[John21 (OP)]

http://health.howstuffworks.com/immune-system8.htm

Hormones
There are several hormones generated by components of the immune system. These hormones are known generally as lymphokines. It is also known that certain hormones in the body suppress the immune system. Steroids and corticosteroids (components of adrenaline) suppress the immune system.

I wonder if our bodies are simply conditioned to releasing high amounts of certain hormones at orgasm, or at least an alteration in their ratios. This imbalance could then relax a part of the immune system resulting in the various symptoms that we experience. But then we would have test results "in POIS" showing wacky hormone results. Demo has chronic low T but what evidence do we have of hormonal changes from pre-O to post-O? If this was the mechanism could simply strengthening the immune system fight against it? It seems too simple, but maybe.

"Leaky gut" is also purported to be induced by hormones. Could our post-O hormonal state irritate the gut lining and cause a short term "leaky gut"? The symptoms are similar.

[demografx]

In earlier POIS years, I was getting colds very frequently. Now I simply avoid any exertion during POIS. John, your theory could even be right in my case, I only assumed 'chronic' T-deficiency because i bloodtested post-POIS. I don't have in-POIS data to determine any change/shifts hormonally between in-POIS and out-of-POIS.

[demografx]

VOLUNTEER NEEDED TO CALL WHO (World Health Organization)

I started to follow up my letter today, but I see that WHO is in Switzerland! I'm on the West Coast of the U.S.

Would anyone closer to Switzerland time zone, like to volunteer a phone call to them to see where our letter disappeared to?

This is the letter, drafted by Counterpoints and Martin, that I sent:
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6576.msg254986#msg254986

If you can do this, it would be greatly appreciated!

WHO Telephone: + 41 22 791 21 11

[martin88]

I just got my test results:

                     Result:      Range:
Free Tesosterone:    9.3          7.2-24.0

Testosterone Serum    474         241-827

DHEA-Sulfate          141         70-310
(I take 50-75Mg. DHEA/day

EStradiol             29           0-53


Creatinine            .74          .76-1.27
(I have a vegetarian diet which would lower this.)

It seems everything is awfully normal in your blood tests .
Was it "in pois" ?


I did my tests and went to the MD's office to have the results but they don't have all.
Here is what I have:
From hospital lab, release friday evening, testing monday morning.

Cortisol : 533 (138-690)
prolactin : 9.3 (2.7-16.9)
TSH : 4.4 (0.4-4.5)
Glucose fasting 5.5 (3.9-5.5)
HDL cholesterol 0.97 (1.04-1.29)
Creatinine 83 (55-110)
calcium 2.41 (2.12-2.62)
lymphocytes 39.7 (25-45)
ferritin 80 (15-350)

I didn't wake up very early just before the test, but it's rare, so maybe my cortisol is too high otherwise. TSH and glucose in the high limit. Nothing to explain why I'm so tired..

[CertainlyPOIS]

I was thinking maybe these hormones each have unique symptoms from each other when they are deficient.  If we can find this uinque symptoms and compare it with each individual's symptoms maybe we can cut down amount of hormones we test. 

[Finally]

I just got my test results:

                     Result:      Range:
Free Tesosterone:    9.3          7.2-24.0

Testosterone Serum    474         241-827

DHEA-Sulfate          141         70-310
(I take 50-75Mg. DHEA/day

EStradiol             29           0-53


Creatinine            .74          .76-1.27
(I have a vegetarian diet which would lower this.)

It seems everything is awfully normal in your blood tests .
Was it "in pois" ?


I did my tests and went to the MD's office to have the results but they don't have all.
Here is what I have:
From hospital lab, release friday evening, testing monday morning.

Cortisol : 533 (138-690)
prolactin : 9.3 (2.7-16.9)
TSH : 4.4 (0.4-4.5)
Glucose fasting 5.5 (3.9-5.5)
HDL cholesterol 0.97 (1.04-1.29)
Creatinine 83 (55-110)
calcium 2.41 (2.12-2.62)
lymphocytes 39.7 (25-45)
ferritin 80 (15-350)

I didn't wake up very early just before the test, but it's rare, so maybe my cortisol is too high otherwise. TSH and glucose in the high limit. Nothing to explain why I'm so tired..

I made sure I was in POIS(what we do for science), although sypmptoms were less severe and prolonged than in the past.  I was taking DHEA and Tribulus Terestis so they may have actually elevated my Testosterone level into the range. 
Unfortunately I don't have any previous Testosterone test to refer back to ,except saliva(several years ago) which was mormal but maybe not that accurate.
My Chloresterol was normal but HDL was low.  Hormones like Testosterone need chloresterol to be produced.

