Adrenal Fatigue

Have you tried chia seeds? They seem to help with Omega 3's and blood sugar balance

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After reading the book, Born to Run about the Tarahumara Native Americans in Mexico, I started consuming Chia. I love it. It is very weird and takes some getting used to, but it is also really cool and incredibly nutritious. I try to get some in every day if I can, but usually only manage a couple of times a week lately. Nobody else in my family likes it except my toddler. My husband wants the fancy "shoes" mentioned in that book--vibram 5 fingers. A special barefoot running shoe.

Yes, Dr. Teitlebaum was on Dr. Oz's show a while back and that was sort of my first introduction into the whole realm of adrenal fatigue and thyroid problems that don't show up on standard lab tests. The fact that Dr. Oz had him on the show actually allowed me to open my mind to the stuff that isn't standard medical practice and to realize that modern medical science doesn't know everything and maybe there might be something to some of this alternative stuff. I have Teitelbaums book, but haven't managed to delve in yet. I'm still in the middle of Hypothyroidism Type 2. I haven't had much time for reading for the last week or so. I should see if I can find a podcast of Teitelbaum on NPR. . . so I can listen. Listening is sometimes easier than reading when I'm doing housework etc.

BTW, I am not on Wilson's Temperature Protocol. My alternative doc has his own modified version of it and I am a bona fide member of a research study regarding the use of slow release T3 on patients who present with thryroid symptoms but who have "normal" thyroid blood work. I am so excited to get started on this regimen. And very hopeful it will help me! And as a result, may help others!

I'll have to look into this childhood abdominal migraine thing! My 6 year old gets frequent headaches with nausea and sensitivity to light. He frequently complains of tummy discomfort.

Gasp--yes, lets keep up!

socknitster wrote:...My 6 year old gets frequent headaches with nausea and sensitivity to light. He frequently complains of tummy discomfort...

Make sure his magnesium levels are OK (no mag oxide as it's just a laxative, try the citrate form).

timbalionguy wrote: . . . You talked about microwave radiation. Microwaves are no different than any other radio waves, except they are higher in frequency. All RF energy can heat our bodies. FM radio and the high VHF TV channels are frequencies that can easily heat our whole bodies because our body is close to wavelength at these frequencies. Microwaves used for cooking were chosen because the wavelength is approximate to the size of many food items, making the RF heating effect more effective. You might be interested to know that most wireless LANs operate at approximately the same frequency as a microwave oven (2.45 GHz), and to my knowledge, there is not reported case of health issues from a wireless LAN. This is also an amateur radio band, and I have frequently been around stations that ran high power in this band.

Every now and then, you see some study that claims that microwaves cause gross tissue damage beyond heating effects. I have never seen anyone ever able to repeat the results of these studies. I have also seen studies that report health problems among heavy cell phone users. But if you look at the lifestyles of these people (typically very high stress), it is not hard to figure out why they have these health issues. The best studies have concluded that if there is a risk of health problems from exposure to RF energy, it is so slight that it cannot be adequately characterized.

I have likely been exposed to RF energy at higher power levels than anyone on this list, on a repeated basis, and I am not suffering any health effects that can be directly or indirectly attributed to this exposure. The only other high power RF guy here I know of is DSM.

One last thing: Microwave ovens do not do any damage to foods that ordinary heating wouldn't do. In fact, they do less damage because microwaves can penetrate food to some extent. Heat cannot do that. (BTW, for those of you not familiar with the electromagnetic spectrum, heat is the next form of this energy after microwaves. Visible light, at even higher energies, is above heat. Ultraviolet light is above visible light. And it is in the higher end of the ultraviolet spectrum that you start to find electromagnetic energy with enough energy to damage us.

My hubby is into RF and I use him as a resource to better understand it. Microwave ovens heat the water molecules in food and that frequency is about 2.45GHz. it is not because humans are a wavelength, but because water molecules wiggle with the introduced energy and get hot.

WLAN operates across that 2.45GHz area, but a microwave is say 1.2kW pointed at your food, where the WLAN is .00001kW pointed at nothing and is many feet away. The distance away accounts for another loss of at least 40dB and really a little more like 70dB making the power hitting you more like .000000000001kW. Take frequency spreading into account and you can add 2 - 3 more zeros.

