Cytokine Releases and Adrenal Spikes Part 2

 

Just 6 weeks out from Hawaii now and I am still alternating between Cytokine releases and adrenal spikes.  If there is any good news, the cycles are definitely getting shorter in duration and the peak symptoms seem to be less severe. At the beginning of September, each cycle lasted 5-7 days.  The first day or two after a Cytokine release, I was not even able to function but did improve steadily until the cycle was over.  Then, when the adrenal spike hit, I was just as horrible as the first day of the Cytokine release but also improved steadily until the cycle repeated itself.

Now, the cycles only last about 2 days.  While my workouts have been awful, I am still able to be productive at work.  I had a Cytokine release over the weekend but come Wednesday, it was over, and the adrenal spike hit by afternoon.  Today is Friday and it appears that the adrenal spike has already diminished, and I am ready for another Cytokine release.  I only did 1 Mile this morning at Montreat.  My time was 9:53 and it took a 4^th quarter rally to finish under 10 but the pace was pretty steady and if it was race day, I’m pretty sure that I would have made it.  Perhaps, from now on, I will see only small Cytokine releases that are not significant enough to trigger adrenal spikes. 

I had a big test when I get home.  If I reacted badly to Probiotics without Taurine, I know that I’m already back to the Cytokine release.  That means the adrenal spike lasted only 2 days and was decidedly less severe this time around.  In the end, I was noticeably weaker on Probiotics (2:56 vs 3:08) but I didn't fall off a cliff.  If this is the first day of the Cytokine release, it's not so bad.  Perhaps the inevitable adrenal spike won't be so bad.

Now, back to the mainstream medicine saga.  My PCP told me to see a Rheumatologist, who was supposed to contact me but never did so.  I contacted the PCP’s office and found that the doctor supposedly already sent a referral and gave me the phone number of the Rheumatologist.  I called them and said that I had gotten a referral and inquired about an appointment time.  I am “NOT EVEN ON THEIR SYSTEM!”  This is after almost a month!  Somebody screwed up.  I was told that sometimes it takes weeks for a referral to go through then longer to actually get an appointment.  Then, who knows if they will order the testing that I need.  The best-case scenario is that the Cytokine treatment works and I don’t have to even bother.  Still, I’ve gone this far with it, I probably should see the Rheumatologist at least once.  If I don’t like them, I don’t have to see them again.  Unfortunately, it will probably cost quite a bit of money. 

This means that even if I get a diagnosis and treatment plan, I won’t be able to start on it until after Hawaii.  I have NO chance at a respectable showing, so I just want to remain as comfortable as possible while remaining ahead of the time limit.  I really don’t care if my time is 2:30 or 3:15. The only goal is to FINISH!  After Hawaii, I will take 6 weeks off then try to re-group after Christmas.  By that time, I will have had my appointment and I’ll know one way or the other whether or not I can race again.  

UPDATE:

Completed 8 miles on Saturday morning.  Time was 89:30 (11:11 pace).  I went with a 4:1 jog/walk ratio until Mile 6 then jogged the last 1.9 miles.  I was pretty much spent when I finished but even a slow walk (20 minute pace) for the next 5 miles would have brought me home in just over 3:10.  The time limit is 3:30.  On a day like today, I will make it.      

Oahu Hawaii Trip Plan

 For better or worse, this trip is a GO!  I'm afraid that I have a degenerative condition and I won't get another chance at this in the future.  I've got everything booked except for 1 hotel on my layover.  More on that later.

11/10- Morning flight out of Birmingham with a connection in Denver.  Only 2 flights and no trip to Atlanta.  That makes it much easier.  I will land around 4:30 PM so that means I probably will not have time to catch any waves.  Maybe I'll take a quick dip but that's it.  The sun will go down around 6.  I requested a Toyota Camry rental car so hopefully that means no key fob.  I'll have a traditional door key to start the ignition so I don't have to worry about it getting wet.  I will still try to find a waterproof case that fits in my pocket and covers all shapes of key fobs.  Word on the street is that Hawaii has a pretty bad homeless problem so I ain't leaving my stuff on the beach.    

11/11-11/14- I am staying 4 nights on the beach at Waikiki.  Can't go wrong there.  It sure does look beautiful.  Yes, I will sample other places as well.  Here is a list of places that I'd like to see:

Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, Sherwood Beach, Nanakuli, Malil Pillbox, Sunset Beach on the North Shore.  The first two days, I will try to take it easy in the surf.  Last thing I need is a knee or ankle injury from an awkward landing on a wipeout.  A hike up Diamond Head before race day?  I see no problem with that.  I don't think it will tire me out or make much difference either way.  I do NOT want to do it after the race.   

