Re: OT- adrenal fatigue questions

[Guest guest]

I'm new at the whole adrenal fatigue business, so can't help a lot. But to find

out if you have it, get a saliva test done. You can read about it here:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/

I bought mine through the canary club, which was about $105 (with shipping

added). Then I spent another $18.50 to get it overnighted back to the lab (if

you live in the US, I recommend using the USPS Express Mail Flat Rate Shipping

envelope). Now I'm waiting for the results :-).

I have every symptom you mentioned! I find the belly fat especially disturbing.

I'm 5' 4 " , weight 100 (just lost 5, unfortunately), and have a 33 inch waist. It

looks like a big fat roll and hangs over my shorts/pants. My mother weighs 15

pounds more then me, and her waist is 4 inches less then me. Something is not

right here.

Until you know you have adrenal fatigue, I think they only things you can do to

help (besides resting and eating well) are increase your salt intake (a good

quality sea salt) and take B vitamins.

Ameila and Sky know a lot more about this then me, so hopefully they'll see your

post!

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

>

> I've read a few articles on adrenal fatigue and skimmed through the posts

here. I'm still confused, because it seems like the symptoms can be very broad

and vague. I have a few questions.

>

> Here's some background info-

> I was diagnosed with Crohn's last June, so it has almost been a year. The few

years previous to that I was extremely active running marathons, plus extra

cardio and lifting (I only tell you this because it seems that may have already

been taxing my adrenals). I was definitely over exercising and not getting

enough rest. Then the Crohn's came on, and obviously since then, things haven't

been the same. I have only had my period once since my diagnosis.

>

> My weight has been up and down a bunch within a 40 pound range which I know

can affect my period. I've had a few times where I didn't fuel enough, I lost my

period, but it was only a month or two and it came back. Normally, I was always

regular.

>

> Since my diagnosis, my meds have been Remicade and Methotrexate. My last flare

was the beginning of March. The meds were not working, and they doubled my

Remicade dose. That only lasted for a few days out of the hospital and my fevers

(one of my main symptoms) started coming back. So they put me on Prednisone, 40

mg, which actually worked for me this time. (When I was originally diagnosed,

they put me on Pred, but I got a lot worse until I got my first Remicade.)

>

> As far as symptoms and testing, I tried the Iris Contraction test and failed.

My pupils wavered a lot. Is this test legitimate?

>

> Other symptoms I have are :

> • fatigue, but I know this could be from Crohn's itself

> • low blood pressure

> • startle easlily

> • food cravings

> • gain weight mostly in my belly

>

> The thing is, I don't know if I'm just normally like that. I've actually had

those symptoms well before Crohn's.

>

> Also, one other strange thing I noticed is that I lost weight when I was on

Prednisone. Granted, I was flaring at the time, but when I flare not on

Prednisone, I didn't lose as much weight. It kind of makes me think that

something else may be going on.

>

> Sooo...(I thank anyone who took the time to read all that!), my questions are:

> • Do you think I have adrenal fatigue?

> • Is there any way to confirm this? From what I've read, conventional MDs

don't believe in it.

> • What do I do besides rest and eat well?

> • I exercise quite a bit (not nearly as much as I did pre-Crohn's), so should

I back off, and how much?

> • I know thyroid issues can also go along with this, but I get very confused

with the different tests. I had a thyroid test done a few months ago due to the

lack of a period, but my gyno said it was OK. However, i know the test they run

are not usually enough to tell you if you have a problem, from what I

understand. I just don't know what to ask for.

>

> Can anyone please help? Sorry this is so long. I just kind of feel stuck.

