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Hey Doctor, I Just Had A Few Questions About A

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Posted on Sat, 4 May 2019
Question: Hey doctor,

I just had a few questions about a certain medication. I was recommended this product called “Adrenal Cortex” by Thorne which I have linked below by an integrative doctor for my high stress lifestyle, anxiety and being tired quite a lot. I just have a few concerns after reading up on adrenal supplements and how they are harvested from dead animals adrenal glands. Is this really at all safe it just sounds kind of whack and I’ve read that there it is unknown whether or not there is long term side effects from taking them and if they alter your body’s normal response to everything’s. I’ve also read up about how you can get “mad cow diesease” from these tablets. I did order a bottle before reading about it but is it better just to leave if?

https://au.iherb.com/pr/p/18735
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
Hey doctor,

I just had a few questions about a certain medication. I was recommended this product called “Adrenal Cortex” by Thorne which I have linked below by an integrative doctor for my high stress lifestyle, anxiety and being tired quite a lot. I just have a few concerns after reading up on adrenal supplements and how they are harvested from dead animals adrenal glands. Is this really at all safe it just sounds kind of whack and I’ve read that there it is unknown whether or not there is long term side effects from taking them and if they alter your body’s normal response to everything’s. I’ve also read up about how you can get “mad cow diesease” from these tablets. I did order a bottle before reading about it but is it better just to leave if?

https://au.iherb.com/pr/p/18735
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I don"t recommend these products to my patients.

Detailed Answer:
Hello there,
I have gone through your query and understood your concern.

It is true.
Adrenal extract is a chemical that is made from the adrenal glands of slaughtered pigs, cows, and sheep.

It can be taken by mouth, sublingually. It is unsafe if it is taken intravenously.

By mouth, the adrenal extract is used for low adrenal function, fatigue, stress or lowered resistance to illness.

It is very important to know that there isn’t enough information available about the safety of adrenal extract when taken by mouth. There is always a chance of getting infected by serious infections because it is possible that the adrenal extract is taken by sick animals.
"Mad cow disease" is a serious concern, if you take this medication.

So, if you were my patient, I will not recommend using this product because in my opinion it is not safe and there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of this treatment.

Hope this is helpful.
Wish you good health.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
I don"t recommend these products to my patients.

Detailed Answer:
Hello there,
I have gone through your query and understood your concern.

It is true.
Adrenal extract is a chemical that is made from the adrenal glands of slaughtered pigs, cows, and sheep.

It can be taken by mouth, sublingually. It is unsafe if it is taken intravenously.

By mouth, the adrenal extract is used for low adrenal function, fatigue, stress or lowered resistance to illness.

It is very important to know that there isn’t enough information available about the safety of adrenal extract when taken by mouth. There is always a chance of getting infected by serious infections because it is possible that the adrenal extract is taken by sick animals.
"Mad cow disease" is a serious concern, if you take this medication.

So, if you were my patient, I will not recommend using this product because in my opinion it is not safe and there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of this treatment.

Hope this is helpful.
Wish you good health.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (19 hours later)
Thanks for that info it definitely has made me definitely not want to take it especially with the potential dangers and how it’s made.

One other thing that’s kind of in-related but you might have some insight into. I’ve had this lump on the left side of my neck that doesn’t purtrude out but I can feel it when running my hand over my neck it’s one of my lymph nodes. It’s been englarged for about 7 weeks now and hasn’t gone down but hasn’t gotten worse either. I’ve attached some images but do you think it’s worth getting any tests done or is it not really that bad since it’s just the one lump?
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
Thanks for that info it definitely has made me definitely not want to take it especially with the potential dangers and how it’s made.

One other thing that’s kind of in-related but you might have some insight into. I’ve had this lump on the left side of my neck that doesn’t purtrude out but I can feel it when running my hand over my neck it’s one of my lymph nodes. It’s been englarged for about 7 weeks now and hasn’t gone down but hasn’t gotten worse either. I’ve attached some images but do you think it’s worth getting any tests done or is it not really that bad since it’s just the one lump?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Neck ultrasound.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
I have reviewed you attached reports.

Swollen lymph nodes usually occur as a result of exposure to bacteria or viruses.This lymph nodes are called reactive and most commonly are cause by infections like Strep throat, ear infections ,Infected (abscessed) tooth or Mononucleosis.

You have a palpable lymph node in your neck that is beeing enlarged for seven weeks,for this reason,my suggestion is to do a neck ultrasound to see the ultrasound characteristics of this lump and to check for other possible small lymph nodes in the area.

This information is decisive to understand the cause, the origin and the nature of lymph node .
Treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends on the cause.It is important to know that you should seek immediate medical care if you're having difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Hope this is helpful.
Take care.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Neck ultrasound.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
I have reviewed you attached reports.

Swollen lymph nodes usually occur as a result of exposure to bacteria or viruses.This lymph nodes are called reactive and most commonly are cause by infections like Strep throat, ear infections ,Infected (abscessed) tooth or Mononucleosis.

