Anyone have experience w/adrenal stress fatigue?

[Leonor]

If so, what supplements are you taking?

 

Exercise?

 

Diet?

[Jean in Newcastle]

Yes. (The rest of this post I'm copying and pasting from where someone else asked this same question!)

 

Look for the book "Adrenal Fatigue" by Dr. James Wilson http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/

 

Using the advice of the book (and my naturopathic doctor) I am taking a supplement for Adrenals called "Adrenal Optimizer" by Jarro. There are other brands of these supplements which are called adaptogens.

 

I am also on an adrenal diet - if you google "adrenal diet" you'll pretty much get the same diet plan which everyone copies. The gist of it is that when your adrenals are fatigued, you want to avoid stress - even physical stress. You want to keep your bloodsugar really even because having your bloodsugar go up and down is stressful to your body. So the recommendation is that you eat 5 small balanced meals (basically every 3 hours). All meals (including breakfast) should include veggies and protein. This diet has been a huge breakthrough for me! If I miss and my bloodsugar starts to get low, I can see the negative effect on my body very clearly.

 

(P.S. I'm also on natural thyroid medicine.)

 

PS - you need to know that adrenal fatigue is a secondary diagnosis. In other words, yes your adrenal glands are tired out and overworked - but why? Something is depleting them. It may have been longterm stress or a major traumatic incident. It may be (as it was in my case) that my body was wiped out from dealing with some fairly severe vitamin deficiencies and parasites. For someone else it may be another reason entirely.

[mcconnellboys]

I began using ginseng (liquid form) last fall and within 12 weeks saw a huge difference in the way I feel on a daily basis. Now I don't have to take it every day, but do make sure that I include it a few times a week. I can't remember ever having felt in control of my body as much as I am now. I mean, I always pretty much felt as if I were a slave to sleep because I needed so much of it....

[asta]

What did your endocrinologist say?

 

Adrenal failure can be deadly, and no vitamin shop supplement will help a patient that is going down that path.

 

The endocrine system is all interconnected, as mentioned already. A pituitary disorder can cause adrenal failure. A thyroid disorder can cause adrenal failure. A problem with cortisol levels can cause adrenal failure.

 

Nothing causes adrenal fatigue. The adrenal gland doesn't get "fatigued". It works, and then, if something goes wrong enough in the endocrine system, the adrenal gland may start to fail, and then it may fail. Any competent endocrinologist will tell you this.

 

People may throw tomatoes at me, but I've gone through the "you have a totally unrelated endocrine disorder, and then, now it is causing your adrenals to start to fail", and now am in the "your adrenals are failing" position. Three endocrinologists, a bazillion tests, and never once was there any "fatigue".

 

 

a

 

 

PS: I take a dopamine agonist, a neurosteroid, eat like a hobbit, and exercise in spurts because I get wiped out otherwise

Edited September 9, 2010 by asta

[Leonor]

Thanks for all of your replies. They have been very helpful.

 

My blood work all came back fine. My general practitioner is not referring me for any further testing. She did agree that the best form of testing hormones is saliva testing.

I do fit the profile for adrenal fatigue. I was thinking of having a saliva test done for cortisol.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Thanks for all of your replies. They have been very helpful.

 

My blood work all came back fine. My general practitioner is not referring me for any further testing. She did agree that the best form of testing hormones is saliva testing.

I do fit the profile for adrenal fatigue. I was thinking of having a saliva test done for cortisol.

 

Often a naturopathic doctor is better for this kind of issue because they are trained to look for the reasons behind our symptoms. It isn't always easy to find those reasons either. My first Dr. had me do the cortisol saliva test. That did show when my cortisol was highest and when it was non-existent. I think this is important to have done because there are other reasons why we might have fatigue. She did a pretty comprehensive blood workup which showed a severe vitamin D deficiency and hypothyroidism. But once those two issues where addressed, my cortisol was still low.

 

The first Dr. was then stumped so I was able to find another doctor who was able to keep digging. He was able to find that I had hidden parasites. My body was pretty tired from dealing with the stress that the parasites put on my body all the time. Of course, not everyone is going to have the same drains on the adrenal system. But I think it does pay to try and find them.

