Alternative Treatments For Adrenal Fatigue

[GFinDC]

I thot it would be interesting to start a thread on adrenal fatigue alternative treatments.  Seems like the subject of adrenal fatigue come up fairly often.

 

This article on Dr. Mercola site has an overview of adrenal function, which is interesting.  One thing I  didn't know is that it can be bad for the liver to take DHEA orally.  There is a pop up window that shows up after a little bit of reading the site, but you can click it  to close and continue reading.

 

Overview of adrenal hormone function

Open Original Shared Link

 

Life-flo makes hormone creams that are available without a prescription.  They are available at several online sources cheaper than from  the Life-flo site itself.

 

Life-flo hormone creams for men

Open Original Shared Link

 

Life-flo hormone creams for women

Open Original Shared Link

 

They also make a vitamin D cream.

Open Original Shared Link

 

Another alternative treatment for adrenal fatigue is ginseng, the herb.  I  am not sure if it helps both sexes or not tho.

 

I believe it is best to avoid caffeine if you are dealing with adrenal fatigue personally.

 

The hormone creams that it seems may be helpful are DHEA, pregnenolone and progesterone.  They do say to take break from using these hormone creams once a month.

 

Anyhow, these are some products and info on possible alternative adrenal fatigue treatments.  Just curious if anyone else has recommendations or discussion related to alternative treatments for it.  I am not an expert on this subject, but maybe with our collective minds we can get some better understanding.

[pricklypear1971]

I take oral dhea - a very low dose. Much lower than most supplament strengths you see at health found stores.

I use progesterone cream half the month.

I take adrenal cortex - two big pills. Timing depends on how my cortisol runs...when it peaks.

One of the biggest factors for better adrenal performance for me is a minimum level of t3, along with a good ratio of rt3. Then, not fasting - eating sufficient protein with meals...and eating them on time. And finally, sleep. I need 7+ hours/night.

My vitamin levels are improving, my adrenals have improved as they've improved, also.

[NoGlutenCooties]

I've never been diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, but I was starting to get symptoms of thyroid issues that were likely related to the pre-menopause hormonal roller-coaster that was going on inside my body.  Menopause can wreak havoc on the thyroid and also wear out the adrenal glands so I started taking an adrenal support supplement along with a thyroid support supplement.  (I didn't yet know at the time that I also had Celiac.)  They really made me feel better and my hormonal, pre-menopausal craziness has even calmed down.

Natural Sources All Adrenal

Gaia Herbs Thyroid Support

(Gaia Herbs also has an Adrenal Support) 

[1desperateladysaved]

Ashwangandha is one herb that my functional medicine nurse says is always in the adrenal supports that work for her patients.  I need to follow this thread.  I currently take a Metagenics adrenal support.  I am diffusing ylang ylang, clary sage, and geranium for progesterone half of the month.  I couldn't use the cream as they bloated me up.  I think I am having mild dehydration and I feel it may be related to the adrenal struggle.

 

My nurse has an osteopathic doctor to back her.  He said that 30+ years of celiac would stress a body, even with no other stress to this life.

 

I refused to be tested for the adrenal gland last visit,  I said that if I wouldn't do anything different, I wouldn't test.  I am rethinking this since when I turned of the progesterone, I missed it terribly.  My nurse says that she thinks my body is stealing the progesterone to use for cortisol.  My thought is that I want to know more about this.

 

I also had my thyroid tested.  This in spite of the MD saying that if TSH is normal one doesn't need to test the others on the panel.  Those results are pending.

 

I thought my adrenals were quite better with the support, and they are.  However, it sure seems like I still have issues.

 

Please anyone know what test you would get for adrenal function?  I go back to see the nurse in Feb.  She will tell me, but I always like to think things through first.

 

D

[kareng]

I see people self diagnosing with " adrenal fatigue" a lot on here. But I would urge some caution.

Open Original Shared Link

Adrenal fatigue is a term applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances and digestive problems. The term often shows up in popular health books and on alternative medicine websites, but it isn't an accepted medical diagnosis.

