Adrenal Fatigue and LC Eating

[BawdyWench]

Not sure where to post this, but this looked like a likely spot.

First, I've been LCing since 1999 and love the lifestyle. This past February I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. I did the adrenal stress index test where you take a saliva sample 4 times a day to determine your rhythm. My free cortisol rhythm was depressed (out of range) for both the first and second test, and then climbed up into the normal range for the last two tests.

My Nurse Practitioner at the Women to Women Center put me on licorice root, DHEA, astragalus, adreset, and cortaid to repair the damage. She also has me taking a mega vitamin with iron (she insists I need the iron :peeved: ), fish oil, and extra calcium and magnesium. I don't feel any different, and my weight continues to rise. I just did the test again, and the results should be back any day now.

I'm spending an average of $133 every month for the supplements the NP recommended, and it's getting old. I take 11 or more capsules morning and night. I'm also on natural (human) progesterone and estrogen.

The NP says that both Protein Power and the Atkins Plan are "fad" diets because they are too low in fat (huh?) and because "they cause metabolic problems."

Has anyone else heard this before? I certainly don't believe it, and told her so.

She wants me to do the Schwarzbein plan -- at least 90 carbs per day, little or no saturated fat. I tried for a week and felt awful. After years of 20 carbs a day, I was immediately bloated, gassy, and lethargic.

I do not believe carbs are necessary for health. The Eades have said this, as well, in their books.

On the web, I've studied many sites, and they all say you NEED to have sugar -- some even recommended supplementing with PURE SUGAR throughout the day. One site said you should have 20% whole grain, 30% veggies, 15% nuts and beans, 15% fat, 10% animal food, and 10% whole fruits.

Has anyone had any experience with adrenal fatigue?

What helped you?

What recommendations from the medical community did you find NOT helpful or even harmful?

Have the Eades ever addresses this disorder?

Thanks!!!

[Relief]

I had/have all the same issues that you describe, including the wieght gain though keeping carbs under contol, was also diagnosed through saliva testing as adrenal fatigued and was doing a lot of the same things, supplement wise, that you are now. I htink the recommendations per diet that you are getting are BOGUS. luckily my practitioner is on the side of adequate protein, no sugar, little if any grains etc. which does make my life a bit easier! (more on some of their suggestions later)
apparently once those adrenals get fatiqued--which tends to show up at menopause time with a vengence--it is a very long slow process to build them up again. My opinion is that a lifetime of crappy carb eating, transfat and HFCS plus the hormones that are used in meat and milk production and hence show up in our food are prime culprits--as well as lifestyle and stress--in ( my case 8 pregancies not to mention raising the little buggers as a single mom!)

I find that womantowoman.com and Christiane Northrup's advice to be the most in line with the Eades's philosophies and like them best, though it ALL has to be filtered through one's own common sense as well IMHO

the one thing that FINALLY turned my weight around was finding out about wilson's syndrome and doing his T3 protocol to get my body temp up to normal, once I did that I lost 18 pounds in a couple of months!!! Here is the llink to his site http://www.wilsonsthyroidsyndrome.com/ lots of info here ( my advice is to read both the ebook for laymen and the ebook for docs; all free! Read and start to take your temp and see if you are anywhere near normal--I would bet dollars to donuts you're not!)

I had to do this basically on my own--found someone to prescribe the time release T3 but did the protocol on my own say so. ( as a side note I need to do it again--my temp has slipped pretty low again--around 97.0 or even lower occasionally in the morning--should be 97.8 or higher; stress can cause it-- and I've stopped losing and started gaining a bit again--have a appoinment this week to get another round of T3)

My practitioner's recommedations, aside from supps, were adequate protein, cut out all sugar, and do only low impact, stress relieving exercise like yoga or pilates and or a gentle wiegths program like slow burn. they believe over aerobic-sizing ( is that a word?) is one of the OTHER main causes of adrenal fatigue. I also took progesterone cream and DHEA, licorice, B6, B5 tried some homeopatic remedies. tra la la. the only thing that made any difference was the T3 treatment.

good luck and let us know how it is going

[BawdyWench]

The Women to Women web site is where it says that Protein Power (and Atkins) are fad diets, they're too low in fat, and they cause metabolic problems.

Christiane Northrup is actually the founder of WtoW.