[Leonor]

Thanks. This is what I was thinking.

[Negin]

Maybe some of this will help.

 

ADRENAL FATIGUE

In adrenal fatigue, your body overproduces adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones. Eventually, this causes your adrenal glands--your front line stress defense--to become depleted.

 

SYMPTOMS

• Absentmindedness

• Severe Allergies

• Asthma

• Stubborn Belly Fat

• Increased blood pressure and cholesterol

• Unstable blood sugar levels

• Chocolate Cravings

• Chronic Colds

• Unstable moods, depression, and anxiety

• Constant Fatigue

• Hair Loss

• Hormone imbalance

• Chronic Illness

• Impaired immune function and less resistance to infections

• Insomnia

• Irritability

• Panic Attacks

• PMS

• Salt Cravings

• Decreased Sex Drive

• Long Sinus Infections

• Unclear Thinking

• Weight gain

 

May need a salivary cortisol test

 

To test whether your adrenals are overwhelmed, you’ll need a dark room, a mirror, and a flashlight.

In a dark room, face the mirror.

Turn on flashlight and hold it at your temple so the beam passes over your eyes. Your pupils will contract.

Leaving the flashlight on, observe your pupils in the mirror for 2 minutes. If your adrenals are healthy, the pupils will remain tiny.

If your pupils dilate at any point during the 2-minute exposure to light, it means that your adrenals are exhausted.

 

CAUSES

Too much cumulative stress

Adrenal Fatigue is the result of living with a constantly aroused sympathetic nervous system--living in a perpetual state of "fight or flight."

 

Poor diet

 

Perimenopausal Hormonal Shifts

 

Copper –zinc imbalance affects the adrenals and the liver. Zinc is needed for the production of adrenal cortical hormones, so if zinc levels are low or copper is high, production of these hormones diminishes. The adrenals then aren’t able to rise to the challenge of stressful situations and give the body the get-up-and-go it needs.

The recommended daily copper allowance for adults is 2 milligrams – the amount already provided in most multis. Compound that with what you’re getting from copper-rich foods: tea contains about 5 milligrams of copper per 100 grams and cocoa powder is not far behind at about 4 milligrams per 100 grams. You can see how easily your copper intake can build up in the body and interfere with the actions of your hormones and other nutrients. Try to get a copper-free multivitamin.

 

BOOK

“Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome” by James L. Wilson

 

NUTRITION

High-quality animal protein

Heart-healthy fats – Omega3s

5-6 servings of vegetables a day

Sea Salt

Complex Carbohydrates

Lightly cooked or raw protein whenever possible to preserve amino acids and naturally occurring enzymes needed to digest food – such as sashimi, eggs, plain yogurt, sushi, goat’s milk and cheese, whey protein, legumes combined with whole grains, seeds or nuts

Licorice Tea

Seaweeds – nori, wakame, kombu, hijiki

Naturally fermented miso without MSG

Sprouts

Soy Sauce without MSG

Carob

Ginger

Beans combined with whole grains

Organic Meats – like lamb, wild meats like venison

Alaskan Salmon

Bone broths with vinegar added

Red and Orange Vegetables

Almond Oil

Coconut Oil

Palm Oil

Olive Oil

Add a vegetable to your eggs at breakfast: sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or sliced tomatoes

Spinach

Red Pepper

Yellow and Butternut Squash

Beets

Carrots

Millet

Brown Rice

Quinoa

Papaya

Mango

Plums

Pears

Kiwi

Apples

Cherries

Black Licorice Tea has adrenal-rejuvenating properties – Traditional Medicinals Organic Licorice Root Tea – only have 2 well-brewed cups every other day since licorice can cause a fatigue-inducing potassium imbalance. After 6 weeks, take a 5-day break before repeating the regimen. 1-3 cycles of this helps most women. Do not consume if you’re pregnant or have high blood pressure.

Eat as much fresh, organic raw food as possible (at least one third of your intake), particularly vegetables.