A true adrenal insufficiency sounds like a serious disease but not what most people here are usually talking about

Open Original Shared Link

Www.endocrine.org

Open Original Shared Link

The Hormone Foundation, the public education affiliate of The Endocrine Society, has produced two new fact sheets to dispel myths about so-called “diseases” popularized through the Internet: adrenal fatigue and Wilson’s temperature syndrome

[pricklypear1971]

I see people self diagnosing with " adrenal fatigue" a lot on here. But I would urge some caution.

Open Original Shared Link

Adrenal fatigue is a term applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances and digestive problems. The term often shows up in popular health books and on alternative medicine websites, but it isn't an accepted medical diagnosis.

A true adrenal insufficiency sounds like a serious disease but not what most people here are usually talking about

Open Original Shared Link

Karen, I assure you that many of us, especially with thyroid conditions, have overtaxed adrenals.

I didn't believe it either....but I'll be damned, the support stuff I do and the supplaments I take DO make a difference. Now, do they make a difference because "stuff" is off - hormones, glucose, thyroid, etc. Yes. But while you work on those things (and sometimes boosting both is necessary long-term) you better bet adrenal support can make you or break you.

Adrenals just don't produce adrenaline....they produce hormones. Post menopause they become even more important.

Open Original Shared Link

And here's an article geared towards thyroid patients. In my case, I've had steroid shots/pills which negatively affected my adrenals. I was stuck in an overstimulated state for almost a week. I'd get flashbacks/surges/attacks when emotionally upset up to six months after stopping the steroids. Was it Addison's? No. But it was bad. I still have effects. Of course, being gluten-free has helped but the best help was getting on the right track with my thyroid. I hope to get off adrenal support at some point....

Open Original Shared Link

[answerseeker]

Karen, I assure you that many of us, especially with thyroid conditions, have overtaxed adrenals.

I didn't believe it either....but I'll be damned, the support stuff I do and the supplaments I take DO make a difference. Now, do they make a difference because "stuff" is off - hormones, glucose, thyroid, etc. Yes. But while you work on those things (and sometimes boosting both is necessary long-term) you better bet adrenal support can make you or break you.

Adrenals just don't produce adrenaline....they produce hormones. Post menopause they become even more important.

Open Original Shared Link

And here's an article geared towards thyroid patients. In my case, I've had steroid shots/pills which negatively affected my adrenals. I was stuck in an overstimulated state for almost a week. I'd get flashbacks/surges/attacks when emotionally upset up to six months after stopping the steroids. Was it Addison's? No. But it was bad. I still have effects. Of course, being gluten-free has helped but the best help was getting on the right track with my thyroid. I hope to get off adrenal support at some point....

Open Original Shared Link

For sure this can happen with steroid use. I'm thinking it may be part of my ongoing issues. I have been on oral steroids 5 times in the last 1 1/2 years plus had shots plus had it through my IV (my asthma was very bad and very difficult to control) after this cardiology testing is done, if it doesn't show anything, my GP is referring me to an endocrinologist for a complete work up. Now they never mention "adrenal fatigue" which I do agree with Karen may be a term used in alternative medicine, but I could very well be suffering from true adrenal problems

[pricklypear1971]

For sure this can happen with steroid use. I'm thinking it may be part of my ongoing issues. I have been on oral steroids 5 times in the last 1 1/2 years plus had shots plus had it through my IV (my asthma was very bad and very difficult to control) after this cardiology testing is done, if it doesn't show anything, my GP is referring me to an endocrinologist for a complete work up. Now they never mention "adrenal fatigue" which I do agree with Karen may be a term used in alternative medicine, but I could very well be suffering from true adrenal problems

MD's don't say 'adrenal fatigue', they say something like 'temporary overstimulation' or 'not functioning as well as it could, but nothing to worry about'. Or 'temporary side effect of x med or condition'. Then they shove another med down your throat or say "everything looks normal, go see a shrink".