So, whereas I am sensitive to the EMF issue, I'm don't have any concerns about RF pollution in my home such as WLAN. And regarding the microwave oven, where damage is done to food (or humans hit by, say radar), is when a localized area is overheated. this is why i heat my food on 40% and let it take for ever.

DreamOn wrote:

DreamDiver wrote:

DreamOn wrote:That's very interesting, DreamDiver. There seems to be a connection between "abdominal migraines," found in children (characterized by episodic abdominal pain lasting 1-72 hours, lack of appetite, nausea/vomiting, and pallor), and adult migraines. Here are two articles with basic info: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/708850 and http://headacheandmigrainenews.com/symp ... -migraine/.

I've never heard of this before, but it certainly fits. Thanks for this.

It is interesting to learn how so many things may be connected....

When my daughter was young, she had those symptoms. Every so often, she would randomly vomit during the night or immediately upon awakening in the morning, which is when the vomiting most commonly occurs with abdominal migraines. It's sometimes difficult to know what's going on with children. At first we thought it could be due to school or other stress, but as I looked into it more, abdominal migraines seemed very likely. The doctor didn't seem interested in pursuing it, the vomiting stopped after a few years, and we moved on.

She was a rather sickly child. She tested TB positive and, although she had no active infection, she was on medication for about 9 months when she was about 4 years old. She (and then I) had whooping cough when she was 10. There was also some mold exposure during her youth. So it was always difficult to sort things out.

My daughter is all grown up now. She is very healthy now, but she does get headaches quite often. She never complains, but I'll have to ask her more about them, to figure out if they could be migraines. I had occasional migraines for a few years due to mid-life hormonal changes myself, but not before that period.

~ DreamOn

I know someone who gets very bad migraines, that promptly stopped when she went on birth control pills that stopped ovulation. We both found that extremely interesting!

I know someone who gets very bad migraines, that promptly stopped when she went on birth control pills that stopped ovulation. We both found that extremely interesting!

I have a friend who has terrible migraines related to her menstrual cycle and have done a lot of research in this area. This may actually be related to the fluctuations in hormones of the cycle. During the first or luteal phase you have more estrogen and then during the second phase or follicular phase you have more progesterone--yin and yang. It is the switch in dominance of the different hormones that can trigger migraines. On the bcp, this is stabilized.

Also, many women with this problem probably have pcos and are actually anovulatory. They never make enough progesterone for the second phase and are estrogen dominant all month. The body is sensitive to the lack of this important hormone and migraine is a result. This is actually a dangerous place to be because being estrogen dominant for a long period of time can lead to a higher incidence of breast cancer etc. PCOS is really, really hard on the body in general as it is related to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. A lot of pcos sufferers have OSA. This is likely my friends probem. She is one of the rare PCOS sufferers who is very thin. She had a lot of fertility problems and needed assistance getting pregnant.

Interestingly, a large percentage of female migraine sufferers go into remission during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy when the placenta is manufacturing up to 250 mg of progesterone a day. A good reason to try natural progesterone supplementation if you suffer from migraines. And far better for you than the pill. If it is safe for a baby to be bathed in that much progesterone throughout its early development, progesterone is hardly a dangerous hormone! On the other hand, bcps are contraindicated in pregnancy and can cause birth defects.

I guess it is pretty clear that I am anti bcp's?! I think science can and should come up with something better. I was on them in my youth and they made me crazy. So, we used condoms until we were done having kids and my husband got a vasectomy.

Jen

gasp wrote: My hubby is into RF and I use him as a resource to better understand it. Microwave ovens heat the water molecules in food and that frequency is about 2.45GHz. it is not because humans are a wavelength, but because water molecules wiggle with the introduced energy and get hot.

WLAN operates across that 2.45GHz area, but a microwave is say 1.2kW pointed at your food, where the WLAN is .00001kW pointed at nothing and is many feet away. The distance away accounts for another loss of at least 40dB and really a little more like 70dB making the power hitting you more like .000000000001kW. Take frequency spreading into account and you can add 2 - 3 more zeros.

So, whereas I am sensitive to the EMF issue, I'm don't have any concerns about RF pollution in my home such as WLAN. And regarding the microwave oven, where damage is done to food (or humans hit by, say radar), is when a localized area is overheated. this is why i heat my food on 40% and let it take for ever.