 

Drink plenty of pure, filtered water every day.

 

LIMIT OR AVOID

Coffee and Black Tea (including decaf)

Juice

Sugar

Alcoholic Beverages

Deep-Fried Foods

Rancid Oils, Seeds, and Nuts

Soda, including diet soda

Processed Meats and Cheeses

Chocolate

White Flour in Breads, Cakes, Pies, Cookies, and Pasta

Cow’s Milk

Artificial Sweeteners and Ingredients

Fast Food

Junk Food

White Rice

Eliminate processed food, junk food, soda, sweetened drinks, sports/energy drinks, and all artificial sweeteners from your diet.

Radically reduce your sugar consumption, and stay away from products containing high concentrations of fructose, such as high fructose corn syrup.

 

SUPPLEMENTS

Vitamin C is probably the most important vitamin for adrenal function – found in sprouts, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, red peppers, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and strawberries - I prefer to get as much as I can from food rather than relying too much on supplements - especially when it comes vitamin C, iron, folic acid, calcium

 

Magnesium – sea vegetables, nuts, brown sesame seeds, whole wheat (if tolerated), brown rice, peas, beans

 

B Vitamins – The most important ones are B5 (pantothenic acid) and B6 – whole grains, brewer’s yeast, egg yolks, miso, avocado, liver, soybeans, lentils

 

Calcium – sesame seeds, beans, nuts, collards, kale, broccoli, parsley, sea vegetables, goat’s milk

[Negin]

More info:

 

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

When you eat is critical. Don't skip meals.

Have breakfast before 10 AM

Eat lunch around 11 AM

Snack around 2 PM

Have dinner no later than 6 PM

Few bites of a snack at bedtime

 

Regular aerobic exercise and strength training can burn off excess adrenal hormones. But don’t overdo – more than 1 hour, 5 days a week, can overstress your adrenals.

Yoga also helps.

 

Our cortisol levels tend to be highest in the morning. If you’re stressed, morning is the best time for you to use two stress-reducing techniques: meditation and exercise. But don’t push yourself and over-exercise. This perpetuates your stress cycle. Walking, swimming, biking, low-impact aerobics, gardening, and dancing are easier on your adrenal glands than running. If you’re too tired to exercise, don’t do much. Listen to your body and take a 10-minute walk instead of a longer more strenuous workout. Mild to moderate exercise from 4-6 times a week will help lower your cortisol. And it takes only 10-30 minutes of prayer or meditation to help break the stress cycle.

 

Meditation, biofeedback, or take a 15-minute time-out every day to reduce adrenal stress. Make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep each night to keep your stress hormones in check.

 

You must find a way to recharge. There are many ways to unplug from your busy routine. But the most elemental requirement for recharging your battery is addressing your body's basic needs for sleep, exercise and nutrition--because without addressing those, your body won't be able to reboot, regardless of how many breaks you take from your routine.

 

If you feel tired when you first wake up, you probably aren't getting sufficient sleep. It's best to observe how you feel immediately upon waking rather than after you're up and moving around.

 

Be sure your exercise routine contains the four principle components--aerobic (cardio), anaerobic (interval), strength training, and core exercises. Variety is key.

 

IODINE

More than 90% of us are low in iodine and adrenal fatigue is often linked to an iodine deficiency.

Today's environment makes it almost impossible to get the amount of iodine you need.

1. There's very little iodine in the soil. So unless you're eating a ton of iodine-rich foods like kelp, seaweed and shellfish, you're not going to get much iodine from your diet.

2. Many salt companies have stopped adding iodine to table salt.

3. Food manufacturers have stopped using iodine in baked goods and are using bromine instead. Bromine (a halogen) competes with iodine to get into your cells. So the more bromine you consume, the less iodine you get. Unfortunately, many foods today (primarily baked goods) are loaded with bromine.

4. Our water supply contains chlorine and fluoride, both of which are halogens. Again, halogens compete with iodine to get into your cells.

And you can't avoid chlorine and fluoride simply by drinking filtered water. That's because you get a hefty dose any time you bathe, shower, soak in a hot tub, or swim in a swimming pool.