11/13- This is the day that I am DREADING!  It's race day.  No need to rehash how I feel about it.  The only goal is to FINISH and I hope to stay as comfortable as possible while remaining well ahead of the time limit.  It's a low-key and no frills event and that's just what I am looking for as I'm going out with a whimper instead of a bang.  The Start/Finish Line is at Kapiolani Park, which appears to be within walking distance of my hotel.  If not, it will only be a 2-3 minute drive.  

When I'm done, I expect to have mixed emotions.  Finishing a half in all 50 states is incredible accomplishment but knowing that it's likely over will be bittersweet.  Sure, I knew it would happen eventually but expected to have another 15-20 years.  

11/14- I will make a loop around the island while beach hopping and spend the night less than a mile from the airport.

11/15- Early morning flight with a connection in San Francisco.  I'll get there by 2:00 PM and I am taking an overnight layover.  Last time, I tried to go without one and was DEAD by the time I got to Atlanta.  Even for a short distance, it was not safe for me to be on the road.  Birmingham will have an hour less jet lag and it's only 20 minutes from the airport to home but I still don't feel safe.

Though I am not a fan of San Francisco, it does have some very beautiful areas.  I can take BART to my hotel in the Financial District then walk to see the Golden Gate bridge before sunset.  I'd also like to see Rincon and Dolores Park.  I do expect to be tired but not dead from the jet lag.

11/16- Leave SF at 2:00 so that gives me exactly 24 hours.  I connect in Dallas and get back late but  that's okay.  I should be at least somewhat functional the next day.  

I really should be more excited about this one and probably would be if not for the race.

 

Cytokines and Adrenal Spikes

 There is always one pill that I cannot function without and it alternates between the Cytokine suppressant and the adrenal suppressant.  THIS SUCKS!

Here is what I think is happening:  The Cytokines are being eliminated in batches.  If this is indeed what triggers the sensitivity, it has been a problem for 20 years and thus, I should not expect to eliminate this issue within just a couple weeks.  After a batch is eliminated, the adrenals spike temporarily.  After the adrenals begin to calm down within several days, another batch is released and the cycle repeats itself.

Symptoms:

During the adrenal spike, the sensitivity is not a problem.  I can take Probiotics without Taurine and vice versa.  Additional Cytokine support does nothing.  Only after taking extra Thym-Adren do I see improvements but yes, they are significant.  Today was typical of such a pattern.  I opened with a PATHETIC 2:01 half lap at Montreat (12:06 pace).  I was only slightly better on 3 Cytokines.  Improved to a 1:54 (11:24 pace) and probably would have done just as "well" on 1 pill instead of 3.  However, after taking 3 Thym-Adren, I did improve significantly.  I improved to a 1:27 (8:42 pace)  MINUS 2:42.  If I had taken additional Thym-Adren, I am most probably better.  I did drag my ass out about an hour later for a non-stop Mile and clocked a robust 10:18.  That's fully 5 minutes slower than my adult PR.

During a Cytokine release, I am just as awful on the opener but this time, additional Thym-Adren does nothing.  1 such pill works just about as well as 3.  However, the sensitivity returns with a vengeance and I will feel better ONLY after taking additional Cytokine pills.  I'll need at least 3 to function and I'll most probably be better on 5.  The cycles do seem to be getting a little shorter in duration.  The plan is to take 3 of each until further notice and roll with it no matter what the results.

Hawaii is now less than 7 weeks away.  Part of me does not even want to go but I can't quit now with one state to go.  I don't care if my last state is Hawaii or North Dakota.  I'm going to finish this.  I figure that I need to maintain a jog:walk ratio of slightly better than 1:1 to finish.  I like my chances.  I'm going to say that I have about a 70 percent chance to do it.  I will take extra pills of both Thym-Adren to Cytokine to guard against the spike and the release.  Put it off until I am better?  NO!  That may never happen.  I may be worse come next Spring.  

I dealt with a similar pattern with the Advanced Toxin Removal.  There were several signs that indicated that the toxins were the trigger but that proved to be another dead end.  If the Cytokines are another false hope?  I will be utterly broken.  I will see the Rheumatologist but want to see how this plays out.