I will not argue that some alternative docs are wack jobs.... And some are fabulous. I could say the same for MD's. Of course, my view is probably skewed because I live in Thyroidland...and must MD's are in denial over the latest research (long story of what 'standard of care - unrevised' can do to a huge group of patients).

[kareng]

I guess my alternative " treatment" is to be careful self- diagnosing and treating. Not much different that I feel about fad " Celiacs" who decide they have celiac.

To be clear - I did not say there are no adrenal illnesses. I even posted a few links that mention some serious ones. If that is the case, self- diagnosing and treating could be harmful.

[IrishHeart]

Karen, I assure you that many of us, especially with thyroid conditions, have overtaxed adrenals.

Adrenals just don't produce adrenaline....they produce hormones. Post menopause they become even more important.

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

What is interesting, though is that  the same website you link to mentions all the adrenal conditions, but there is nothing called adrenal fatigue listed  there. 

 

I'd like to just share my own experience for any readers of the thread.

**Please note: I am not knocking any of your experiences, okay. People get so upset when an opposing position is presented.

This is a forum and we discuss things here. It's not personal and I am not saying "I am right and you are wrong".

**I feel as if I have to make that disclaimer lately.

 

Okay...

Adrenal fatigue is the darling of the alternative med world.

I  was told that was what I had, too. Given all kinds of supplements to take (including all the ones you guys have mentioned)

Did the "spit test", cortisol test, hormone test, blah blah blah....She had me taking about 12 "adrenal and thyroid" support supplements as well as progesterone cream..

Wish I had all that money back.

 

Then she thought it  was Wilson's syndrome. Nope.

 

This was an ND I saw for a year and I also heard the same spiel from an "integrative med" doctor, highly respected and the director of a large clinic.Once I saw he was peddling the same theory to me, I stopped giving him $$ for nothing too. They  were both wrong. 

 

It wasn't adrenal fatigue. It was undiagnosed celiac.

 

I take NOTHING and all my various hormones work perfectly fine and yes, I am post menopausal. Not by choice, by early hysterectomy.

 

I do not even have the Hashimoto's thyroiditis the Endo said I would need to take "meds for life" to treat. A recent medical article in Living Without Magazine quotes Dr. Green as saying a good number of people are told they have a thyroid condition when in fact, they do not have AI thyroid disease, but that the thyroid is suppressed when the body is ill from untreated celiac. The thyroid can rebound, just like the adrenals.

 

Some conditions actually do reverse, in time, off gluten. But if someone starts supplementing without any kind of supervision or monitoring

then how on earth can you know for sure what works and what doesn't?. You really can't. Too many variables.

 

Anyway, here is the info from that site.

 

The site lists these as adrenal conditions: Adrenal Gland Tumors, Adrenocortical Carcinoma, Cushing’s Syndrome, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Pituitary Tumors, Pheochromoctyoma ,Adrenal Gland Suppression (due to steroidal use), Addison’s Disease  and Hyperaldosteronism

 

Open Original Shared Link

[NoGlutenCooties]

Just my .02 - FWIW...  I don't really see "adrenal fatigue" as a diagnosis.  I see it as having tired adrenals.  Maybe not worn out to the point where the doctors could pinpoint that something is wrong... but there are signs that things are headed that way.  I do agree that getting tested for more serious ailments and consulting with a doctor is important - but when they have no answers and just want to wait until you're sick enough for them to have a drug to prescibe that's when I turn to natural remedies to keep from getting to that point.  It's unfortunate that there has not been nearly the amount of research and testing performed on natural remedies and supplements that there has been on prescription drugs and synthetic chemicals - no money in it for the pharmaceutical companies I guess.  But I for one am not going to wait around for the medical profession to recognize that sometimes certain foods or certain supplements can turn a body around to good health.  I'll be long dead before that happens.

