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 Ambassador]

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 Ambassador 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. 🌱

[Hidden in reply to Regenallotment]

I know this is an old post Regenallotment but just wondered how you’re feeling now? I think I have adrenal fatigue caused by running the marathon (under fueling over training) x

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Hi, no problem at all, thanks for asking 🤗 I seem to have resolved my PEM (post exertional malaise) can pretty much do what I want now. Although I am perhaps better at knowing when I need to rest than before. I am very optimally supplemented and sweet spot for thyroid is about right (stress, weather, bugs permitting). I eat lots of good quality protein, Do strength and resistance 3 times a week, yoga in between. Stay off most of the sugar, eat an AI paleo diet most of the time. I haven’t weighed myself in ages, my clothes are looser, the focus is getting stronger not getting thinner or lighter, I have biceps and triceps and a calf muscle line 😂 I don’t run or do any cardio, apart from walking. Can easily do 15-20k walks now. Work full time as a sixth form teacher with a long 45 min drive commute, so I have come far from not being able to drive, taking the train, dragging myself up the stairs! Adrenals - you must rest and recuperate best you can and optimise nutrition and thyroid hormone levels allow it to take time, it’s taken me years to go from 10 body weight squats once a week to 15kg goblet squats 3 times a week and reps vary based on energy and pain 🌱