I hope everyone is well. It's been a while since I posted. I know it is not thyroid related, but I do have an underacative thyroid
A few weeks ago I started a new job, similar to the work I have done for the last 40 years. I was nervous as at 63 it took me a while to find this job after being made redundant a year ago. However, as the first week ended I started to feel really anxious, with my stomach racing a 100 miles per hour. I went to work for another 3 weeks and it got to a point where I had to speak to the manager with a view to leaving, however leaving did not calm me down. I called my doctor and explained that I was feeling anxious and he prescribed proponalol 3 x 40mg per day for 28 days. My stomach is slightly better but not great, I was experiencing other symptoms like headaches, constant nausea, low mood, lack of energy, craving sugar, and I also ate gluten which I haven't done for several years, also upon waking a 5am in the morning I would drink 2 litres of water within 2 hours. When I think back now, I realise I had these feelings for quite a few weeks, if not longer before starting the job I am taking 1 x pregnenolone a day and 6 Soleray adrenal caps per day, which I have been doing for a number of years. However, Sunday I increased the adrenal caps to 8 on Sunday and noticed a slight improvement. Today I went back to 6 and increased the prenenolone to 2 and again so far so good, after reading about adrenal deficiency. Now that I am out of work there a financial constraints and wonder if it worth asking my doctor to arrange tests for my adrenals. I read that not many people are diagnosed with this in the UK. I had my thyroid test on 5th August and my readings are TSH 0.01 (0.27-4.20) and T4 18 (12.0-22.0. If I had realised a few weeks ago that it could be my adrenals, I would have been quicker off the mark with trying a different dose and would still be in a job.
Thank you for reading and any advice would be greatly received.
Health2015
Written by
health2015
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Your GP may be able to arrange a serum cortisol test but this must be done no later than 9am I think (happy to be corrected). But it may be better to do the 24 hour adrenal plus DHEA saliva test which is available from Regenerus or Genova Diagnostics. There will be 4 samples taken throughout the day which will show if your cortisol is following the normal curve. Testing DHEA as well as cortisol helps with determining stages of adrenal fatigue. In the initial stage, both cortisol and DHEA will be high, the more we struggle to produce stress hormones then DHEA will lower, and more advanced adrenal fatigue then cortisol will lower too.
Do you have salt cravings? They are common in cases of low cortisol. Are you restricting your salt intake? Lots of people do, and in some cases it severely backfires because the adrenals need salt. The body needs salt - it isn't an optional extra.
Do you take high blood pressure medications? Diuretics?
Several of these things can cause problems with electrolytes. You might find this reply to another member of interest :
Thanyou for your reply. I don't have salt cravings. I have had abdominal pains and my eyes are sensitive to sunlight which I have not experienced before. I am due to have an eye test and restless legs. I will have a look at the cocktail you mentioned and see how I get on with it.
Restless legs is common with low iron and/or ferritin levels.
It might be worth your while to go through a list of vitamins and minerals and do a web search for what the symptoms are of deficiency. You might find that your symptoms match one or more low levels. It isn't necessarily safe to supplement all vitamins and minerals without testing and finding out you have a deficiency. Just ask the forum if anyone knows about supplementing X or Y or Z or whatever.
For your sensitivity to sunlight you could make an appointment to see an opthalmologist or an optician. (I think opticians have less training than an opthalmologist, but please don't quote me on that - I'm really not sure.) Opthalmologists will know more than your average GP on the subject of eyes.
Another general suggestion - if you take any prescribed meds or supplements please reread the Patient Information Leaflets to see if you might be suffering from side effects.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
adrenals and pregnisalone
Hashis/Adrenal Fatigue question
Adrenal insufficiency.
Adrenal Insuffiency? 
