Just wanted to send a genuine THANK YOU to JBMH, the original poster, for the valuable info. Really has helped me put my trial and error into a useful perspective. Did I say THANK YOU?

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you for this thorough review of so many of the approaches taken for adrenal fatigue. I'm new to this and to CureZone. The reason I'm even here is that I feel like I'm going in circles with one set of "bad advice" or misinformation after another.

Here's the deal and I welcome any insight.

I've had AF for (I think) a couple of years. Exhaustion, extreme brain fog, worsening digestion, joint pain, insomnia, emotional burn-out/volatility, etc.

I just got my results of the 4-sample salivary cortisol and female hormone panel. I *think* the lab is reputable (this is Rocky Mountain Labs in Alberta, Canada) but I can't confirm that. I've hunted for buzz about them -- positive or negative -- and found nothing.

In any case, my cortisol is at the bottom of the "normal" range, and I know from how I've felt that if I'd done the test 3 weeks earlier, it may well have been far below the normal range. My pattern is that I go from feeling god awful and pretty much non-functional for 3-4 weeks at a time to feeling slightly better for several months. Then a stressor comes along and it kicks me back down again. Anyway, my results were as follows:

Morning cortisol: 4.1ng/mL (range is 2-11 ng/mL) so not too bad
Noon cortisol is 1.6 on range of 1.0 - 7.0, so significant drop.
Late afternoon cortisol is 0.95 on range of 0.50 - 3.5.
Bedtime cortisol is 0.36 on range of 0.20 - 1.3.

Here's where it gets tricky to understand, and by the way the samples were taken during midluteal phase.

DHEAS is listed as "above range": 11 ng/mL on range of 3.0 - 11.
Testosterone is listed as low: 19 pg/mL on range of 15-45.
Progesterone is listed as normal -- 140 on range of 50-250 pm/mL.
Estradiol is listed as normal -- 3.9 on rage 1.0 - 9.0.

So I'm trying to figure out why I have low corstisol and testosterone with high DHEAS. The only literature I've seen to discuss high DHEAS mentions tumors on or near the adrenal glands, or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). No idea about the possibility of a tumor, but I do not have symptoms of PCOS as far as I can tell.

I have a naturopath (new) who ordered these tests for me but I don't have a lot of faith in her. She prescribed Relora-Plex, AdrenaSense (contains 3 adaptogens) and vitamin B12. No vitamin C mentioned and of course now I learn (from your post and subsequent research!) that Relora indeed lowers cortisol and that the adaptogens likely do the same. Like you, I am skeptical of the idea that an adaptogenic herb can either raise or lower anything -- that it can be magically targeted to whatever particular issue you have. Most research implies that Siberian Ginseng, Rhodiola and Ashwaghanda lower cortisol. NOT what I need.

So supplement-wise, I have no idea what to do other than probably get a really good quality vitamin C supplement and slowly get going with it. I feel like I should toss out the AdrenaSense and Relora, and the licorice tincture, and just go with diet and a slow introduction of vitamins A, B, C, D, and E plus magnesium, calcium and zinc.

As for diet, I'm even more confused. I have had years of food sensitivities that I could never really identify and have recently embarked on a paleo diet -- no grains. This makes a lot of sense for me and I feel better digestion-wise, but I've read that AF folks need to be cautious about low-carb diets.... My naturopath is not much help. She recommended an "elimination diet" that includes things like snow peas and sorghum flour and bell peppers. Uh, I don't think that sounds like a good gut cleanse/elimination diet.

Anyway, there you have it. Thanks again for your fantastic post. No one person seems to have all the answers, yet through your trial and error I sense some hard kernels of truth that I will take over the vague claims made by all kinds of people about adaptogens and other routes to recovery. I recognize that this will be a long road. I just want to make the right choices.

Thanks for this post...I can totally relate to how you feel and I appreciate all of the information you compiled. It is very helpful .... hard to believe you are only 26 and have been through all of this. Good luck and thanks for all of the helpful advice. I am awaiting the results of my saliva tests now.