Training 9/10-9/18

 9/10- Got back from California two days ago and didn't feel as bad as I expected.  It seems like the Cytokine dependence is no longer a significant issue.  However, it never fails!  As soon as I fix one problem, another one springs up.  This time, the culprit is an adrenal spike, which is not surprising after a major problem is solved.  Hoped to walk/jog 8 miles today or at least repeat the 6.5 from 2 weeks ago.  FAIL.  Quit after just 1 mile in 12:18.  Intervals later confirmed that more Thym-Adren is needed.

There is ALWAYS at least one pill that I cannot function without and it changes every other week.  One day's medicine can be the next day's poison and I STILL have not confirmed the trigger after so many years.  What kind of mood would you be in if this was you?

Distance=1.5

9/11- Marginal improvement over yesterday.  Got through 2 miles in 23:54 (11:57 pace) with splits of 12:12-11:42.  No comment.

Distance=2.0

9/12- Repeated the 2 mile distance and my time is down to 21:56 (10:58 pace).  Splits were 11:06-10:50 and pace was pretty steady from 0.5 miles to the end.  I expect to improve steadily this week but who know about next week?  If my history is any indication, something else will pop up.

Distance=2.0

9/13- Same workout.  Time is down to 20:30 (10:15 pace) but splits are evening out (10:19-10:11).  Rate of improvement is already slowing.  Tried to run again in the evening 12 hours after taking the pills and could not run at ALL.

Distance=2,0

9/14- Turned 42 years old.  Continued to improve rather steadily.  Time for 2 miles is down to 19:15 (9:37 pace).  MINUS 38.  Again, the rate of improvement is slower than usual but a gain is a gain so I'll take it.  What is the point of confidence?  I want to see a time under 18 for 2 miles then I'll shoot for under 24 for 3 miles.  If I can make the latter, I think I'm on the way.  Long way to go.  Still bad in the afternoon and evening unless I take another dose.

PM- Again, I tried to run after not taking a pill for 12 hours and I was AWFUL.  Half mile at Montreat in 5:21 (10:42 pace).  OUCH!  If I had taken more pills, I guarantee that I'm a minute faster.  Not good that I am this dependent. 

Distance=2.5

9/15- AM- Half lap in 1:45 (10:30 pace) then took the usual 3 Thym-Adren and improved to 1:12 (7:12 pace).  MINUS 3:18!  Slow jogged another half lap.  This is not okay.  That gap had better close soon.

PM- 1.5 miles in 13:45 (9:10 pace).  MUCH better than yesterday.  The gap should diminish soon.  I figure that I would be no worse than 18:45 for a full 2 miles in spite of not taking pills for 12 hours.

Distance=2.0

9/16- 2 major points of confidence.  The Thym-Adren gap is beginning to diminish.  I managed an 89 second opener this morning (8:54 pace).  Did not run the closer but I'm sure that it would not have improved by the same amount.  I'd guess that it would be 6:30-6:45 pace versus 7:12 yesterday.

2 miles in 17:44 (8:52 pace).  Splits were 8:59-8:45.  Slow start but found a good rhythm after the first half mile.  Next goal is 3 miles in less than 24 minutes, which is what I termed as the Mendoza line.

Distance=2.5

9/17- First downer of the cycle.  5 mile walk/jog in 59:40 (11:56 pace).  Hoped to do 8 miles but could not make it.  I was doing okay through the first half but died after that.  Seems that I forgot to take the Cytokine pill this morning.  Just one missed dose and this is the result!  Not pleased.  

Distance=5.0

9/18- This time I made sure that I took 2 Cytokine pills and it was a disaster.  Only managed 1 mile and my time was over 12 minutes.  Thym-Adren did NOTHING!  I once again have an insatiable need for Cytokines.  Never fails!  I solve one problem then another one flares up.

Distance=1.0

-20.5 miles

So-Cal Road Trip Report

 9/3- Caught a 7AM flight out of Birmingham with a connection in Dallas.  There was a delay on the second flight, but no harm done.  I checked into my hotel and was still able to make it to Dodger Stadium on time even with a stop at Pershing Square and Grand Park.  I walked to Union Station then caught a bus to the gate.  The Dodgers won big, and I walked back this time on Grand Avenue then had a drink at a rooftop bar at my hotel.  Really cool.

9/4- Drive on Sunset Blvd through Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive to Santa Monica.  I wasn't overly impressed with Hollywood, but Beverly Hills was very nice.  Initially, I planned on going south to Huntington Beach but because it was a holiday weekend during a heat wave, I figured that parking would be a nightmare unless I got there super early.  Instead, I decided to stay in Santa Monica before going south in the afternoon.  BAD CALL! 

