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Post by Karen on Jun 2, 2010 21:21:16 GMT -5
Anyone hear of this? My new complementary medicine MD had me do a spit test - I spit into 4 vials throughout the day, then sent them in. Got the results last week. The test measures my cortisol & DHEA levels.
The results? My cortisol levels were low in the morning and in the evening, and they were on the low end of normal around noon and mid-afternoon. I haven't had a follow up with my doc yet, but the report that was sent to me summarized the following:
"This pattern suggests adrenal hypofunction of the zona fasciculata (the primary source of cortisol). A degree of hypofunction is suggested, which has been noted in fatigue disorders, phsiological or psycholigocal stress, anxiety, hypotension, and/or hypoglycemia."
Digging around, here's what I found about adrenal fatigue: (http://articles.directorym.com/Adrenal_Fatigue-a981504.html)
Adrenal dysfunction can disrupt the body's blood sugar metabolism, causing weakness, fatigue, and a feeling of being run down. It can also interfere with normal sleep rhythms and produce a wakeful, unrelaxing sleep state, making a person feel worn out even after a full night's sleep.
Common Causes of Adrenal Stress • Anger • Fear / Worry /Anxiety • Depression • Guilt • Overwork/ physical or mental strain • Excessive exercise • Sleep deprivation • Light-cycle disruption • Going to sleep late • Surgery • Trauma/injury • Chronic inflammation • Chronic infection • Chronic pain • Temperature extremes • Toxic exposure • Malabsorption • Maldigestion • Chronic illness • Chronic-severe allergies • Hypogycemia • Nutritional deficiencies
Testing for Adrenal Health
In order to determine the health of your adrenal glands you need to have a simple blood, urine, or saliva test performed by your practitioner. Cortisol levels can be checked by blood or throughout the day by a saliva test. DHEA, and Epinephrine, are some other indicators of adrenal function.
Associated Symptoms and Consequences of Impaired Adrenal Functioning • Low body temperature • Weakness • Unexplained hair loss • Nervousness • Difficulty building muscle • Irritability • Mental depression • Difficulty gaining weight • Apprehension • Hypoglycemia • Inability to concentrate • Excessive hunger • Tendency towards inflammation • Moments of confusion • Indigestion • Poor memory • Feelings of frustration • Alternating diarrhea and constipation • Osteoporosis • auto-immune diseases/hepatitis • Lightheadedness • Palpitations [heart fluttering] • Dizziness that occurs upon standing • Poor resistance to infections • Low blood pressure • Insomnia • Food and/or inhalant allergies • PMS • Craving for sweets • Dry and thin skin • Headaches • Scanty perspiration • Alcohol intolerance
Ha - I count 12 of those symptoms! Basically, if you're under a lot of stress, your adrenal glands can become fatigued and cause a mess of problems. I think my stress levels have really leveled out now, but last year they were all over the place... Tense work environment, severe pain/surgery/meds that didn't work/etc., losing my job. But, I'm still tired all the freaking time. I'm curious what my doc will say and what she'll recommend. I've read that supplements can be helpful, we'll see.
Anyone else get checked out for this? Anyone have any experience with this? Talk to your doc about cortisol levels?
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Post by sweety on Jun 3, 2010 8:13:25 GMT -5
Sorry I havent heard much about it. But as you are saying you do have some of these symptoms, you may find a treatment for them through this diagnosis! Wish you all the best!
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Post by JC on Jun 3, 2010 10:30:27 GMT -5
HOLY CRAP! This is crazy! I think we all have these symptoms! What's the treatment for this?
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Post by sweety on Jun 3, 2010 11:32:04 GMT -5
Ok, after looking at it once again I found out even I have them - I have around 11 of these symptoms.. not to talk about my hair loss and nervousness these days!! Also craving for sweets, memory, weakness, irritability, frustration, depression, low concentration, dizziness that occurs upon standing, headache! Just wondering is that list similar to yours?