And you are very correct. The only point I disagree with is the bit about frequency spreading. That does not decrease the RF power level. It just spreads the RF out over frequency. The heating value is the same.

Yesterday, I was 15 feet away from an antenna radiating 1 megawatt of pulse transmissions at 100 kHz(!) This was a LORAN C nacvigation system trnasmitter. Unfortunately, tomorrow at noon, that system is being shut off forever

Hey, just an update on me. I've been busy taking handfuls of vitamins and supplements 5 times a day, resting, trying to read all I can about my condition and taking care of my two lo's. I'm significantly better, I would have to say. I have read several books now including What your doctor didn't tell you about Premenopause by Dr. John Lee, Hypothyroidism Type 2: the Epidemic by Dr. Mark Starr, Adrenal Fatigue, the 21st Century Stress Syndrome by Dr. James L. Wilson and From Fatigued to Fantastic by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum.

I seem to have read them in the right order. The first three books are about three different glandular insufficiencies, ie: ovarian, thyroid and adrenal. Guess what? I have all three which is neatly explained in the fourth book. I thought I was going crazy as I read each book and had all the symptoms: I was seriously starting to think I was becoming a total hypochondriach. But Dr. Teitelbaum explains how this can happen.

As it turns out, he treats chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia as if they were the same disease, characterized by these glandular problems. Several years ago, a rheumatologist told me that I was seriously at risk for developing fibro, but "didn't have it yet." Shortly thereafter I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and most of my chronic pain went away and I never gave it another thought. . . until now.

People afflicted with this syndrome can go on for years in a sub-optimal state and then something like the flu can just send you over the edge. Sleep disorders are very common for people like me, apparantly. And also, it seems that I probably have had mild narcolepsy since high school which I never knew before reading this book. Still need to have that confirmed with a good sleep study.

So, the cure seems to be overcoming some nutritional deficiencies, optimizing sleep, treating any infections and supplementing with any hormones that are necessary. I'm still on the T3 thyroid medication and progesterone and my doc tested my estrogen levels and found it to be post-menopausal, so I'm now on estrogen as well. Hopefully all this will come back on its own, or maybe I'm in perimenopause. I'm only 37, but it would explain the hair loss, dry skin and the strange migration of abdominal fat I've had recently. Those three things (and the hairs on my chin) added to the low estrogen, are pretty indicative of menopause being imminent. I am still cycling, however, erratically.

On an interesting note, some of you may know me as a bit of a skeptic. I have long been skeptical about all this stuff I see in health food stores and magazines about yeast overgrowth. I just thought it was bunk. But Dr. Teitelbaum said it was part of the syndrome and I started thinking: I have been having symptoms of oral thrush on and off for the last several months, I have had chronic seborrheic dermatitis, caused by yeast on the scalp, for about 2 years, and I have bowel movements 3-6 times a day. Hmmm. I decided to ask my alternative doc. He prescribed diflucan. One dose 200 mg. Then he also gave me 6 more pills to take once a week if I felt I needed it or to keep for an as needed basis.

Well, what a surprise! I had more energy within 48 hours. My bowel habits changed for the better. I think I'm digesting my food (and supplements) better! No one could be more surprised than me about this!

Ok, gotta go put my lo to bed! Hope this helps someone else. . .

Jen

Thanks for the update, socknitster! You've been doing a lot of reading!!! Good to hear that things are getting straightened out. I wish for you continued improvement in your health.

Have you considered hypoglycemia? Blood sugar problems run in my family and I've found that I do much better when I avoid refined carbohydrates. Many of the symptoms, although not all, that you mention are common with hypoglycemia. I've also begun sleeping much better once I gave up refined carbohydrates.

bdwalters wrote:Have you considered hypoglycemia? Blood sugar problems run in my family and I've found that I do much better when I avoid refined carbohydrates. Many of the symptoms, although not all, that you mention are common with hypoglycemia. I've also begun sleeping much better once I gave up refined carbohydrates.

Yes, I gave up all refined carbs. I don't even eat whole wheat more than a couple of times a week anymore. Just about the only carb I eat is old-fashioned oatmeal for breakfast. After a while you don't really miss them much. Hypoglycemia is part of this syndrome, because of the adrenals not working properly. You have to eat regularly to keep your blood sugar stable etc. Also, I seem to be insulin resistant as well, which is part of this for some people.

