HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

FINALLY!!!!!!!!

Support Forums
>
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
✚ New Topic locked
12 3
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/18/2006 11:16 AM (GMT -8)
Adrenal fatigue it is yeah


Well, after waiting almost 3 weeks, my saliva test for DHEA-S and Cortisol are in.

My DHEA-S is very low for my age, and my cortisol is very low throughout the day.

I'll place on here exactly as is shows on the sheet.


DHEA-S 3.8 --------- Normal ranges are between 3-10.

The Doctor that reviewed my lab work said this about my DHEA-S

"DHEAS is within normal range, but lower than expected for this individuals age. DHEAS is highest during the late teens to early twenties (10-15 ng/ml) and drops steadily with age to the lower end of range (3-5 ng/ml) by the age of 70-80. Mid life DHEAS levels in both males and females are usually in rage of 5-8 ng/ml. Well-trained atheletes generally tend to have higher ranges"

So basically, I have the DHEA-S level of a 70 year old.

This is my Cortisol levels

Morning 3.8 ---- Normal range is 3-10 (this should be higher)
Noon 0.9 ---- Normal range is 2-4
Evening 0.1 ---- Normal range is 1-2
Night 0.1 ---- Normal range is 0.5-1.5

My write up on this showed that I have adrenal exhaustion/low adrenal reserve.

This test was $150, but worth every penny, because I finally have an explaination as to why I feel so tired all day long, why I crave sweets, and why whenever I workout, I feel worse the next day. My diet from here on out is going to be extremely strict, with the supplements I need to rebuild my adrenal glands. I'll report back later... hopefully with success :-)

Posted 9/18/2006 12:37 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Orion!

I'm so happy for you! I just stubbled onto this site today, and after I read your posts I registered. I having similar sypmtoms, and doctors are not helping me. I believe that they think that I'm crazy. I had an MRI(pituitary), about 4 thryoid tests(including an ulta-sound), 3 blood tests, pap smear, and a urine test...I think that's it. Oh and a brain and sinus cat scan. Still, doctors say that nothings wrong. I'm hating doctors right now, but I need them to help me figure this out. It's as if they don't want to give me an adrenal test...or they don't know how...something I don't know.

I just faxed doctor number 2 a letter today. I'm so angry it's not funny. It was not an angry letter, but I just explained everything from childhood until now. :lol:
My symptoms:

Tired all of the time
Dark circles under my eyes
headaches
sore throat (not often)
swollen glands (not often)
tender muscles (when someone touch my waist I flinch, and my aunt tapped me on my thigh weeks ago and my whole body flinched)
***BUT NOTHING'S WRONG...YEAH RIGHT!!!***

shaky hands
nasal swelling
excessive body hair
If I eat something cold minutes later I'm shivering.
Dry flaky skin
Thick skin on my legs
I took Doc-Q-Lace and Allegra at different times and I experienced abdominal pain...and my urine even looks funny now...it hard to describe.

I was pescribed Allegra recently and it gave me abdominal pain. I even went through emergency. I gave the pain a number 5. It didn't hurt bad, but I was scared and I could not stand up straight. The emergency doc asked me if it was safe for him to let me go home and to promise him that I won't harm myself. These people think that I'm crazy. I just looked at him and said, "I know that something's wrong...but you just can't find it."

I'm going read the rest of your posts today. Oh...and another thing I'm not overweight. That's part of my problem that I'm having with doctors. It's as if I HAVE to be overweight to have adrenal exhaustion. That can't be true...is it? Doctors expect to see me to be on my death bed...but I'm not, so they keep telling no way I could have adrenal exhaustion. I'm hating doctors right now. They have me believing that I may be crazy...but I know that I'm not.

Worse of all, family think that I'm cazy...I guess. My family believe the doctors they think that anti-depressants and a psychiatrists is what I need. It makes me so angry to hear them say that. Doctors keep saying that nothing's wrong and they keep putting me on anti-depressants and referring me to psychiatrists. I'm so tired of psychiatrists now. They're not helping me. An endocrinologists told me that she did all that she can and there is nothing more.

Again Orion I'm so happy for you!

