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Due to thyroid and adrenal conditions, my DHEA dropped from around 300 (good range) to 50 (very low range). My doctor started me on 25 mg of DHEA day (a good brand, and yes there is a difference).
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Watch for improved endurance and recovery with exercise. Emotional or mood changes (positive or negative), any other hormonal changes (whatever that means!) |
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When my DHEA is back up to around 300, or I have positive or negative side effects. |
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If this helps with build muscle, improves mood and slows the aging process I will consider it a success. If no changes, or negatives effects occur I can always explore further with my doctor. |
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Lizzy
- Member Since
- 07/01/09
- About Co-creator of Edison.
- Web http://www.misslizzy.me
- Experiments 51
- Observations 332
Comments & Observations
Lizzy I just started DHEA May 22 so its hard to know how long before I see changes. But I did notice the other night while running with my sister, I was actually able to keep up with her. This has never happened before. In the past I could keep up for a bit but then faded but we did some sprinting and I was amazed that I was right there with her. At that was after 3 miles. Woohoo!
May 26, 2010
Matthew Cornell Cool results about the running. It'll be fun to see results over time. Good experiment!
May 28, 2010
Lizzy This is a tough experiment to measure. It seems like I am getting physically stronger and my overall endurance is improving. I went for a run on Monday and did 2.75 miles. It seemed fairly easy, and it seemed like my body didn't hurt as much as it has in the past. As for recovery, not a single ache or pain the next day. So I guess that's a good indicator. I will continue to watch for muscle improvements.
Jun 03, 2010
Matthew Cornell You could do a time-based A/B test by going off it again. That would be really interesting.
Jun 04, 2010
Dan Owen I did a one-year DHEA experiment 10/08 to 10/09. My purpose was to increase my energy level, measured anecdotally, and with specific attention paid to my mid-day exhaustion. I had a hormone panel done before starting: testosterone 194, DHEA 122. After a year, there was no change in my energy level. I didn't bother to measure serum DHEA again. However, my doctor was very concerned about this experiment, as DHEA is a testosterone precursor, and there is a link to prostate cancer in men. He ordered a liver enzyme test in 12/09, and my ALT level was elevated to 72. Unfortunately, I was performing a second experiment simultaneously: taking red yeast rice to lower my cholesterol -- another source of concern for him, since RYR is a natural statin and therefore can do harm to the liver in the way statins sometimes do. In 12/09 I stopped both RYR and DHEA supplements, and had a liver enzyme panel done again in 4/10. My ALT level dropped back down to 46. There's no way of knowing whether it was RYR or DHEA that was causing my ALT level to elevate. However, my LDL cholesterol was LOWER after stopping RYR than it was after taking it steadily for one year. My conclusion: neither DHEA or RYR were effective, but one or the other was damaging my liver.
Jun 06, 2010
Lizzy Thanks Dan, that's very interesting and rather scary. I will ask about doing the liver enzyme test. In the past three years, my DHEA dropped from 300 to 50 which is really not good. I have read the Statins are risky, but with Red Rice Yeast I believe you also need to be taking COQ10? Did your doctor tell you this? Also, exhaustion especially mid-day could be related to a drop in Cortisol related to the adrenal system. There is a lot of information about this. Thanks!
Jun 07, 2010
Dan Owen It's frustrating that so few double blind studies have been done with these supplements. I think it's likely that the RYR I was taking -- I got it at Whole Foods -- didn't actually have any monacolin, which is why it didn't reduce my LDL cholesterol, and that it therefore didn't affect my liver either. I think the liver damage was due to taking DHEA. I wish I hadn't taken them simultaneously so that I could sort this out. In any event, I plan to take a prescription statin later this year. I'll talk with my doctor about CoQ10. I didn't check into adrenal causes of my mid-day exhaustion, but I will. There is no shortage of potential causes, I can tell you that. My instinctive sense is that it's related to mild depression.
Jun 08, 2010
Lizzy Hi Dan, that's all very interesting thanks for the info. Depression is related to Adrenals as well, and the adrenals are tied into the hormone system. I've done tons of reading on this while trying to get diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Fatigue. You might find some interesting info on my blog site:
http://misslizzy.me/blog/2010/5/17/the-depression-hypothyroid-connection.html
http://misslizzy.me/adrenal-fatigue/
http://misslizzy.me/hypothyroid-symptoms/
Jun 11, 2010
Lizzy This experiment is a hard one to measure. It seems like my muscle recovery is improving. On Saturday I did a 3 mile run in 30 minutes, non-stop, and wasn't the least bit sore the next day. That seems noteworthy. Ran 2 1/4 miles tonight pretty easily along with pushups and other stretches. I think I need a more rigorous method of tracking to understand the impact.
Jun 14, 2010
Lizzy Oh, and I did read that some people experience depression when taking DHEA so I am on the lookout for any downward spirals.
Jun 14, 2010
Matthew Cornell I agree re: rigorous tracking. My gut says we soon will need quantitative observations along with our current text-based ones. Also, I think an iPhone app would be smart, for a number of reasons including rapid capture of data and generating TTL buzz.
Jun 15, 2010
Lizzy Agreed Matt. I learned something interesting today... DHEA can cause hair loss, which I thought was related to low iron.
http://edison.thinktrylearn.com/experiments/show/157
Stopping DHEA as of today June 15th, will see what happens.
Jun 15, 2010
Lizzy Today was my first day off DHEA and I have to say I feel much better. Its hard to believe I will notice the improvement right away. But I definitely have more focus, energy and ability to cope. I suspect the DHEA was interfering with my other hypothyroid and adrenal medicines.
Jun 16, 2010
Lizzy I also read on the Yahoo Adrenal Forum that DHEA can lower cortisol (hydrocortisone) which I take for adrenals. So that would explain the onset of adrenal fatigue symptoms like foggy head, difficulty coping, agitation. Its incredible how quickly the body reacts.
Jun 16, 2010
Lizzy I stopped the DHEA about a week ago and I definitely am feeling better. Foggy thinking and other symptoms have improved. Though I still feel sluggish I think that's residual. I am marking this one done! I will live with low DHEA until I can determine other options.
Jun 22, 2010
Matthew Cornell Congratulations! [http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/blog/fireworks02.jpg]
Jun 22, 2010