Adrenal Fatigue?

[FoggyMoggy]

I'm sure somebody on here once said there was no such thing as adrenal fatigue as the adrenal glands are very strong. But that is just one person's take. I'm wondering if I have adrenal fatigue. Even my GP mentioned the possibility that if my cortisol results had been lower it might need to be investigated

[NatChap]

Have a read of this.. stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

[FoggyMoggy in reply to NatChap]

Thanks NatChap. I did read the whole book and I think I did some of those tests eg the pupil one. I read things then forget them! That's one of the symptoms but thanks for reminding me. I need to look at that chapter again!

[radd]

FG,

The adrenals glands are strong and often make a good recovery if given the chance but low thyroid hormone, gut issues encouraging malabsorption and candida, etc, possible imbalance of sex hormones and high thyroid antibodies all contribute to cortisol issues.

Your previous cortisol result was very low, although with three previous good ones didn't indicate adrenal insufficiency (Addisons) but certainly low cortisol levels. Overworked adrenals produce high levels of cortisol until it runs low.

I would say you most certainly have adrenal fatigue ... I think most of us on the forum have some degree of adrenal fatigue cause by possibly years of low thyroid hormone.

You could ask your GP for a referral to an endo for further adrenal investigations but adrenal health should improve once iron//nutrients & thyroid hormones are all optimal. I supplement 3 grams of Vit C daily to aid adrenal health.

Are you menopausal ? ? ...

[FoggyMoggy in reply to radd]

Hi Radd

My last Cortisol wasn't particularly low, it was mid-range at 400 approx and before that it was outside range on the high end. I've not found Vit C has helped or any supplement. I was wondering whether to take Nutri Adrenal support. I've not been given any thyroid supplement. I'm not diagnosed with Thyroid problems, though I am diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and my biggest problem is debilitating fatigue.

I am menopausal, yes. That's part of the problem, trying to disentangle what is due to that. I haven't quite passed through it yet.

[radd in reply to FoggyMoggy]

FM,

...[ .. Cortisol = 398 (175 – 600)

(note on the results to say < 300 means adrenal insufficiency, but if clinical suspicion high suggest discussion with endo) ...] ...

Your results were low. Cortisols pattern during long term stress is to be elevated and then crash as supplies run out (usually after several months//years). Many are offered a synacthen test with results lower than 300.

The medical establishment won't offer any support as don't recognise any adrenal fatigue//issues outside of Addisons or Cushings Disease.

Adrenal support of some sort would help but whether Nutri Adrenal or Vit C, etc , adrenals takes months// years to recover. Think how long it has taken to get them into this state.

The menopause causes so many hormone imbalances and unless deficiencies are dealt with, continue up the line. Will your GP test your sex hormones, given that you are menopausal with possible thyroid //adrenal issues as they are all interrelated ? ? ....

I haven't done particularly well on glandulars in the past but many members have. Maybe you should look at thyroid as well as adrenal glandulars ? ? .... However, be aware if you are going to insist on further medical investigations, supplementing glandulars will skew future results.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to radd]

Maybe it's because it's late at night, my most awake time but mind still foggy, but I don't get why 300 is considered a low cortisol reading, given that it's mid range. It's lower than it was, yes.

Re the sex hormones, which ones in particular? I did ask for full bloods but that didn't include sex hormones this time and I need to know what I'm talking about in order to justify it. I wrote an email with all the bloods I wanted testing beforehand but even then they wanted to charge for some of them. T3 and T4 I didn't mind paying for (I actually got them for free this time in error). Nay, it was the bleeping £50 admin fee they wanted and VIt D would have cost me £35 on top of that. I wrote about this in a separate post at the time which I feel is privatisation by the back door. So no, I don't feel confident that I will get these tests free on the NHS. When I paid for T3 and T4 in the past they were only a tenner each which was fair enough but even then they took no notice of the results.

I think I need to know a lot more about grandulars...