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> Amber

>

[Guest guest]

Amber,I just found a good integrative medicine doctor (thanks, Sky!) and he did blood and urine checks on my TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and reverse T3. He also did a blood check on my D3 levels. He did a saliva test on my DHEA and Cortisol levels. My regular GP did a good blood work-up as well and confirmed that my B12 levels and Ferritin levels were great, so that wasn't complicating things. Probably the three most important things in my diagnosis was the D3 levels (off the bottom of the chart -- go figure in sunny Scotland!), my cortisol levels (spiked high in the morning, then dropped to very low and basically flat-lined the rest of the day), and the reverse T3 (way too high). In short, with good ferritin and B12 levels and 'good' TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 levels (also

done by normal GP), my GP deemed me just fine and all looked fantastic, I should feel fine. However, the integrative doctor discovered that the Free T3 and Free T4 were 'good' only because I had high reverse T3 which is inactive and blocking the receptor site for the normal T3 and therefore I wasn't have the benefit of the active/normal T3. He also discovered that because my cortisol was so low most of the day, I wasn't getting into the cells what little T3 was making it into the receptor sites. These things together explained my hypothyroid and adrenal fatigue symptoms inspite of 'normal' lab results. And yes, my GP did do a cortisol check, by blood and only in the morning -- which is when I spike and so allowed her to think I was 'normal.' And that the very low D3 was really complicating things as well. He has put me on adrenal cortex supplements to help regulate the cortisol levels along with vitamin supplements to

support the adrenals and thyroid. I am also taking D3, but I don't think it is enough but as we will permanently (well for the next 4 years anyway!) be in a much sunnier climate in about 5 weeks time, I am not too fussed about it at the moment. After I have gotten a bit sorted on this regime and gotten better cortisol levels, he will see about addressing the high reverse T3 and check for yeast issues (was required to take antibiotics every time I wanted my teeth cleaned for 25 years due to a misguided medical community response to my so called prolapsed mitral valve). I am doing better, not perfect, but I can tell a difference in energy levels, attitude, mental clarity, and sex drive (whoo hoo!). I have only been on the supplements about 2 weeks and my progress is up and down at the moment, but definitely see improvements.I cannot stress to everyone enough that getting your adrenal and thyroid systems in good working

order is imperative to good health -- not just good output of hormones but good response to those hormones. My body was just barely coping and according to test results had been for a number of years and to all the doctors I looked to be in perfect health. Great teeth, lots of hair, looked young for my age, normal weight, good lab results, etc., yet I was barely keeping my head above water coping with cooking, laundry, kids and homework. My husband (the UC sufferer that started us down the road to good health) was having to take up more and more of the slack. It is amazing how far and long the body can cope with imbalances, and how far we sink and settle for sub-optimal living before someone says something and rattle our cages a bit to get us to realize that what we think is 'normal' isn't and that life and health can actually be much better. AmeliaTo: BTVC-SCD Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 8:06:51 PMSubject: OT- adrenal fatigue questions

I've read a few articles on adrenal fatigue and skimmed through the posts here. I'm still confused, because it seems like the symptoms can be very broad and vague. I have a few questions.

Here's some background info-

I was diagnosed with Crohn's last June, so it has almost been a year. The few years previous to that I was extremely active running marathons, plus extra cardio and lifting (I only tell you this because it seems that may have already been taxing my adrenals). I was definitely over exercising and not getting enough rest. Then the Crohn's came on, and obviously since then, things haven't been the same. I have only had my period once since my diagnosis.

My weight has been up and down a bunch within a 40 pound range which I know can affect my period. I've had a few times where I didn't fuel enough, I lost my period, but it was only a month or two and it came back. Normally, I was always regular.

Since my diagnosis, my meds have been Remicade and Methotrexate. My last flare was the beginning of March. The meds were not working, and they doubled my Remicade dose. That only lasted for a few days out of the hospital and my fevers (one of my main symptoms) started coming back. So they put me on Prednisone, 40 mg, which actually worked for me this time. (When I was originally diagnosed, they put me on Pred, but I got a lot worse until I got my first Remicade.)

As far as symptoms and testing, I tried the Iris Contraction test and failed. My pupils wavered a lot. Is this test legitimate?

Other symptoms I have are :

• fatigue, but I know this could be from Crohn's itself

• low blood pressure

• startle easlily

• food cravings

• gain weight mostly in my belly

The thing is, I don't know if I'm just normally like that. I've actually had those symptoms well before Crohn's.