[kareng]

Just my .02 - FWIW...  I don't really see "adrenal fatigue" as a diagnosis.  I see it as having tired adrenals.  Maybe not worn out to the point where the doctors could pinpoint that something is wrong... but there are signs that things are headed that way.  I do agree that getting tested for more serious ailments and consulting with a doctor is important - but when they have no answers and just want to wait until you're sick enough for them to have a drug to prescibe that's when I turn to natural remedies to keep from getting to that point.  It's unfortunate that there has not been nearly the amount of research and testing performed on natural remedies and supplements that there has been on prescription drugs and synthetic chemicals - no money in it for the pharmaceutical companies I guess.  But I for one am not going to wait around for the medical profession to recognize that sometimes certain foods or certain supplements can turn a body around to good health.  I'll be long dead before that happens.

What does " fatigue" or " tired" even mean when applied to a body organ? Whole organisms get tired and need a nap or more iron or more exercise. Sometimes we use these phrases to help us understand better - " Grandmas heart just got tired, Honey". But her heart isn't " tired" it has age related issues or arterial blockage.

Supplement all you want - it's your money and your body. However, please don't jump to " adrenal fatigue" for every new poster or person who feels " tired". Not everything is because of celiac and not everything is about "adrenal fatigue."

[GFinDC]

Thanks KarenG for pointing out that adrenal fatigue is not a recognized condition by the medical establishment.  I forgot to put that in my initial post.  You are 100% right and it is wise to consider that fact.  There is a real issue there.  Since adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical condition, there is room for hucksters and frauds to take people's money and profit off their symptoms.  There is also the possibility that people may spend months using alternative treatments while they are actually suffering from some other cause.  Perhaps we can come up with some ideas for testing or known/suspected symptoms in this thread.

Perhaps together we can avoid the charletans and find some reasonable ways to proceed.  Maybe we will conclude at some point that the medical establishment is right, and adrenal fatigue doesn't exist.  I don't have any financial involvement with any of the products I mentioned.

I think it could be helpful for us to share ideas about the idea of adrenal fatigue here.  I have seen it mentioned a number of times on the forum and it doesn't seem to be going away.

[kareng]

Thanks KarenG for pointing out that adrenal fatigue is not a recognized condition by the medical establishment.  I forgot to put that in my initial post.  You are 100% right and it is wise to consider that fact.  There is a real issue there.  Since adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical condition, there is room for hucksters and frauds to take people's money and profit off their symptoms.  There is also the possibility that people may spend months using alternative treatments while they are actually suffering from some other cause.  Perhaps we can come up with some ideas for testing or known/suspected symptoms in this thread.

Perhaps together we can avoid the charletans and find some reasonable ways to proceed.  Maybe we will conclude at some point that the medical establishment is right, and adrenal fatigue doesn't exist.  I don't have any financial involvement with any of the products I mentioned.

I think it could be helpful for us to share ideas about the idea of adrenal fatigue here.  I have seen it mentioned a number of times on the forum and it doesn't seem to be going away.

It is mentioned a lot and I think we need to be careful jumping to these fad diagnosis. It's making me " tired".

[GF Lover]

A couple more thoughts for you all.  My hubs has had Addison's for over 20 years now.  At diagnosis, he was close to death in the hospital before they figured it out, his gland was barely functional .  He has taken Hydrocort and Fludricort for this disease since diagnosis. 

 

Point.  When you medicate or suppliment the Adrenal Gland, the gland then starts to use this supplimentation.  The gland will stop producing more because it is being helped.  It will NOT increase it's functionality while being helped.  This is my understanding from discussions with his Endocrinologist ( a Doctor who treats the endocrine system. )

 

When your body is sick or stressed it will pull cortisol to help get it through.  This is NORMAL.  If your body has been sick for some time, you will feel like crap.  All your body will be stressed and struggling to function.  This in NORMAL.  Once your body has rebounded your body systems will level out and start to work well again.  If you start supplimenting all these body systems your body does not know that it must continue to heal.  Make Sense?

 

Just to clarify.  This point is about the Adrenal Gland and common sense about the body functions.  I am also not saying that there are not times that supplimenting is needed.

 

Colleen

[answerseeker]

Good point Colleen!