 I had to leave my clothes and key out because if the key fob got wet, it would be ruined.  I figured that it would be safe enough to leave it at a lifeguard tower.  WRONG!  It was stolen.  Could have been worse.  At least the thief did not find my car.  How would I get home if the car was stolen with my wallet and phone inside?  Still a manageable situation, right?  The rental car company would send someone to give me a replacement key.  The asshole stood me up.  I expected him to meet me at the agreed upon address, which was a restaurant.  He parked a block away and stayed in his car for 5 minutes then left.  Apparently, I was supposed to meet him at the address on the app.  INEXCUSEABLE that he left!  I could understand it if I wasn't there 20-30 minutes later but not 5 minutes.   The driver himself never texted me either.  Only the rental agency stayed in contact.  I had to call a locksmith to get a new key and when it was all said and done, I did not get out of there until 5:30 PM (5 hours later).  Don't even ask how much money it cost me.

I hoped to get to Torrey Pines for a cliffside sunset, but I was too late.  Instead, I went to Bolsa Chica State Park.  At least, I knew that beach was safe.  I would do my best to enjoy the rest of the trip, but this experience left me badly shaken.  Supposedly, the safest thing to do was remove the door key and leave the key fob in the locked car.  Still, if someone breaks in, they can start the car.  Not all key fobs have a removeable door key either.  If I had a car with a door key to start the ignition, none of this would have happened!  My suit has a pocket with a zipper, so I won't lose the keys on a wipeout.  Some sort of waterproof case is a necessity in the future, but it must fit different sized key fobs.   

9/5- Morning at Pacific Beach, near San Diego.  I found the conditions to be very nice and the sea water was a tad warmer than Santa Monica and noticeably clearer as well.  Not quite as clear as Miami or Destin but not far off.  There was nothing with wipeout potential, but I got plenty of good rides.  By early afternoon, I made my way to the border at San Ysidro and crossed into Tijuana.  I've done this enough that it feels almost routine now.  I had a nice time there but limited myself to 10 blocks of Revolucion and Constitution Ave.  for safety reasons.  Tijuana is one of the most violent cities in the world, but I never felt unsafe because tourist areas are well-patrolled.  

9/6- Long line at the border back to the USA so after a photo op at Centennial Park, I would choose the San Diego Zoo over the beach.  The zoo is really not my kind of thing, but I still enjoyed it.  I checked into my downtown hotel and relaxed for an hour or so.  Next, it was a walking tour of the Gaslamp Quarter before the Padres game, which they won in walk-off fashion.   

9/7- Back north toward Los Angeles.  First stop was Laguna Beach, and it was mostly a walking tour.  I was gun shy about going in the ocean for more than just a quick dip though I'm sure it would have been safe especially in the coves.  It was REALLY beautiful there and I wish I had more time.  I'd say it rivals Hawaii in terms of natural beauty.  After lunch at In & Out Burgers, I had a safe surf session at Bolsa Chica about a half hour north then made it to Manhattan Beach for the sunset.

9/8- Manhattan Beach is only 15 minutes from LAX so I had time for another dip but chose not to do so.  I just didn't want to risk another SNAFU.  The 2 flights home went off without a hitch.  

Final thought:

I'm not going to let one bad experience affect my view of any location.  So-Cal is a beautiful area, and I found the people to be nice as well.  You won't get a smile from strangers but if you engage them in conversation, they will be friendly in response.  I do intend to go back.  I won't go to Santa Monica again, but I really didn't do justice to San Diego or Laguna Beach.  I've seen pretty much all I want to see in downtown LA and Tijuana, however.   

Lab Test Results

 

On August 29, I had to go to two different labs for tests.  The first was at the doctor’s office for a re-test of auto-immune issues.  The second was out of pocket at Quest Labs.  Supposedly, the doctor’s lab “could not” do the Cytokine panel.  There were only two related tests available on Request a Test, so I chose Interleukin, which I thought was most likely to reveal something.  Again, based on my symptoms, there MUST be something out there that would test SEVERELY outside the reference range!  Even if my prognosis is poor or uncertain, I would feel vindicated because the test would have explained the reactions to benign vitamins and minerals.  It would have proven that it was not psychological or related to aging.  

Three days later, I received a call from the doctor’s office.  There were no hard numbers available, but the test proved that I do NOT have Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.  I interpret that as good news.  Perhaps a positive test may explain sudden collapses midway through workouts, but I do not believe it explains the sensitivity and extreme reactions to supplements.  Something else must be causing that.