Also, one other strange thing I noticed is that I lost weight when I was on Prednisone. Granted, I was flaring at the time, but when I flare not on Prednisone, I didn't lose as much weight. It kind of makes me think that something else may be going on.

Sooo...(I thank anyone who took the time to read all that!), my questions are:

• Do you think I have adrenal fatigue?

• Is there any way to confirm this? From what I've read, conventional MDs don't believe in it.

• What do I do besides rest and eat well?

• I exercise quite a bit (not nearly as much as I did pre-Crohn's) , so should I back off, and how much?

• I know thyroid issues can also go along with this, but I get very confused with the different tests. I had a thyroid test done a few months ago due to the lack of a period, but my gyno said it was OK. However, i know the test they run are not usually enough to tell you if you have a problem, from what I understand. I just don't know what to ask for.

Can anyone please help? Sorry this is so long. I just kind of feel stuck.

Thanks in advance,

Amber

[Guest guest]

Hi Amelia,

I'm glad you found a doctor who can help out with your issues, and you're on

your way to feeling better. I would love to find one, but I don't even know

where to start. How did you find yours?

Thanks,

Amber

>

> Amber,

>

> I just found a good integrative medicine doctor (thanks, Sky!) and he did

blood and urine checks on my TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and reverse T3. He also did

a blood check on my D3 levels. He did a saliva test on my DHEA and Cortisol

levels. My regular GP did a good blood work-up as well and confirmed that my

B12 levels and Ferritin levels were great, so that wasn't complicating things.

Probably the three most important things in my diagnosis was the D3 levels (off

the bottom of the chart -- go figure in sunny Scotland!), my cortisol levels

(spiked high in the morning, then dropped to very low and basically flat-lined

the rest of the day), and the reverse T3 (way too high). In short, with good

ferritin and B12 levels and 'good' TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 levels (also done

by normal GP), my GP deemed me just fine and all looked fantastic, I should feel

fine. However, the integrative doctor discovered that the Free T3 and Free T4

were 'good' only because

> I had high reverse T3 which is inactive and blocking the receptor site for

the normal T3 and therefore I wasn't have the benefit of the active/normal T3.

He also discovered that because my cortisol was so low most of the day, I wasn't

getting into the cells what little T3 was making it into the receptor sites.

These things together explained my hypothyroid and adrenal fatigue symptoms

inspite of 'normal' lab results. And yes, my GP did do a cortisol check, by

blood and only in the morning -- which is when I spike and so allowed her to

think I was 'normal.' And that the very low D3 was really complicating things

as well. He has put me on adrenal cortex supplements to help regulate the

cortisol levels along with vitamin supplements to support the adrenals and

thyroid. I am also taking D3, but I don't think it is enough but as we will

permanently (well for the next 4 years anyway!) be in a much sunnier climate in

about 5 weeks time, I am not too

> fussed about it at the moment. After I have gotten a bit sorted on this

regime and gotten better cortisol levels, he will see about addressing the high

reverse T3 and check for yeast issues (was required to take antibiotics every

time I wanted my teeth cleaned for 25 years due to a misguided medical community

response to my so called prolapsed mitral valve). I am doing better, not

perfect, but I can tell a difference in energy levels, attitude, mental clarity,

and sex drive (whoo hoo!). I have only been on the supplements about 2 weeks

and my progress is up and down at the moment, but definitely see improvements.

>

> I cannot stress to everyone enough that getting your adrenal and thyroid

systems in good working order is imperative to good health -- not just good

output of hormones but good response to those hormones. My body was just barely

coping and according to test results had been for a number of years and to all

the doctors I looked to be in perfect health. Great teeth, lots of hair, looked

young for my age, normal weight, good lab results, etc., yet I was barely

keeping my head above water coping with cooking, laundry, kids and homework. My

husband (the UC sufferer that started us down the road to good health) was

having to take up more and more of the slack. It is amazing how far and long

the body can cope with imbalances, and how far we sink and settle for

sub-optimal living before someone says something and rattle our cages a bit to

get us to realize that what we think is 'normal' isn't and that life and health

can actually be much better.