[NoGlutenCooties]

I think "tired" can mean a lot of things.. and in this case it generally means there is something causing the adrenals to act sluggishly and the doctors cannot figure out what it is.  It is not all that unlike having low blood sugar and doing nothing about it... eventually the pancreas wears itself out and can no longer make enough insulin and you swing from low blood sugar into diabetes (I know it is more complicated than that and this is not what happens in every case... but it happens.)  If you help the pancreas you can avoid diabetes.  I'm living proof of it.  So who's to say that if your adrenals are being overworked, "tired", you can't give them some help and get them back to normal and avoid more serious complications?  I think waiting until something gets bad enough to warrant a response from a doctor is foolish and potentially dangerous.  But yes, you have to be smart about it - do your research - and not fall for every idiot claiming to have the "miracle cure" - but the same can be said about doctors - you shouldn't blindly trust all of them either.

[NoGlutenCooties]

What does " fatigue" or " tired" even mean when applied to a body organ? Whole organisms get tired and need a nap or more iron or more exercise. Sometimes we use these phrases to help us understand better - " Grandmas heart just got tired, Honey". But her heart isn't " tired" it has age related issues or arterial blockage.

Supplement all you want - it's your money and your body. However, please don't jump to " adrenal fatigue" for every new poster or person who feels " tired". Not everything is because of celiac and not everything is about "adrenal fatigue."

 

I never said that if a person is tired they should jump to the conclusion that it has something to do with the adrenals - or assume that it is related to Celiac, for that matter.  But there are symptoms that point to the adrenals being overworked, overtaxed, tired, stressed, not functioning at optimal levels - whatever you want to call it.

In my case, going through pre-menapausal hormonal swings was causing symptoms that lead me to believe my thyoid was stressed ("tired") - and if the thyroid is being stressed, generally the adrenals are too.  So I started taking some natural supplements for both that helped me feel better and the symptoms went away.  Menapause puts a lot of stress on your body and sometimes it can use a little extra help while it figures out its new normal.

[pricklypear1971]

I don't care what it's called. You can call it When Pigs Fly Up Your Butt. Whatever. I worry about cause and effect for my treatment.

 

My experience runs along the lines of a hypo thyroid/underperforming endocrine system state changing to a steroid induced hyper adrenal state - my symptoms were Cushings-esque, coupled with unaddressed and untreated Celiac Disease, along with under treated Hashimoto's - and that's what I'll address.

 

What I deal with is a type of adrenal insufficiency brought on from the above factors (steroids, thyroid). Since I had undiagnosed Hashimotos for at least a few years prior to treatment, I suffered from a decreased endocrine system performance (hypo) Open Original Shared Link. Two steroid shots and a round of oral Prednisone, along with topical steroids put me into a hyper adrenal state and I had Cushings symptoms. At a certain point, the hyper functioning of my adrenals changed to hypo - I now have some symptoms of Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency. This problem seems to be strongly tied to my thyroid - as my thyroid performance improves via correct medications and supplements my adrenals improve. As a matter of fact, I'm a point now where we're trying to determine if I am on too much thyroid med (of the wrong type) or too much adrenal supplementation. Figuring it out is a mix of labs and trial/error. I sincerely hope that I am able to come off adrenal cortex in the near future, as does my doctor. 

 

For those of you who argue about if "adrenal exhaustion" is real or not, I think you need to drop the semantics and dictionary debate and pay attention to what people are saying when they talk about what's going on. The main adrenal-related complaints I hear about from people (and keep in mind I talk to lots of thyroid as well as gluten intolerant people) center around thyroid performance, glucose stabilization, and temporary sleep disturbances. I really don't recall anyone just saying "Hey, I feel off, I think I have Adrenal Fatigue so I'm gonna go buy a supplement at the store".

 

I agree with this 100%: Open Original Shared Link. As a matter of fact, the first thing I advise is a thyroid panel.

 

Doctors urge you not to waste precious time accepting an unproven diagnosis such as “adrenal fatigue” if you feel tired, weak, or depressed. If you have these symptoms, you may have adrenal insufficiency, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, or other health problems. Getting a real diagnosis is very important to help you feel better and overcome your health problem.