You have a palpable lymph node in your neck that is beeing enlarged for seven weeks,for this reason,my suggestion is to do a neck ultrasound to see the ultrasound characteristics of this lump and to check for other possible small lymph nodes in the area.

This information is decisive to understand the cause, the origin and the nature of lymph node .
Treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends on the cause.It is important to know that you should seek immediate medical care if you're having difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Hope this is helpful.
Take care.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (1 hour later)
Thanks for that I haven’t had any pain or anything like that I just noticed that it was enlarged one day all of a sudden but I haven’t been sick or anything like that. The first doctor I went to checked it out and said it’s nothing to worry about even if it was there for a long time but I got a second opinion and they referred me to an ultrasound, I was just a bit unsure and I don’t like to do uncessary tests in case they’re harmful in the long term. Would the neck ultrasound be able to detect anything and if it were nothing but just a bump would they even do anything is it unusual that it’s swollen for no reason especially since I haven’t been sick could that potentially be a sign of something like lymphoma?
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
Thanks for that I haven’t had any pain or anything like that I just noticed that it was enlarged one day all of a sudden but I haven’t been sick or anything like that. The first doctor I went to checked it out and said it’s nothing to worry about even if it was there for a long time but I got a second opinion and they referred me to an ultrasound, I was just a bit unsure and I don’t like to do uncessary tests in case they’re harmful in the long term. Would the neck ultrasound be able to detect anything and if it were nothing but just a bump would they even do anything is it unusual that it’s swollen for no reason especially since I haven’t been sick could that potentially be a sign of something like lymphoma?
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (23 minutes later)
How accurate are neck ultrasounds as well can they produce a false positive negative?
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
How accurate are neck ultrasounds as well can they produce a false positive negative?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The ultrasound is not harmful.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
As I said earlier ,in your circumstances the ultrasound is very important.
This is a non invasive /harmful test.
Do not be insure about this test,there are no risks and it is very important to reach the right diagnosis.

Accordingly to the ultrasound result a lymph node biopsy may be necessary.

Hope, I have clarified your doubts.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
The ultrasound is not harmful.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
As I said earlier ,in your circumstances the ultrasound is very important.
This is a non invasive /harmful test.
Do not be insure about this test,there are no risks and it is very important to reach the right diagnosis.

Accordingly to the ultrasound result a lymph node biopsy may be necessary.

Hope, I have clarified your doubts.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (7 hours later)
No worries I’ll get it done for sure just another thing and I don’t know if it’s related to the lymph node but I’ve had stomach problems for 3 years now mainly pain in the centre of my epigastric region along with this pain I get in the upper right side of my back mainly after eating and all the treatments I’ve tried have done nothing. I’ve had numerous tests including endoscopys, ultrasounds etc but they never came up with anything. Could there be maybe something they missed and my body’s fighting an infection or even cancer that’s causing these stomach problems and making this lymph node show up?
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Follow up: Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
No worries I’ll get it done for sure just another thing and I don’t know if it’s related to the lymph node but I’ve had stomach problems for 3 years now mainly pain in the centre of my epigastric region along with this pain I get in the upper right side of my back mainly after eating and all the treatments I’ve tried have done nothing. I’ve had numerous tests including endoscopys, ultrasounds etc but they never came up with anything. Could there be maybe something they missed and my body’s fighting an infection or even cancer that’s causing these stomach problems and making this lymph node show up?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
The pain generaly is a common sign of infection and it is uncommon in case of cancer.
So,don't worry.

The epigastric pain can be raleted to conditions like gastritis or ulcus duodeni and this diagnosis are easy with endoscopy.

In my opinion the dpigastric pain is not rekated to your neck lymph node.

As i said in our last discussions,in your case it is necessary to do only an ultrasound of the neck.

Ket me know the result and i can guide you further.
Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Elona (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
It is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
The pain generaly is a common sign of infection and it is uncommon in case of cancer.
So,don't worry.

The epigastric pain can be raleted to conditions like gastritis or ulcus duodeni and this diagnosis are easy with endoscopy.

In my opinion the dpigastric pain is not rekated to your neck lymph node.

As i said in our last discussions,in your case it is necessary to do only an ultrasound of the neck.

Ket me know the result and i can guide you further.
Best regards.
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Elona

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 939 Questions

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Hey Doctor, I Just Had A Few Questions About A

Hey doctor, I just had a few questions about a certain medication. I was recommended this product called “Adrenal Cortex” by Thorne which I have linked below by an integrative doctor for my high stress lifestyle, anxiety and being tired quite a lot. I just have a few concerns after reading up on adrenal supplements and how they are harvested from dead animals adrenal glands. Is this really at all safe it just sounds kind of whack and I’ve read that there it is unknown whether or not there is long term side effects from taking them and if they alter your body’s normal response to everything’s. I’ve also read up about how you can get “mad cow diesease” from these tablets. I did order a bottle before reading about it but is it better just to leave if? https://au.iherb.com/pr/p/18735