Adrenal Fatigue Blog

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is used to help with mental health (anxiety level), concentration, fatigue, social functioning, vitality, and overall quality of life and is often mentioned when speaking of thyroid problems. I recently acquired a bottle and thought I'd give it a try. I haven't been taking supplements lately for my Adrenal Fatigue but I thought this might give me a boost. Well, in a word, yes. It has only been a week and I fell a lot more energetic, a lot less tired throughout the day. Often used as an herb in Ayurvedic medicine, I have heard that it may be beneficial to people suffering from Adrenal Fatigue. I recommend this product as a feel good addition to your regimen and it may come in some of the products already mentioned in this blog.

Adrenal Fatigue discription

Here is a good discription of the problem, in case you want to explain it to someone.

http://positivemed.com/2013/04/13/adrenal-fatigue/

New Information Being Published

I picked up a magazine at the store the other day and found an article about Adrenal Fatigue. It was "for women First", just about the only magazine I will willingly pay for these days. To be displayed until 9/10/2012, it has Dr. Oz on the cover. I didn't realize the article was in there, which only goes to show that Ardrenal Fatigue is becoming more well known to everyone. It goes on to discuss the fact that it is a fairly common condition that causes exhaustion, anxiety and weight gain, which are often attributed to depression.Once they start perscribing medications for that, the other possibilities become masked. 

Some of the points made, as we have talked about before, suggest that stress is a major contributing factor. Once you have enormous amounts of stress your adrenal glands cannot secrete enough cortisol to handle it, which in turn leads to exhaustion. 

You can order an at-home salivary cortisol test to self diagonose the condition. One suggestion is ZRTLab.com and there are others available, too.

A suggestion to  consume more omega-9 fatty acids because the supplement can ease or ward off symptoms is made. I know I take Omega 3 fatty acids, I'll have to read the label to see what it has to say about Omega 9's. According to Dr. Fred Pescatore, M.D., 3 grams a day should help and you can get that from half an avocado or 2 Tbs of macadamia nut oil. Another suggestion is black licorice, since it contains adrenal-rejuvenating cortisol. Two supplements to look for are Astragalus root & cordyceps, They both make cells more effficient at using cortisol. 

According to the article, loading up on the Omega 9's, eating protein, unrefined carbs and "good" fats will start making you feel better very quickly. Also, set aside some relaxation time. 

Just a recap for you, in case you can't find the magazine. I find all sorts of tidbits in this magazine and it is pretty inexpensive, too. 

New Health

I haven't posted for a long time, I've been a little distracted trying to find and keep health. I found a chiropractor who knew what I needed and she got me to try taking Adrenal Cortex and a very strong multivitamin. Those two things have helped a lot. Dr. Lea Kabala sells these things on her website so you can investigate that. Feel Awesome is her business name and now you have a link. She is also on Facebook. I also took some time figuring out how to lose weight on that new product that everyone is using through clinics. It is called HCG and some info on that can be found if you Google "Dr. Simeon's Protocol". I think most of my health problems would have been smaller if I had been able to lose weight in the first place. Something about Adrenal Fatigue makes it hard to follow just any old diet but this one worked like a charm. I actually used the sub lingual form of HCG and you can buy that on the 'nets. A lot of people are going to clinics and getting shots to make it work and that may suit you, (and your pocketbook) better than my way. Anyway, I probably won't have much more to say about Adrenal Fatigue as a problem unless I fall way back into some old habits. Knowledge is power with this problem and it's knowledge that is hard to come by when you just keep asking the same Western medical people the questions.

New Progress in the Battle

I haven't been keeping up with this blog for awhile, I had nothing to report. Recently, I ran across a Network Chiropractor in Tucson, Dr. Lea Kabala. With her help and knowledge, I have found a line of supplements that have helped a lot. Her website, http://www.feelawesomewellness.com/ has information and a page with access to the supplements she is a proponent of. Click "Our Products" then shop around a bit. She told me to try Essential Therapeutics Adrenal Cortex 250mg and Essential Therapeutics Basic Optimal Multi Vitamin/Mineral Iron Free. I've just been on them for a month or so and I feel a lot better now. Dr. Kabala will work with you via email, if that is your preference or you can order what you need by referencing her web page. I will post more as time goes on as I have thought a couple of times that I was getting some relief.  I may feel differently in another month, I don't think so though. You can only search so long and when you find someone who can help, especially with as little hassle as this, you have to go with it.