>

>

> Amelia

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: BTVC-SCD

> Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 8:06:51 PM

> Subject: OT- adrenal fatigue questions

>

>

> I've read a few articles on adrenal fatigue and skimmed through the posts

here. I'm still confused, because it seems like the symptoms can be very broad

and vague. I have a few questions.

>

> Here's some background info-

> I was diagnosed with Crohn's last June, so it has almost been a year. The few

years previous to that I was extremely active running marathons, plus extra

cardio and lifting (I only tell you this because it seems that may have already

been taxing my adrenals). I was definitely over exercising and not getting

enough rest. Then the Crohn's came on, and obviously since then, things haven't

been the same. I have only had my period once since my diagnosis.

>

> My weight has been up and down a bunch within a 40 pound range which I know

can affect my period. I've had a few times where I didn't fuel enough, I lost my

period, but it was only a month or two and it came back. Normally, I was always

regular.

>

> Since my diagnosis, my meds have been Remicade and Methotrexate. My last flare

was the beginning of March. The meds were not working, and they doubled my

Remicade dose. That only lasted for a few days out of the hospital and my fevers

(one of my main symptoms) started coming back. So they put me on Prednisone, 40

mg, which actually worked for me this time. (When I was originally diagnosed,

they put me on Pred, but I got a lot worse until I got my first Remicade.)

>

> As far as symptoms and testing, I tried the Iris Contraction test and failed.

My pupils wavered a lot. Is this test legitimate?

>

> Other symptoms I have are :

> • fatigue, but I know this could be from Crohn's itself

> • low blood pressure

> • startle easlily

> • food cravings

> • gain weight mostly in my belly

>

> The thing is, I don't know if I'm just normally like that. I've actually had

those symptoms well before Crohn's.

>

> Also, one other strange thing I noticed is that I lost weight when I was on

Prednisone. Granted, I was flaring at the time, but when I flare not on

Prednisone, I didn't lose as much weight. It kind of makes me think that

something else may be going on.

>

> Sooo...(I thank anyone who took the time to read all that!), my questions are:

> • Do you think I have adrenal fatigue?

> • Is there any way to confirm this? From what I've read, conventional MDs

don't believe in it.

> • What do I do besides rest and eat well?

> • I exercise quite a bit (not nearly as much as I did pre-Crohn's) , so

should I back off, and how much?

> • I know thyroid issues can also go along with this, but I get very confused

with the different tests. I had a thyroid test done a few months ago due to the

lack of a period, but my gyno said it was OK. However, i know the test they run

are not usually enough to tell you if you have a problem, from what I

understand. I just don't know what to ask for.

>

> Can anyone please help? Sorry this is so long. I just kind of feel stuck.

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> Amber

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the link, Amelia!

> >

> > Amber,

> >

> > I just found a good integrative medicine doctor (thanks, Sky!) and he did

blood and urine checks on my TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and reverse T3. He also did

a blood check on my D3 levels. He did a saliva test on my DHEA and Cortisol

levels. My regular GP did a good blood work-up as well and confirmed that my

B12 levels and Ferritin levels were great, so that wasn't complicating things.

Probably the three most important things in my diagnosis was the D3 levels (off

the bottom of the chart -- go figure in sunny Scotland!), my cortisol levels

(spiked high in the morning, then dropped to very low and basically flat-lined

the rest of the day), and the reverse T3 (way too high). In short, with good

ferritin and B12 levels and 'good' TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 levels (also done

by normal GP), my GP deemed me just fine and all looked fantastic, I should feel

fine. However, the integrative doctor discovered that the Free T3 and Free T4

were 'good' only because

> > I had high reverse T3 which is inactive and blocking the receptor site for

the normal T3 and therefore I wasn't have the benefit of the active/normal T3.

He also discovered that because my cortisol was so low most of the day, I wasn't

getting into the cells what little T3 was making it into the receptor sites.