I am new to this forum. Actually it is the 1st time ever I register and participate in one of these. I am 18 years old, bed ridden, and occasionally find a little energy when I come out of my ongoing crashes. I was amazed by the information provided by Gaia/JustinBibierIsMyHero. Is anyone here still in touch with her? Do we know if she still continues to have success with her recommendations? Her post seems very helpful but is 4 years old.

This post is over 4 years old and it helped me so much! I actually contacted the Chinese herb lady and am taking her formulas. Its 2 weeks in and I feel really consistently great! Thank you so much for writing this post :)
Please let me know how you are doing many years later!
All my best!

Thank you! I was just diagnosed and I'm learning all I can.

Thank you for sharing your research. I've had similar experiences with many supplements that you recommend taking. I feel better reading this post because I am the same age and nobody understands how I could be so young, yet so exhausted. I'm wondering if you have tried L-DOPA or Dopa Mucuna? I haven't tried it yet, but I have read good things about it. Since you wrote that you are not on this forum very often, do you have an e-mail address
that I could contact you at?

-Elena

Very wise and thorough post Gaia. I can definitely relate, living with ongoing fatigue for many years.

Even the mention of Dr. Lam, whom I had also recently discovered. Vitamin C has been personally essential, but too much overloads sensitive systems.

Also I would like to add the influence of MTHFR genetic mutations on chronic fatigue, which more people are inheriting. Screening your genes can be inexpensively be done through 23andme, and then the methylation portion analysed by the GeneticGenie website. Methylation is a huge part of energy creation & detoxification by the liver. However once adrenal fatigue becomes chronic supporting the gene malfunctions does become more complicated.

Additionally Tyrosine is not only good for Norepinephrine production, it also helps create Dopamine, Thyroid and Adrenal hormones.

I have learned a lot too, over the years and am happy to help out. :)

test

Wow, I just want to thank you for sharing your story because I'm eighteen years old and struggling with some mild adrenal fatigue, yet have been quite discouraged and frustrated with the experience. Especially being so young and now going into my senior year of high school having to deal with such unstable energy levels, anxiety, hairloss, etc. However reading about your experience truly has inspired me and made me realize how good I have it. Kudos to you for having such an outstanding attitude! That takes some character and perseverence, and realizing that someone could have gone through such a difficult bout of AF without becoming bitter and losing hope has given me some much needed encouragement. Thankyou so much for sharing your story and these helpful tips. Good luck through the rest of your healing process, and thanks again!

I stopped reading at "JustinBieberIsMyHero"

hahahaha, give me a break..

and to conclude, no you didn't find the cure, 24 months to cure? So you didn't find, if you had found the cure you'd be healed, and not,
you are only dealing with and thinking that all you are doing is going to get anywhere

I realize this is an old post, but I'm gonna respond anyway --
Wow. Certainly reads like wisdom. I'm new on this journey and appreciate your insight very much. As you said, so many "bandwagons" out there. I jumped right into treating my condition with compounded hydrocortisone; I want to do all the right things to support my adrenals & whole body so that I don't get stuck taking it forever.

I'm familiar with your diet recs; was on similar (The Zone type thing) for hypoglycemia for years. I've gotten away from it, and completely off carbs & grains. Didn't realize the imbalance of high proteins could be worsening my AF. Bummer.

Printing out your post to reread -- and I never print anything! ;) Thanks again.

Very interesting post, Justin, if you are still around. I started taking Chinese herbs from Dragon Herbs. Apparently I have Kidney Yin deficiency and I have to say after a week I really find they are helping in every way, including raising blood pressure, instilling calm and energy, and helping sleep. These were the ones that were prescribed for me: Profound Essence, Codonopsis and Zyphius and Gemmostema. Will see how it continues to go, but I am quite impressed by how fast they started to work.

I have severe Ocd/tics and want to try inositol because the drugs over my lifetime have left me with terrible permanent side effects.
I have adrenal exhaustion, throughly worn out all the time and in fight or flight constantly. Cant relax at all. I have no money for saliva tests, and it seems they are not reliable anyway so what is the point?
You said in the article, that if you are overweight its not a good time to diet (if low cortisol) so wait until it has settled down 'and the weight will go on its own'... Well I cant see weight loss happening to a fat person unless they diet. Do you mean that perhaps some of my weight could be due to the adrenal problem? Weight doesnt just go on its own...