What's With Oprah? Weight Gain Bothers Her in New Article

I just read a bit about Oprah's weight gain. Yeah, I know. Been there, done that! She wrote about it in her own magazine and speaks about disappointing herself. It is sad for her, a repeat for her fans. She has yo-yo'ed before and swore never to do it again. I know just how she feels. For some reason, some people just have a weight problem that can't be contained, no matter the methods we use to try to tame it. I never even think in terms of "diet" anymore. That is the biggest waste of time, and heartache. Oprah needs to realize that diet and exercise, while it can make you healthier, won't work to keepyour weight in control. Knowing what you're up against and working toward a solution may make the difference. What is so scary about her failure in this matter is, she has all the money in the world, personal trainers, cooks, people to slap her when she gets close to cheesecake and she still can't control her weight. She did say her thyroid was out of control, and sure enough, that is one big reason for weight gain. Perhaps she should look at some of the other symptoms listed on this blog, (and others on the same subject) and make a new plan of action. If you had been running full tilt boogie for as long as Oprah, your adrenals would be shot, too. Maybe yours are shot. If you're reading this, you must know there is some problem. Maybe she should investigate some things that are pretty obscure in the "mainstream" medical world. If Oprah turned her gaze toward the problem of adrenal fatigue, you can bet we'd have some great breakthroughs in a hurry! We should write to her and fill her in. That chiropractor I mentioned some time back, Dr. Dale Lotter, would make a great show segment. He can really talk about this problem and sound like there is hope in the world for those of us with symptoms.

Hormones Under Control?

I finally went to the doctor last week and got some hormones. I had been taking bio-identical hormones for awhile, a couple of years ago. They didn't seem to help much but my doctor said I needed something. I've been kind of sad frequently of late. I don't want to go back on anti-depressants, so this may keep me away from that. I still think my adrenals are messed up but right now I can't afford to go any further with my searching on the subject. I have insurance but of course, no "alternative treatments or caregivers", so that means the subject is off the table with regular care types. I am also taking thyroid medicine, which is helping me feel a bit better. I am taking the best care I can, with the knowledge I have. Trying to stay away from artificial foods, sweets, (not too successful there), caffeine. Trying to get better sleep and to get enough exercise. Maybe the hormones will actually help the whole stress problem, actually. I have been having lots of hot flashes and been so moody, it doesn't help the stress level, that's for sure! 

Long Weekend Blues

I participated in a very nice art show this weekend. It was the 14th annual Chris Bubany show, held for the last three years at Harlow Gardens in mid-town Tucson. I only do a couple of shows every year and then I usually swear off of them for awhile. Being a metal artist, it is a lot more work than, say, painting pictures or weaving or something. Metal art is heavy and it is usually hot to work on. Until I started figuring out some of my medical problems, I seemed to get throught these things a bit easier. I am definetely beat tonight, as I was Friday after set up and Saturday after the longest day of the show. My ability to work really hard and be someplace, anyplace, for 8 or 10 hours, seems to be a thing of the past. I am looking forward to at least a couple of days of downtime. Which is something that really isn't in the game plan, just as it wouldn't be for anyone who has a job. I need to be finding a job and resting for several days isn't on the schedule! I used to think that if times got tough, as they are right now, I could just start a house cleaning business or something like that. As it is, feeling like I do, I can barely clean my own house! So, I'm thankful the show is over and I'm thankful that the only other one I am signed up to do this year is a one day show. I can handle that, I guess!

Sleeping.....yes it matters!

I know it is important to get enough sleep, always, but especially when I know I have this adrenal problem. I have every intention of getting to bed early. I try to every night but something fights against that resolve. I guess I get a second wind or something. The books tell you how important a good nights sleep can be but getting to that point has become one of the biggest obstacles to better health, at least for me. I did meet a woman the other day who uses several techniques for helping a person to sleep better. She was familiar with adrenal problems  & she does work with sleep doctors. Her website, http://www.cloud9sleeptraining.com/ has information on what she uses to help a person get more sleep. Her brochure says that the average person gets 6 hours of sleep a night when in reality, they need 7-9. I know I do better with at least 8 hours.

Falling asleep can be easy enough but many people wake up in the night and can't go back to sleep. I do that frequently but I don't have the racing thoughts symptom that is listed in some of the books on this.  I remember my mother telling me about waking up and her mind racing and racing for hours afterward, sleep never to return. I often think about all I have learned in this adrenal journey and how much of it would have benefited my mother. Looking back on her life, I definitely see how much of her life must have been spent with severe adrenal problems. She went from doctor to doctor, only to be told that nothing was wrong with her, it was all in her head. I wish there was some way to get a message to her, telling her that it was real and that something could have been done.

Does that mean that there is something genetic in this disease? Could be, but right now, it's all I can do to figure my own problems out. Let the doctors and scientists take a stab at it. I mean once they conclude that it isn't, "All in your head".

Thyroid pills Can Help Some

I tried for years to find a doctor to tell me that my thyroid wasn't right. Finally, after bringing up all of the problems I'm having with the adrenals, my wonderful nurse practitioner prescribed some thyroid pills. That was over a month ago and my thyroid has improved, even on a very low dose. I think that all of this is related, possibly menopause is tied in somehow, as well. It's all very confusing and that is one reason you need to have a medical person help you walk through this. I have tried to steer myself to some degree and even armed with a lot of information, I feel like I need some help. I continue to work toward a healthier place but it isn't the kind of illness that just goes away. Look at the future and don't focus on the short term.