See! i forgot to list supplements? this is how bad its got.

I take vitamin C, vitamin b12, vitamin b6.

Magnesium in the evening as i was advised by someone.

I also have began to take some probiotics which seem to clear the fog slightly.

the relation lay in the HPA dysregulation.
perhaps your adrenals being stressed had poor signaling in dopamine this reflected to dopamine in brain, prolactin dominates.

You may need tyrosine+b6 +mucuna puriens+SAm-E to improve your cortisol levels but start with low doses since your levels can cause some regection.

Iam may suspect that you need more sunlight and grounding if possible.

Fat intake may help,saturated like in eggs and coconut oil(virgin)

if you can lower and drop the antidepressent that will be good and use some healthy substitues

your prostatis can be dealth with lowering inflammation,checking for cholestroel, perhaps you need more omega3 and zinc and maybe probiotics.

but your estradiol is low, maybe something to do with liver or diet.

DHEA, supplement with magnnesium at night, maybe DHEA for 15mg or 30mg at night.

JNJT im not a medical practitioner, dont have a solution but here are my thoughts after reading your messages:

- so you have a starting point with the traumatic events but later you have developed more
- try to have decent tests: for prostatitis and for other infections if any. constipation is a clue sure
- yes is possible you have developed yeast infection but not only; other bacterial overgrowth might occurred after Antibiotics . any stool tests?

- i would try and see/test if I feel better with less proteins and sulphur food. more carbs? if constipation is a problem might wanna try enzymes pancreatic and bile supplementation see if it helps
- see if youre better without B12 some people have problem with it.
- i encourage you to have a diary for foods and supplements reactions


- to me it looks like low testosterone "libido was gone, i have severe erectile dysfunction, no libido, cold hands and feet, shrunken up genitals (lack of blood)"
- if you have "so much inflammation!" try to alleviate it. low cortisol cant control high inflammation. too much inflammation too long time >> low cortisol. stress could inflamme body as the infections also

- some simptoms make me think of histamine and adrenalin release "headaches but not to severe, BRAIN FOG, heart palpitations. SEVER INSOMNIA! I CANT SLEEP, anxiety, constipation"

- thats half true IMO "The doctors think it is all in my head" you can definitively be affected by the traumatic events for sure but antidepressants alone are not enough. see hormones balance also and infections. have you tried psycho therapy for trauma? or similar?

- if you have low cortisol supplementing only with DHEA might worsten the symptoms "Is DHEA safe to take?" in any case someone would start with very low doses
- i personally have low dhea and bit high cortisol and 5 mg of dhea is ok for me.

seems you need a good doctor and gp might be overwhelmed with your issues.
good luck

JNJT,

I went through heck the last two years. I have been combating adrenal issues for 10 years since stress sent me downhill. I have a whole list of symptoms which grew worse two years ago when I could not do much. Since then I would say about 90% healed. After years of trying to figure out what to do to heal I put some information together.

More and more stress wears you down if there is no relief from it your brain gets stuck in a stress cycle and affects your body. Your health starts deteriorating and causes more stress. Stress drains your body of energy causing your adrenals to overwork. It usually effects your thyroid first but maybe not in your case. There are a lot of people who do test normal but are suffering from low thyroid symptoms.

I used to wake up with tremors. That maybe hypoglycemia. My nutritionalist advised me to eat more fat for about 4 days and make sure I get plenty of protein. That cured my shakes.

I was really sick for 6 more before my doctor suggested a program to get me out of the trauma loop. Seems my brain had gotten stuck in a stress state that caused a sort of brain damage. Stress effects your limbic system in your brain and it gets addicted to the stress. It becomes like a drug. The brain retraining program my doctor directed me to do was called Dynamic Neural Retraining System. It got me out of the trauma loop and back to life. It help me build back more positive neural pathways. It does take time but it was like a miracle for me. I was able to shop again and go places. I book I would read along with doing DNRS or something like would be Joe Dispenza’s “You Are The Placebo”. It tells you in more detail how to build new neural pathways.

Stress has also drained your minerals and your amino acids. The stress uses up your good amino acids leaving you low in them but you can replenish them. You might what to go to someone who specializes in Neurotransmitter testing. An excellent book with a self test is “The Mood Cure”. I do take some amino acids supplements but have recently added bone broth and gelatin back into my diet. Bone broth would really do you a world of good. It not only is high in amino acids but has a lot of minerals in it, it heals the gut and calms inflammation. With stress adrenals you should be taking some Sea Salt . I took a tablespoon a day. I could tell when I needed more because I would get dizzy. You also need to balance with potassium. I used coconut water and it is also healing for the gut. I have also recently upped my Magnesium to 800mg a day. It is really calming and makes a huge difference. I did have to go on a very low dose of antidepressants but chose to do amino instead of upping my dose. I plan to get off them in a year but it’s really important that you calm your mind and get it back on the new nuero pathways. When your stress goes down so will your inflammation and that helps boost your immune system.

