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Adrenal Fatigue?
Replies
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snickerscharlie wrote: »I've been hearing about this more and more on social media as well as here on MFP.
Apparently, if you're suffering from an entire range of symptoms that are also very common to other ailments, you could be afflicted with 'Adrenal Fatigue.'
Curious as to people's understanding and experience with this syndrome, and whether you think it's genuine or bogus.
I'm currently on the bogus side, but am open-minded, even though the latest scientific study on this does not support Adrenal Fatigue as being a medically diagnosable/recognized ailment.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4997656/
Quoted from the website " caused by chronic exposure to stressful situations", which is another definition for "suffering from burnout". Would you consider that bogus too?0 -
Obviously this thread will run and run on distinct lines, those of us who have no/never had health issues and those on the other side who know they have been failed by general western medicine on the other. AF feeds into the Hypothyroid debate because it is part of the same feed back cycle including the pituitary gland, they both can drag the thyroid down if not treated properly, endocrinologists are supposed to ensure there are no issues but they don't. As long as our darling doctors refuse to measure our available t3, and thyroid antibodies, for Graves or Hashimoto' this will always be declared unsubstantiated. I believe this negativity s underpinned by the outcry of "hysteria" which was directed at women in the past because the male dominated medical profession did not and still do not recognise the different needs of and demands made on the bodies of the male and the female and need for t3 as well as a nutritious diet.
Before the official testing system was set in place there was one simple answer, Natural Desiccated Thyroid in all unexplained circumstances of ....(any of the 300 possible symptoms which gravitate to the poor health of primarily women. Today the tsh test, has been usurped by the medical profession, even the person who's name I forget, was known to have wished he had not provided the world with this test because it is not being used properly. STTM the American thyroid support site says of the "Numbers game", which all our specimens are held up to is unreliable because the status of the patients who's blood was tested in the initial research were not asked, 1. if they had a thyroid problem or 2.if a relative had a diagnosis: so this is not reflected in the pattern of expectations to which we are supposed to conform; then add that women are 10 times more likely to be compromised by these symptoms than a man so it is responsible for the lives of predominantly women being victimised as charlatans because of the lack of understanding.
Society is also to blame expecting women to look like stick insects (mo), demanding they eat like emaciated beings and tells them not to worry about the value of their nutrition, to Western Medics and Fashion gurus it matters not that the girl/woman before them is not receiving the nutrients, at least the 150 microns of iodine daily and other minerals and vitamins to enable her system to achieve all the demands this modern "caring" society requires.
To me, as one of the "in the know" persons, my husband is a believer too, he has seen me grow from the diminished, difficult to live with person I'd become following the old western medicinal rules, in constant pain and totally miserable, to someone who will tame the world, without the help of the people to whom I was supposed to show due deference. Our general health system closes the door to health to so many women causing them to leave the workforce because the persons to whom we turn will not keep up with the latest science, indicating the detrimental effects of antibiotic over use, poor diet. Look to the advice given by Functional Medicine who are helping many of us live a longer healthier lives once we have turned the tanker round. I've more going form me now than I had over 38 years ago, you only have my word for that so.... It was not my age, me being lazy or any other derogatory term used towards me over those years. It was having to follow the very worst advice going, in WGM.
Nay Sayers, please fell free to continue but allow us who know better to get on with our regained full and active lives before its too late which it would be if I still trusted my designated doctors.
ETA.
I'm confident to set a challenge to anyone who has poor health, at least gives this a go. Look into Functional Medicine. You have nothing to loose but your poor health.
To the bolded:
Adrenal fatigue has absolutely nothing to do with the thyroid as it is a fake disease. It was invented by a quack chiropractor in 1998 without any research. There is no evidence to support it. But that's typical of alternative medicine; take a real disease, invent a new sub-clinical version of it, claim it is diagnosed with non-specific tests or by any number of vague and subjective symptoms then sell the victim a slew useless supplements to treat the fake condition. And then the charlatans cry persecution when science asks for proof of the disease.
Function medicine is mixing real medicine with any and all quackery.
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/functional-medicine-the-ultimate-misnomer-in-the-world-of-integrative-medicine/
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In all honesty, I just don't know if adrenal fatigue is bogus or not because I have not studied up on it. However, how is this diagnosed? Don't you have to have your adrenal glands tested? I ask this because my man had to go through some testing of his adrenal glands due to a growth there. The doctors wanted to make sure they were correctly releasing his cortisol, which they were. But, adrenal fatigue was never mentioned as a possible diagnosis.0
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In all honesty, I just don't know if adrenal fatigue is bogus or not because I have not studied up on it. However, how is this diagnosed? Don't you have to have your adrenal glands tested? I ask this because my man had to go through some testing of his adrenal glands due to a growth there. The doctors wanted to make sure they were correctly releasing his cortisol, which they were. But, adrenal fatigue was never mentioned as a possible diagnosis.
Same for Mr. BurnEmAll.