These things together explained my hypothyroid and adrenal fatigue symptoms

inspite of 'normal' lab results. And yes, my GP did do a cortisol check, by

blood and only in the morning -- which is when I spike and so allowed her to

think I was 'normal.' And that the very low D3 was really complicating things

as well. He has put me on adrenal cortex supplements to help regulate the

cortisol levels along with vitamin supplements to support the adrenals and

thyroid. I am also taking D3, but I don't think it is enough but as we will

permanently (well for the next 4 years anyway!) be in a much sunnier climate in

about 5 weeks time, I am not too

> > fussed about it at the moment. After I have gotten a bit sorted on this

regime and gotten better cortisol levels, he will see about addressing the high

reverse T3 and check for yeast issues (was required to take antibiotics every

time I wanted my teeth cleaned for 25 years due to a misguided medical community

response to my so called prolapsed mitral valve). I am doing better, not

perfect, but I can tell a difference in energy levels, attitude, mental clarity,

and sex drive (whoo hoo!). I have only been on the supplements about 2 weeks

and my progress is up and down at the moment, but definitely see improvements.

> >

> > I cannot stress to everyone enough that getting your adrenal and thyroid

systems in good working order is imperative to good health -- not just good

output of hormones but good response to those hormones. My body was just barely

coping and according to test results had been for a number of years and to all

the doctors I looked to be in perfect health. Great teeth, lots of hair, looked

young for my age, normal weight, good lab results, etc., yet I was barely

keeping my head above water coping with cooking, laundry, kids and homework. My

husband (the UC sufferer that started us down the road to good health) was

having to take up more and more of the slack. It is amazing how far and long

the body can cope with imbalances, and how far we sink and settle for

sub-optimal living before someone says something and rattle our cages a bit to

get us to realize that what we think is 'normal' isn't and that life and health

can actually be much better.

> >

> >

> > Amelia

> >

> >

> >

> > ____________ _________ _________ __

> > From: fossil.color <fossil.color@ ...>

> > To: BTVC-SCD@yahoogroup s.com

> > Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 8:06:51 PM

> > Subject: OT- adrenal fatigue questions

> >

> >

> > I've read a few articles on adrenal fatigue and skimmed through the posts

here. I'm still confused, because it seems like the symptoms can be very broad

and vague. I have a few questions.

> >

> > Here's some background info-

> > I was diagnosed with Crohn's last June, so it has almost been a year. The

few years previous to that I was extremely active running marathons, plus extra

cardio and lifting (I only tell you this because it seems that may have already

been taxing my adrenals). I was definitely over exercising and not getting

enough rest. Then the Crohn's came on, and obviously since then, things haven't

been the same. I have only had my period once since my diagnosis.

> >

> > My weight has been up and down a bunch within a 40 pound range which I know

can affect my period. I've had a few times where I didn't fuel enough, I lost my

period, but it was only a month or two and it came back. Normally, I was always

regular.

> >

> > Since my diagnosis, my meds have been Remicade and Methotrexate. My last

flare was the beginning of March. The meds were not working, and they doubled my

Remicade dose. That only lasted for a few days out of the hospital and my fevers

(one of my main symptoms) started coming back. So they put me on Prednisone, 40

mg, which actually worked for me this time. (When I was originally diagnosed,

they put me on Pred, but I got a lot worse until I got my first Remicade.)

> >

> > As far as symptoms and testing, I tried the Iris Contraction test and

failed. My pupils wavered a lot. Is this test legitimate?

> >

> > Other symptoms I have are :

> > • fatigue, but I know this could be from Crohn's itself

> > • low blood pressure

> > • startle easlily

> > • food cravings

> > • gain weight mostly in my belly

> >

> > The thing is, I don't know if I'm just normally like that. I've actually had

those symptoms well before Crohn's.

> >

> > Also, one other strange thing I noticed is that I lost weight when I was on

Prednisone. Granted, I was flaring at the time, but when I flare not on

Prednisone, I didn't lose as much weight. It kind of makes me think that

something else may be going on.

> >

> > Sooo...(I thank anyone who took the time to read all that!), my questions

are:

> > • Do you think I have adrenal fatigue?

