Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
Hi Everyone. I am trying to focus on my adrenals. I have bought a book on adrenal fatigue and read many things about it.
I would like to hear your experiences. What did you do to help adrenal fatigue and did your symptoms subside?
I have so much fatigue and weakness these days, it's unbearable. I'm sure there could be other reasons for this, but I think of the adrenals because I didn't have this symptom to this degree in the past.
Many Thanks.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
The best thing I did for my adrenal/thyroid problems was to go sugar and caffine free. Before getting Lyme I was in great shape, so I didn't need to lose weight, but after having Lyme for almost a decade without a firm diagnosis, I just stopped eating sugar when I first got sick to see how it would affect my health.
It was a welcomed surprise. No doctor ever told me to go sugar free until I started seeing LLMDs a year ago, but it just felt right. I knew I was very ill even though the 40 plus doctors I saw didn't know what was wrong with me. My body felt over-stimulated, so I cut out caffine and sugar. I was desperate to find relief for my shaking, heart palps., and extreme fatigue.
That first year my Lyme went into remission for three months with just cutting out the sugar and caffine, but then it returned and it's still with me nine years later.
Stopping sugar and caffine didn't cure my problems, but it helped a great deal. It's free too!!
In addition, I'm now doing a gluten and dairy free diet, but I haven't noticed any benefit. However, I know going gluten free has helped many people.
posted
Sleep and rest are the number one factors to heal the adenals... but with infection issues decreasing the pathogen load and to detox is essential.
I would try coffee enemas. They will give you a burst of energy but dont expend that energy on trivial stuff. Use it to get a deeper rest.
I think a lot of adrenal issues is from poor detox pathway function. The toxins put one into a perpetual state of stress that adrenals can't cope with that well over long periods of time. Toxins come directly from the bacteria, pancreatic stress, liver stress, heavy metals, other parasites.
[ 12-03-2013, 10:52 AM: Message edited by: Carmen ]
Posts: 803 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2013
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MannaMe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33330
posted
Using Dr. James Wilson's adrenal supplements helped a lot.
Posts: 2253 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2011
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-------------------- 13 yo DX PANS/Tourette's/Asperger's/ADHD treated for Igenex positive bartonella/IND lyme with 2 years of abx treatment. Weaned off abx April 2013 at 80% improvement. Continuing with Buhner bartonella/babesia protocols. Aug 2014 99% improvement. Posts: 265 | From Canada, Ontario | Registered: Jul 2013
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
All good suggestions mentioned above.
I would start by taking an adrenal saliva test to know where you stand. It's important to know if your cortisol is too low or too high and at what times of the day.
A low carb diet (organic would be optimal), try to go as chemical free as possible with cosmetics, cleaning supplies, etc., get as much good quality sleep as you can and try as best as you can to avoid stress.
Here is an article I have found very useful. The right herbs and supplements, combined with lifestyle changes can make a huge difference.
posted
I made extracts of rehmannia root and astragalus and they were a gentle way of dealing with adrenals and quite helpful. It has been a slow recovery. I may take the same herbs again but this time will instead make a tea of the astragalus (Making Plant Medicine says that is the best way of taking it). I got the rehmannia from mountainroseherbs.com and found that I could soak it to get rid of the grit and then eat it and drink the non-gritty soak water. The taste is not bad at all.
Posts: 705 | From WA state | Registered: Jul 2011
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Sorry to hear this, Haley. Are you still using the iMRS mat regularly, as I thought it was good for the adrenals?
I am having to use mine on very low intensity settings and am still on short exposure times, but am tolerating it better than I was at the start. I need to build up far more time on it though. My husband is finding that it helps his sleep and his pain from arthritis.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
The NP I am seeing gave me Cortisol Manager. You can buy it on amazon.com. I take two in the morning and one at night. We'll see if it helps stop the 3AM wake up.
She is also having me take 25 mg of DHEA and 90 mg of pregnenolone to boost all of my hormones.
Some people like rhodiola for the adrenals.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I agree that getting saliva testing done is best. The results can be very telling. Treatment can then be specific to your levels.
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
I use Adrenal Cortex by Thorne (just started, love it), low dose Cortef, and B vitamins.
I am also focusing on adrenals after super -stress at work made things crash out of control. The bummer about adrenals is you can't on top of thyroid issues until they are stable. Thyroid causes its own issues.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
I supplement with 1/2 tsp of Himalayan salt mixed in a glass of water with the juice of one lemon. The salt has offered me such a sense of medicinal relief and the lemon is supposed to be good for detox.
Posts: 478 | From Third Coast | Registered: Feb 2011
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
Wow guys Thank yooooooou!!!!! Good ideas and great links too.
Koo- interesting about the salt, I may start with that. The book I'm reading says to take extra salt (sea salt of course). It also says if you crave salt that could indicate problems with the adrenals.
C.P. - I agree no sugar and coffee is HUGE. I'm still working on the coffee, but I don't drink much.
CD57 - I'll try the Adrenal Cortex (I'd like to start with one or 2 things) I am taking all the proper vitamins.
UKcarry - Yes I still use the iMRS and still love it. I believe it is a big part of my path to wellness. I try to do it at least 2 hours a day. I recently heard the founder of the company speak and was very inspired by his own journey.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Two hours per day on the iMRS is very impressive, Haley.
Good luck with the adrenals. I have discovered that I like Himalayan salt ( food grade) and now use it both for baths and on food
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
Nefferdun, I would love to hear a future update on the Cortisol Manager. I too have seen 3 AM on the clock as well. I will also look into Adrenal Cortex.
I have taken DHEA in the past and saw no result. However, that was when I was very ill. Same with the Nutramedix adrenal support drops.
CP, can't agree with you more about the sugar. Interestingly, when I was very sick but long before I got a dx, my body just said no to sugar. It was a thing of beauty to get off sugar like this! And I never looked back even years later. I will say though that my body then asked for salt instead.
This whole adrenal thing is fascinating because it affects so much.
Posts: 478 | From Third Coast | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
I am taking Ora-Adren-80 (Raw Adrenal concentrate) from Holistic Health International. You want to start with a tiny sprinkle and work up from there. Products on this site are very powerful so go slow. Lab testing can show if your adrenals are being stressed (which they usually are if you are chronically ill)
Posts: 24 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2013
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
That looks like a good formula and protocol.
Remember that those who have high cortisol levels shouldn't take licorice because it aids in increasing cortisol levels.
I looks as tho Rehmannia also is for low not high cortisol levels but I"m not that familiar with that herb. I only read about it last month:
"Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa) is an herb used extensively in Chinese medicine. It is similar to licorice and can be used as both a tonic and as specific support for the adrenal glands. It is helpful for people suffering general debility, adrenal depletion, and poor immune system function, specifically in the contextof autoimmune disease. I generally recommend 750 – 2,250 mg per day of a standardized extract in tablet or liquid form. Up to 4 g per day are used traditionally (Mills S. Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotheraphy. 2000: 519-522)."
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