Recent studies revealed that CFS patients often
produce lower levels of cortisol than do healthy
controls. Similar hormonal abnormalities have
been observed by others in CFS patients and in
persons with related
disorders like fibromyalgia. Cortisol suppresses
inflammation and cellular immune activation, and
reduced levels might relax constraints on
inflammatory processes and immune cell
activation. As with the immunologic data, the
altered cortisol levels noted in CFS cases fall
within the accepted range of normal, and only the
average between cases and controls allows the
distinction to be made. Therefore, cortisol
levels cannot be used as a diagnostic marker for
an individual with CFS.
A placebo-controlled trial, in which 70 CFS
patients were randomized to receive either just
enough hydrocortisone each day to restore their
cortisol levels to normal or placebo pills for 12
weeks, concluded that low levels of cortisol
itself are not directly responsible for symptoms
of CFS, and that hormonal replacement is not an
effective treatment."

[Lanny]

I went out today looking for relia-lean , relacore, realcortin and had no luck...GNC said they dont carry that so i presume its in USA only...went to 4 places all ask to get the name of company that does it...would anyone know if they sell it here in Canada?

thanks
Helene

also for a fantastic cure for fibro is the watercure

it works for me...

http://www.watercure2.com/

[sadiemae]

tamij,
thanks for this wonderful info, i've been fighting illness for about 3 years now and believe i have these symptoms also, although i have not been tested. sometimes i feel like the dr's think i'm nuts. how long did it take you to be daignosed?
can't wait to here from you.


newbie
Sadiemae

[Scotties45]

:wave: Hi, I've just joined and was delighted to see a post from someone in the UK! Where did you find a good nutritionist who will test cortisol? This sounds quite hopeful for me (CFS, etc.)

Michelle, Lancashire

Hi Tamij

I have symptoms of CFS and I got my adrenal stress test results yesterday. Although I haven't got all the details yet, the nutritionist told me that I have an abnormally high level of cortisol early in the morning (and therefore also at night) which then drops very low in the day.

I have been feeling so bad for over a year (actually not getting any better which I hoped would happen eventually with CFS) and yes, I think we are onto something here.

I really hope that treating the adrenal glands will make a difference provided the old thyroid gland hasn't become upset, too.

Being in the UK, I am not sure what options I have but I am going to discuss it with my nutritionist later this month.

Best regards
Michaela

[wcollier]

One of the plans on this site deals with balancing the major hormones insulin, cortisol and adrenaline. It's the Schwarzbein Principle II (not I). It's one of the best I've read so far.

Another book I've read about Hormones is "Mastering Leptin", which has recently been discover to be the master hormone of all the other hormones. It's remarkable. Anyway, they have a specific chapter dealing with Fibro.

We're only hitting the tip of the iceburg with the horrible effects of excessive cortisol.

Wanda

[Lanny]

I cant find relacore in Canada...no one from USA wants to ship to Canada...so if anyone out there knows a place plzzzzzzzzz tell me where i can order from here in Canada....

thanks
Lan
:)

[Micha2]

Hi Michelle (Scotties45)

I have only now seen your post or I would have responded sooner.

There is an umbrella organisation for nutritionists in the UK called BANT that has a list of nutritionists. There are different nutritionist schools and one of them is the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. My nutritionist trained with them. But you can order saliva tests through all sorts of practitioners including chiropractors for example.

I did try nutritional therapy with particular supplements to help my symptoms but this didn't really help. It took me a while (months!) to figure out that I was tired in the day because I had pain at night which prevented me from having a good night's sleep. No wonder nutritional therapy on its own didn't work! I am persevering with low carbing and taking a multi and fish oil supplements though.

All the best

Michaela

[janandden1]

Fleckl-
It took about 2 weeks for BIG CHANGES-but relacore helped almost instantly-but I felt alot better inabout two weeks-read up on it -it really mad a big diff. for me--I hope it helps your hubby-I wish I had been told about it alot sooner-I would not have suffered for as long as I have if I did.
good luck
Tamij
Hi Tamij
I too suffer from fibro and I can feel your hubbies PAIN. My Doctor put me on muscle relaxers and it only helps for awhile. What is this relacore?
Thanks,
Jan
Canal fulton, Ohio

[Grrl]

Hi all, hope today is less difficult than it sometimes can be.

I'm really interested in the herbal option to lower cortisol levels discussed in this thread. So far I've come across:
Relacore
Rela-cortin
Relia-lean

Anyone done some comparison and research on why which ingredients do what? Just getting a little overwhelmed :eek Thanks All! :D

It has only 3 ingredients and boasts 20% honokiol, which is the primary active cortisol inhibiting ingredient in magnolia bark. The other products I've read about don't have as much honokiol. The other two ingredients are phellodendron amurense and garcinia cambogia.