Post Edited (Tru) : 9/20/2006 5:18:08 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/18/2006 1:21 PM (GMT -8)
Yay, you finally have some answers and validation for your symptoms. I do think once you have some answers it at least gives you some direction of what to do and how to treat the symptoms, which in turn gives some hope for feeling better. Is there anything else that can be done for adrenal fatigue aside from the diet and supplements? I really hope the diet and the supplements help - any idea how long before you might see results? Tru: welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you have been so sick and don't have any answers. I get so frustrated when I hear about doctors brushing people off and telling them there is nothing wrong when there is obviously something wrong. Don't give up - you know your body better than anyone else. The difficulty with getting a diagnosis is that these symptoms are present in numerous diseases, but just because doctors can't pinpoint exactly what you have doesn't mean they should give up and tell you nothing is wrong. Hang in there and ask any other questions you have. Take care
Posted 9/18/2006 3:21 PM (GMT -8)
Tru,

Welcome to healingwell!! :)

I can tell you that you're with friends here. This website has really helped me through tough times when everyone else laughed at me and said that I was crazy, and when doctors told me I was crazy. I will tell you that I have given up on Western medicine (well... not completely). I still believe that it can help, but only if the doctors are willing to listen. I'm going to take this lab work, and request to be put on Cortef. It's a prescription that can help adrenal fatigue.

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling so bad. Remember that doctors only know what they've seen and read. After relizing this on my own, I started my own process of elimination. It has been long and hard to find, but with out it, I'd still be wondering when, and eating really bad devil

Your symptoms could be a number of things. The main thing that I've noticed with adrenal fatigue is that stress brings it on. Let me list my main stressors that happened to me all during the end of last year.

Car accident (Totalled)
Got married
Bought a house that I can barely afford, but couldn't pass it up
Got into financial trouble (mistake in paycheck, owed the IRS $4,000 last year)
Changed jobs

I was also never getting any rest, or relaxation. I was working out everyday, pushing myself harder and harder towards my goal. I was in the best shape of my life. I lost over 90lbs, was running every other day, and lifting weights in between. I didn't smoke, do drugs, or drink. So why was I (this perfect picture of health, according to my doctors) feeling this bad?

I've done just about every test that I could think of.

Tell me, how long has this been going on? Have you been on a vacation recently? Did you feel better at all (symptom relief) Have you been tested for Lyme disease? How's your diet? Do you crave sugar or sweets? I cannot say about the being small has nothing to do with adrenal fatigue, but I will tell you to pick up a book called "adrenal fatigue.. the 21st century" It's by Dr. Jame Wilson. Look at how I was. I was 175lbs @ 5'8 when this started. I'm now 227lbs, but that's because I've been eating really bad. It's been a year since I've started feeling like this. It started off gradually, but progressivly got worse as the stress pilled on. I did take a vacation this past Feb, and felt 100% while being away. But after being back home for a little while, I felt bad again. I thought it was mold in my house/work (another thing you should check for), but was rulled out by living somewhere else for a week, and not feeling better.

I know how it feels to be thought of crazy. My friends all laugh at me, and tell me it's in my head. So does my family. I've been on Effexor, Paxil and Prozac. None of it did anything for me. I canceled my Endo appt because the office made me feel stupid when I placed the appt. When I said I was fatigued, they said "you know this is an Endo office, correct?" I said... does it sound like I'm ordering a pizza? Let's just say, the converstation when south after that.

Tru, the important part to remember is, this is your body, and no one knows it best better than you. DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THIS IS IN YOUR HEAD. I'm not going to say it's not possible, but I was told this for so long, I started to believe it was. That's when things got really bad for me. Do not give up on this. You will get better, and you will find what is wrong with you.

Best of luck to you Tru! :)
Posted 9/18/2006 3:23 PM (GMT -8)
Thank you Hippimom. I cannot thank you enough for your kind words during this tough time.

It's going to take some time before I recovery fully (probably 6 months... maybe longer). I've done this to myself, so I can undo this. Yes, you're right. Now that I know, it helps to head down that path. I keep thinking to myself.. "is this true, or am I just reading this again on another website of symptoms" I'm happy that this was a test that proves what's wrong!
Posted 9/18/2006 5:01 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks Orion!

I don't know what type of doctor to go to. Who gave you your adrenal test? My Endo thinks that I'm crazy too. I'm on my second one, but my appt is Oct 31. What should I do?

I been having these symptoms for about 15 years. Symptoms sloooooowly got worse. I had an infection at 10 that I held on to for at least 9 years, before it was treated...which may have kicked things off. Ummm, actually I also was stung by a Jelly fish when I was five...so who really knows. Of course, the symptoms weren't always this bad, but because of dark undereye cirlcles and my skin I started taking viatmins (mult, C, and E). I believe that helped with the symptoms. For years I was told nothing was wrong so I used viatmins to fix the dark circles and my skin. Viatmins was not enough, and it didn't cure my circles or my skin...but I'm no longer anemic.