The is also a formula for inflammation that I have found in the last month. It stop the process before it starts based on giving our bodies what it’s lacking. The formula is a good Omega 3 oil. I used Hemp oil and Omega 3 is also a huge gut healer. Salicylic Acid found in aspirin but I use White Willow Bark. The last ingredient is Glycine and amino acid. It is found in bone broth or gelatin. This is great before bed as it’s relaxing.

Take what supplements and medicines you can. The one thing you do have to watch out for is it takes energy for your body to process supplements. I discovered I felt better on days I did not take a lot of supplements. There are many people who can’t when they have a major AF crash. I gradually healed more with the brain retraining and introduce more and more supplements. The amino acids and Magnesium have been key too. Let me know if you have any questions.

JNJT,

I went through heck the last two years. I have been combating adrenal issues for 10 years since stress sent me downhill. I have a whole list of symptoms which grew worse two years ago when I could not do much. Since then I would say about 90% healed. After years of trying to figure out what to do to heal I put some information together.

More and more stress wears you down if there is no relief from it your brain gets stuck in a stress cycle and affects your body. Your health starts deteriorating and causes more stress. Stress drains your body of energy causing your adrenals to overwork. It usually effects your thyroid first but maybe not in your case. There are a lot of people who do test normal but are suffering from low thyroid symptoms.

I used to wake up with tremors. That maybe hypoglycemia. My nutritionalist advised me to eat more fat for about 4 days and make sure I get plenty of protein. That cured my shakes.

I was really sick for 6 more before my doctor suggested a program to get me out of the trauma loop. Seems my brain had gotten stuck in a stress state that caused a sort of brain damage. Stress effects your limbic system in your brain and it gets addicted to the stress. It becomes like a drug. The brain retraining program my doctor directed me to do was called Dynamic Neural Retraining System. It got me out of the trauma loop and back to life. It help me build back more positive neural pathways. It does take time but it was like a miracle for me. I was able to shop again and go places. I book I would read along with doing DNRS or something like would be Joe Dispenza’s “You Are The Placebo”. It tells you in more detail how to build new neural pathways.

Stress has also drained your minerals and your amino acids. The stress uses up your good amino acids leaving you low in them but you can replenish them. You might what to go to someone who specializes in Neurotransmitter testing. An excellent book with a self test is “The Mood Cure”. I do take some amino acids supplements but have recently added bone broth and gelatin back into my diet. Bone broth would really do you a world of good. It not only is high in amino acids but has a lot of minerals in it, it heals the gut and calms inflammation. With stress adrenals you should be taking some Sea Salt . I took a tablespoon a day. I could tell when I needed more because I would get dizzy. You also need to balance with potassium. I used coconut water and it is also healing for the gut. I have also recently upped my Magnesium to 800mg a day. It is really calming and makes a huge difference. I did have to go on a very low dose of antidepressants but chose to do amino instead of upping my dose. I plan to get off them in a year but it’s really important that you calm your mind and get it back on the new nuero pathways. When your stress goes down so will your inflammation and that helps boost your immune system.

The is also a formula for inflammation that I have found in the last month. It stop the process before it starts based on giving our bodies what it’s lacking. The formula is a good Omega 3 oil. I used Hemp oil and Omega 3 is also a huge gut healer. Salicylic Acid found in aspirin but I use White Willow Bark. The last ingredient is Glycine and amino acid. It is found in bone broth or gelatin. This is great before bed as it’s relaxing.

Take what supplements and medicines you can. The one thing you do have to watch out for is it takes energy for your body to process supplements. I discovered I felt better on days I did not take a lot of supplements. There are many people who can’t when they have a major AF crash. I gradually healed more with the brain retraining and introduce more and more supplements. The amino acids and Magnesium have been key too.

Alcohol in large quantities will raise cortisol. Low amounts of alcohols as in two drinks will lower cortisol. I find that two drinks is calming for me. As far as cigarettes they do alter your brain chemistry. They can relieve stress and that’s why people reached for cig when they get stress. Amino acids can also be used to kill cravings for alcohol and cigarettes. I made my husband use St. John’s Wort to increase his serotonin after switching to vaping. He was really crabby at first then the serotonin kicked in.

Let me know if you have any questions.

I visited Mexico last year and had very severe food poisoning. Worst I've ever had. Fever, frequent trips to the toilet, excruciating stomach cramps and sickness

Thank you all for your support and words.

I'm adamant I have an infection. Antibiotics haven't fdone anything for me, perhaps this is something like systemic candida.?
>>abx are often prescribed without much thought - it is best to identify the offending pathogen so you can target it with the right meds. Testing is hit or miss which can be a problem.

My stools are the strangest they've ever been, white stuff and undigested food, lots of mucous.

>>There can be a number of pathogens in the gut and this is the place to look for infection according to Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome doctor Leo Galland. Bacteria, protozoa, yeast/fungus, parasitic worms and viruses lurk there.

Linenup, what are your thoughts on the prolactin? Should I treat that with something like Cabergoline?
>>I don't know much about that, perhaps someone else can answer that.

Does dopamine have anything to do with adrenals?
>>Adrenals are responsible for a multitude of hormones including neurotransmitters including dopamine, noradrenaline etc.

I have some flucanazole which I thought I might take but was advised to fix the adrenals first. How can I fix them if I have such a chronic infection.