I had to wait another week to get the Cytokine/Interleukin test.  The reference range was 0-5 but it is best to be almost undetectable.  My result was 3.74.  A little on the high side but within the range and once again, it does not explain my symptoms.  I am NOT happy about that, and it was a surprise that it came back normal based on my response to the Cytokine supplement. 

At first, I had limited tolerance to the Cytokine pill.  Though it did shut off the sensitivity, the fatigue set in HARD shortly after taking it and extra pills made it worse.  On the day of the lab test, I felt HORRIBLE without this pill but significantly better after EACH dose.  One pill was no longer enough.  I needed at least three to function.  Thus, it was just like any other new treatment.  I would not be able to run an interval at 12-minute pace without it but on the full dose, I was below 8-minute pace.  As expected, the gap diminished with time and today, I am not as dependent on this pill. 

Plan:

I am going to stay on the Cytokine pills even though the test did not reveal a problem in this area.  I don’t care what the test result says.  I feel much better with it than without it.  I will go off the Taurine and hit the detox and Probiotics hard.  The same plan of attack caused SEVERE sensitivity before I started on the Cytokine treatment.  I needed an exact Cal/Mag ratio as well as a ratio of TRS and Fulvic Acid.  If the sensitivity does not flare up again, it’s a good bet that the Cytokine treatment did the trick. 

I only tested ONE Cytokine marker, not the full panel.  I still believe that if I had tested the whole panel, something would have shown up.  A normal TSH does not necessarily mean healthy thyroid function, nor does blood aldosterone guarantee healthy adrenals.  The same may hold true for Cytokines.  Perhaps blood tests are not accurate, and it must be measured in the urine or saliva.  The most important thing is that I am getting better, but I still want to see something WAY out of range.  Not only would it vindicate me, but it would also give me confirmation that my treatment is on the right path especially if a re-test showed movement in the right direction.    

The PCP told me to see a rheumatologist who would test the whole panel but did not give me a name of a practitioner.  Who knows how long that will take?   I’m not going back to the PCP.  If I continue to improve and avoid the flare ups, I see no reason to see the specialist.  Let’s hope that I am finally done.

Rant or Rave: Two Party Politics

A Break from the medical posts:

 Imagine a political landscape such as this:

-        Double digit inflation and unemployment with negative economic growth

-        Unpopular war with high casualties

-        Civil unrest at home with rising crime rates and epidemic of drug abuse and food shortages.

-      Rampant Corruption and Scandal in your administration

Yet, in spite of everything, the incumbent President is a slam dunk for re-election because more than 50 percent of the electorate will vote for their party’s nominee no matter what happens.  Yes, it is still a democracy but there are no consequences for failed policies.  You can bet that the incumbent party will double down and push harder even if things get worse.  Regardless of your party affiliation, that is a pretty scary proposition. California is basically a one party state now and most people agree that it is NOT on the right track. 

Back in the early 2000s, I was told that 40 percent will vote Republican no matter what and 40 percent will vote Democrat no matter what happens.  Maybe 5 percent are single issue voters, which leaves only 15 percent up for grabs.  I’m sure that 15 percent number has since shrunk.  I’m betting that today; Democrats hold a 3-5 percent advantage in the “no matter what” voters.   I have no doubt that the Left wants to bring the Democrat number above 50 so that way, even in the scenario described above, they will continue to win elections.  Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want but I believe that is a big reason why they want open borders and amnesty for illegals. 

While I cannot see myself ever voting for today’s Democrats at the national level, Republicans still have to earn my vote.  Nixon was such a disaster that I'm sure that I would have voted for Carter in 1976.  Perot would have gotten serious consideration in 1992.   In this years Alabama gubernatorial election, I plan on voting Libertarian due to Ivey’s COVID policy even though I agree with her on most of the issues.  Suppose that Bush-43 was running for his 2^nd term in 2008 in the midst of the Great Recession and Iraq.  No, I would not have voted for him even against Obama.  I would have either stayed home or voted 3^rd party. 

Yes, I did hold my nose and vote for both McCain and Romney, but I regret it today and would not do it again even against a Socialist.  As President, an Establishment Republican would do just enough to keep the base quiet but not enough to make a significant difference.  The media is willing to tolerate token opposition from the likes of McCain and his ilk so long as they are not a threat to win at the national level.  If that happens, the media will turn on them at the drop of a hat. 

