Adrenal Insufficiency Support Group

I have discovered that I have adrenal fatigue. My doctor mentioned to me that my adrenals were working overtime about 4 years ago or so but he didn't tell me why or what to do about it or what it could cause. After struggling first, to get diagnosed with hypothyroidism and then stil no relief in 3 or 4 years, I was always confused as to why I had hypothyroidism but many of my symptoms were hyper. Particulary heart racing, which totally wears me out. It's the worst and no doctor wants to help. My family doctor put me on Paxil (of which i took myself off) and the cariologist said "I have patients worse off than you" and wanted to put me on beta blockers (i declined). But no doctor wanted to find out WHY my heart was racing. It turns out because of the hypo-adrenia, or adrenal fatigue. I got Dr. James Wilson's book and have been reading it and apparently, if I go by his questions and his test, my adrenals are on the verge of quitting. My scores are WAY over the maximums. It's too bad doctors don't recognize this illness. My symptoms are hair loss, coldness, brainfog, no memory, lethargy, extended time needed to recuperate from any activity, complete lack of focus. Basically, in 4 years I have gone from a competent mother, wife, friend, daughter and employee to a babbling, useless, lazy, idiot. I am trying so hard to beat this, as I know all of you are. I am researching, studying, taking supplements, and recently made contact with a compounding pharmacy. Today I took my first Iodoral tablet. I'm hoping for the best. Has anyone else tried it?

Thanks for listening.

Muffin

Post edited by: Muffinmom, at: 12/29/2009 04:27 PM

Hi Muffin

Most people on this forum have had some extensive testing for AI in general. You also seem a candidate for this. Insist that you go and get a morning Cortisol test. Remember that you PAY the doctor and that your symptoms fit AI in some form. If you have AI the numbers will be low. If you have fatigue or over activity, cushings type problems they will be high. If they are low the next test will be ACTH stim. Low cortisol/AI also often gives hypothyrodism.

Please ask if you have any questions. Almost all of us here have also suffered the "its in your head" diagnosis so we know the where you are coming from with the lack of action.

Cheers Bob

Muffin,

Just found this group tonight. I have been under treatment for AI for a while now. Can you tell me how you're doing? I realize your post is a couple years old. Hoping to hear you've fully recovered.

Kind regards,

SD

Bob,

Thanks for posting the specific tests above.

Steve

Hi Steve

For interest - No there isn't a recovery/cure, just continual treatment with steroid drugs. Lot's of ups and downs that have to be responded to as well. Generally speaking it seems to be a losing battle. Back in Dec2009 I was just managing to maintain fulltime work. I am now on a disability pension.

Cheers Bob

Bob,

Very sorry to hear of your decline. Have you tried alternative therapies such as herbal and amino acid supplements or energy work?

Steve

Hi Steve

Not really. The simple answer IMO is that cortisol is a root system loss, so if you make up for it with downstream treatments (like herbal, vitamins etc) it part proves that the root cause hasnt been properly treated. It's the same logic as you shouldnt try to limit physical exercise or "take it easy" when you feel fatigued. The tiredness implies the dosage isn't high enough for that occasion and should be adjusted dynamically.

Of course replacement isn't perfect so other treatments can be used for end refining the process. I mean I take VitD of 3000u/day, which isn't a whole lot.

My opinion of course!

Most of my decline though has been a mix of medical ineptitude and left field problems. I also have some cardiac worries that concurrent with AI confuses things. Recently for example I found that although inhaled asthma steroids at low doses have very little systemic cortisol suppression for a normal person, the glucocorticoid equivalence of the dose has to be factored into AI replacement. In my case I was ceasing the use of the asthma steroid, since the root cause of my alleged asthma was in fact the AI! I can now map the reasons why I had to permanently updose HC over the last three years when I down dosed the asthma puffer! One 200ug puff of Budenoside is "worth" about 10mg of HC.. That "means" that when I commenced replacement in 2005 I was roughly taking 55mg of HC equivalence even though I was only on 30mg. Now I am on about 55mg HC and no Budesonide! Good maths!

I have yet to document this stuff and get some more tough questions answered before I post it all here.

Bob

Wow! I'm asthmatic and I did NOT know that! All I've noticed is that my asthma magically improved since I've started HC...hmmmm!

I am definitely going to consult my doc about how my asthma sprays affect my dosage. Thanks for the info.

Good evening to all, new on here, just recently diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, sudden hair loss is my biggest hurdle right now, any one have a natural remedy to resolve this issue, or experiencing the same thing...... scary stuff