Leptin Reset Experiment starts today - Jack Kruse style page 682

[wanderir]

Ginger tea fixed my tummy!

[Adrianag]

So I just got back from seeing the ENDO - the inter - was 'meh? the attending... he was very interested in my cortisol - especially since he wasn't used to seeing 24hr salivary results. he's sending me for 2 separate blood cortisol levels - one just a regular am level... and then he's having me take some drug (I left it in the car) at night, then go get another blood draw. If those look even remotely funny, then he wants to do a 24hr urinalysis for Free Cortisol. He's not sure what's going on but he did indicate that If my cortisol/adrenal axis isn't optimal, then I could definitely influence the high Free T3/RT3 ratio... even though I have a normal TSH.. he wants to fix the adrenals first, before looking at thyroid... I'm going to work w/the VA for the next 6mths... If by Jan 2012 - we haven't gotten any further I wont' have kaiser - so I should be able to leverage some other options to include going to see Dr K.

It sounds like they know what they are doing...good for you!

[Adrianag]

Thanks MamaGrok!

Dr. K, my husband's results came back with high levels of copper, and from everything I researched there is a direct link. Copper can elevate just from stress, partly because it reduces zinc. Its also present with a deficiency or other minerals- iron, selenium....

It is linked to adrenal insuffuciency because even if you have sufficient amounts of copper, they may be biounavailable, which then leads to an excess. What I found interesting is that women usually have higher levels, but my husband is showing them. I thought it may be connected.

Two related questions:
1. Since K2 is the mineral traffic cop I wonder if it might affect copper as well? Rather than going to where it is needed it stays in the blood?
2. I have read that copper and mercury also accumulate in biofilms - so if you have gut issues such as fungi, yeast, bacteria, candida, h. pylori or Lyme disease you might accumulate excess minerals there.

[marcadav]

yeah... I'd love to here Dr K's POV... at least they're considering I have a problem w/my adrenals... where as Kaiser just blew me off...

One of my sisters fell and hit her head several years ago and now has hydrocephalus, a shunt, balance issues that have her falling all the time, memory issues, etc. She thinks she was told early on that she had pituitary problems.

I believe she does have pituitary hormone issues and have gone to doctors' appointments with her at Kaiser. Her neurologist looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language when I broached the subject. Another doctor told us it was above his pay grade and she needed to see someone making the big bucks. She continues to get worse and nothing, except giving copious amounts of addictive pain meds, gets done.

Another sister knew the Kaiser endo would dismiss her concerns/needs so had me go with her. I was able to convince him to at least run the desired tests. It took a while and proof that she needed cytomel but he finally relented.

All of this is say-- Kaiser, IMO, is not much better than having no insurance at all.

On another note-- treating adrenals first is the proper way of doing things. Even the inserts that come with T4 thyroid meds (Synthroid,etc) say,
"Levothyroxine is contraindicated in patients with untreated subclinical or overt thyrotoxicosis, acute myocardial infarction, uncorrected adrenal insufficiency, or with hypersensitivity to any
of the inactive tablet ingredients."http://www.pharmacistelink.com/productinfo/highlights/2008/12/Save_Money.pdf

Cytomel (T3 med) says,
"Who Should Not Take Cytomel? You should not take Cytomel if you:
Are allergic to Cytomel, liothyronine sodium, or any of the inactive components used to make the medication. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist has a list of the inactive ingredients.
Have untreated adrenal insufficiency, as Cytomel can cause serious problems unless this condition is appropriately treated.
Have an untreated overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)." Cytomel Warnings and Precautions

BTW, I'm glad you found an endo that really listened to you and is taking your lab results seriously. I'm interested in knowing the name of the med you have to take at night to check adrenals the next day.

[tidmutt]

Great! That has to be a good sign. How many weeks are you into this? I am still waiting for this to happen.

Technically I've been doing the LR for 8 weeks but for the first four I was eating a cheat meal each Saturday (that was my normal approach on Primal), after realizing from reading this thread that I was resetting the reset each week essentially. It's been over a month since a cheat meal and over three weeks since I gave up diet soda. I've noticed other signs like excessive sweating and increased libido. This one is the latest, very cool. Was losing 3 lb a week for the first three weeks and that's slowed to 1.4 lb a week now.

[Shijin13]

GHAHHHHH!!!!!!!! So I talked w/my boss today about what work I'm going to be doing next... she's looking at 2 spots for me - one is a gimmie - ie 3 October I have no issues with coverage BUT - its a 1& 1/2 hour commute (by metro or car) and I have to commit to the client for 5yrs. the other is at the puzzle palace (preferred location) - a 20min commute by metro and 45min by car if I'm not HOV... but the problem w/that is they have to find a place for the guy I'd be replacing (he wants to near atlanta, instead of being a weekday bachelor here in DC)

Job #2 is preferred b/c I'd be doing what I was doing before having ds and the client knows me and likes my work... Job#1 is really interesting and challenging...but DAMN the Commute wants me to say NO...b/c the last time I did a long ass commute like that I ended up very sick... and that's what started me down the road towards optimal health...

but before I say no - I'm going to test run a commute via car and metro next week to see if I can even remotely consider this as a possibility.. I have a feeling this will totally suck for my entire family...but then again... a full time well paying job is pretty kick ass important... where I don't know what I'd be doing if I don't say yes.... ahhh the stress... time to go pick up the kids...then take the dog for a walk!

[Mud Flinger]

I've noticed a pattern of not being hungry at lunch time lately (yeah). I've skipped lunch a couple of times in the last week, but then want dinner a little early (~4:30) which means I don't eat w/ my hubby/family. I feel warm at many times but have not begun to sweat freely yet (maybe I wont? Does everyone?). I plan to go in tomorrow AM for fasted blood work. Wish me luck as I have Kaiser ...

Oh and Shijin - total win at the Dr.s today. Hopefully I can find someone w/ out as many hassles!

[bodhimama]

Avocadoes have a decent amount of carbs. I noticed that when I was tracking. I eat one with my lunch salad as often as I can afford to.

[Kaleein]

Hope everyone with kids reads Marks' blog today. Seems to answer a lot of questions about "how to ..."

[Freshveggies]

I may have figured out why I have been dizzy. I went down in my prescription of reading glasses. Could this reset make my eyes site better? I was at 1.50 & sometimes 1.75 and now I went back down to 1.25? Any thoughts?

Dr. K any thoughts?