While I am a pretty staunch Republican, I actually see a healthy opposition party as a good thing.  Of course, I would prefer it if the Democrats took more reasonable positions on key issues.  A blatantly dishonest media is one of our nation's greatest problems IMO.  If their policies fail as was the case with Bush-43, Republicans deserve to lose.  Unless things improve dramatically in the next 2 years, Democrats should get blown out in 2024 but I expect it to be close as it stands now.  In a healthy 2 party system, the losing party will then make corrections and come back stronger within 4-8 more years.  Ironically, if the Bush/Cheney administration was not such as disaster, GOP voters probably never embrace Trumpism.      

There is talk of a moderate 3^rd party.  How would a McCain/Lieberman ticket do against Trump and Bernie Sanders in a 3 way race if all 3 are alive and well?  That’s an interesting question, and I’ll bet that for at least one or two cycles, it will be a viable party.  However, as time goes on, it will drift further Left and eventually die out because it hurts the Democrats more than the Republicans.    

There is also increasing talk of splitting the country into Red and Blue.  While I can certainly say that if the Red States were an independent nation, the laws would be more to my liking, I oppose secession.  It will not be an amicable split because almost all states have some red and some blue areas.  Blue states will fully embrace socialism and go totally off the deep end.  I would hope that in Red America, there would be a Centrist and/or Libertarian opposition party in case the Conservatives lose their way.  

Current Good News/History of False Hopes

 Let's start with some good news.  I am definitely on to something with the Cytokines.  I'm not going to say that the sensitivity is gone forever but I definitely see a real possibility.  Before I took the Cytokine pill yesterday, I could only manage a 1:40 for a half lap at Montreat (10:00 pace) on Taurine WITHOUT  Probiotics.  That's decidedly less horrible than the 1:58 that I did the previous day but still BAAAUHD!   I popped 2 Probiotics with Lactoferrin and immediately went back out.  On the same effort, I improved all the way to 68 seconds (6:48 pace).  I know that I am beating a dead horse here, but a healthy person should NEVER SEE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF ONE EFFING PILL!!!!   

On the Cytokine pill, I will feel good for a few brief moments then the fatigue sets in pretty hard.  At this point, it is a price that I am willing to pay.  It may be only temporary until I adjust to the supplement.  If I take the pill in the morning, I will be better in the afternoon and often feel improvement after going to the toilet.  The best news with the Cytokine pill is that it really doesn't matter what other supplements I take.   I WILL FEEL ABOUT THE SAME!  If that continues, I really don't care if I never run fast again!  Yes, I will be miserable if I go much longer than 24 hours without this pill but I'm not seeing the insatiable need that I've had with others recently.  In fact, if I doubled up the dosage, it probably would make things worse.

Today, I made it the quarter marathon distance in 77:15 (11:47 pace) using a 4:1 jog/walk ratio.  I jogged 0.20 miles then walked 0.05 but did jog non-stop for the last mile.  Yes, I could have gone longer and slightly faster but chose to be cautious.  That's going to be the plan in Hawaii.  I'm not even going to try to run all the way.  If the race was today, it would have been roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes of sheer misery but yes, I could have made it.  In order to beat the time limit of 3:30, I can probably make it with a 1:1 ratio.  Unless it is an extraordinarily bad day, I expect to be able to manage that.  If I'm so bad that I can't do that, I'll know it warming up and won't even try.   

I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Adrenal Fatigue in 2006 and though the treatment was complicated by the sensitivity, I made tremendous progress up through 2012.  At the end of every year except for the injury plagued 2010, I felt that in spite of the ups and downs, I was far better off than I had been 12 months ago.  That all changed in 2013.  I did manage to buck the trend in 2014 and 2017 and do a little better than the previous year but outside of that, it has been a steady decline that has grown much steeper in recent years.  

Ten years ago, I was taking NO pills and running great.  I did some workouts with sub-3 marathoners and more than held my own.  There was a female named Erica who qualified for the Olympic Trials with a sub-2:45 but even she could not keep up with me on the last 400 of an interval workout.  Still, ominous signs were on the horizon.  I was not taking any pills because NOTHING WAS TOLERATED!  I had a complete intolerance to sugar, and I was already showing signs of severe Magnesium deficiency.  It was only a matter of time before symptoms of the adrenal imbalance would manifest if I could not take the necessary pills. 