[demografx]

All this testing activity is teriffic. While it's frustrating to not see some immediate patterns (and we don't have a lot of in-POIS / out-of-POIS comparisons, do we?), at least we will eventually not have to guess at what is irrelevant, or to be ruled out.

[demografx]

Finally, that was funny, what we do for science...playback time : - )

[Pronobis]

VOLUNTEER NEEDED TO CALL WHO (World Health Organization)

I started to follow up my letter today, but I see that WHO is in Switzerland! I'm on the West Coast of the U.S.

Would anyone closer to Switzerland time zone, like to volunteer a phone call to them to see where our letter disappeared to?

This is the letter, drafted by Counterpoints and Martin, that I sent:
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6576.msg254986#msg254986

If you can do this, it would be greatly appreciated!

WHO Telephone: + 41 22 791 21 11

I can do this, I can even go there if needed. But I don't have much information and if they are going to speak english, too bad.

[Pronobis]

Demo, could you please give me more details - the date you have posted, which was the address etc.

[demografx]

Wonderful, Pronobis! Thank you very much. I will send you a Private Message with the email address I used!

[demografx]

NORD post-mortem

Since last week, does anyone have any thoughts, questions, comments, suggestions after reading the correspondence and the 3 case histories from NORD?
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6576.msg264343#msg264343

[John21 (OP)]

Demo,

Since last week, does anyone have any thoughts, questions, comments, suggestions after reading the correspondence and the 3 case histories from NORD?

If I ever win the lottery big time we are all convening for our meeting with NORD's researchers, on me.  I like to daydream. []

[martin88]

Pyropeach,
Fantastic job for your compendium. Great idea!
I don't wish to edit it because of my english, but I'll try to help a little bit by giving sugestions.

Thanks Finally for this information! I don't know how to raise HDL.. I knew that cholesterol is necessary to produce hormones but not that HDL was involved. I'll read on this.

Pronobis, it was really nice from you to call WHO. I wish you success with this.

John, I hope you're buying tickets every week!  []

[demografx]

OK, it's unanimously decided then, that John, aka John21, will fly us all to this fine POIS Retreat to meet with NORD researchers!!!

Martin, it's your job to make sure that John keeps up that steady, weekly rhythm of ticket purchases that you suggested! Excellent idea!


Thank you, John!!!

[John21 (OP)]

For everyone who is trying yogurt I have a recommendation. I am wondering if it isn't the microbes that have helped me, but what I mix in.  For the last few months I have been chopping up a few frozen cranberries, which I mix (along with the blueberries) into the yogurt. I started doing this merely for general health reasons, as berries are claimed to be quite healthy with antioxidants and such. But could the cranberries be the reason for my turnaround? Don't know, but now I am wondering. I had known about their beneficial effects in the urinary department against bacterial infections, but I just learned that studies have shown it might be effective against viral infections as well.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=145

So I suggest everyone tries this. The cost is minimal for a few cranberries per serving, and the sour taste is hidden with the blueberries/yogurt. I am going to up my intake.

[Pronobis]

It's not surprising that WHO don't answer to our mail. I called them, they sent me to each other during half an hour. They don't know the owner of the mailing address that we (Demo) sent our inquiry. [!] I will call later to one person. I am looking for his interieur number.

[GoingCrazy]

I started taking Threelac today, first packet just moments ago.  If candida is the real cause, I guess I will find out within this month or even sooner.   []

[EDS]

Great news! I hope.... [] I will be trying "T" patches soon!!

I saw my internist today to show him my test results from ZRT Labs (w/ low T) and was going to ask if he would refer me to an Endo for further testing and possibly treatment. I also showed him the report from Dr. Wadinger and and told him that I saw him for the first time 25 years ago when I was trying to figure out what the heck was going on. He seemed to be truly concerned and promised to read the paper.

Before we were finished, he wrote the prescription for the T patches himself and told me "let's try it and see if it helps", if it doesn't, we'll look at other alternatives.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, but I can't help but get a little excited about trying something that might help.

I can't thank everyone enough for being here!

Thank you, Thank you , Thank you!!!!

[demografx]

EDS, how very exciting!!! I fervently hope you do get the same result! I was so fearful that I waited a long time to see if it worked, but I did notice within the first week that I was feeling better overall I wish that for you too! Also, I had a good feeling just because after 30+ years of POIS I was doing SOMETHING that made sense, instead of my usual, resigned, hopeless attitude that I had before.

SOMETHING good is already happening, to you, and to all of us!

Thank YOU for your perseverance and reporting.