Here's my thyroid results ("normal" range in parens)
ccccc TSH: 3.84 (0.3 - 5.0)
ccccc Free T3: 2.4 (2.0 to 3.5)
ccccc Free T4: 1.1 (0.6 - 1.2)

My primary care physician won't treat me for hypoT. My NP doesn't want to treat me for it either. At least the NP thinks there is a bit of a problem, but that once the adrenals are healed, the thyroid will go back to functioning normally.

I have gained 40 pounds in less than 18 months. All this with LC eating, as I mentioned. I was also exercising a lot, interval cardio and heavy weights. Probably was over-training. I've cut way back, which is probably part of my problem. I try to walk or do the stationary bike 3 to 4 times a week, and I'm getting in 1, maybe 2, weight training sessions a week (with weights HALF as heavy as I used to lift).

So do you think my thyroid panel looks like it might need a boost? Any supplement that might help? How do I find a doctor willing to treat thyroid?

[Relief]

you probably DON'T need any T4 at all-- what you might need is to reset your body to convert the T4 you are making into T3 more efficiently. even if all your numbers are normal it doesn't mean that your body is using the thyroid properly which is what the wildson's protocol proports to reset. My TSH was only slightly elevated and my free T3 and T4 numbers were also in the normal range--the T3 protocol ( which is a limited time thing, not an ongoing treatment ) totally worked. I'm still struggling with how much T4 I need ( or don't need) but as far as getting my weight under control and feeling better--it was the T3 thing as outlined in Wilson's books.

I know that Northrup founded the WtoW clinic once upon a time, but she DOES recommend Protein Power in her books and the diet she recommends is also protein power-like so...... it does piss me off when low carb diet is called a fad diet and then the diet recommended is VERY close to the way we eat--why don't these people READ THE BOOK before they diss the plan?

[laughingW]

I'm getting good results with Dr. Garrett Smith, ND. He has me on an iodine supplementation (diagnosed massive iodine deficiency) that is working better than any adrenaline/thyroid talk I've ever tried including Schwarzbein, Arem, and Wilson.

He can work with you over the internet and is very LC friendly.

I do agree that intense exercise is not a help at this time. If one is overweight there are reports that it makes inflammation worse too among all the other hormonal things. Pilates or anything can still be done intensely and it's the intensity that matters, not the modality, IMHO.

[meema]

Here's my thyroid results ("normal" range in parens)
ccccc TSH: 3.84 (0.3 - 5.0)
ccccc Free T3: 2.4 (2.0 to 3.5)
ccccc Free T4: 1.1 (0.6 - 1.2)

My primary care physician won't treat me for hypoT. My NP doesn't want to treat me for it either. At least the NP thinks there is a bit of a problem, but that once the adrenals are healed, the thyroid will go back to functioning normally.


So do you think my thyroid panel looks like it might need a boost? Any supplement that might help? How do I find a doctor willing to treat thyroid?

With numbers like that, I'd say you definitely need to be treated for hypoT. A TSH over 3.0 is no longer considered "normal" according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and optimal for most people is closer to 1.0. Here's a link on this in particular from Mary Shomon's site, which has tons of info on thyroid issues: http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/optimaltsh.htm Also, your T3 is at the bottom of the range, and most importantly, your symptoms are very typical. As for the thyroid going back to normal once the adrenals are healed, according to my doctor, a big part of the reason my adrenals are so burnt out is that my hypoT didn't get treated for so long.

My advice would be to look for a doctor that specializes in alternative/complimentary medicine. I'm surprised your NP won't treat you--perhaps she could be persuaded to let you try? If you do start taking some form of thyroid hormone, I would also suggest that you start with a small dose and build up very slowly. My experience has been that the low adrenals do make it harder to tolerate at first.

[cmcole]

The NP says that both Protein Power and the Atkins Plan are "fad" diets because they are too low in fat (huh?) and because "they cause metabolic problems."

Has anyone else heard this before? I certainly don't believe it, and told her so.

She wants me to do the Schwarzbein plan -- at least 90 carbs per day, little or no saturated fat. I tried for a week and felt awful. After years of 20 carbs a day, I was immediately bloated, gassy, and lethargic.

Isn't that somewhat contradictory?

[joanneb608]

WOW Cmcole, you are right on that! Sounds like they don't have their facts straight at all, which I find is common with medical and nutritional-type experts who mention PP.:lol:

[BawdyWench]

Here's the link to the article on the WtoW site that talks about "fad" diets like PRotein Power: http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/troublewithfaddiets.asp

BTW, the author is my NP.