> > • Is there any way to confirm this? From what I've read, conventional

MDs don't believe in it.

> > • What do I do besides rest and eat well?

> > • I exercise quite a bit (not nearly as much as I did pre-Crohn's) ,

so should I back off, and how much?

> > • I know thyroid issues can also go along with this, but I get very

confused with the different tests. I had a thyroid test done a few months ago

due to the lack of a period, but my gyno said it was OK. However, i know the

test they run are not usually enough to tell you if you have a problem, from

what I understand. I just don't know what to ask for.

> >

> > Can anyone please help? Sorry this is so long. I just kind of feel stuck.

> >

> > Thanks in advance,

> >

> > Amber

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Alyssa,Some of the things that might happen are heart palpitations for no reason (racing heart, but were sitting still or relaxed), feeling jittery, feeling very tired or sleepy when you have no other reasonable explanation, feeling cold but feet or under arms are sweaty, base body temp is below 98.6 (take 3, 6, and 9 hours after waking and average for 5 days), being under chronic stress (like a long-term illness, school/work), having trouble falling asleep at night or waking several times a night. You can read up on it at www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-infoThe above site is a wealth of information -- almost as good as the book.AmeliaTo: BTVC-SCD Sent: Thu, May 6, 2010 8:46:24 PMSubject: Re: OT- adrenal fatigue questions

I cannot stress to everyone enough that getting your adrenal and thyroid systems in good working order is imperative to good healthHey Amelia! I was just wondering what symptoms I should be on the lookout for to see if I have any adrenal issues. I'm saving all your emails that are dealing with this so that if I ever need to push my doctor to give me some tests, I'll have some info to give her. Peace =)Alyssa 16 yo UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per

dayPrednisone 30 mg 1x per day

[Guest guest]

The above site is a wealth of information -- almost as good as the book.Thanks for the website! I'm definitely reading up on it =) I already looked through the list of symptoms for hypothyroid; is this what I'm looking for? Or should I be looking into adrenal fatigue? Low cortisol? I'm not really sure what specific name/diagnosis/label I'm supposed to be looking at.Some symptoms I have that seem unusual (other than the obvious D from UC) are cold hands and feet, low body temperature, achy joints, haven't gotten my period yet, sometimes get jittery (though I've always attributed this to the prednisone; the timing seems to be there), and also "air hunger." This is the first time I've actually seen a name for feeling like I can't get enough air, but it happens to me all the time. Today, actually, I was noticing it a lot. I also have been feeling like I need naps in the afternoon lately, but that could be from getting up at 5:15 every morning =) Oh! And I noticed a symptom was not being able to eat in the morning. I usually just have a smoothie in the morning because as early as I have to eat (6:30 ish) my body can't seem to handle anything heavy. It doesn't make me nauseous, but it feels like it could come back up any second. I guess like my stomach is on edge or jittery or something. And I noticed the site mentioned osteoporosis as a symptom, which I have. I really appreciate your help on this! It's annoying how we have to try so hard to figure out whether we have thyroid/adrenal issues, when fixing/treating them could help so much. Peace =)Alyssa 16 yo UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per dayPrednisone 30 mg 1x per day

[Guest guest]

Amber,

I haven't decided whether or not to tell my doc about my saliva test. He would

probably just poo poo it. I see him in 2 weeks, and will pester him to order

more thyroid tests. So far, he's said no, but if I nag him enough, maybe it will

break him down ;-). I think asking for the antibody test for Hashimoto's is

completely reasonable, considering that it seems to go together with crohn's

quite often. If I don't get results from him, I'll have to *gulp* pay out of

pocket and see a " good " doctor.

I also don't like keeping info about my meds/supplements from my doc. Right now,

my GI thinks I'm on Humira. I actually stopped it last September, and started

LDN in January (against her advice). At my appointment in June, I'm going to

break it to her that I'm not taking Humira anymore, I'll just leave out the part

about how I haven't taken it in months ;-). I'll save the LDN info for another

appointment. No need to overwhelm her :-).