I think it's candida due to my stools, small rash that comes and goes on penis, prostate irritation and general awful feeling, Bain fog seems to lift taking probiotics.

== reply below
Im pretty sure the prolactin is what causing my sexual problems.

== Any luck determining the cause of the high prolactin--pituitary problem?

ve noticed that when i spend time with my girlfriend (shes foreign and we dont see each other much) things seem to ease off. My thinking is that im in a more relaxed state and dopamine is being increased...fighting the prolactin.

Its not an anxiety cause, although i struggle sometimes,

== You could try some magnesium glycinate, glutamine or GABA, maybe with a little B6.

I know some of you will jump to the conclusion that its all in your head!

== You have some abnormal test results.

== Sorry, HM = heavy metals.

== Try to understand the logic regarding the possible high DHT. Restoring your hair is not easy or inexpensive, a lot less expensive than the test. Prevention is important at your phase.

== Joe

I know you said you had a pituitary MRI - i assume to check for a prolactinoma? ..and the scan was clear then...yet due to the consistently high prolactin - i'm wondering if you do have a prolactinoma but it's very small millimetre in size - which potentially won't show up on an MRI in some cases.

Even in cases of women with ovarian masses - an MRI can miss small ones which are causing hormonal problems - yet the blood tests continue to show irregularities.
A wise endo would take ALL the results into account and not just rely on scans showing clear when other diagnostics show there clearly is a problem.

I *think* if i recall - for prolactinomas - IF they can be removed, they remove them and prolactin levels return to normal.
Yet if they are in a difficult position to be removed then drugs are given to block prolactin.

I'm surprised that you haven't been offered meds to block prolactin even.

I'm not saying that is THE route to go - but i think it's indicative there's a problem which general MRI scan cannot pick up.

Obviously if it is a tiny prolactinoma going crazy producing loads of prolactin - then i guess the route it follows generally is that it will get larger and your prolactin levels increase.

The only thing you can continue to push for with your doctors is regular prolactin tests.
With low estrogen i doubt you'll develop 'man boobs' but with high prolactin you might notice nipple changes, secretion from nipple - so keep an eye on that if there are changes.

Obviously so much can mess up hormones - it's never easy to find out why. It's been the bane of my life for a few years too - again, like you and many others here, without much help or support from a medical practitioner.

The Mexico infection could still be lingering?...a long, chronic, low-grade infection over time can disrupt many body systems.

It might be worth to go to the H.Pylori support forum on here and look at all the suggestions over there for natural ways to help 'kill' intestinal bugs without Antibiotics .

It's one route that's worth pursuing as gut imbalance seems to eventually lead to chronic ill health, hormone issues etc.

Time with your girlfriend will cheer you up especially as you don't often see her - it's natural that the symptoms wouldn't be so bad as you are flooded with joy, happiness, dopamine with seeing her - yet it goes to prove that for you to feel a bit better you need a very strong stimulus, and that is not normal.

I'm certainly not an advocate for the 'it's in your head' excuse for the incompetent industry of medicine.

Keep strong and work methodically with protocols - don't throw everything at your body all at once - which i did and rebounded strong in a bad way!

100mg of Vit C won't drop your cortisol to the levels you have.
Blood cortisol and saliva cortisol are 2 completely different ways to measure cortisol.
The never-ending debate is which one is more accurate.
I spent weeks researching this and trawling through study after study.
One study wanted to know exactly that answer and tested all hormones.
They found cortisol to be the MOST accurate tested with saliva out of all the hormones.
The blood cortisol readings, a formula is applied to work out the amount of 'free unbound to proteins' cortisol number.
In blood you get a value of free cortisol and bound to protein cortisol.
In saliva you get only the value of free cortisol.

Hormones in their bound state are thought not to be used by the body.
The studies done seem to confirm this.

So the blood value gives a value of both bound and free cortisol and the formula applied to work out free cortisol did not correlate to the saliva test in one particular study.
It demonstrated that the amount of free and bound cortisol varies from person to person and a formula can not be applied to get an accurate free cortisol value.

An ACTH stimulation test is when you are given ACTH to see if the adrenals respond to the ACTH by producing cortisol, as normal functioning adrenals should.

ACTH is released from the pituitary to signal the adrenals to make cortisol.

Firstly, you should get an ACTH test to see what your natural level is, before the stim. test is done.
If your natural ACTH is low, they then give you ACTH to see if the adrenals are able to make cortisol.
It's a way to determine if there is an adrenal problem or a pituitary problem with producing cortisol.

With your cortisol levels, you should have that done.

Many doctors are not well-versed in the research their peers have done on saliva testing and like robots stick to the protocol of blood tests for hormones.
It would take an 'out of the box' thinking GP to understand your saliva levels are alarming.

Maybe notify them of saliva hormone testing studies and cite that the military now use saliva testing for their employeess.
If it was completely inaccurate way to test, there is no way the military would be using such a method.

It's going to take years for protocol to be changed medically - until then it's up to us to literally print out studies, give them to doctors and help to widen their field of focus, in order to help ourselves and others.