There are a couple doctors in Maine who prescrive Armour thyroid, which I've read is the best source. There's Dr. Weiner on Weiner's Way ("meet my son, Oscar, and my daughter Mayer"), for one.

Depending on the results of my re-test, I might go this route. Not sure what I'll do. I don't see the NP again until October 12, so I have some time to think about it.

[BawdyWench]

I know that Northrup founded the WtoW clinic once upon a time, but she DOES recommend Protein Power in her books and the diet she recommends is also protein power-like so...... it does piss me off when low carb diet is called a fad diet and then the diet recommended is VERY close to the way we eat--why don't these people READ THE BOOK before they diss the plan?

Apparently the WtoW practice USED to recommend Protein Power, but they "started seeing more and more patients starting to have metabolic problems" so they stopped recommending it and went to Schwarzbein.

I've skimmed through the Wilson's site. I'll have to read it more closely. Relief, how did you find a doctor willing to give you the T3?

Meema, thanks for the link about thyroid. I've read it before, and there's some good stuff in it. I also knew about the new ranges advocated by the AACE. I mentioned it to my doctor, but he wouldn't budge. I think my doc is an amazing doctor (he advocated LC eating years ago when I first started), but he seems adamant on this one topic. I'll have to go elsewhere if I want to be treated for this.

Like I said, I have a good couple weeks before seeing the NP again. Oh, BTW, the next thing she wants me to do is the Isagenix liver cleanse. Very expensive. I've already decided to pass on that one.

[Relief]

I totally feel your pain. I gained 20 pounds in 6 monthwhile on low carb AND I had UPPED my exercise at that time!

and I agree with whoever said that your TSH is too high. My compounding pharmacist ( see below) says they treat anyone over 2.0. especially if they have symptoms. which you do.

Relief, how did you find a doctor willing to give you the T3? there is listing of docs on the wilson site-- maybe you'll get lucky and there will be one in your area.
I really had to finagle-- I was lookin for someone who would give me armour and someone to get some saliva tests done for menopause.--I found a compounding pharmacist who was doing my saliva testing and based on my thyroid tests HE recommended time release T3 which my midwife was willing to write the 'scrip for based on his recommendation.-- he wanted me to follow a slightly different, more consevative, time scedule. It wasn't really working so I got on the net and found the wilson's site so I just followed wilsons advice, using the T3 I got from the pharmacist. not exactly kosher but it really worked for me.-- I seem to be what wilson calls a quick responder and had to up my dose daily for about 5 days til my temp got up to normal--then you gradulally reduce the dose adn see if your temp holds. if it doesn't then you start upping the dose daily again --and do the process as many times till you hold at normal with no meds at all.
NOW my midwife is very reluctant--like your own DOc-- to prescribe agian for me as she doesn't have any familiarity with this stuff and my TSH is now way too low ( 0.5) because I have been taking too much armour ( which is a lot of T4 and a small amount of T3 plus some other stuff) --which I don't need very much--and not enough t3, which apparently I do--have an appointment with a new practitioner that I found through the compounding pharmacist. hope she can help me! I'm tired of fighting with docs. bet you relate!

about the concept that PP causes metabolic problems--seems to me that the problems--obesity, etc etc-- that would lead someone to try PP ( or atkins) are the same type of problems that would lead to metabolic issues--which are the same problems that would lead to someone looking for a clinic like WtoW. causality is a big leap IMHO. it would seem to me that a lifetime of food abuse is more likely a culprit than a few months of carb restriction. and just because Schwartzbein SAYS that severe carb restriction leads to these metabolic issues ( I've read her book as well) I don't see the studies--this also is just her opinion. I would like to know if the good Drs. Eades also saw much/any of this in their practice.

Dr Mike had a great quote in his blog yesterday--I actually think it was in a reply to a comment of someone who was diabetic and was not seeing an improvement in either blood glucose numbers or weight while on PP.

Dr Mike said

As to your weight-loss and diabetic history, I find it all very puzzling. The low-carb diet, especially a low-carb diet taken in IF structure, is the gold standard for treatment of diabetes and obesity in a system that is operating properly. (It would seem to be obvious if someone has diabetes or obesity that the system isn't operating properly, but that isn't the case. Diabetes and/or obesity are responses of a properly operating system to the incorrect diet) If the regimen doesn't work, then the system must be malfunctioning. Were I you, I would seek out a competent endocrinologist for a thorough evaluation. In reading your history a number of problems come to mind--cyclical Cushing's, pituitary adenoma, a glucagon-secreting tumor (usually benign), multiple endocrine adenopathy (MEA), just to name a few--all of which can be tracked down and treated by someone who knows what he or she is doing. ( emphasis mine)
I think this applies to folks like us as well--if the regimine isn't working, there is some other underlying problem--and we haven't solved it yet. I wish that is was as simple to find the help that is needed as Dr Mike post implies--just find a doc and find out what it is--as if there were unlimited money , time and sympathetic docs!

as for me--I'm trying the intermmitent fast--tomorrow is my first fast day. wish me luck!