I thought perhaps it was something as simple as a defective enzyme.  Xylose isomerase allowed me to tolerate sugar as well as the necessary adrenal supplement but that triggered a need for Vitamin C and I needed a precise ratio of Thym-Adren and C while shooting at moving targets.  I discovered Magnesium, which allowed the enzyme to work, and I got hot again for a few weeks, but it was short-lived.  I was on to something, but it did not stop the sensitivity.  In fact, it got worse.

The next attempt was the Hulda Clark Liver Cleanse.  I thought that perhaps because the Liver is the body's central processing unit, if I cleaned that out, the sensitivity would stop.  WRONG!  Again, it allowed me to tolerate the adrenal supplement that I needed but it also dumped out toxic Copper and Cadmium.  I still managed a decent year in 2014 up but faded badly in December.  

Next, I attempted to tackle the low Ceruloplasmin, which is copper carrying Liver protein that was actually low enough to be flagged on some labs.  Again, after some early success, it turned into a disaster and did NOT stop the sensitivity.  

In 2015, I went the genetic route with methylation, thinking that a block in that area was the problem.  Yes, I did have the dreaded MTHFR mutation but once again, treatment did not stop the sensitivity.  It continued to get worse.  By this point, it was obvious to the running community that something was wrong with me.  Even my good days were nothing special by this point.

There were a couple small treatments that I tried and had some fleeting success such as DIM and Sarcosine but again, they were not the answer.  My next major hope did not come until 2019 with the Advanced TRS and later the Fulvic Acid for detox.  I fit all the characteristics of a poor eliminator of toxic metals and thought that there was a good chance that the detox would stop the sensitivity.  While some pills that I previously could not take were now tolerated, I continued to get worse overall.  

Last year, I discovered an Intrinsic Factor deficiency.  I thought that might solve the sensitivity but it did not.

More recently, I tried to lower a high Na/K ratio with the supplement Stress Pak and got a prescription to kill the Candida infection.  Again, the extreme sensitivity remained.  I'm getting tested for Cytokines on Monday. I hope to see a reading that is off the scale.  However, no matter what the result, I will remain on my present course unless the sensitivity flares up again.

Doctor Refused to Test Cytokines

 I am mad as hell!  Suppose a patient suspects that they might have cancer but the doctor refuses to test for it.  Because of that, it's not detected until it is too late.  I'm sure that happens all the time.  I've been asked why I waited this long to see a "real doctor."  I've had HORRIBLE experiences with mainstream medicine in the past and this episode has done little to change my opinion.  I've been to "real doctors" before and explained my situation.  One of them admitted that she "didn't know what to make of it" and another thought I might be bi-polar even though I clearly stated that how I feel depends solely on taking the right pills and if I take something wrong, I will know it instantly.  Needless to say, neither of them tested for Cytokines.  To be fair, neither did any of the alternative naturopaths.  If I was diagnosed even 10 years ago, my life almost certainly would have turned out differently.  

Supposedly, the Cytokine test "cannot be done at this lab".  I'm not buying it.  I'm betting that this quack just doesn't want to do it.  He did say that the rheumatologist that he will send be to will do the test.  I cannot wait that long.  Who knows how long it will take to get the referral and the appointment scheduled?  When it is scheduled, will the specialist do the testing that I want?  That's hardly a guarantee!   I dealt with a quack endocrinologist in the past.  I wanted a full thyroid panel but she refused and I had to beg just to get my T3 tested in addition to my T4 and TSH.   

On the running front, the news was mostly good today.  I took the forbidden combo of Taurine without Probiotics.  My time for a half lap at Montreat was an abysmal 1:58 (11:48 pace).  After popping a Cytokine pill, for a few brief moments, I felt like my old self and slammed a 54 second half lap (5:24 pace).  MINUS 6:25!!!!   Unfortunately, the good feeling did not last.  Within an hour, the fatigue set in and I managed only a "Rocket 88" before I left for work (8:48 pace).  If I had taken the Taurine with Probiotics, I bet I'm between 65-70.   When I got off work, I hit Lakeshore for 1.5 miles in 14-flat (9:20 pace).  Certainly not a great showing but a BIG improvement over my 10:56 pace yesterday.  

I have a strong feeling that the supplement has already begun to move my Cytokine numbers in the right direction.  That's why I want this test done now rather than later.  I still believe this test will show something.  That 11:48 pace on the forbidden combo before taking the Cytokine pill is BEYOND AWFUL!  That has got to come down.  

Plan:

I will lay off this pill for the weekend then go to the lab for an out of pocket test on Monday.  I still have to go to the lab again at the "real doctor's" office even though I believe it is a waste.  Hopefully, that's the last time, I will have to deal with him.

