Looking around on the web, for my own reasons, I found this web site on Adrenal Fatigue.
Adrenal Fatigue is caused by higher than normal levels of cortisol in the bloodstream... cortisol being otherwise known as the stress hormone.
Sandi, if you are out there, I'd encourage you to read at least this page, for fibromyalgia is specifically listed.
For anyone else, especially the HD men on the board, it might be a good read for you... your wife or girlfriend could easily have this and not know it. It is VERY COMMON in mothers of young children, and working mothers...
This may well be worth looking into before any decides to go the anti-depressant route.
Looking around on the web, for my own reasons, I found this web site on Adrenal Fatigue.
Adrenal Fatigue is caused by higher than normal levels of cortisol in the bloodstream... cortisol being otherwise known as the stress hormone.
Sandi, if you are out there, I'd encourage you to read at least this page, for fibromyalgia is specifically listed.
For anyone else, especially the HD men on the board, it might be a good read for you... your wife or girlfriend could easily have this and not know it. It is VERY COMMON in mothers of young children, and working mothers...
This may well be worth looking into before any decides to go the anti-depressant route.
Corri
Meh, Corri. That's not even a real diagnosis. It slaps a lot of vague symtoms that could come from anywhere and claims it's all "adrenal fatigue". Totally unsubstantiated, not peer-review evalutated, not tested in double-blind studies from what I can see, and probably as effective as snake oil.
You'll notice that they claim that "adrenal fatigue" covers anything from too high to too low cortisol levels. Very conveniant. There are real, medical syndroms like Addison's disease or Cushing's disease, which describe either too little or much too much Cortisol with clear cut-off levels and treatment options, but this vague "fatigue" which can mean "too high, too low, and everything in between" is simply pseudo-science.
I thought it worth the read because long term, elevated levels of cortisol, and their effects on the body, are well documented. It's usually not addressed until it reaches Chronic Stress, which has nothing to do with Cushing's or Addison's disease... but is quite damaging in and of itself.
I recommended it as a good read on understanding adrenal gland function, and the effects cortisol can have. Even slightly elevated levels can wreak havoc... regardless of what you call it.
I appreciate the Mayo Clinic's take on labeling adrenal fatigue as an unsubstanciated disease; I think they happen to take it a bit too far in its dismissal of cortisol effects.
I appreciate the Mayo Clinic's take on labeling adrenal fatigue as an unsubstanciated disease; I think they happen to take it a bit too far in its dismissal of cortisol effects.
No one, certainly not the Mayo Clinic, is dismissing the effects of cortisol. What they, and I, are dismissing, is unscientific grouping of vague symptoms under the umbrella of a so-called "disease" that has no defining criteria, and treatment that hasn't been evaluated by double-blind studies.
Cortisol is a pulsatile hormone. Your morning levels will be nothing like your evening levels. If I take your cortisol levels now, I can proclaim them as "too high" or "too low" depending on the time of day, as it suits me.
I find it astonishing how scathing people are about modern medicine, which has completely turned around infant mortality, maternal mortality, conquered many previously lethal infectious diseases, lifted our life expectancy, to name just a few things, and on the other hand, doggedly defend the most improbable "disease" they insist the medical establishment has ignored, and the equally improbable treatment that "they" just don't want you to know about. A complete double standard. I'm not saying you are doing this, just that I see it time and time again, and it irks me.
FWIW I went through severe fatigue starting the end of May through early July. 2 visits to the doctor, bloodwork, thyroid ultrasound, EKG, etc. and nothing was found. I simply could not get out of bed in the morning. I would lie in bed and my legs would feel like they were weights. I would drink a bunch of coffee, get a boost of energy in the afternoon/early evening and then collapse again. I did not have any pain or aches, thankfully, so sleeping was easy for me. Also I did not have weight gain either. My running ended up coming to a standstill at that time and I have not been able to get back on track since unfortunately.
I did look into adrenal fatigue but like SG says there is no medical backup for it. I did follow the recommendations from a few web-sites which are pretty generic and useful for anyone - get lots of sleep, eat well, relax and give your body time to rest up. No short cuts, medications or miracle solutions.
No I do not think that people around me took it seriously but what can ya do? Raven was supportive even if he did not quite believe I was going through anything more than tiredness - at least at first. I did eventually take a week off work and scheduled doctor's appts that week. With holidays/vacation, plant shutdowns and a professional conference, I ended up with 2 weeks at a client's site that I regret being there. I know I did not give my best effort those weeks. But I did not realize quite what I was dealing with either.
I know my general practice doctor is great but he was stumped and truthfully at the end I had a feeling that he just did not quite believe me since he could not find anything wrong. However when I mentioned having some fuzziness with my thinking from my fatigue he was more than willing to prescribe some medication for me. I turned it down! I do find it strange and bothersome that a doctor is so willing to prescribe medication for a symptom when they do not know the root cause.
So yes I do appreciate what modern medicine has gotten us (good sanitation was equally as helpful) and I do believe there are many quacks out there, however in between I think there are some interesting alternatives that are definitely worthwhile to consider cautiously. I think some of the medical profession closes itself off at times. Dr. Weil is one of my favorites because while he is interested in alternative medicine, he is still very traditional at his core.