[BawdyWench]

Relief, thanks for the support. A couple things you mentioned I wanted to comment on.

I use a compounding pharmacist for my estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA -- actually, the NP uses the pharmacist. Maybe I could ask them about thyroid docs in the area. Dr. Weiner isn't far, though, especially since it wouldn't be a weekly thing or anything.

You also mentioned a saliva test for hormones. I had blood tests and saliva tests, and everything came out different. I was high on something in the blood test and low in the saliva test, and vice versa. I don't think there was one test result that was the same from the two tests. So which is right?

I really would LOVE to read the Eades' take on weight gain and menopause, including adrenal function and thyroid. To my knowledge, they don't really address it.

Could you give me the links to their blogs? I saw it around here somewhere, but I'm still getting used to this board. It's not where it says it is (along with the PP links), so I can't find it.

It's also much easier to "just find a doc" when you're in an urban (read: highly populated) area. Maine is a small state, and there just aren't as many doctors. And finding the right one could be hard, especially when you have to consider what your insurance will pay for.

This week won't be a good week to do anything about temps. I have to go out of town Wednesday through Sunday to take care of a family "semi-emergency." Can you say HIGH STRESS!?!??!?!!?!?!?! Maybe when I come back.

One thing I would like to try is guggulipids. A guy from another forum who actually owns his own nutrition store told me this is good for sluggish thyroid.

I'm also looking into changing some of my other supps, as well. I want to start taking potassium again. I used to take 4 capsules a day, and I think I'll feel better if I start up again. If I start a journal I'll post all my supps, stats, etc. But again, that probably won't happen until I return.

Relief, when you had your weight gain, how old were you (if I may ask)? Had you already stopped with your periods? How long before things started turning around? Do you think it would have turned around for you without the special care?

I started gaining when I hit 50 (almost to the day). I had been on BC pills every day (no placebos) so as to stop heavy bleeding, which I have since read can be a sign of thyroid problems. I stopped the BC pills on January 1, had a regular period at the end of January, a light one at the end of March (I think) and a VERY light on the first of September. I know I've gained 30 to 35 pounds; I suspect (from the way my clothes fit -- or rather, DON'T fit) that I've probably gained 40.

I don't sound desparate, do I? :rolleyes:

[Gaelen]

I really would LOVE to read the Eades' take on weight gain and menopause, including adrenal function and thyroid. To my knowledge, they don't really address it. Could you give me the links to their blogs? I saw it around here somewhere, but I'm still getting used to this board. It's not where it says it is (along with the PP links), so I can't find it.


Bawdy, welcome back. ;)
You can get to the blogs from the boards two ways:
1) click on "Home" in the menu bar at the very top of the page--takes you to the front page of the www.proteinpower.com website
OR
2) click on "Protein Power" in the menu bar at the very bottom of the forum pages, which takes you to the same front page.

The most recent posts from both Mike and Mary Dan's blogs' and the links to their blogs are in the left column of the front page at www.proteinpower.com

I'll check the PP Links section and make sure it's pointing to the right address for the blogs.

[BawdyWench]

Hi, Gaelen! Thanks for the welcome back. I was looking at "Important Links and Resources" because the description said their blogs were listed there. Maybe they are, but I couldn't find them.

Never having read blogs before, can I search them to find specific topics?