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Post by hellsbells on Jun 3, 2010 14:26:56 GMT -5
I'm counting around 17?
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Post by Karen on Jun 3, 2010 19:55:22 GMT -5
HOLY CRAP! This is crazy! I think we all have these symptoms! What's the treatment for this? Looks like it might be an over-the-counter supplement with just a hint of whatever it is needed to supplement the adrenal gland. I can't wait to have my follow up with my doc! It sounds like there are severe adrenal issues that a lot of docs will test for, but adrenal fatigue might be one of those that's not commonly tested (although I could be wrong) and might be a bit on the 'hippie' side of medicine. But, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired and having docs just glaze over when I tell them I'm tired ALL the time! It doesn't hurt to try something, see if things get a bit better, right? I'll let you know what she does for this. But, basically it seems like if your flight-or-fight senses are in overdrive for too long, your adrenal gland just gets too tired. I can certainly pinpoint when that would have happened for me... I think a LOT of us could! As for my symptoms, here they are: Low body temperature, nervousness, apprehension, hypoglycemia, inability to concentrate, moments of confusion, poor memory, feelings of frustration, lightheadedness, dizziness that occurs upon standing, low blood pressure, food and/or inhalant allergies, dry and thin skin, scanty perspiration
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Post by Karen on Jun 7, 2010 19:22:46 GMT -5
Ok, dug up some more info. Beware - this guy is selling a book & supplements, but raises some points that could be researched elsewhere as well. www.adrenalfatigue.orgThere's a lot of info there, but some of the things that stuck out to me were: 1. Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc with your life. In the more serious cases, the activity of the adrenal glands is so diminished that you may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours per day. With each increment of reduction in adrenal function, every organ and system in your body is more profoundly affected. Changes occur in your carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and even sex drive. Many other alterations take place at the biochemical and cellular levels in response to and to compensate for the decrease in adrenal hormones that occurs with adrenal fatigue. Your body does its best to make up for under-functioning adrenal glands, but it does so at a price. 2. It is also your adrenal glands' job to keep your body's reactions to stress in balance so that they are appropriate and not harmful. For example, the protective activity of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant adrenal hormones like cortisol helps to minimize negative and allergic reactions (such as swelling and inflammation) to alcohol, drugs, foods, environmental allergens, cancer, infection, and autoimmune disorders. These hormones closely modulate the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, the distribution of stored fat (especially around your waist and at the sides of your face), normal blood sugar regulation, and proper cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function. After mid-life (menopause in women), the adrenal glands gradually become the major source of the sex hormones circulating throughout the body in both men and women. These hormones themselves have a whole host of physical, emotional and psychological effects, from the level of your sex drive to the tendency to gain weight. 3. Allergic reactions typically have an adrenal component. Most allergies involve the release of histamine and other pro-inflammatory substances (substances that produce inflammation). Cortisol, one of the primary hormones produced by the adrenal glands, is a strong anti-inflammatory (a substance that reduces inflammation). In fact, the amount of cortisol circulating in the blood is a key factor in controlling the level of inflammatory reactions in the body. For this reason, proper adrenal function plays an important role in mediating the histamine release and inflammatory reactions that produce the symptoms experienced with allergies. When the adrenals are fatigued they are less likely to produce enough cortisol to adequately counteract the inflammatory reactions, allowing allergic symptoms to continue unchecked. People going through times of adrenal fatigue may notice that they seem to have more allergies or their allergies seem to get worse.
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Post by JC on Jun 8, 2010 10:58:32 GMT -5
I told my mom about this and apparently this is what my Grandma eventually died from. She took prednisone for YEARS for her asthma and since prednisone is a stimulant/steriod, it wore out her adrenal glands and she eventually died from it. Toward the end she never got out of bed, she was always dehydrated.
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Post by hellsbells on Jun 8, 2010 14:40:47 GMT -5
OMG!! That rings so many bells!!!!