5. Most conventional doctors never test for iodine deficiency. They figure there's no need to test iodine levels when they can just test your thyroid function instead. The problem with this is that the most widely used thyroid test, the TSH, is wildly inaccurate. Reason: While the TSH measures thyroid hormone, it can't tell the difference between active thyroid hormone with iodine and de-activated thyroid hormone with bromine or chlorine or fluorine. So the test shows you have plenty of thyroid hormone. But most of the thyroid hormone isn't doing its job!

 

CORRECTING AN IODINE DEFICIENCY:

I think it was Dr. Nan Fuchs who wrote: “I've had women come into my office who look like the poster child for underactive thyroid. They're overweight, they're losing their hair and eyebrows, their skin is dry, and they tell me they feel cold all the time. Yet when their doctor gave them a thyroid test, it came back normal!

When I put these women on iodine supplementation, their conditions improve dramatically. Their skin improves, they stop losing their hair, and they finally lose that excess weight — and keep it off.”

 

The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg. This amount was set based on the amount needed to prevent goiter. This amount will prevent goiter but it will not prevent other serious diseases and symptoms connected to an iodine deficiency.

The average consumption of iodine from seaweed by the mainland Japanese is nearly 14 mg. They have some of the lowest incidence of iodine-deficiency diseases like goiter, hypothyroidism, and cancers of the reproductive system (breast, ovaries, and uterus).

 

Increase your intake with mineral-rich sea vegetables (agar, hijiki, kombu, nori, and wakame) at least twice a week. You can eat as much seaweed as you want. Brown seaweeds are highest in iodine. They include all forms of kelp. Fucus, also known as Bladderwrack, is considered to be the best for underactive thyroids. Hijiki and Sargassum are two other forms of brown seaweeds. Red seaweeds include dulse, nori, Irish moss, and Gracillaria.

Since toasting doesn’t affect seaweed’s iodine content, you can eat it dried or dried and toasted. Toast some in the oven or in a dry frying pan to see if you prefer that taste. You can also powdered seaweed to your food or add larger pieces of seaweed to soups, grains, or vegetables. Seaweed should be an enjoyable addition to your diet, not an unpleasant experience. If you simply don’t like its taste, you can get it in capsules.

Use 5-10 grams of mixed brown and red seaweed for thyroid problems. This is about 1 ½ teaspoons per day. If you’ve been told that your thyroid is borderline-low, eating seaweed makes sense. But remember, you need to eat seaweed every day or take iodine in a different form.

Not all seaweeds are safe to eat. Some come from polluted waters.

Be more cautious and talk to a naturopath if you’re on thyroid meds and want to try seaweed.

 

Use iodine-rich Seaweed Gomasio to season your food. You can get this on amazon.

 

Instead of using seaweed to boost your iodine levels, you might consider taking an iodine supplement. Iodoral is a very good one. I am now taking 3 and feel much better. I got mine from amazon. Lots of helpful reviews there.

You may need 1 to 4 tablets of Iodoral, a combination of 5 mg of iodine and 7.5 mg of potassium iodide. Additional research finds that vitamin C improves the transport of iodine in the body, so it may be best to take Iodoral with Vitamin C.

Studies show that women who weigh about 110 pounds need at least 5 mg of iodine a day for normal breast function. If you’re heavier, you may need more.

Start off slowly over a 4 week period.

Take 1 pill for 30 days

Then 2 pills for 30 days

Then maybe 3 for 30 days

Then 1 in morning and 1 in evening for 30 days

Can then go back to taking 1 or 2 a day to maintain

Your body will know....listen to it...

One Iodoral tablet provides 12.5 milligrams of iodine/iodide which is about the amount the average Japanese consumed in 1964 in their everyday diet.

Iodoral is the best way to get the recommended amount of iodine.

When we take 50 mg of iodine/iodide a day, it acts as an adaptogen, regulating various body functions.

 

Substances that interfere with iodine

Chlorine – present in most city water supplies – unless you de-chlorinate your water, you are being exposed to thyroid-lowering gases whenever you bathe, shower, or have a drink of water.