[Relief]

Bawdy
Ive been stuggleing with weight gain/ inablility to lose since early in 2003--which coincidentally was right after my 50th! I will be 55 this year and have had no periods for about 2 years. 2000-2001 were extremely hard years my mom died and shorly after I was diagnosed with cervical cancer--(treated without a hysterectomy! thanks very much! and clean PAPs since also thank you) had some very very heavy bleeding for several months which I finally treated myself with chinese herbs after many go arounds with Kaiser docs to no avail.

the 20 pounds I refer to came on last summer. I lost 18 pounds of it early this year after the T3 intervention--have started gaining again--only 3 pounds but.... not letting it go on any longer. its too hard to take off!
quick history of my life on PP--I started in Jan 2000 and lost about 30-40 pounds in a few months. Paid a lot of lip service to low carbing but actually ate pretty standard fare and found myself in late 2002 about 15 pounds and 3 sizes up from ideal. went back on PP ajn 2003 and could not budge the weight. since then I have lost back down 3 times and gained it back each time WITHOUT changing my eating! I have been on this board the whole time so my ups and downs are well chronicled and well known to my friends here. I have been to natuopaths , acupuncturists, regular docs and read EVERYTHING! tried every supp, and a couple of liver cleanses too! been on estrogen, progesterone ( both bio identical) a host of homeopathic remedies tried natural beef thyroid, synthetic thyroid, Armour and T3. through it all have stayed very controlled with my carbs--I do not ever "go off" the plan EVER. everytime I get down I have not been able to maintain it--this time I THINK I understand why--with the body temp clue.

about finding a doc--I live right in the heart of Denver--and trust me--it still ain't that easy--and it definitely isn't cheap! It really shouldn't be this hard to get proper help!!!!!!

[Gaelen]

Hi, Gaelen! Thanks for the welcome back.

You're welcome. :)

Never having read blogs before, can I search them to find specific topics?

Yes...scroll down each blog page, and on the right hand side there is a little search window that says 'search this site.'
Hope that helps.

[BawdyWench]

Thanks, Gaelen!

Relief, geez, you HAVE been through a lot lately. Sorry about your mother, but great news about being past cervical cancer. Scary stuff.

I have a "friend" on another board who swears that at a certain age, the "adapto" gene kicks in so that even when doing the same thing that's worked in the past, you don't get the same results. Something is definitely going on, because I'm seeing more and more women around 50 (and even earlier) have things grind to a halt for no reasonl.

I never went off plan either, just relaxed things from time to time. Never did I ever go back to high-carb eating. OK, well, yes I tried Schwarzbein and the 90 grams of carbs thing for a couple weeks, but I hated every minute of it -- except for my steaming bowl of oatmeal every morning with cream and the new love of my life (Irish butter!).

Maybe the temperature thing has something to do wtih it. I have a couple times taken my temp in the morning, and also have had it taken at doctor appointments and at blood drives. Your "dollars to donuts" bet that I was low temp is true, at least at times. I often come in around 96 degrees!

Maybe I can do at least the morning temp for the next three days. Might that tell me something at least?

[Missy]

Hi Bawdy! Welcome to our board! I recall your smiling face from another low carb board that I posted briefly on...but it seemed like rarely anyone was posting...and I wasn't really committed to this plan at that time a year and a half ago. Anyways, welcome...and I look forward to your participation!

I'm not menopausal, yet, I'm just 40...but like Relief, I've done my share of "trying" and reading EVERYTHING about why these things can/are effecting me. I'm on bioidenticals, thyroid treatment (both synthyroid and armour) and for whatever reason....the ability to lose weight seems to just haunt me. :rolleyes:

BUT....after Relief posted something several months ago....about body temperature....and Wilson's....well, that just clicked with me....so I started taking my temperature...and often. Mine was NEVER more then 96 ~ 97 degrees.....ever. Till now anyways, I discussed this all with my compounding pharmacist and my Dr. and I got put on something called Iodral....which, I believe is a more potent iodine??? AND MAN! did it kick it!!! Now my temperature is 98 ~ 98.6....and I can really feel the difference! So, do begin taking your temperature...and take it often during the day...as it fluxuates. Lower in the morning and "normal" in the evening. And use an "old" mercury termometer too....because those are accurate. I had to borrow one from my mom, because you just can't find them anymore for sale. :rolleyes:

Anyways, Wilson's Temperature syndrome could very well be something you should look into. Thanks to Relief mentioning it, I think that it was one of the last puzzle pieces that I was missing. When you body isn't "heating" as it should normally, your body is staying in "conserving" mode...and therefore, it's telling your body it's being "stressed" and therefore, hanging onto and storing "fat" because it's perceiving that it's under attack. And, for whatever reason....and quite possibly added "stress" in your life has tripped this conservation mode, and it's gotten "stuck"?

I've personally been on both T4/T3 medicines, but that wasn't fully kicking things back into action....until this added iodine. Now, things are happening that I'm noticing, like new hair growth on my scalp. :D Thinning hair is a "sign" of a thyroid problem....and I was getting concerned that I was watching my hairline recede...:eek: NOW...it's returning!!! And, this is all do to the added iodine.

