Why have I crashed? Is it my adrenals ? - Thyroid UK

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Why have I crashed? Is it my adrenals ?

savery8753 profile image
7 Replies

Hi all

Can anyone help me please.

All of sudden I have gone from being really amazing to suddenly really bad.

I take 2 ndt tablets, have felt great for months. Previous to the ndt I took adrenal supplements as instructed by dr p, haven't taken them since beginning of December.

I also self inject b12, which again not done since December.

I can barely walk, extreme fatigue, no energy and brain fog to the point of not being able to process any information.

I can't go to the doctors as in their opinion I'm well, please can someone advise about the adrenal supplements. If I go back to supplementing with adrenal tabs, how many do I take? Do I stop the ndt and start again?

How can I deteriorate so rapidly, is it time to take hydrocortisone?

I've recently noticed a strong ammonia smell in my pajamas in the morning, could this have anything to do with the way I'm feeling.

Thank you in advance

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savery8753
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Ell17 profile image
Ell17

My adrenals haven't caused as many problems for me since I started taking (1000-2000 mg Vit C and 500 mg Pantothenic Acid *B5* daily, in addition to a daily methylated B Complex). I don't do well with adaptogens or medicinal mushrooms, so I am fortunate that this has been helping the past few years. They are also both important for adrenal health.

Where there are adrenal problems, you will generally find issues with liver function. Milk Thistle is good for the liver. I take 1000 mg daily, as well.

I have a very reactive system where supplements are concerned. I personally find less is more, so my system isn't overwhelmed with more to do.

[You also may want to read up on ammonia toxicity. Impaired liver/kidney function can cause this. In your case, it may not even be that. It could be something as simple as needing to cut back on protein portions for a while, that you are developing a yeast infection and need to lay off the sweets, or that you need to drink more (filtered) water. But, true ammonia overload can be a serious problem with some symptoms that mirror what you are experiencing. So, I thought I would mention it (and the Milk Thistle for liver health).]

When I have a crash, I up my Vit C dose, drink (Himalayan) salted orange juice, I also supplement more potassium if I'm not getting it in my diet. I make a homemade electrolyte drink that really helps (you can find recipes online). B Complex and B5 can be taken twice daily. I continue thyroid meds and supplementing with magnesium and the few other supplements that I take (away from thyroid meds, of course).

It has taken me years of trial and error to figure out what works best for me (which can still change at any given moment):/

Hope some of the info helps and that you are feeling much better soon.😊

bahai-dot-org profile image
bahai-dot-org

I take pregnenolone 50-100 mgs s day depending on the"fatigue factor" for adrenal fatigue... But I live in the US and can buy these online through Amazon or iherb or any number of other places I don't know what you have available there in the UK thanks to CODEX.

my poor little adrenals have been wrung out and pretty much turn to carbon from all the pressure so they need a lot of help via the pregnenolone. but what I really like for adrenal is this stuff called all adrenal by natural source it's grass-fed bovine adrenal extract and it really really works. Which can also be purchased at the sites I mentioned as well as probably hundreds or thousands of others.

I don't know if I just violated some code here on this board as per mentioning I heard an Amazon?

If I did would someone please let me know ?thank you

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

Important to test Vit B, B12, Folate and ferritin. These help your thyroid to work better but they need to be optimal and not just in range. Some struggle with NDT if these are t right plus it can help conversion issues. Did you know the state of your conversion before you started NDT? You can't do a comparision test now you have started NDT as only the FT3 reading is reliable now but getting the essential vits etc in place will also help to address that issue.

RockyPath profile image
RockyPath

Were you taking any thyroid hormone replacement prior to the period you’re describing? Did you have a diagnosis that prompted taking the adrenals, and did the doctor recommend stopping?

What you seem to be describing is the insidious gradual increase in rT3 as a result of poor conversion of T4 to T3. I started out great on NDT but felt progressively worse.

We’re a bit short on technical details here, so that’s the best I can offer.

Sorry, can't help with the thyroid question, and I'm not medically trained, but the ammonia smell sounds very much like an UTI (urine infection). Get yourself to the doctor asap before it gets worse. Do you have any backache or traces of blood in your water?

An infection could drag you right down and upset your thyroid and adrenal balance as well.

Oh, just looked it up. There could be all sorts of other reasons for the ammonia smell besides an infection. Have a look at these, but please do not panic :-) Above all, see the doctor. They may not know too much about thyroid but this is something they will be willing, and able, to investigate. You probably feel worse than you would normally because of your other medical problems

md-health.com/ammonia-smell...

healthline.com/health/urine...

HLAB35 profile image
HLAB35

Love these replies, I think most of the bases are being covered. There is the strong chance of lower t3 levels - this is common in the winter, so December was probably a bad time to cut back on the things that would keep them optimal. I agree that taking b5, sea salt, vitamin c and electrolytes and extra magnesium can help enormously. I am now using Mineral Mix by Dr Myhill which has added vitamin d and b12. Low vitamin d levels can spell trouble as vitamin d works like a hormone itself. Seems to be getting me through a stressful time right now with a sick family member. I haven't tried pregnenalone, but it comes well recommended on here. Especially relevant if you have had issues with fertility, oestrogen dominance such as endometriosis or PCOS, or menopause. Levels of pregnenalone drop dramatically with age so it is tempting to give one a mid-life boost! Dr Myhill talks about it on her website.

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