I need to start taking Omega again, because it helps.

Vacation? :lol: I don't work already, I'm too tired...and no one believes me anyway. Work makes me tired and anxious...and stress, because I'm a hard worker and I over work myself...employers miss me when I'm gone. I use make-up to cover up my circles when I'm around people...which makes me made because I don't like wearing make-up....period. Also, I don't like looking like I feel at work....if that makes since. I don't like people looking at me too long, because I don't want them to notice my eyes....even though I know that they already do, and I don't want ANYONE to notice the hair on my chin...I will die. People tell me that I'm pretty often and they stare sometimes...I have trouble figuring out why...what do they see...exactly?

I feel better for minutes at a time...and that's it. My symptoms change, because my nasal area is not swollen anymore... and my headaches calmed down some, but those medications did something to my stomach.

No, I have never been tested for Lyme disease.

My diet is not good, because I have no appetite. I can relate to your weight gain. I too gained weight 2...or 3 years ago. I gained over 25 pounds, but I blamed it on Paxil because I did know about CFS, or adrenal weakness. I did crave sweets...I still do and salt. I lost 15 plus pounds. I'm only 5'1...and 1/2, so too much weight I just can't stand. I watch my weight that's why I'm not over weight. I've been small all my life, and this weight was the hardest to loose. I still want to loose 10 or at least 8 more pounds...but not now. I was 130 plus(I'm not sure, because until my baggy jeans fit me again I did not step on a scale) and now I'm 115. When I used to work out I was 105...and I even ate more then. I feel like 105 is my healthy weight since I was doing everything healthy then.

Also, I'm from New Orleans. Yep, Hurricane Katrina. After the hurricane I just can't turn things around like I used to. I'm taking vitamins, but it's not helping anymore. I lost everything, and it seems that nobody cares...well not the way that I want them to. Everybody's getting richer after the hurricane but me. I can't work, and I'm not getting any financial help...and I have bills. I'm living with my aunt in North Carolina...I've been here since July. It's okay here, but I wouldn't have chosen to live here. I like big cities....and I love fashion. :lol:

Wow, I was on Effexor, Paxil, Effexor(again), Nortriptyline, and now Fluoxetine. None of them worked they all made me even more tired, but according to docs I should be on them.

Also, I faxed my doctors my whole history and adrenal exhaustion articles, it's symptoms and the type of test that needs to be done.

Thanks again! I will be asking a lot of questions....and thanks for reading all my crap. :-)

Post Edited (Tru) : 9/18/2006 7:25:12 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/19/2006 4:21 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks hippimom2!

I'm not even trusting don't anymore. I do my own research.





Orion, I found this info a couple of days ago. I hope that you are near one of these centers...I'm not.

www.fibroandfatigue.com/hormonedeficiencies.php
Posted 9/19/2006 4:35 AM (GMT -8)
orion i read bits and pieces of your story cause i'm so tired been up all night, ok i crave sweets alot i love chocolate, i been really fatigued for a while and get muscle aches, kinda 2 swollen nodes on my neck, and itchy skin now, if i cut down on the sweets should this help the fatigue and what are symptoms of the adrenal glands problem sorry i shoulda read the statement but i'm really tired
Posted 9/19/2006 6:42 AM (GMT -8)

Panicky,

   That's really hard to say, and could be a shot in the dark.  Either way, eating a very healthy diet will help you no matter what you have.  What tests have you been through? 

You can order a saliva test kit from www.salivatest.com.  It's $150, but it was worth it to me.

Posted 9/19/2006 7:15 AM (GMT -8)
Orion, doctors couldn't give you a saliva test?
Posted 9/19/2006 7:28 AM (GMT -8)
Unless you go to a Naturapathic, No.  Most western medicines don't believe in this, and it's not covered by insurance.  That's why I took it into my own hands, and paied for the test.  The ZRT labs are great!  They answer every question I had for them, and responded via email very quickly. 
Posted 9/19/2006 7:52 AM (GMT -8)
Orion, I hope that I answered all of you questions in my respose yesterday.
Posted 9/20/2006 6:35 AM (GMT -8)
It's interesting because there is some research being done regarding lupus and DHEA. Researchers have found that a lot of people who have lupus have low levels of DHEA and that some people see improvement si in symptoms when they begin taking DHEA. The problem is that no one knows exactly how much of the stuff you should take and a lot of it being sold isn't regulated by the FDA. I've been curious about it and went so far as to buy some, but I never took it - I guess I didn't feel like I knew enough about it and didn't have a whole lot of direction. I might ask my doctor about it at my next appointment. I read some info about adrenal fatigue and I don't understand why doctors don't believe in this and test for it.
Posted 9/20/2006 9:27 AM (GMT -8)
I don't understand it either.  When, not if... I start feeling better, I'm going to take everything I can and see if I can do public with this.  This IS something that should be taken more seriously.  My wife told me I should call some magazine companies.
Posted 9/20/2006 11:48 AM (GMT -8)
Yes, you should should take this public, because we are not the only ones struggling with doctors. I called two doctors today and still have not gotten one response. I just don't understand.
Posted 9/20/2006 11:56 AM (GMT -8)
Tru,

