Posted by Elroy on June 3, 2006, at 14:08:57
In reply to RE: cranial electrotherapy stimulation, posted by Julie1977 on June 3, 2006, at 11:48:14
Well, it clearly did not work for me either. I had the combiation of severe anxiety and some type of peripheral neuropathy pains of hands and feet and known to have very high levels of cortisol. The CES unitsdid nothing positive overall for either. I even tried two different units (for their respective trial periods) thinking that maybe it was just the specific initial machine.
I can't say that it made the situation worse, but definitely didn't make it better.
Ended up sending both units back (did not have both at same time - had one for a trial period then sent and back and tried a second, different manufacturer).
Went to NIH Hospital for two weeks in Decmber 2005 and was diagnosed with Pseudo Cushings due to chronic and then eventually severe anxiety. Was told that my current anti anxiety regimen of 1 mg of Xanax XR x 2 a day) was way too UNDERmedicated and after my return I was put on 2 mg of Xanax XR 3 times a day). Anxiety levels got much, much better. NIH advised with proper weaning to not worry about withdrawal that most withdrawal stories are hype or simply not properly weaned if higher doses used. The one psych on my team (I had 2, along with several other specialists) advised that probably half of her patients that use Xanax XR in the 4 - 8 mg daily range can come off of that level cold turkey with no withdrawal effects. Also getting my HRT regimen tweaked a little bit better every couple months has helped a lot. I don't know what my cortisol levels have gone to recently as my local Endo hasn't re-started that testing process yet, but like I said it has done wonders for my anxiety levels.
The NIH theory / hope is that reducing the anxiety levels down drastically will allow the hyperactive HPA to settle down and re-set to where it is secreting normal levels of cortisol. That will - in turn - halt the vicious cycle where anxiety causes hyperactive HPA induced cortisol which then increases anxiety levels even more, etc., etc.
We will see. Unfortunately probably won't start cortisol testing again uintil next month.
Elroy
poster:Elroy
thread:458455
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060530/msgs/652405.html