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Post by Karen on Jun 11, 2010 17:37:57 GMT -5
Here's the latest: I started on two new supplements from my doc yesterday. 1. DHEA: My levels were borderline low (normal is from 71-640, I was 104). Turns out DHEA is produced by the adrenal gland and is a precursor for estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone... Interesting, eh? I'm on a dose of 5 mg every morning. Here's a good summary: www.womentowomen.com/adrenalfatigue/dhea.aspx2. Adren-All: This is a supplement for adrenal support, which according to my test results, my cortisol levels are really low! The supplement contains vit A, C, E, B6, B12, niacin, pantothenic acid, adrenal concentrate, siberian ginseng, rhodiola rosea root extract, schizandra berry extract, and licorice root extract. I'm to take it 2 times a day - in the morning and then no later than 2 pm. I've read that the adrenal concentrate (bovine) is enough to supplement what my body should be producing but isn't. The nurse said most people feel a lot better within a few days to a few weeks, and noted that since my levels were so low, I'd definitely be able to tell a difference. Fingers crossed, ladies!! I'll keep you posted - perhaps it's something that some of you can consider seeing a doc for! In my research, I've come across some really informative write-ups about adrenal fatigue. Here are a few links that really stuck out to me: General overview of adrenal fatigue: www.womentowomen.com/adrenalfatigue/default.aspxWhy won't my doc recognize adrenal fatigue as an illness? www.womentowomen.com/adrenalfatigue/faq1-recognizingsymptomsofadrenalfatigue.aspxDifference between hormone imbalance and adrenal fatigue: www.womentowomen.com/adrenalfatigue/faq4-hormonalimbalanceandadrenalimbalance.aspxIs adrenal fatigue keeping you from losing weight? www.womentowomen.com/adrenalfatigue/adrenalglandweightgain.aspxI've found the womentowomen.com website to be very informative in the past, even though they are selling a program and products. But, please keep that in mind as you read through - they are, in fact, selling something.
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Post by hellsbells on Jun 12, 2010 5:26:43 GMT -5
I'm tired today. I went to bed around 11 last night, fell asleep fairly quickly and slept through til about 6.30 - 7 am. I got up around 8.20. I feel really really tired. The bottom article says around 8 - 9 hrs sleep a night to help heal your adrenals - it's nigh on impossible to get that during the summer! I would imagine nearly every single one of us has adrenal fatigue to some extent - live with the stress and pain of endo every day can't be good for our bodies!
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Post by Karen on Jun 19, 2010 10:21:16 GMT -5
Just wanted to post a quick update... I've been on the supplements for just over a week now. I'm noticing some changes already. They are more subtle than dramatic, but notable! This is going to sound strange, but I feel like I'm getting my spunk back. At work, I feel much more at ease, friendly, joking around a bit more, just feel more like myself. I don't feel as wiped out when I get home every day. If I don't get enough sleep at night I feel groggy the next day, but the almost daily fog I was having seems to be lifting. I'm hoping that within a month, I'll be doing even better!
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Post by hellsbells on Jun 19, 2010 11:49:46 GMT -5
Need to get me some of that!! Karen, do you know what 'spunk' means in the UK?? :-)
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Post by Karen on Jun 19, 2010 18:29:44 GMT -5
Ha ha, just looked it up... Whoops!
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Post by Karen on Aug 27, 2010 17:39:18 GMT -5
Just wanted to follow up... I've been on the adrenal supplements for 2.5 months now. A few weeks ago, she upped my dose even more. I have to admit, the changes are so incredibly welcome. I feel like I was in a fog for well over a year, and most days now, I don't. I know there are so many of us that are exhausted and just blame it on the endo, as we have every reason to, but please, please, please don't give up hope that it'll never get better. Chances are, there IS something going on that's the underlying cause of the fatigue, and if you can figure out what it is, chances are you can improve upon it! Please don't ever let a doc tell you it's all in your head!!
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