Some really helpful replies - thank you all so much. I've only just seen them all. I thought I would receive a notification, but since I didn't I hadn't checked the thread...
You might find that will be sufficient to help you. Have you had other hormones tested too because if the adrenals aren't producing sufficient cortisol when you need it then your other hormones like thyroid will be affected too as well as sex hormones. It makes good sense to find out what your levels of these are to get a complete picture because you won't feel better unless they are all treated if necessary.
Regarding the adrenals, If you don't find an adaptogen is enough then the next thing to try is adrenal glandulars. If you get adrenaline rushes then you don't want a glandular that has the whole part of the adrenal medulla because you will just feel worse with almost panic like symptoms. This is quite common I think and if that is the case you could try something like Thorne's Adrenal Cortex glandular, probably 2 or 3 daily. Hopefully after sufficient time your adrenals would then be stronger. You can take an adaptogen as well as the glandulars.
If you get symptoms caused by low electrolytes then you might find that licorice root would be helpful too. To test for this you just go into a dark room and look into a mirror and shine a torch to the side of one eye. Your pupil should constrict but if it stays large or seems to flutter up and down then you have a problem with your electrolytes and need more sodium and possibly not so much potassium. It also means your adrenals are quite weak.
Finally it makes no sense to try and address this problem as above if one still has a stressful lifestyle. This alone can weaken the adrenals so it is important to look after yourself and not do things that stress you.
Pam
I've ordered some Nutricology ACE, and some 10mg pregnenolone. My breathing is out of kilter at the moment, and I have constant anxiety, so I chose to stay away from the whole glandulars. My electrolyte balance is all off. I do indeed have aldosterone problems according to the flash light test. Adding in salt has been helpful, and I get along better without eating potassium rich foods.
My thyroid isn't good, as per testing. I also have low body temperature.
I'm currently too ill to work, but it's surprising how stressful trying to get better is!
I would use Mag Oil instead of pills, as its more effective. Glandulars actually can be a beneficial part of a restaurative plan for the hormonal glands.
I'm trying to add in magnesium, but the oil made my muscle spasms worse. I put this down to greater activity across the Na/K channels; specifically, influx of K into the cell, which was lowering serum K and throwing the balance of Na/K off. Adding salt seems to be helping with tolerance.
My practitioner started me on pregenenolone 4 yr. ago when I was 68 & I've been on it ever since. She said my
21-hydroxylase is normal [necessary for production of cortisone & aldosterone from pregnenolone]. Having occasionally tested going off it or increasing it, I settled at taking 25 mg in the morning cuz testing showed that was my low cortisol time. At first I was on a time release type with DHEA. But ordinary over-the-counter pregnenolone alone seemed just as effective and was less expensive. Yes, start low and keep seeking even better answers but pregnenolone can at least get you started. I'm guessing you've been crashing to low energy in the afternoon/evening? DHEA may have more to offer you as a male.
I have mercury poisoning, so I have long suspected that my cortisol/aldosterone problems are both caused by my 21 beta hydroxylase be sequestered. How did you test whether your levels were normal? (I suspect this was deduced by whether the hormones themselves were low?)
I do crash about 5pm. I feel anxious; my vision is blurry; and I often feel sick.
I was under the impression that pregnenolone was twice daily. Is your decision purely based on your cortisol pattern?
How about buffered vitamin C power ? 12,000mg per day. 6 times a day ?
Harris. I had serious adrenal fatigue and even started smoking because of it. I couldn't give up, but I tried large doses of vitamin C and I managed to stop. I also learnt that heroin addicts are using vitamin C to give up the heroin. Any ways that is what helped me. Not that I know allot about this subject..
I was taking 3000mg 3 x per day until yesterday, but my breathing seems to be getting worse. It may be coincidence and not an effect of increasing the Vit C; however, I wonder if I've become sensitive to corn. I may try again with a cassava root Vit C or something similar.
@
Hanna when I started preg a number of times I had to take a day off here and there as it felt like it was building up and would become overstimulated even on low dose. Maybe its apart of the whole metabolism starting up?? Overtime eeverything settles down.
Have you read this thread:
http://forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?threads/anxiety-ammonia-and-the-nmda-receptor.1460/ . On page 3, Lotus97 makes reference to pregnenolone enhancing NMDA function, which may cause the overstimulation.
Leon