 

 

I have received medical advice, I think I know all of the diseases I'm dealing with....and have decided to go forward with a treatment plan that includes adrenal support. 

 

I would like to address some specific remarks I feel that were aimed at my posts.

 

 

Karen, sure...self diagnosing is dangerous with any disease. It's my experience most people try to get medical help for endocrine issues and are turned away - thyroid and adrenal. Kind of like with Celiac and NCGI. My range of doctor experience with adrenals is as varied as my experience with thyroid and gluten. To summarize, most MD's will acknowledge an issue but not treat it. Most ND's will acknowledge and treat with various treatment plans/supplaments.

 

Irish - we all understand you had terrible luck with doctors of all types, and the only thing that was ever wrong was Celiac disease and stupid doctors until you also figured out you have MCAS.

 

For many of us Celiac is not the beginning and end of our issues - it's just a piece. A good number of us have legitimate issues with other body systems that are not instantly (or ever) cured by going gluten-free: our lack of cure isn't due to our lack of compliance with a gluten-free diet, or vitamins. Neither is it our overindulgence of gluten-free processed foods, or lack of patience.

 

The links I provided clearly outline the role adrenals play in health. I understand you don't see "adrenal fatigue" written out. What you have to understand from reading is that adrenals are part of the endocrine system - an important part that can luckily be manipulated and supported. Using myself as an example, I boost  adrenal performance with adrenal cortex the same way I boost thyroid performance in my severely underperforming thyroid.

 

The debate about "adrenal fatigue" has been going on for decades. Bottom line - some people need to address their adrenal performance to improve the function of the endocrine system - temporarily or permanently.

 

Cushings Syndrome: Open Original Shared Link

Addison's Disease: Open Original Shared Link

 

Other names for adrenal fatigue are non-Addison's hypoadrenia, sub-clinical hypoadrenia, hypoadrenalism, and neurasthenia. Open Original Shared Link

 

And I thought this was incredibly interesting. I'm going to go eat another Brazil nut, now. Open Original Shared Link

[kareng]

Yes, I know there are real serious adrenal diseases, but that wasn't the topic. 

 

You are all stating your opinions and experiences, fine. If taking something harmless helps you feel better, that is great.  I can choose to want to see the scientific evidence that these things helped you.  Do you have before and after lab work we could look at?  I realize you don't.   

 

 Feel free to discuss your treatments here.  I have the right to discuss my opinion that I want scientific evidence and worry about people self-diagnosing serious illnesses. 

 

Sorry Gee Eff, I just wanted to express my concern about all the self-diagnosis and people who are getting taken  by some of these practitioners.

[pricklypear1971]

Yes, I know there are real serious adrenal diseases, but that wasn't the topic.

You are all stating your opinions and experiences, fine. If taking something harmless helps you feel better, that is great. I can choose to want to see the scientific evidence that these things helped you. Do you have before and after lab work we could look at? I realize you don't.

Feel free to discuss your treatments here. I have the right to discuss my opinion that I want scientific evidence and worry about people self-diagnosing serious illnesses.

Sorry Gee Eff, I just wanted to express my concern about all the self-diagnosis and people who are getting taken by some of these practitioners.

Karen, I do have labs. They even came from certified mainstream labs. I have a few witchy labs, too.... They're cross verified with mainstream labs. I don't have to prove a thing to you.

[IrishHeart]

 

Irish - we all understand you had terrible luck with doctors of all types, and the only thing that was ever wrong was Celiac disease and stupid doctors until you also figured out you have MCAS.

 

 

OUCH.

Actually..."celiac disease and stupid doctors" was not "all that was ever wrong with me."

 I am not sure why you are directing your sarcasm at me.

 

I had many complications and several health problems that may never resolve and osteoarthritis and, and, and...I could go on....do you want a list? ??

 

I did say that many things CAN resolve off gluten, yes. So what? it's the truth and in no way was directed at you-- or anyone else for that matter. I even posted a caveat with my post. Yet, it still happened--the nastiness ensues.

