I'm a perimenopausal female who has been disabled by severe adrenal fatigue for over 2 years now. The most tormenting issue has been a marked sleep deprivation and altered circadian rhythm due to cortisol deficiency. When I say marked sleep deprivation, I mean I could be awake for over 72 hours and then my body may allow me to sleep for one hour. Before taking prescription meds to sleep, I tried all kinds of natural supplements without success. Even now, I have to wait until I take my morning cortisol dose (which is the highest of 5 mg) to take the sleeping meds with magnesium glycinate tabs & topical cream or the sleeping meds will not work at all. I can get into no bankable rhythm as before I would encounter a monthly horomonal shift at time of PMS and then any pattern of sleep would change, now the last 4 months this shifting pattern occurs at what would be the time of ovulation. I am aware of what the dinural pattern of cortisol should be in normal people and that the cortisol levels are lowest at night. However, my cortisol levels barely register after 11 p.m and if I take the sleep meds then they will not work AT ALL. Any sleep I get comes during the day. Current total dosage of Cortisol SR is 13.75 mg daily. After being discharged by my board certified anti-aging specialist, once experiencing financial hardship, after incurring over $15,000 medical debt in less than a year, I decided to take my Cortisol SR every six hours, as I could feel my body being depleted every 4-5 hours of cortisol. This has helped me to feel better. And also beginning to take high dose Vitamin C as mineral ascorbates with bioflavs, non-alcohol licorice root extract and juicing has helped me. Sleep deprivation has been the most tormenting symptom of all the adrenal fatigue symptoms I have. Others include: periorbital edema, swelling of fingers which goes down after 11 p.m, debilitating exhaustion, back & neck pain from inflammation and also 3 bulging discs in spine, dry skin, high cholesterol and hyperlipidemia, PMS, decreased tolerance, patience and ability to handle stress, irritability, feeling hopeless, depression (which has responded to 5 HTP 100 mg bid), and more symptoms. I don't feel human till after 11 p.m each night.
I need help to sleep!! I need sleep to heal. Also need to know if this is adequate amount of cortisol or if I need more without damaging my adrenal glands. I need to have a normal circadian rhythm again so I can function again and have a life. I went from an very active life to disability. Also need to know the root cause of adrenal fatigue or whether it was caused by series of stressors since 2006.

Recent medical history, beginning significant for cervical disc bulging, root canal on tooth that had decayed under porcelin crown (after root canal still felt pain in tooth even though root was dead -this tooth is still somewhat tender to touch), 2 lumbar discs went out, removal of cyst and tumor from vocal chords, years of only getting one hour of sleep between the hours of 5 a.m till 9 a.m then that shifted after vocal chord surgery and a round of steriods post operatively to keep swelling from happening in my throat. I also have about 8-10 mercury almagams and 5 root canals total from being in a car wreck as a teenager.