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

>

> Thanks for the link and the information,Holly! Keep us posted in what you find

out.

>

> I'm not sure if your doctor is open to the idea of adrenal fatigue, and I'm

pretty sure mine won't be. He's very mainstream. Anyways, I wonder what I would

do if I did find out I had adrenal fatigue. Do I go to my doctor about it, or

what course of action would I take to correct it?

>

> Do you think that if you find out that you have adrenal fatigue that you will

go to your doctor with that information, or do you plan on taking care of it

yourself?

>

> I'm curious how other people handle situations like that, because I feel your

doctor should be aware of all the supplements/drugs that you are taking. So if I

get tests outside of my doctor's office, how do I deal with taking care of the

issues without having my doctor on board. (Hope I'm making sense.) Anyone have

suggestions on dealing with this? I don't know of any alternative medical doctor

around here, and I'm not sure how to go about finding a reputable one.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Amber

[Guest guest]

Alyssa,It sounds like you have enough of the symptoms to seriously consider you might have a problem. I have always had cold hands and feet. I, too, was surprised by the 'air hunger' one. I actually experienced 'chronic hyperventilation' because of that and didn't realize it. You end up breathing from the top of the chest (which hyperinflates the lungs), instead of lower with your diaphragm. When I start feeling this, I make a concerted effort to engage my diaphragm. If you breath from the top too much, you will actually get too much oxygen and won't have enough C02, believe it or not -- which is why when someone hyperventilates, the remedy is to give the person a paper bag to breath into and out of, increasing the amount of C02 taken in.

Anyway, the funniest symptom that I saw in the book was cold bum! ; ) I have that one too -- HA! I would be looking at all the symptoms and reading about how they relate because it all feeds back on each other. It sounds like you might be having low stomach acid issues if you are not hungry in the mornings. If this is happening, then it is possible that you aren't digesting and absorbing nutrients and supplements properly. I think the biggest ones to suffer are the absorption of iron and B12, which might explain the anaemia. If you haven't seen it mentioned on the site yet, low body temperature has the side-effect of low enzyme activity -- enzymes work best at normal body temperature -- 98.6 -- and if it is too low, doesn't perform well which of course means that you are not breaking down your food well and not getting the vitamins/minerals/salts etc. from your food. I posted a

link yesterday for Amber of where you can look up doctors by state who test and treat thyroid/adrenal issues by physiological response, not just lab results. If you need me to post it again, I can.Yes, it is so frustrating trying to be our own doctors and advocates. Most of the time the symptoms are so vague or seemingly unrelated. Then when we realize it, it is hard to get a doctor to take us seriously. We have to be educated enough to counter their responses and know if they are doing the right tests! That just isn't right. I am just glad that there are good doctors out there that are catching on and clueing in. I am also glad that there are people out there sharing their experiences so that we can learn and then find those doctors. And you thought you would be finished with 'learning' when you graduated college! ; )AmeliaTo: BTVC-SCD Sent: Thu, May 6, 2010 11:02:44 PMSubject: Re: OT- adrenal fatigue questions

The above site is a wealth of information -- almost as good as the book.Thanks for the website! I'm definitely reading up on it =) I already looked through the list of symptoms for hypothyroid; is this what I'm looking for? Or should I be looking into adrenal fatigue? Low cortisol? I'm not really sure what specific name/diagnosis/ label I'm supposed to be looking at.Some symptoms I have that seem unusual (other than the obvious D from UC) are cold hands and feet, low body temperature, achy joints, haven't gotten my period yet,

sometimes get jittery (though I've always attributed this to the prednisone; the timing seems to be there), and also "air hunger." This is the first time I've actually seen a name for feeling like I can't get enough air, but it happens to me all the time. Today, actually, I was noticing it a lot. I also have been feeling like I need naps in the afternoon lately, but that could be from getting up at 5:15 every morning =) Oh! And I noticed a symptom was not being able to eat in the morning. I usually just have a smoothie in the morning because as early as I have to eat (6:30 ish) my body can't seem to handle anything heavy. It doesn't make me nauseous, but it feels like it could come back up any second. I guess like my stomach is on edge or jittery or something. And I noticed the site mentioned osteoporosis as a symptom, which I have. I really appreciate your help on this! It's annoying how we have to try so hard to figure

out whether we have thyroid/adrenal issues, when fixing/treating them could help so much. Peace =)Alyssa 16

yo UC April 2008, dx Sept 2008SCD June 2009 (restarted)Azathioprine 75 mg 1x per dayPrednisone 30 mg 1x per day