   Try to see if you can find a doctor who is a D.O.  They're more sypathedic when it comes to this stuff.  Mine was ok about it, but shot off the adrenal fatigue thing. 

Posted 9/20/2006 3:44 PM (GMT -8)
Sorry Orion, but I'm new here...what is a D.O.? :lol:

I need a doctor that listens. I also want a doctor that don't mind learning new things from their patients, because I do a lot of research. Doctors read my research and still dismiss it. I think that it's because they're not educated enough on this hormone stuff. I want a doctor that would research with me if he/she has to in order to help me.

Since you have adrenal fatigue then you can understand. I had a doctors visit last week, and I mentioned adrenal fatigue to him. Can you believe that he told me that he could look at me and see that I don't have that? Then I told him that I read that mild adrenal fatigue can reduce someone's quality of life. He said that he knew someone with it and their face is round blah blah blah. I believe that he was talking about complete adrenal adrenal failure. Don't doctors realize that adrenal fatigue comes first. Most of all, he said, "there's no such thing as adrenal fatigue." Can you believe that?! When I figure this thing out I don't know who I'm going to slap first.:lol:
Posted 9/20/2006 4:02 PM (GMT -8)
a D.O.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002020.htm


I think your best bet right now to check to see if you have adrenal fatigue is to do a saliva test. You'll read more about it in the book :-)

I can tell you, I actually had a good day today. There were times when I had energy coming up. I was surprised. I don't know if it was the Isocort, or just the fact that I'm on a great diet now. Also, my sugar cravings are GONE. I believe this is due to acupuncture. My acupuncturist said he was going to work on that this past weekend. Since then, I haven't craved anything sweet. I haven't been able to stay on a diet this long in over a year. It feels great!
Posted 9/20/2006 4:39 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks for the link :-)

Are you familiar with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), because the three work together?

I did some research and discovered that my Endo was a D. O. I've replaced her with another doctor in the same office...I hope that he's a D.O. My appt with him is Oct 31. She was horrible! It seemed as if she wanted me to have a pituitary tumor, and she was dissapointed after the MRI showed that I didn't have one. She said that there was nothing else that she could do for me, and that I should go back to my ENT. No blood work was done, but she did give me a thyroid ultra-sound which was normal...but the reason that she gave me an ultra-sound was because it felt enlarged. The entire ultra-sound hurt me, and she said that it was because my thyroid was tender. Duh! Now tell me why...and what could an ENT do about that?

Post Edited (Tru) : 9/20/2006 7:30:20 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/21/2006 6:22 AM (GMT -8)
Orion, do you have low or high blood pressure, because my blood pressure is always normal?
Posted 9/22/2006 2:25 PM (GMT -8)
Mine is normal too.
Posted 9/22/2006 2:28 PM (GMT -8)
I've also tried both tests (the flash light and the blood presure thing) both were normal.
Posted 9/24/2006 4:25 AM (GMT -8)
Orion, are you treating yourself or is a doc treating you? Also, when you got you test results back did you big it to your doctor....and what did he/she do?
Posted 9/25/2006 10:09 AM (GMT -8)
Tru,

As of now, I'm treating myself. I could go to a naturapath, but she's going to tell me to do what I'm already doing.

I haven't seen my PCP yet, but I'll be taking the lab slip with me, and seeing what she says.
Posted 9/25/2006 10:57 AM (GMT -8)
I'm reading the book, and I'm going to get the test soon. Also, I want to take the Threelac Candida Treatment. Do you know if I can take it with all the supplements?

I'm feeling horrible today :(

Post Edited (Tru) : 9/25/2006 1:18:32 PM (GMT-6)

✚ New Topic locked
123