Adrenal Exhaustion and Other Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

[cc120]

Four Stages of Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal Fatigue progresses through four advancing stages with increased severity of symptoms with each stage as illustrated below:

drlam.com/articles/adrenale...

[Learner1]

This is a start, but it's far more complicated than he makes out.

I have severe adrenal fatigue and have read everything there is about it on the web, puzzling over what happened to me and how to dig myself out...

IMHO, it doesn't matter how you got there or where you are... the important thing is trapping all the major stresses on your body and minimizing them, while being good to your body.

I got this way through cancer treatment, a major auto accident, death of my sister, and helping my elderly mother, all unavoidable. And then I had chronic infections flare up, which my immune system couldn't deal with properly.

I take hydrocortisone at replacement level, an adrenal support supplement with herbs and glandulars, phosphatidyl serine, customized nutritional supplements, eat a nutrient dense diet with vegetables, protein, and abundant health fat, exercise carefully, sleep as well as I can and practice gratitude and mindfulness.

But solving the underlying health problems is also important as even with all of the above, my adrenals are unlikely to improve.

Steady work wins this race. And being in this situation is a wake up call to put oneself first, prioritize health, and do the work needed to recover with an individualized approach - we're all unique. Frustrating, but survival depends on it.

[Schenks in reply to Learner1]

I think you are amazing, by the way 'Learner'. (Shouldn't that be 'Bit of an Expert'?.

[cc120 in reply to Learner1]

Hi Learner1, could you post a few worthwhile resources on adrenal fatigue advice on this thread please?

Also, are you prescribed the hydorcortisone or purchase online?

[Learner1 in reply to cc120]

I am prescribed it by my doctor. Unfortunately, all those in the US market contain either corn or milk, which I am allergic to, so I have it compounded with cellulose filler in 5mg capsules, which allows me to dose as I need throughout the day. I typically take 3 doses of 10mg each at 730am, 1030am and 2pm.

Warning, this is not where you start out with adrenal treatment, it's only added on AFTER doing everything else, high quality diet, nutrient support, adaptogenic herbs, glandulars, phosphatidyl serine, sufficient sleep, prudent exercise, and actively working the problems that caused the adrenal fatigue in the first place.

In my case, the other problems are difficult and complex (CFS) and we're working on them, so I'm doing the above, then replacing with hydrocortisone and treating thyroid. Hopefully, once my other problems are solved, I won't need the HC anymore and I'll need far less T3.

I know I'm taking too much HC when I start gaining weight around my waist, too little and I'm crashing.

[Learner1 in reply to cc120]

I read all the main websites out there, like Lam's, but I kept feeling like I didn't quite fit the pattern, and, though I was already following the advice, it wasn't working for me.

Most seemed to focus heavily on the high cortisol phases, which didn't apply to me. My pattern hadn't flatlined, I was making a little, but definitely not enough, so I say trying to figure out what to do and kept reading.

Resources I like best, and you'll have to Google them, as I can't seem to paste links here, are:

Guilliams Edwards Beyond Adrenal Fatigue Anecdotal to Evidence Based Medicine

Robert Naviaux Metabolic Features of the Cell Danger Response

Point Institute Guilliams Standard Chronic Stress and the HPA Axis

They're somewhat technical but will give you the lay of the land. I've heard Naviaux speak at a conference - truly spellbinding, he's one one of the most important health researchers of our time. He is describing the workings of what causes disease which are happening in all of us.

The takeaway from the above is that if your problems are not rooted in fast living, poor diet, too much caffeine, no exercise, and stressful work/family life, there's something else causing your adrenals to crash.

Google Charles Forsyth Surrey Causes of Chronic Fatigue

He has a good hit list of suspects, like heavy metal toxicity, chronic viral and bacterial infections, etc. I found I had problems in most of his categories and am whacking away at them, one by one, with my doctor, as my adrenal fatigue has become full blown CFS, which is not a pleasant place to be.

Best wishes in your journey!

[Schenks]

For someone just starting out on the journey to treating my adrenals, and hoping to get as experienced as Learner1 here over the next few months, this is a real help - thank you cc120.

[cc120 in reply to Schenks]

You're welcome Schenks. Learner1 is correct to say adrenal issues not that simple. You are probably already aware but here is a good resource for adrenal issues: stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

[Learner1 in reply to Schenks]

You're welcome!

[Serendipitious]

Learner1 I'm curious about your adrenal supplements. You mention that your cortisol levels are on the low side but you're taking hydrocortisone which increases cortisol but also phosphatidyl serine which I've heard decreases high cortisol. My cortisol is slightly above range at all 4 points and I was considering taking phosphatidyl serine to help normalise it. I've just started Ashwaganda so if that fails I'll try PS. I'd love to find a reliable functional medicine doctor in or around London who could guide me but so far I've not come across anybody. I'm curious about why you're taking a variety of supplements and glandulars.