I don't personally take Dr. Wilson's therapy...but I believe that what my Dr is doing for me IS in fact the same....T4/T3 plus iodine. I don't take the iodine all the time either....he's having me take it one week on, two weeks off...as it was causing me to have acne, and headaches. So, I have to find the balance for me.

I take my temperature ALL the time now, just to keep an eye on it. I know if it's wanting to take a dive, it's time to suppliment with the iodine. You can buy iodine over the counter...and take 10 drops of it a day.

I also just had a hair analysis done for the proper balance of minerals in my body...and that was pretty curious too.

I've been so desperate that I was reading and willing to "try" anything and everything....but the best thing I EVER did was locate a Dr who knows what he's talking about! I found him through the compounding pharmacy....after I explained what I was looking for. I found it!!! Even though I have to "pay" more to see him, let's face it, it's worth it if the bottom line is you've got someone who listens.

Welcome Bawdy! :D

[sueo]

I'm currently in the middle of physician frustration. My PCP put me on Synthroid, wouldn't contemplate anything else eventhough my T3 levels were normal, but low and my T4 was on the high end (duh, due to all that Synthroid). I went to an endocrinologist who friends had raved about. He allowed that some people are poor converters of T4 into T3, so he added 5 mg of Cytomel every day and reduced the Synthroid. But, since that time, so long as my TSH is appropriate (.48 at my last reading) he isn't interested in doing much else. Not willing to contemplate adding more Cytomel instead of the synthroid. Not willing to contemplate any other thyroid drugs to see if my system would like them better. Isn't much concerned about what my temperature is (I tried that route, too).

I started noticing hair loss in the crown area of my head earlier this year. My PCP rechecked my thyroid (TSH only) and got the .48 reading. My gynecologist said "oh gee gosh you better see the endocrinologist" so I scheduled my appointment with the endo. My weight loss surgeon ran some extra tests (although it is weird to lose hair from WLS almost 2 years after the fact) and all of my lab tests came back well within normal limits. The endocrinologist spent all of 5 minutes with me. He asked if I had hair growing inappropriately any place else on my body since I noticed the hair loss. I said no, so 2 seconds later I was walking back down the hall out of his office.

I've been researching adrenal fatigue, too, but I'm too chicken to even bring up the topic to either my PCP or endocrinologist.

So I'm contemplating what to do next. I don't have a lot of $$ options for out-of-insurance plan doctor visits. And I probably need to save up to buy a wig, because if it gets any thinner on top I'm shaving it all off and getting one.

[BawdyWench]

I guess it's good to know I'm not alone in this, but geez, I feel so bad that there are so many others going through the same thing. Just goes to show that traditional medicine doesn't have all the answers.

I just wanted to mention, also, that I'll be out of town for several days (until Sunday) without access to a computer. So, I might be scarce for a while.

You all have given me a LOT to think about, though!!!

[BawdyWench]

DADBLASTIT!!!!!

My test results are in from the adrenal stress index. NO WONDER I'VE GAINED YET ANOTHER 10-15 POUNDS LATELY!!!!

BECUASE OF THE MEDICATION THE NP PUT ME ON, I'M PUMPING OUT CORTISOL TO BEAT THE BAND!!!!

I'm pumping out enough cortisol to fatten an army of anorexics!!!!!

Wherease in my first test, my reading was "depressed" for the morning and before-lunch test, and I climbed into the normal range for the afternoon and night test, THIS TIME I'm way out of range on the HIGH side!!!!
The first time I took the test, my first reading was 12 in a scale of 13 - 24. Wanna know what it is now?

120!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now guess who I'm going to call first thing tomorrow morning and get some answers. Yup. The NP.

Looks like I'll be dropping those supplements, huh?

[Relief]

oh bawdy--i'm sooo sorry. talk about the pits--hopefully you WILL get some answers now. all the best and keep us posted.

[magnamater]

Hey, Bawdy, I "know" you from elsewhere.

This site deals with adrenal fatigue, but unless you can see the doctor, which I do, I'm not sure how it can help.

http://www.hotzehwc.com/test_yourself/adrenal_test.shtml

I do take compounded cortisol, quite a bit, and it has helped a great deal.

I also take a rather large amount of Armour Thyroid,
a T3 compound, plus bio identical hormones. . .the whole regimen, and I am a different person.

NONE of this is covered by insurance, but the change is worth the cost, IMHO, and of those close to me.