Tracy, I would just urge you to read up on this and speak with an endocrinologist and make your own decision. Don't take my word for it and don't take jill's word for it. Read about it for yourself. And consult with an endocrinologist. When this condition is severe enough to warrant treatment with cortisol, it can't be done without the oversight of a physician. Testing needs to be done before and during treatment. And there are other things that can be done to help, as I've said -- herbs, botanicals, vitamin therapy, etc.

I am being treated for severe adrenal exhaustion/borderline Addison's. Had I not been diagnosed and my adrenal glands had deteriorated further, I would not be here.

Please read the new post on the other cortef/adrenal fatigue thread, if you want. There is more detailed info on the safe uses of cortisol there. Using a bio-identical hormone that is naturally found in the human body like cortisol is safe. If your adrenal glands are not able to produce the cortisol that is necessary for living, then replacing those cortisol levels is imperative. I'm not talking about high doses here.

Jill, I would imagine if Tracy's adrenal glands are "shot" as her doctors have told her, she probably does have low blood pressure.

I'm convinced that my adrenal failure is a consequence of mercury poisoning. Formal chelation can not begin for me until I can normalize my adrenal glands and get them supported properly. When the adrenal glands are exhausted, it actually can make metal toxicity worse because the body does not have the molecular or metabolic energy to even do the minimal natural detoxing that the body is designed to do. It is a biochemical condition.

While cleaning out toxins will eventually help this condition. The process of formal detoxification and/or chelation can't begin or be effective without severe problems until adrenal gland function is supported and restored.

The accumulation of toxins that occurs as the body can no longer remove them properly contributes to burnout. Exposure to toxic metals or chemicals can be an important factor in adrenal gland burnout.

However, energy is required to release toxins. If the energy system is weak, just fasting or detoxifying will not be enough. One must rebuild the entire energy system by balancing body chemistry and providing nutrients as well. A one-month or even six-month cleanse is nowhere near adequate. It can take a year just to replenish one mineral. For those in burnout, extreme detoxification programs such as fasting, raw foods or even chelating agents can be dangerous. This is because the body lacks the vitality to properly eliminate toxins, the eliminative organs are compromised and toxins may be redistributed in vital organs. A gentle, complete program of rebuilding and nourishing the body must accompany any efforts to eliminate toxins. In fact, as vitality improves, toxin elimination will proceed on its own.

In my own case, I have eliminated all 17 of my amalgams and also had an abscessed tooth extracted and my root-canaled tooth extracted. I've made huge improvements from that alone. For example, my long-standing Chronic Epstein Barr Virus that I had for decades virtually disappeared overnight after amalgam removal.

Anyway, Tracy I do hope you can find answers and that you feel better. Like so many people here, in the past I've struggled with some rather overwhelming chronic health conditions, (CFIDS, Fibromyalgia, systemic candidiasis, Raynaud's Disease, chronic epstein barr virus, to name but a few). In my personal experience, Adrenal Exhaustion has by far been the most debilitating and overwhelming.

SomedaySoon