We are still investigating my friend's health situation. He is no longer pursuing the thyroid route, but we are now looking into adrenal fatigue. Using the Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire he shows medium to severe adrenal fatigue, and is currently awaiting test results for the 24-hour saliva cortisol test with Medichecks.
In the meantime, he Is experiencing intermittently extremely sore lower back. Urine seems to be fine: no pain or discolouration, so not really any evidence to suggest kidney problem, but constipation does seem to be rather an issue. Do you think that these symptoms especially the lower back intermittent pain, are indicative of/signs of Adrenal Fatigue/Insufficiency? He keeps himself very well hydrated.
Any comments will be appreciated.
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TeamMK
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Is this the same friend that is taking NDT and some T3, as well as some MagCal, D3 and Zn? If so, what do you mean by 'he is no longer pursuing the thyroid route'? Has he stopped taking NDT and T3?
Why is he taking calcium? Could the sore back not be due to the formation of kidney stones due to excess calcium in his blood? Taking vit D3 will increase absorption of calcium from food, and one normally takes vit K2 - MK7 at the same time, to make sure the calcium goes into the teeth and bones, and doesn't build up in the kidneys and arteries.
Yes, it is the same friend. He is not giving up and is working through his health issues.
Currently he takes 2 of these tablets daily, am and pm: nowfoods.com/supplements/ma.... He started taking these for mental ill health, instead of SSRI meds. Believing he had thyroid issues, he introduced NDT and eventually T3. At 3-4 grains daily he started feeling really great, however, he could not budge the midriff fat, and he still had mood swings/dark thoughts and fatigue. He also tried T3 alongside the NDT, working up to 1 grain split into 4 doses over the day. His progress plateaued and then dropped off, as well as experiencing air hunger and breathlessness. He eventually dropped down to 2.5 grains of NDT but felt no improvement, in fact he continued to go backwards. He eventually stopped all thyroid meds. Because of the midriff fat and air hunger, it was suggested to him he may have cortisol/adrenal fatigue issues. Also, it was suggested the thyroid meds may be exacerbating his adrenal fatigue. He tested positive to adrenal fatigue in the questionnaire. He is waiting for the results of his 6 cortisol saliva tests, which we suspect will come back on the low side. We believe the lower back pain is from stressed adrenals. He has been advised to change his lifestyle and cut out the stress, and also start supporting his adrenals with nutrients like vitamin C, b vitamins, sodium and potassium etc. In the interim he has also been advised hydrocortisone can support the adrenal gland so it can use resources for other processes. But ultimately, he must address the root of the problem.
Your link does not work, but I gather it's for magnesium/calcium tablets. Did he get his calcium tested before taking the supplements? The pain could be due to kidney stones forming. Calcium is a terrible thing to take if you don't need it.
Who advised him about hydrocortisone? That is really not something to mess around with. If he takes it the wrong way, he could shut his adrenals down for good. It should only be taken if the cortisol is really low.
nowfoods.com/supplements/ma.... The Ca was to support the Mg and D3. No he was not tested for Ca. The hydrocortisone was something we picked up, but he is aware that the adrenals could shut down. It is not likely that he will go down that route.
Cortisol results in today:-
Waking: 7.660 nmol/L (Range: 6 - 21)
12.00: 4.990 nmol/L (Range: 1.5 - 7.6)
14.00: x 5.920 nmol/L (Range: 0 - 5.5)
16.00: x 6.410 nmol/L (Range: 0 - 5.5)
18.00: 4.110 nmol/L (Range: 0 - 4.5)
Before bed: x 3.320 nmol/L (Range: 0 - 2)
He will stop taking the above supplements for the time being.
Calcium doesn't 'support' vit D. Taking vit D increases absorption of calcium from food, anyway. Which is why we suggest taking vit K2 - MK7 with it, to make sure the extra calcium gets into the bones and teeth, rather than building up in the soft tissues. If he's been taking calcium supplements on top of that, he ought to get his calcium tested as a matter of urgence, and buy some vit K2.
His early morning cortisol is low, and the afternoon levels are high, as would be expected, suggesting early stages of adrenal fatigue. But you shouldn't mess around with adrenals yourself. He should see an endo that knows something about them.
What he should do is make sure he gets plenty of B vits - test B12 and folate first, to get a base line - and plenty of salt, lots and lots of vit C, plenty of rest and a high protein breakfast a soon as he rises. If he can get the morning cortisol to increase, the other levels will go back into range.
I had adrenal insufficiency. Cortisol was as low as 68(155-607). I past a synacthen test so not Addison’s. After many months of really struggling I finally was diagnosed as not converting T4 to T3. I was privately prescribed T3 medication. The first month on T3 my lower back was aching all the time just under my ribs. I thought it was my adrenals. I got a 9am blood test for cortisol and my results had increased to 311. I was truly amazed. I did feel so so much better but concerned about the lower back pain. After a couple more weeks the pain went. I believe it was my adrenaline waking up or being forced as now with T3 and higher energy I needed adrenals to be on a par with T3.
It just might be adrenals working harder. How long has this been going on. It may go away. Have you had a 9am cortisol test recently and compared to previous tests.
Constipation can make my lower back ache so intensely that I can hardly move - thinking I have a back issue. But once the constipation is addressed, the pain dissipates rather quickly!
Make sure your friend stays aware of their body’s needs - sometimes we are lucky to have it be a minor issue. Though, at the time it doesn't feel that way.
Good luck in getting symptoms narrowed down.
Vitamin C is brilliant for constipation. I take the fizzy ones. Start with one and add more until able to go easily. My child aged 11 had severe constipation since birth, took vitamin C for 3 months, 1 fissy and nolonger has an issue. It must have done something to improve his general gut health. Vitamin C also good for adrenals
I had lower back pain caused by taking a Statin. Pain disappeared when I stopped taking it. Just to make sure, I waited a week and tried again. Pain came back. Statin went bye-bye. Permanently.
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