 

Fluorine

 

Bromide or Bromine – found in some pesticides – try to eat organic whenever possible

Bromide is even used in some asthma drugs

Mountain Dew, Fresca, and orange Gatorade all contain bromide in the form of brominated vegetable oils. Drinking beverages with bromide causes low thyroid function in some people.

 

These toxins are in our water, hot tubs, non-organic foods, and some soft drinks.

If you don’t have enough iodine, chances are you have too much fluoride and bromide. Sufficient iodine pulls these toxins out of your body.

 

Aspirin, blood thinner meds, and steroids can result in iodine deficiency thyroid problems. If you’re taking these, ask your doctor to check your thyroid function.

[Gratia271]

Thank you, Negin, for all the detailed advice. I am going to attempt to put it into practice. How long did it take for you to experience improvements?

[BeckyFL]

Did you see this subject on Dr. Oz today? He had 2 opposing views from M.D. guests and addressed the symptoms and possible solutions. Maybe you can find it online or perhaps it will air again. The overall topic was Extreme Exhaustion: The Secret Behind Tiredness.

[Gratia271]

I will try to locate that. I really need some relief from the fight/flight rut my system is stuck in. It is becoming debilitating.

[BeckyFL]

I will try to locate that. I really need some relief from the fight/flight rut my system is stuck in. It is becoming debilitating.

 

The solutions were pretty simple and one of the main things stressed was not to buy a "remedy" online.

 

Found this summary...

http://www.drozfans.com/dr-ozs-advice/dr-oz-adrenal-fatigue-extreme-exhaustion-secret-reason-youre-tired/

[Negin]

Thank you, Negin, for all the detailed advice. I am going to attempt to put it into practice. How long did it take for you to experience improvements?

I didn't address adrenal fatigue directly, since I wasn't even thinking along those lines.

I just started eating as healthy as I could and I try to keep it up. There are some great books on that. Think Mediterranean diet, etc.

I also try to exercise consistently, but that's not always easy. You need to make your health and well being a priority. Again, not always easy. :grouphug:

Iodoral has made a great difference for me. Taking 1 didn't feel that different. 2 was okay. Now, I'm taking 3 ... and remember, you should build up gradually and see how your body feels ... anyway, taking 3, has made me feel better.

[Peela]

I would agree you need to dig deeper to find the cause, because that which is named 'adrenal fatigue' is a symptom, or rather a set of symptoms.

Don't underestimate how much stress we tend to live in, in our culture. We often are under such chronic stress, and everyone around us is the same...we think it's normal...but our bodies don't. So..it's often a lifestyle change needed, as well as an overhaul in how we manage our time and stress. We cannot be everything to everyone.

 

I studied the condition a few years ago and one herb that is often used is licorice...but that is a classic one for masking the symptoms and "boosting" the adrenals, which isn't what you want, because ultimately that is like taking caffeine....which by the way is something you really need to avoid, as well as sugar.

 

Siberian Ginseng is a herb of benefit...or a mixture of ginsengs (Siberian ginseng is not officially a ginseng but acts like one) and other adaptogenic herbs. Basically you need "tonics"- adaptogenic tonics, to help your body cope with stress.

 

Also, many people are magnesium deficient- magnesium is the "let go" mineral and many people benefit from taking a supplement.

 

I try to keep things simple- when I get stressed- and I have a tendency to the symptoms of "adrenal fatigue"- I boost my iron, I take ginseng, I take magnesium, and I take spirulina and other green supplements, as well as fresh vegetable juices. And.....I give myself permission to take naps and sleep and not be busy.

[Oops, duplicate account :/]

My ND gave me this for adrenal support today.

 

http://www.iherb.com/Thorne-Research-Phytisone-60-Veggie-Caps/18712?at=0

 

At Amazon one ladies endocrinologist recommended it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/THN-Phytisone-60C/product-reviews/B0012ZPTDA/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

I can let you know how it works for me. Eleuthero extract (on the ingredients) is another name for Siberian ginseng. I'm doing my adrenal test tommorrow and will find out results in a week and half.