My 2 cents.
But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? ~Albert Camus
I absolutely agree with you; however, the link you provided to the Mayo Clinic, and its subsequent article, I just personally think dismisses the effects of cortisol unless they are in the abnormally high/low...rare... range. I didn't say one couldn't look further.
Quote:
Cortisol is a pulsatile hormone. Your morning levels will be nothing like your evening levels.
In general. But, it also depends on the person. Type A personalities generally test higher in the cortisol levels, though they usually fall within 'normal' ranges. Even if they fall within slightly abnormal ranges... the long-term effects of falling consistently in the slightly high range are well documented by countless double-blind studies.
For me, my cortisol levels are below average in the morning, and above average in the evening. Given my family medical history and a life-time of conditioning, it is understandable... but just because it is 'understandable' doesn't mean it is not taking its toll on me and my body.
People who have chronic, unresolved emotional issues, including relationship issues and FOO... typically stay in a heighten state of fight or flight. The effects of THAT are well documented.
I'm NOT dismissing modern medicine. But I DON'T dismiss, out of hand, what I consider to be a good explanation for slight yet consistent elevations of cortisol. It's just my opinion, and I welcome (really, not kidding), your counters to it.
I'm not recommending that anyone take any of the supplements or vitamins recommended on the site.
I think it is a great article that simply, but accurately, describes adrenal gland function. K?
When I went through my most recent escapade into the astounding levels of stress and anxiety, my doc and I did a lot of research together on it. It has become my personal mission in life to understand stress and its effects, and how to combat it, especially when my family medical history makes me exceedingly vulnerable to its effects. It's my mission, so therefore, I'm probably going to sound quite fanatical about it.
Having said all that, I AM going to do a whopping job of generalizing... Ready? I personally believe a good deal of the posters here could easily be labeled as chronic stressors.
And if that comes as a shock to anyone... well... just hit my head and call me shorty.
I welcome any and all 'point/counter-points' you can find SG. Keeps all of us honest.
I'm wondering if you had gone to a shrink, if he would not have diagnosed you with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Which was my diagnosis.... so
But I've had that more times than I care to count in my life. I wanted to understand it.
It is a term thrown around lightly. But... as my doc explained to me... when a person hits 'fight or flight,' and stay in it for long-periods of time... the cortisol hormones elevate (for good reason), but once the stress actually passes... it cannot DEREGULATE itself. The effects of that inability to deregulate are of a legitimate concern in the medical community... because several diseases, infections, etc., can crop up FROM that... those things will be treated as is... but may never be linked to the root cause...
I know of no doctor that is willing to come out in public and claim this. However, that does not dismiss doctors who live in areas where they see this frequently and consistently. And they will tend to probe a bit further.
I live in an extremely economically depressed part of the state, and the docs here may sometimes be accused of 'veterinary' medicine... but they also know their clients and the prevailing stresses of the area. They will typically go in testing directions you wouldn't necessarily find in other parts of the state.
When I gave my doc my history... ALL of it... all he could say was... "sheeeet. Okay. Okay." He and my shrink talked often, too.
Not knowing anything other than you going through a severe stress... and the timing of it all... and given all the years of research I've been doing into this myself, as an armchair diagnosis that is utterly and completely unqualified... I'd say... you had PTSD.
I'm sure you are STILL experiencing lingering effects. (Or is that 'affects?' Lil? Hairdog?)
I, personally, am very hesitant to enter into any kind of Hormonal Therapy. I have all kinds of things going on. I am interested, first, to see what I can do with diet, lifestyle, and relaxation changes. The SSRI got me... 'leveled,' though I think Cac might disagree. I am most interested in diet changes right now. I'd encourage you to explore it as well. They have made AMAZING advances in the understanding of food/effects.
I would never underestimate how herbal supplements can cure one thing... truly... but then cause a problem somewhere else... after all, every medicine we have ever had was once based on some kind of herb or plant. Most 'homeopathic' medicines and supplements can make outrageous claims and not be bound to explain potential side effects, other than saying... 'consult with your physician before taking.' In fine print. At the bottom of the bottle.
So... Due Diligence. I guess I didn't hammer on the due diligence part, here... because I would never expect anyone here NOT to do due diligence. That was probably irresponsible of me.
FWIW my wife visits the Woman to Woman website and gets some mix of vitamins and supplements from them. She says they seem to help with her energy levels and the fogginess of her thinking. She is convinced she has low thyroid though the blood tests did not indicate such. She says most tests are calibrated for men so women may have low thyroid levels but the doctors don’t recognize the readings as such. I don’t know much about it, but I do recall someone on here a long time ago saying similar things about his wife. I think he said not to trust doctor’s readings, to instead go see an endocrinologist(?). Anyone remember who that poster was?
Thyroid disorder is often confused with elevated cortisol, because elevated cortisal CAN affect the thyroid. But once the thyroid IS out of whack... fixing the coritsol levels won't necessarily fix the thyroid.
I could give you all kinds of suggestions, Cobra. But unless you are willing to take it seriously (btw, coritisol can influence, affect ADD), I don't really want to go down the road. No offence. It is MY thing...
for her, sometimes 
