James L. Wilson introduced the concept of adrenal fatigue in 1998, he focussed on Hans Seyles work on General Adaptation Syndrome and further explored the millions of cases of ill health that did not fit into 'traditional and somewhat archaic' medicines viewpoint over what could explain this ill health.
Wilson described adrenal fatigue as a set of non-specific symptoms associated with "below optimal adrenal function resulting from stress". The treatment for adrenal fatigue is taking supplements to aid natural healing, rather than using pharmaceuticals (which are sold by companies world wide) to mask symptoms rather than allow the patient to recover. This becoming dependant on these chemicals, with little chance of full recovery.
After nineteen years there are still no tests related to diagnosing adrenal fatigue, much like ME and CFS. There is no research that provides any concrete evidence that that stress causes adrenal fatigue, however it is portrayed on the anecdotal models, still used by pyschiatrists to explain the adaptation to stress, and then furthered into a the fourth stage by Dr Lam, to explained the malasaptation and the chronically low cortisol output through a 24 hour period, done through a 24 hour cortisol saliva testing protocol (which interestingly Barts Hospital in London and now finally beginning to trial and use - but you wont find that on the web yet so other posters cant cut and paste it, being a patient I get that advanced knowledge).
The Endocrine society, very much built on yesteryear with ageing physicians built on outdated text book knowledge which is made up of over 18,000 physicians and researchers around the world says that
Primary adrenal insufficiency (aka Addison's disease) is a real medical condition that occurs when the adrenal glands cannot produce enough hormones (cortisol mainly). It is caused by damage to the adrenal glands. Cortisol plays a role in bone growth, blood pressure control, metabolism, nervous system function, immune system function and the stress response. Primary adrenal insufficiency is very rare (110 to 144 in 1 million).
Secondary adrenal insufficiency is much more common. It occurs when the pituitary gland won't produce enough of a hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland to produce cortisol.
However, to further extend on that, Secondary AI, can also be be brought on by prolonged exposure to physical and/or mental stressors, which as in my case, diagnosed by Professor Arlt, one of the European leading endocrinologists confirms.
Adrenal insufficiency is a serious condition that is treated with hormone substitution and replacement.
Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are:
- Extreme fatigue
- Weight loss and decreased appetite
- Darkening of your skin (hyperpigmentation)
- Low blood pressure, even fainting
- Salt craving
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle or joint pains
- Irritability
- Depression
- Body hair loss or sexual dysfunction in women
Adrenal insufficiency is diagnosed via lab tests.
Adrenal Fatigue symptoms can be much varied as they are very based on symptoms, very much the same as ME and CFS. Some examples of mild to moderate Adrenal Fatigue can be
- Tendency to gain weight and unable to lose it, especially around the waist.
- High frequency of getting the flu and other respiratory diseases.
- Infections that tend to last longer than usual.
- Tendency to tremble when under pressure.
- Reduced sex drive.
- lightheaded when rising from a horizontal position.
- Unable to remember things.
- Lack of energy in the mornings and in the afternoon between 3 to 5 pm.
- Feel better suddenly for a brief period after a meal.
- Often feel tired from 9 - 10 pm, but resist going to bed.
- Need coffee or stimulants to get going in the morning.
- Cravings for salty, fatty, and high protein food such as meat and cheese.
- Increased symptoms of PMS for women. Periods are heavy and then stop, or are almost stopped on the 4th day, only to start flow again on the 5th or 6th day.
- Pain in the upper back or neck with no clear reason.
- Feels better when there is less stress, such as on a vacation.
- Difficulties in getting up in the morning.
- Lightheaded.
- Mild depression.
- Food and or inhalant allergies.
- Lethargy and lack of energy.
- Increased effort to perform daily tasks.
- Decreased ability to handle stress.
- Dry and thin skin.
- Hypoglycemia.
- Low body temperature.
- Nervousness.
- Palpitation.
- Unexplained hair loss.
- Alternating constipation and diarrhea.
- Dyspepsia.
Similar to ME and CFS, we have to use anecdotal and symptomatic evidence to understand this condition as best we can. Adrenal Fatigue was the terminology used to title it, although some dispute the actual meanings of the words. Treating those symptoms with supplements enables true healing rather than chemical masking. Once all other medical tests are ruled out for more mainstream illnesses, this is when the patient can look further into their condition. Lots of factors can be at play for AF and the general breakdown of the bodies ability to maintain homeostatis such as stress, toxin exposure, diet , but as Hans Seyles modelled, once the body has 'adapted' to its inability to deal with stress naturally, reversal is extremely difficult, and will be be
The adrenal fatigue quiz on Wilson's website is just a way of helping a patient acknowledge their symptoms and bring some relief to them, to understand they actually have a real illness and to not be ignored by ignorant medical communities in their arrogance to cure all with a chemical (which has seldom ever worked)
Real diseases and syndromes and real treatments have a body of scientific literature that they are built upon. Illnesses such as ME, CFS, and AF, dont have specific testing protocols, more exclusion protocols. The crossover between the three can be very interesting, but generally AF is more a stress syndrome as CFS is a fatigue syndrome, but they share many symptoms.
Adrenal fatigue has no such body of scientific literature, much like ME and CFS. It's mostly about helping those who are dealing with the common symptoms of life within a dysfunction body. It, like the pharmaceutical industry does have a financial element to it, and this is unfortunate, but it promotes natural healing and not dependency on chemicals that the pharma companies will churn out daily increasing their annual turnover. Once healed from AF, you may never need a supplement again. You may need to pay to speak to an AF Doctor, but only as your insurance company or the NHS pay for you to see another type of specialist.
Unfortunately, there are many out there who have a real underlying diseases and many who are ignored and misdiagnosed. Rather than pursuing a proper diagnosis they get distracted by the offer of a fake diagnosis and and easy resolution via taking supplements.
Many years ago Me and CFS where seen as hocus pocus illnesses, as was Burnout (which is more akin to AF), but over the years we have seen the understanding grow, yet still there are no formal tests to diagnose this condition. Adrenal Fatigue is now, as CFS was fifty years ago, and we will see the understand of this condition rise as more and more mainstream doctors begin to acknowledge it, all we can hope is that communities such as the ME/CFS do not discount an illness that they do not understand and thus mock the sufferers by claiming its lack of validity.
@plaruno - your symptoms are more towards AF and Adrenal dysfunction in my opinion than ME (although as i mentioned things to overlap), rule out everything else, and then once your doctor gives up and offers you SSRI's, you will be able to continue your enjoy to understand what is really going on. Good luck to you, you will recover, stay strong.