Hello everyone, I am a 24 years old male from the UK
I've been suffering from Adrenal Fatigue (stage 2 or stage 3, not sure) for just over 2 years now after a very stressful time in my life but found out I had it a month ago after reading Dr. Lam's website and other stuff which described my symptoms perfectly.
Due to my Adrenal Fatigue I also have sub-clinical hypothryroidism which does not require medication as the doctors say my levels are "slightly-abnormal" and to retest in 6 months time.
My main problem in these last 2 years has been insomnia or rather sleep maintanance insomnia and whereby I can get to sleep ok but wake up 4-5 hours later and either find it hard to get to sleep or if I do fall asleep, the sleep isn't very deep or refreshing and I also have heart palpitations. Even if I sleep 12 hours I don't feel refreshed and I also get many nasty headaches, tension-like.
I also have the other usual symptoms of adrenal fatigue like cold hands and feet, dry skin and brain fog etc.
Night-time urination has also played havoc with my sleep and it was only recently when I came across adrenal fatigue articles that I read that people with adrenal fatigue usually also suffer from LOW ALDOSTERONE.
I've noticed that the more sleep deprived I am, the worse my headaches are and I am more thirsty.
So, I've ordered some CELTIC Sea Salt and plan to have 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon everyday in water and see what happens. My blood pressure is 120/80.
Is there anything else I can do for my sleep and headaches as I am VERY DESPERATE and GOING MAD :(
- From the UK...
- Mixed sleeping problems...
- Definitely dysregulation of sodium/potassium due to hypoaldosteronism (although the NHS don't see it on my blood electrolytes)
I've noticed my connective tissues/skin are suffering with the cell dehydration (from the sodium losses).
My first morning urine used to be yellow and now it's clear as anything, although I have a very dry mouth/throat upon waking.
My sleep is currently facilitated by 500mg L-Tryptophan before bedtime, which seems to get me through the night (and I can even get back to sleep on waking - into the same dream!). You may experiment with others like melatonin, 5-htp etc. Of course, don't use these if you're on SSRI anti-depressants.
I agree, the hypoaldosteronism is driving me crazy too (it doesn't seem to be mentioned much around here). I bought a wrist blood pressure monitor and I keep my blood pressure around 120/130 over 70/80 by celtic salt dosing.
And to think I took my aldosterone for granted for the past 3 decades!
What research have you done here already?
Have you been for any other NHS tests like ACTH stim (short synachten test) to rule out Addisons/insufficiency?
Well, if it's subclinical enough (that is, a non-Addisons dysfunction), you won't be on the radar - that is, you're on your own.
Maybe you could see Dr. Peatfield in the UK (he does outreach days), who specialises in adrenal/thyroid problems, if you're after something conclusive.
The adrenal stress index (saliva x 4) test is a good start to see what your cortisol/DHEA is throughout the day.
Personally, I've contacted a practitioner in Scotland to begin with ARL's protocols, mainly because I suspect copper poisoning to be the final straw in bringing me to the later stages of AF.
Dr. Peatfield was mentioned on here before by homesickalien and it seems he's fairly well-respected.
Have you seen Dr. Rind's adrenal/thyroid symptom matrix? Google it...
Look up Bryan Walsh as well, which is a different take on things, whereby the problem is more in the HP part of the HPA axis, rather than the adrenals (i.e. upstream of the adrenals).
You can glean the information from other posts in this forum about added interactions of cytokines and neurotransmitters, which could tip the scales of the HPA dynamic in favour of excitatory/inhibitory (as if your adrenals are not burned out but just doing what they're told).
There's plenty about SSRIs too here, which is worthy of consideration.
Thank you for the information regarding Dr. Peatfield. I may see him in January 2011 as he will be visiting my area at that time. I need to know what is happening to me.
Does he only specialise in thyroid issues or adrenal also?
I use a ridiculous amount of salt these days. It started that I used what Lam suggested: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in the morning. I find now, that if I use the same amount at night before bed I sleep through the night and maybe wake up once to pee.
Prior to adding salt I was trecherously thirsty and peed up to 40 times in a day. I would pee up to six times in the middle of trying to teach a two hour art lesson.
Now, with my salt I probably pee 6 or 7 times in a 24 hr period. This feels way better and I'm sure that more minerals are being retained because of it.
Must you wait for salt to be shipped to you? Do you have a healthfood store near by? I use Real Salt and Himalayan Sea Salt .
Hmmm. My artist brain doesn't like to measure like that...A little bit here, a little bit there. Buuuuuut if I must... let's see... Probably two to three teaspoons.
No, not dryness. I have the opposite problem. I got dampness out the ying yang.
My nose drains, phlem in my throat, oily skin, oily hair... I've got dampness everywhere except for where I want it to go, which is INTO my BOWEL. Go there!!!!! Go! Go!
Hawthorne is great for the heart palps and pounding. I over did yesterday and today, I'm dragg'n. I went upstairs to collapse and my heart was pounding pretty hard. I should have gotten up then to take some Hawthorne, but I was so tired, I fell asleep anyway. When I woke up it was still pounding and I took the hawthorne. It really helps. I take what is recommended on the bottle, 3 capsules.
Magnesium glycinate (and I think magnesium oxide) are known for loosening the stools and the way they do that is by MOVING LIQUID INTO THE BOWELS. It also really helps with sleep (or can). 600 mg before bed.
Is your stool still yellow (instead of brown)? I was just reading about how that is due to the bile not arriving in the intestine which can mean a bile duct blockage which causes digestion to be bad and bad intestinal bacterial will flourish.
I used to have problems sleeping but after I started to incorporate these simple methods to my lifestyle, I am now able to sleep very well every night..
Try worrying less, exercising daily and eating plenty of healthy foods like vegetables and fruits..You can probably try relaxation techniques like mediatation and praying...Laugh more, worry less, be happy and you will have a good sleep!!
Just use tryptophan. It is available in the US now. Since it helps make serotonin you don;t need much after the first month... or I don;t. I have had adrenal exhaustion problems for years... and altho my stress is better i seem to vascillate in and out of exhaustion.
One naturopath said maybe i don;t make an enzyme or something. this REALLY makes a difference for me.
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Insomnia and thirst, going mad :( 