Edited September 17, 2010 by mommyjen

[Jean in Newcastle]

My ND gave me this for adrenal support today.

 

http://www.iherb.com/Thorne-Research-Phytisone-60-Veggie-Caps/18712?at=0

 

At Amazon one ladies endocrinologist recommended it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/THN-Phytisone-60C/product-reviews/B0012ZPTDA/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

I can let you know how it works for me. Eleuthero extract (on the ingredients) is another name for Siberian ginseng. I'm doing my adrenal test tommorrow and will find out results in a week and half.

 

Don't take the adrenal supplement until you've had your adrenal test. You don't want to skew the test.

[Oops, duplicate account :/]

Don't take the adrenal supplement until you've had your adrenal test. You don't want to skew the test.

 

Oh, thank you! I should have clarified. I'm taking the test tommorrow and starting the supps Sat.

[Oops, duplicate account :/]

Yes. (The rest of this post I'm copying and pasting from where someone else asked this same question!)

 

Look for the book "Adrenal Fatigue" by Dr. James Wilson http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/

 

Using the advice of the book (and my naturopathic doctor) I am taking a supplement for Adrenals called "Adrenal Optimizer" by Jarro. There are other brands of these supplements which are called adaptogens.

 

I am also on an adrenal diet - if you google "adrenal diet" you'll pretty much get the same diet plan which everyone copies. The gist of it is that when your adrenals are fatigued, you want to avoid stress - even physical stress. You want to keep your bloodsugar really even because having your bloodsugar go up and down is stressful to your body. So the recommendation is that you eat 5 small balanced meals (basically every 3 hours). All meals (including breakfast) should include veggies and protein. This diet has been a huge breakthrough for me! If I miss and my bloodsugar starts to get low, I can see the negative effect on my body very clearly.

 

(P.S. I'm also on natural thyroid medicine.)

 

PS - you need to know that adrenal fatigue is a secondary diagnosis. In other words, yes your adrenal glands are tired out and overworked - but why? Something is depleting them. It may have been longterm stress or a major traumatic incident. It may be (as it was in my case) that my body was wiped out from dealing with some fairly severe vitamin deficiencies and parasites. For someone else it may be another reason entirely.

 

Jean, I just noticed this. I have a gut FULL of bacteria (alarming, really) rather than parasites and severe vitamin def. as well. I've also been under a lot of stress the past few years, including but most def. not limited to being pregnant and breastfeeding. Lot's of output physically, emotionally, and mentally and not a lot of input nutritionally (never took a prenatal reg.:001_huh:) and in the other departments. My ND asked me today if I ever got out of the house by myself. I'm like what's that you say? :tongue_smilie: We as a family very rarely have family time, dh doesn't make time for me so I'm quite lonely esp. being a hs mom! (he is just trying to keep us afloat finacially, I understand this, but...) days off?? Never heard of those. Anyways, yeah, deal with the reason's why. That's why I love my ND. He cares about the whole person and problem, not just symptoms.

Edited September 17, 2010 by mommyjen
to make more sense :P

[Jean in Newcastle]

Jean, I just noticed this. I have a gut FULL of bacteria (alarming, really) rather than parasites and severe vitamin def. as well. I've also been under a lot of stress the past few years, including but most def. not limited to being pregnant and breastfeeding. Lot's of output physically, emotionally, and mentally and not a lot of input nutritionally (never took a prenatal reg.:001_huh:) and in the other departments. My ND asked me today if I ever got out of the house by myself. I'm like what's that you say? :tongue_smilie: We as a family very rarely have family time, hubby and I hardly have time to talk (you wouldn't believe the stats and some days I hardly can myself...rather dh doesn't make time), days off?? Never heard of those. Anyways, yeah, deal with the reason's why. That's why I love my ND. He cares about the whole person and problem, not just symptoms.

 

Jen, it sounds like you have a good ND. I'm going to tell you what I've had to tell myself this year. Take care of yourself. It's ok to put your health first because if your health suffers the entire family suffers.

[maralyn45]

Exercise..yoga..and meditation......which all i do...