 

This forum has become a snark fest lately. 

 

The thread was started by Paul and I was just expressing my opinion.

 

I have no idea why you are being so openly rude to me. This is a forum, correct?  and we are all allowed to post our thoughts and our experiences, correct?  That said, I would appreciate the same courtesy I have always shown to you. 

 

I have never negated your experiences or what works for you, have I? Nope. Not ever. 

 

As I said, it seems as if someone poses a different view, they are subject to outright rudeness on here lately.    what the heck is going on?

[NoGlutenCooties]

 

For those of you who argue about if "adrenal exhaustion" is real or not, I think you need to drop the semantics and dictionary debate and pay attention to what people are saying when they talk about what's going on. The main adrenal-related complaints I hear about from people (and keep in mind I talk to lots of thyroid as well as gluten intolerant people) center around thyroid performance, glucose stabilization, and temporary sleep disturbances. I really don't recall anyone just saying "Hey, I feel off, I think I have Adrenal Fatigue so I'm gonna go buy a supplement at the store".

 

 

Well said... couldn't agree more!

[GFinDC]

Hi Kareng, no problem at all, thanks for your input!  Different viewpoints are welcome as far as I am concerned.   None of us knows all the answers in life, and I am living proof of that.

 

IH, Thanks for your input too, you had one of those wonderful experiences that modern medicine provides us  sometimes.  Well, maybe not wonderful..

 

One thing I think we can all agree on is that doctors don't know everything.  It wasn't long ago that they denied the existence of NCGI after all.  Meanwhile we had been talking about it on this forum for years.  Another prominent example of the misinformation and outright BS that the medical establishment has duped people with is the whole ulcer thing.   For decades doctors told us that stomach ulcers were the result of stress from overwork, drinking, spicy foods etc.  Finally it was learned that they were totally full of it and the real cause is a bacteria in the vast majority of cases.  So IMHO there is no doubt they can't be trusted blindly.  Of course the alternative medicine field is full of shady characters too, and it pays to be wary.

 

Prickly, thanks for sharing your story and links.  The about com page is interesting.

 

I hope everyone understands this is not a contest to prove who is righter, smarter, better.  Obviously I would win all 3 categories if it were, so lets not be elbowing each other aside to get to first place.  It's already taken!   That's a joke people, ha ha!   Laugh?  Anyone?  OK exit stage left...

 

Aging changes in hormone production

Open Original Shared Link

 

The Open Original Shared Link system is made up of organs and tissues that produce hormones. Hormones are natural chemicals produced in one location, released into the bloodstream, then used by other target organs and systems.

The hormones control the target organs. Some organ systems have their own internal control systems along with, or instead of, hormones.

As we age, changes naturally occur in the way that body systems are controlled. Some target tissues become less sensitive to their controlling hormone. The amount of hormones produced may also change.

...

 

This article talks about hormone levels decreasing with age.  Personally I believe  (in humble opinion mode) that prolonged illness or stress can also reduce hormone levels.  Supplementing some hormones may help if they are low for some reason.  DHEA is a naturally occuring hormone pre-curser so it is likely to be safe.  The other hormone creams by Life-flo are all non-prescription so they probably aren't terribly dangerous when used as directed.  There are probably other versions of these hormone creams available also, altho I haven't found them yet.

[GF Lover]

Karen, I assure you that many of us, especially with thyroid conditions, have overtaxed adrenals.

 

 

Prickly, you may what to look into that statement more deeply.  Not all people with Adrenal Disease have problems with their Thyroid.

 

 

I would like to state that this thread was started by GFin DC to show different alternative treatments for adrenal problems.  As members we should be posting treatments we have heard too and discuss them with a clear head.  No one person will be allowed to hijack this thread to serve her own purpose..  Responsible dicussion also means including safetly issues and other experiences and reputable sources for information. At no time shall a member be rude to the Moderators or the any other Advanced Member.

 

Board Rules can be reviewed here:  https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules

 

 

Thank You, Colleen