Adrenal Fatigue

When I first became ill in 1973 my predominant symptoms were fatigue and headaches. The medical diagnosis was "stress" implying emotional or psychological stress yet I was sure that my stress was physical. In the subsequent years I lived increasingly on adrenaline in a "wired tired" state as I pushed against my fatigue to have a life. Like many people with chronic fatigue I developed severe insomnia, night sweats and gastrointestinal complaints. These were the result of an agitated sympathetic nervous system from living with prolonged physical stress.

I was first diagnosed with adrenal exhaustion in 1990 by Dr. Jonathan Wright, a well-known leader in the field of alternative medicine from Kent, Washington, and subsequently took hydrocortisone for a year and DHEA for 8 years. Although initially I felt some improvement taking these hormones they did not resolve my food sensitivities or fatigue. I believe this was because the underlying source of stress on my body, which was obstructive breathing remained unresolved. I then tried various other means of addressing adrenal fatigue including several years of acupuncture, herbs and nutritional supplements with no lasting results finally abandoning this line of pursuit.

In my research on chronic fatigue syndrome I have frequently come upon discussions of the "hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis".  The term refers to the complex set of influences and feedback interactions between these three glands which are part of the neuroendocrine system that control reactions to stress and regulate many body processes including digestion, the immune system and energy storage and expenditure. This axis is typically out of balance in patients with CFS & FMS. Many physicians are now treating CFS/FMS patients with hydrocortisone or adrenal cortical extracts.

When I began Oral Systemic Balance I experienced a gradual lessening of stress on my body as a result of breathing more fully. I no longer had the sensation of living in a survival state however I felt increasingly like I was living in an exhaustive state and had very low energy. With the support of my physician I decided to treat low cortisol levels with hydrocortisone. My intense fatigue went away within several days of taking hydrocortisol (20 mg. daily in a specific divided dose schedule). The hydrocortisone was helpful in calming gastrointestinal problems (loose stools) as well. Gradually I needed to take less and I decreased my dose over the course of four months until I did not need to take any more. My intense fatigue did not return however subsequent test showed that cortisol levels were still low so this protocol was not completely successful in addressing adrenal issues.

My symptoms of adrenal exhaustion both experientially and as measured by cortisol levels resolved after a year of LENS neurofeedback training. By healing the adaptive patterns that my brain had acquired over years of living with chronic physical stress, my body was finally able to repair itself. Adrenal exhaustion contributes to the fatigue experienced by many people with CFS and FMS. Treatment with hydrocortisone or adrenal cortisol extracts for short periods of time can be helpful but long term recovery may require addressing post traumatic stress and brain injury. LENS is an excellent therapy that accomplishes this. 

Comments

[Lawrence DelRe]

You can stimulate the adrenals, hopefully in a permanent way, by using low level laser biostimulation. I have written a book which shows how to do this high risk procedure yourself at home with an ordinary laser pointer. You lower the risk be paying attention, and following the protocols.

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Thank you for offering some natural ways you may aid in alleviating some of the symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue. This was useful.

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