My biggest struggle lately has to do with the herb licorice. Licorice prevents cortisol from breaking down, keeping more circulating in your system and helping you to feel better, with more energy--also helps with acid reflux. I feel so much better when I take it, but I just can't take it for too long because it makes my blood pressure go sky high over time. I take a minimal amount, and, by the way, most people with this syndrome have chronically low blood pressure so taking licorice is very helpful for them for that reason, but over time my bp starts creeping up from low normal to waaaaaay too high. I discontinued the licorice at the end of last week and when I took my bp today it was 140/95 (where it has been hovering since last friday). Luckily for me, I am so in tune with my body I am aware of my bp getting too high and have the presence of mind to take my bp and monitor it. It will probably take another week for the licorice to clear my system. I might take DGL licorice and see if it helps at all. DGL has the gycerhizen (sp?) removed which is the component believed to impact blood pressure. DGL licorice is commonly taken for acid reflux, but I have no idea if it would help with cortisol at all.

Even though my energy is gradually increasing, I am still very weak and my muscles fatigue so quickly it is very strange. I have had a lot of muscle pain lately in my left shoulder (new) and ongoing in my feet. Luckily I am still able to run the household and knit, so my life remains relatively normal despite the pain and fatigue. It can take months to years for the body to heal from this, unfortunately. I have brought my closest friends back into my life on a more regular basis too and I'm not as crabby as I was just a couple of months ago, so I am happier too. I am really anxious to get better though!

Here is a current list of my meds/supplements for the curious (copied and pasted from my current "take to the docs document":

A.M. Empty Stomach
T3 (thyroid)
Thyroid glandular support (thyroid)

Morning with Breakfast*
1 B-complex (adrenal support)
1 vitamin C (adrenal support)
1 Biotin (improve hair)
1 alpha-lipoic acid (antioxidant)
1 Echinacea (immune booster, mild stimulant, short term for cold/flu season only)
1 ginkgo biloba (brain fog)
1 L-theanine (mood and sleep)
1 acetyl L-carnitine (mitochondrial support)

Noon with Lunch*
1 Complete Essential Fatty Acids (optimal health)
1 vitamin E (adrenal support, antioxidant)
2 vitamin D 1000 IU (bone health, overall optimal health)
1 cymbalta (mood, pain)
2 cal/mag/trace minerals (bone health, muscle pain support, optimal health)
1 iodoral (iodine supplement for thyroid support)
1 resveritrol (anti-oxidant, optimal health, reverse premature aging)
1 echinacea
1 L-theanine
1 coenzyme Q-10 (mitochondrial support)

Evening with Dinner*
2 krill oil (best source omega-3)
1 B-complex
1 vitamin C
1 biotin
1 iron (anemia support: everyday during menstruation, otherwise every other day)
1 alpha lipoic acid
1 multi vitamin (optimal health)
1 ginkgo biloba

Bedtime
2 jigsaw slow release magnesium (muscle pain/bone health)
2 calcium citrate (bone health)
3 vitamin D 1000 IU
1 salmon oil (omega 3)
1 acetyl L-carnitine
1 Revitalizing Sleep Herbal Formula (improve sleep quality)
1 probiotic (improve digestion)
Apply estrogen/progesterone (bioidentical) cream

*Betaine HCl with each meal to assist digestion

socknitster wrote:

bdwalters wrote:Have you considered hypoglycemia? Blood sugar problems run in my family and I've found that I do much better when I avoid refined carbohydrates. Many of the symptoms, although not all, that you mention are common with hypoglycemia. I've also begun sleeping much better once I gave up refined carbohydrates.

Yes, I gave up all refined carbs. I don't even eat whole wheat more than a couple of times a week anymore. Just about the only carb I eat is old-fashioned oatmeal for breakfast. After a while you don't really miss them much. Hypoglycemia is part of this syndrome, because of the adrenals not working properly. You have to eat regularly to keep your blood sugar stable etc. Also, I seem to be insulin resistant as well, which is part of this for some people.

