Adrenal Transformation Protocol by Dr Isabella Wentz

[Insomania]

I’m reading Adrenal Transformation Protocol by Dr Isabella Wentz and wondering if it’s worth giving it a go.

I have done two adrenal saliva tests in Feb 2023 and 2024 and both were low, showing adrenal fatigue stage II.

I’ve been on NDT Armour for a year and my FT3 has increased to mid-upper range. The private thyroid Dr didn’t increase my dose (1 and a 1/4 grain) at my last review because he doesn’t think my remaining symptoms are due to hypothyroidism. He recommended I see a nutritionist about the adrenal fatigue.

I can’t really afford to do another private practioner so am reading this book to see if I can make some positive changes to help my adrenals normalise. I would love to get off my heavy-duty sleeping tablets (Amitriptyline).

Advice appreciated 🙂

[Bertwills]

Seems worth a try. Re sleeping, have you tried melatonin? I bought 10 mcg delayed release melatonin from Biovea & found it helpful. On bad nights I would also add in Nytol maybe half a stronger tablet. You can get Melatonin on the NHS but only in lower doses, I think. GPs don’t seem to tell people.

[metamorphica in reply to Bertwills]

careful with Melatonin as it may also prevent thyroid cell proliferation and interfere with thyroid hormone synthesis. Which can help hyperthyroidism, but hinder hypo.

[Insomania in reply to Bertwills]

Yes, melatonin is something I take on the odd night I cannot take Amitriptyline e.g. if I'm driving early in the morning. For me, melatonin is nowhere near as effective as Amitriptyline. My insomnia is chronic and long term (6+ years), there's not much I haven't tried! GP refused to prescribe melatonin.

[Regenallotment]

I nearly bought this book yesterday! But then realised I haven’t had fatigue in a while (sorry if that sounds like showing off, it isn’t I just realised I hadn’t been when I was looking at the book)

I’m a big fan of Izabella Wentz and her Hashimoto’s books were and continue to be super helpful.

Can’t hurt can it, if you don’t respond well you can stop.

I did her Auto immune 6 week program a few times in my first year of diagnosis and learned so much, it’s changed the way we eat as a family and my approach to life in general.

good luck 🌱

[Insomania in reply to Regenallotment]

Good for you, that's fab you're less fatigued!

I just read your biog, what a journey. If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for Adrenal Support?

I don't know if my hypothyroidism is autoimmune, I've never had high antibodies but I know that can happen.

I'm quite interested in the Zoe app to see how my body reacts because I've always had to eat 3 meals very regularly or my blood sugar crashes so bad. (I suspect I have ADHD too.)

[Regenallotment in reply to Insomania]

The blood glucose bit of Zoe was the best bit, the diet didn’t suit me, I got fatter and slower and miserable 🙁 they gave me a refund on that bit. The testing was interesting I get big drops after sugar. Gut microbiome is not very diverse but also not many ‘bad’ gut bacteria. I definitely do better on higher protein, low but not no carb and avoidance of most sugars. (Although I’m no angel, I’ve just scoffed a vegan magnum 🤣)

Adrenal ideas …. Rest rest rest, stop running, stop cardio, stop cleaning the house, used the well-being policy at work to jettison a tutor group and free up time to do admin. Car shared and slept both ways to work and back for months. Naps, iyengar yoga (2 hours once a week for 12 months, now almost daily for 20-90mins depending), good food (low sugar, no processed white carbs) I did the adrenal cocktail (cream of tartar and sea salt jn a little juice) for ages, salt in my drinking water, earlier to bed, and importantly PACING myself as I would do a boom and bust on a good day. I tried a pure encapsulations adrenal support supplement which made everything ’slow down’ and I think squashed my ‘running on adrenaline’ feeling. Tried it again recently and it didn’t suit me at all, I think I’m much improved. Mentally - readjusting my expectations of what I might achieve on any given day and then reducing that again so that achieving one thing is a win has really helped. e.g. wanting to start weight training but starting on 1/3 of the reps, 1/3 of the weight, once a week not 3 times and very slowly over months gradually increasing to the full starting weight, full reps and 3 times a week. Totally detaching myself from any form of competition or comparison with others.

Using the CBT strategies I learned in therapy to be more direct with my loved ones about energy/pain levels, finding ways to describe how ‘today’ feels and what help I might need to function. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been very interesting, it definitely helps. 🌱