[Guest guest]

overwhelm her!!! they need to know scd works and they better step up to the

plate or they're fired!!! been thru a few bad docs - can you tell???? lol!!

eileen 2 years 4 months scd

> >

> > Thanks for the link and the information,Holly! Keep us posted in what you

find out.

> >

> > I'm not sure if your doctor is open to the idea of adrenal fatigue, and I'm

pretty sure mine won't be. He's very mainstream. Anyways, I wonder what I would

do if I did find out I had adrenal fatigue. Do I go to my doctor about it, or

what course of action would I take to correct it?

> >

> > Do you think that if you find out that you have adrenal fatigue that you

will go to your doctor with that information, or do you plan on taking care of

it yourself?

> >

> > I'm curious how other people handle situations like that, because I feel

your doctor should be aware of all the supplements/drugs that you are taking. So

if I get tests outside of my doctor's office, how do I deal with taking care of

the issues without having my doctor on board. (Hope I'm making sense.) Anyone

have suggestions on dealing with this? I don't know of any alternative medical

doctor around here, and I'm not sure how to go about finding a reputable one.

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> > Amber

>

[Guest guest]

I've been through a few bad docs myself :-(. That's why I really need to keep

this one, she's way better then the last 2 guys I had, and there's really nobody

left for me to go to (within my insurance plan). I don't want to tick her off so

bad that she tells me to take a hike ;-).

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

> >

> > Amber,

> >

> > I haven't decided whether or not to tell my doc about my saliva test. He

would probably just poo poo it. I see him in 2 weeks, and will pester him to

order more thyroid tests. So far, he's said no, but if I nag him enough, maybe

it will break him down ;-). I think asking for the antibody test for Hashimoto's

is completely reasonable, considering that it seems to go together with crohn's

quite often. If I don't get results from him, I'll have to *gulp* pay out of

pocket and see a " good " doctor.

> >

> > I also don't like keeping info about my meds/supplements from my doc. Right

now, my GI thinks I'm on Humira. I actually stopped it last September, and

started LDN in January (against her advice). At my appointment in June, I'm

going to break it to her that I'm not taking Humira anymore, I'll just leave out

the part about how I haven't taken it in months ;-). I'll save the LDN info for

another appointment. No need to overwhelm her :-).

> >

> > Holly

> > Crohn's

> > SCD 12/01/08

[Guest guest]

i pay out of pocket for my good one and was lucky to find a GI covered that

knows of scd but still is not open to yeast (says it's controversial) while it's

clearly my prob - sorry you're stuck- but i hear ya!

eileen

> > >

> > > Amber,

> > >

> > > I haven't decided whether or not to tell my doc about my saliva test. He

would probably just poo poo it. I see him in 2 weeks, and will pester him to

order more thyroid tests. So far, he's said no, but if I nag him enough, maybe

it will break him down ;-). I think asking for the antibody test for Hashimoto's

is completely reasonable, considering that it seems to go together with crohn's

quite often. If I don't get results from him, I'll have to *gulp* pay out of

pocket and see a " good " doctor.

> > >

> > > I also don't like keeping info about my meds/supplements from my doc.

Right now, my GI thinks I'm on Humira. I actually stopped it last September, and

started LDN in January (against her advice). At my appointment in June, I'm

going to break it to her that I'm not taking Humira anymore, I'll just leave out

the part about how I haven't taken it in months ;-). I'll save the LDN info for

another appointment. No need to overwhelm her :-).

> > >

> > > Holly

> > > Crohn's

> > > SCD 12/01/08

>