[henrytx]

undefinedundefinedundefined I have been disabled from FMS, CFS,IBS and all the other things that come with these illnesses. I have been severly disabled for about 3 years, what that means is no playing with my kids no love making etc>
you know the story just lie around in pain and wait to die.
Looks like NOT ANYMORE thank you all for posting info on Relacore this stuff really works, I have tried so many other things and some work for awhile and some dont do anything, tamij thank you for sharing your info so much.
My first day on Relacore (you can buy at GNC or any health food store)
and already have cut my pain meds in half.
Just to let you all know just in pain pills alone I take 400 pills a month,
yes 400, I take Norco and Ultram. But not for long now baby,
THANK YOU ALL for sharing your stories.
If you suffer from FMS you need to try Relacore it works its great.
I will keep you all posted. :agree:

[henrytx]

relacore not so good for me after a few days of use, I would how ever
recommend it for people with mild FMS.undefinedundefinedundefined :lol:

[Gailew]

Relora is the herbs without the DHEA. Maybe try that and see if it's the DHEA that's messing you up. --GAil

[moineau]

you started out this post talking about your endocrinologist putting you on glucophage. i've had severe fibro and cfs for over 10 years now and did do a lot of exploring into the the cortisol connection.

my question is this: do you think it was the glucophage that actually started you on the road to feeling so much better? a friend of mine wrote to me abouta friend of hers who had all of my symptoms. her doctor put her on glucophage and she is now recovered and doing excellent stuff.

so i'm wondering, was it the glucophage, less sugar, that started you on the road to recovery? did you stick with the glocophage? it is primarily the glucophage connection i'm interested in, but here's another question: did the cortisol thing pan out for you? it never did for me.

thanks in advance if you are still out there. ~laura

[deciedee]

Can I take Relacort and Reli-lean together or would that be too much of something?

[NrgQuest]

Can I take Relacort and Reli-lean together or would that be too much of something?

That's a good question. I have been trying to find the answer to that for about 45 minutes now. Google isn't helping much. But, I have decided I am going to at least try the Relacort since it has DHEA in it.

[deciedee]

I have fibro/diabetes and would like to try the Relia lean. I went to the link and they no longer carry it.
any idea where I can get it?

[NrgQuest]

I have fibro/diabetes and would like to try the Relia lean. I went to the link and they no longer carry it.
any idea where I can get it?

Not a clue on the Relia Lean. I got Relacore at Walmart last night took a dose with supper and I took a dose this morning. I don't know how many days it takes to kick in. I will take this til it's gone and see what happens.

[rianleeann]

i was diagnoised w/fibro-cfs -and a multitude of other ailments over the past 10 years-w/ little to know relief.
Until recently when i was diagnosed w/ diabetes-what does this have to do w/ the others-

Well my general Dr. sent me to a Endocronoligist and the first blood test he ran was to check my cortisol levels(stress reaction hormone) mine were off the chart-my life is no more stressful than anyone else-however based on this info-before starinf me on glucophage(oral insulin)he advised i read the book The Cortisol Connection asap-and try a natural approach to reduce my cortisol levels-I did both immediately
I got the book at barnes and noble(found on line also)-i did a ton of research on line about cortisol and its effects on the body(went to google and typed in word"cortisol")and went to The National Society for Endocronoligists web page-found out a ton of info

Elevated cortisol levels torture the body w/heart disease-diabetes-belly fat-sad-cfs-fibro-blod sugar issues-carb cravings and Syndrome X (insulin resistence syndrome)and a multitude of other ailments our over stressed society is plagued with-READ THE BOOK-OPEN YOUR DOOR TO A PAIN FREE LIFE-and help others do the same-

my Dr. also suggested I take Relacore(found at GNC)or Rela-cortin and the change is amazing-i really can not describe it in word-go on line do some research and find some info if I do not convince you ----

But I swear my life is soooooo much better now I want to shout it to everyone!!!!!
tamij


I just did a ton of research because I had a lot of these symptoms. And I found out that being in ketosis causes a "fight or flight" syndrome in your body which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands which in turn causes cortisol to be high! Could our low carb diets be causing the problem?! :q:

[quietone]

Sorry, but I can't agree with that hypothesis. My fibro is horrific when I'm NOT doing low carb and completes goes in remision when I do what I know I'm supposed to be doing. So I don't think it has anything to do with cortisol for me.

[deciedee]

do you know if the reliacore or the others can be taken while on other meds, such as neurontin?

[Hismouse]

shhee, I have one adrenal gland, one lost to a tumor. I have been low carbing on and off for yrs I have fibro and cfs, I have had Diabetes since I was 16. So I have to also disagree that Low carbing causes a strain on Adrenals, I would be dead by now.