My biggest struggle lately has to do with the herb licorice. Licorice prevents cortisol from breaking down, keeping more circulating in your system and helping you to feel better, with more energy--also helps with acid reflux. I feel so much better when I take it, but I just can't take it for too long because it makes my blood pressure go sky high over time. I take a minimal amount, and, by the way, most people with this syndrome have chronically low blood pressure so taking licorice is very helpful for them for that reason, but over time my bp starts creeping up from low normal to waaaaaay too high. I discontinued the licorice at the end of last week and when I took my bp today it was 140/95 (where it has been hovering since last friday). Luckily for me, I am so in tune with my body I am aware of my bp getting too high and have the presence of mind to take my bp and monitor it. It will probably take another week for the licorice to clear my system. I might take DGL licorice and see if it helps at all. DGL has the gycerhizen (sp?) removed which is the component believed to impact blood pressure. DGL licorice is commonly taken for acid reflux, but I have no idea if it would help with cortisol at all.

Even though my energy is gradually increasing, I am still very weak and my muscles fatigue so quickly it is very strange. I have had a lot of muscle pain lately in my left shoulder (new) and ongoing in my feet. Luckily I am still able to run the household and knit, so my life remains relatively normal despite the pain and fatigue. It can take months to years for the body to heal from this, unfortunately. I have brought my closest friends back into my life on a more regular basis too and I'm not as crabby as I was just a couple of months ago, so I am happier too. I am really anxious to get better though!

Here is a current list of my meds/supplements for the curious (copied and pasted from my current "take to the docs document":

A.M. Empty Stomach
T3 (thyroid)
Thyroid glandular support (thyroid)

Morning with Breakfast*
1 B-complex (adrenal support)
1 vitamin C (adrenal support)
1 Biotin (improve hair)
1 alpha-lipoic acid (antioxidant)
1 Echinacea (immune booster, mild stimulant, short term for cold/flu season only)
1 ginkgo biloba (brain fog)
1 L-theanine (mood and sleep)
1 acetyl L-carnitine (mitochondrial support)

Noon with Lunch*
1 Complete Essential Fatty Acids (optimal health)
1 vitamin E (adrenal support, antioxidant)
2 vitamin D 1000 IU (bone health, overall optimal health)
1 cymbalta (mood, pain)
2 cal/mag/trace minerals (bone health, muscle pain support, optimal health)
1 iodoral (iodine supplement for thyroid support)
1 resveritrol (anti-oxidant, optimal health, reverse premature aging)
1 echinacea
1 L-theanine
1 coenzyme Q-10 (mitochondrial support)

Evening with Dinner*
2 krill oil (best source omega-3)
1 B-complex
1 vitamin C
1 biotin
1 iron (anemia support: everyday during menstruation, otherwise every other day)
1 alpha lipoic acid
1 multi vitamin (optimal health)
1 ginkgo biloba

Bedtime
2 jigsaw slow release magnesium (muscle pain/bone health)
2 calcium citrate (bone health)
3 vitamin D 1000 IU
1 salmon oil (omega 3)
1 acetyl L-carnitine
1 Revitalizing Sleep Herbal Formula (improve sleep quality)
1 probiotic (improve digestion)
Apply estrogen/progesterone (bioidentical) cream

*Betaine HCl with each meal to assist digestion

I would switch the , omega-3 oil, 3000 IU D3, and calcium citrate from bedtime to morning breakfast, but that is just me.

I have been taking my probiotic in the morning ... but maybe it does make more sense to take it at bedtime ... give those little beasties time to multiply over night and have them ready to consume some daily vegetable fiber.

DreamStalker wrote: I would switch the , omega-3 oil, 3000 IU D3, and calcium citrate from bedtime to morning breakfast, but that is just me.

Calcium blocks absorption of thryoid hormone, so she can't take it at the same time as the T3 - or even within about 4 hours of taking / planning to take it.

howkim wrote:

DreamStalker wrote: I would switch the , omega-3 oil, 3000 IU D3, and calcium citrate from bedtime to morning breakfast, but that is just me.

Calcium blocks absorption of thryoid hormone, so she can't take it at the same time as the T3 - or even within about 4 hours of taking / planning to take it.

Oh I get it ... and the thryoid hormone needs to be taken in fasting state?

Hi, Socknitser,

I don't remember - do you have autoimmune thyroid disease? If so, please be careful with the iodine and immune stimulants. With autoimmune thyroid disease, your immune system is already on overdrive. Additionally, too much iodine can cause problems.

DreamStalker wrote:Oh I get it ... and the thryoid hormone needs to be taken in fasting state?

Precisely.