[radd in reply to FoggyMoggy]

FM,

Cortisol issues are common with prolonged stress and chronic illness. Your results were previously elevated (you advised over 600 three times) and have now reduced.

Elevated cortisol will result in low DHEA which is a precursor to all of your major sex hormones: oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Being menopausal can result in imbalances in these hormones and low DHEA will exacerbate the problem further.

Your test result of 398 could be viewed as (just under) middle of range but it is the adrenals natural behaviour for elevated cortisol to become lower as supplies run out. Your hospital cortisol test states if results were <300 they may need investigation. Your GP has also advised you of this.

Low cortisol levels will impair thyroid hormone conversion and I have read of the onset of Hashimotos in people with elevated//deficient oestrogens due to their influence on the immune system. Also your nutrient//iron deficiencies will impact how well your thyroid function performs.

Explain how ill you feel to your GP and ask for sex hormones to be tested. These might include follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), oestrogen, progesterone, etc. Your prolactin was top of range last month and this can be indicative of low thyroid hormone.

I would also ask for further discussion with your endo on the cortisol results and any unusual results that the GP’s testing might throw up as depending on these, it may be you need some sort of replacement . ? ? … (HRT or one of the precursors such as DHEA .... or even cortisol ) .

I haven't heard of GP surgeries charging for blood tests. I wouldn't advise supplementing glandulars at this stage until you know more of your deficiencies as they may make things worse and skew results.

I hope you feel better soon.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to radd]

Hi Radd

Yes I had gathered from info on here that Cortisol can drop when it gets depleted. It was the last two times it was above 600, I think. The fact that it was greater than 300 didn't ring alarm bells for the GP, re adrenal insuffiency. But would need monitoring. At least that's how I interpreted it. I don't actually have an Edno.

I did have follicle stimulating hormone measured the time before last I think. I also phoned an endocrine nurse about the results and she did explain to me that these didn't suggest a pituitary problem. I wrote down what she said at the time.

I have avoided taking HRT, even the patches, because of a very bad reaction to the pill years ago, which elevated my bp so much I had to attend a hypertension clinic.

Yes, my GP surgery charge for blood tests they don't think are necessary but it is only in the last year they've stuck on this exorbitant admin fee. Re the VIt D test, they told me that is is cheaper to supplement than do the test so that's what they do, regardless.

[MichelleBerko]

Of course there's such a thing as adrenal fatigue! The best thing is to get a four point saliva test and get a real understanding of what your adrenals are doing as they jump and slump through the day. It costs £90 online but it's much better than the test your GP will do.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to MichelleBerko]

Hi thanks Michelle. But if I pay for these tests will my GP take any notice? They've ignored my low T3 and T4 because they were within range. Well once the T3 was just outside but my GP said it was borderline and took no action. Will the tests get me referred to an endo and what do they involve? Thanks

[greygoose]

The person who said there was no such thing as adrenal fatigue was, we suspect, a troll from the medical profession. That was a while ago, and that person no-longer appears to be with us. Nobody took any notice, anyway. lol

[FoggyMoggy in reply to greygoose]

Ah, OK, thanks for that greygoose! I can't remember who it was but I thought I remember them saying how sturdy the adrenals were. But it makes sense now as it seemed to contradict other advice I have read on here!

[Samuel18 in reply to FoggyMoggy]

sciencebasedmedicine.org/fa...

[Glynisrose]

Doctors generall can't tell the difference between adrenal FATIGUE and adrenal FAILURE.

[Olsbird]

As someone else said, you won't get any endo interest unless you have Addison's. I read an interesting article about some people whose thyroid problems resolved when their adrenals were sorted out and the thinking was that the thyroid goes under active as a defence mechanism when your adrenals are on the last legs. In that article they were referencing people who were only slightly out of the standard ranges. Progressive drs like those on the thyroiduk list are more likely to accept adrenal fatigue than the mainstream. Good luck.

[FoggyMoggy in reply to Olsbird]

Thanks Olsbird.