Another Round of Testing. Cytokines?

One piece of good news.  There is movement on the adrenal gap.  It took a little longer than expected but I am getting there.  Without those pills: 2:55 (8:45 pace)  With: 2:25 (7:15 pace).  Compared to last time, the ceiling rose by 33 while the floor leaped by 96.  Thus, the gap diminished from 2:33 to 1:30.  That's more like it.  I predict that by the end of the weekend, the gap will be less than 60.  Soon, it will be like most of my other pills.  I won't be able to quit taking it, but if I miss a couple doses here and there, I won't notice.  If only ALL of my pills were like that.  NOPE.  There is always one that I cannot get along without.  

I got a call from the doctor's office shortly after I published my last post.  Despite the elevated lab value suggestive of AIHA and symptoms that make sense with that diagnosis, my doctor does NOT believe that I suffer from this condition.  The reason is that there is another key lab value that I did not look into that was well within the normal range.  After some additional reflection, I don't think I would be satisfied with that diagnosis either. 

 I have to go back to the lab on Monday morning for more testing.  There has got to be something that is WAY OFF!  One of the natural practitioners that I spoke to many times told me that in 20 years of practice, he has NEVER seen anyone as sensitive as I am to supplements.  IIRC in this lab, the upper limit of normal was 35 and my result was a 37.x.  I'm sure that my doctor has seen a lot worse than my numbers.  Yes, I have had lab values flagged as abnormal before but the treatment did not address the one problem that I hoped to solve.

Now let's suppose that there is a lab test in which it is best to be nearly undetectable but you are still considered normal if your number is below 10.  I would hope that my lab value is over 100.  Yes, you read that right.  I HOPE to see a lab value OVER ONE HUNDRED when 10 is the upper limit of normal!  Sure, it means that I have a very serious imbalance and probably a long road to recovery but AT LEAST I KNOW WHAT IS WRONG!  Even if my prognosis is poor or uncertain, I would still prefer that to my current situation.  

Cytokine panel is a test like that.  I've done some research and though I don't fit all of the symptoms, yes it is an autoimmune problem that CAN cause sensitivity as well as fatigue, depression and muscle pain.  What does lead me to believe that this may be THE problem is my reaction to a supplement called Cytokine Suppress.  I purchased a bottle in case of a COVID infection because I read that cytokine storms can flare up with COVID, which can be dangerous.  I did have some sort of respiratory infection over New Years and I'll never know for sure if it was COVID.  At any rate, I took a couple of those pills and though I did not get very sick from the virus, I did not notice any benefit from the supplement.  Fortunately, I kept it in my cabinet.  

In light of the news of autoimmune issues, I tried it again today after the adrenal gap intervals.  As I posted before, Taurine is not tolerated unless I take Probiotics.  I took some Taurine without Probiotics shortly after I arrived at work.  As expected, I had an immediate negative response.  Then, about 30 minutes later, I took a Cytokine Suppress pill.  It wasn't quite an instant reaction but within minutes, I was NOTICEABLY BETTER.  Unfortunately, the good feeling didn't last long.  Come lunch time, I was feeling pretty rotten again.  I did rebound a bit by late afternoon but still struggled badly in my workout.  I went to the toilet a couple of times and felt noticeably better afterwards.  This all happened without the Probiotics or Lactoferrin.  I took that stuff when I got home and found that it had no real effect.  That's good news.  Perhaps I simply need to adjust to the Cytokine Suppress pill.

Goals:

In order to truly assess my reaction to the Cytokine pill, I must wait a few hours before I run.  I may do quite well shortly after taking it but collapse within a couple hours.  Of course, the goal is a decent workout in the afternoon after having taken a pill in the morning.  

An even better indicator is to take a forbidden combo such as Taurine with no Probiotics and NOT have a bad reaction.  This must be done BEFORE taking the Cytokine pill.  That would mean that I have enough reserve in my system and the sensitivity is GONE!  Once again, I'm fine with having to take this pill but an occasional missed dose should not hurt me.  So far, I'm not getting an insatiable need for it as I've had with other pills.  That's good news.

I had to ASK the doctor for this test.  The receptionist says that she will ask the doctor but expects him to approve the test.  The doctor did refuse to test my Aldosterone and had the receptionist call to tell me.  I'm not terribly upset because adrenal blood tests are not reliable and my interval times are clearly headed in the right direction.  I received no such call about the Cytokine.  If this test is refused, I will pay out of pocket for it and if it's flagged, my doctor will be fired.