Also, I wasn't aware that there was any credible debate regarding hypothyroidism.3 -
Well, since it is a fake disease it can't be diagnosed. But because quacks such as chiropractors, naturopaths, and functional/integrative medicine doctors can make a buck selling false hope to their victims they "diagnose" by having one or more of any of the following vague, non-specific symptoms:In all honesty, I just don't know if adrenal fatigue is bogus or not because I have not studied up on it. However, how is this diagnosed?
Tiredness, trouble getting up in the morning, needing coffee, cola, salty or sweet snacks to keep going, feeling run down and stressed, craving salty or sweet snacks, struggling to keep up with life’s daily demands, unable to bounce back from stress or illness, not having fun anymore, and decreased sex drive.
The above was the actual questionnaire given the quack chiropractor who invented the "disease"
Not in the sense you are thinking. The quacks will do "tests" that aren't validated that are performed by very questionable labs. Oh, these non-specific tests will cost you a lot money out of pocket.Don't you have to have your adrenal glands tested?
Because it's not a real diagnosis, as such real doctors don't mention it as a possible diagnosis. It would be highly unethical to to give a fake diagnosis.I ask this because my man had to go through some testing of his adrenal glands due to a growth there. The doctors wanted to make sure they were correctly releasing his cortisol, which they were. But, adrenal fatigue was never mentioned as a possible diagnosis.
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »In all honesty, I just don't know if adrenal fatigue is bogus or not because I have not studied up on it. However, how is this diagnosed? Don't you have to have your adrenal glands tested? I ask this because my man had to go through some testing of his adrenal glands due to a growth there. The doctors wanted to make sure they were correctly releasing his cortisol, which they were. But, adrenal fatigue was never mentioned as a possible diagnosis.
Same for Mr. BurnEmAll.
Also, I wasn't aware that there was any credible debate regarding hypothyroidism.
You're right, there is no debate regarding hypothroidism. But the alternative quacks realized this another area where they can score some easy cash and decided to get involved. So they manufactured a controversy where the isn't one.3 -
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Not always true. If symptoms persist, they likely spent an ungodly amount of money if it's not covered by health insurance.I'm confident to set a challenge to anyone who has poor health, at least gives this a go. Look into Functional Medicine. You have nothing to loose but your poor health.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I have not found it credible enough to even mention it to any client.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition 0 -
Its a real thing HOWEVER its being over played on social media like most things. If people are dieting and loosing fat they will have the same symptoms. So they do not have it. Its part of the dieting and your body adapting into using your stored fat, fat cells, into energy and when that happens and the fat is being released it also releases hormones which can raise estrogen levels. So for males you may experience similar symptoms but its mainly due to losing fat You can cause adrenal fatigue in other ways. One example is taking STIMS, caffeine, in large quantities for long periods of time that why is you so happen to get on a ECA stack you should cycle the C which is caffeine for those who don't know, I'm talking over 600mgs a day not 3 cups of coffee, a cup of coffee has about 80mg of caffeine as well as you sip or drink it not taking a pill that goes into your blood stream almost instantly. As well to note that the symptoms of Adrenal fatigue are similar to other underlying issues.
Bottom line is I am with you that it is "bogus" but it is a real thing and it should be diagnosed by a medical professional and not a self diagnoses. If you feel like crap dieting, increase your calories to maintenance for a week or take a break from exercising and then see how you feel. Most likely your symptoms will disappear completely.0 -
If no society of endocrinology agrees this is real, and medical specialties claiming it aren't recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and Association of American Medical Colleges, then I'm skeptical.
I'm confident to set a challenge to anyone who has poor health, at least gives this a go. Look into Functional Medicine. You have nothing to loose but your poor health.
^^ You actually run the risk that this "functional medic" believes in corticosteroid treatment and you end up with a whole other can of worms from corticosteroid treatment. I'd rather take the fatigue than the other disorders that come with corticosteroids.
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"Adrenal fatigue" is a hoax created by quacks/crackpots (naturopaths, "alternative medicine" practitioners, etc.). The term was coined in 1988 by a chiropractor, but there is no scientific evidence supporting it, nor is it recognized as a valid diagnosis by the medical community. This is supported by the systematic review linked in the OP. Adrenal fatigue is as bogus as "leaky gut syndrome", which is another imaginary condition made up by alternative medicine quacks. Both of them are about as real as catching the measles from Santa Claus.
This x1000...
It's nonsense and there's no evidence to prove it. I can't stand these chiropractors and CAM quacks who present it as fact. You would probably notice how no Medical Doctors, or Medical Scientists talk about it? You know, the people with an actual education that is based upon evidence and proven science. The opposite to these pseudo-scientific hacks. They act like they know what they're talking about and their oversimplification of metabolic and physiological processes appeal to the layman. So from there they can sell their stupid supplement or diet. People look for easy answers to complicated questions. They take advantage of that.1 -
CorneliusPhoton wrote: »The bolded, exactly, is me with depression. It is not just feeling sad.
But I am very glad that you have found something that has helped.
Are you taking ashwagandha? I took it for awhile and *think* it helped, but there really was no way to measure it. I rely 100% on lifestyle changes now.
I'm happy to hear that you have resolved your depression with lifestyle changes. One of the supplements I take for Adrenal health does contain Ashwagandha in addition to other things.0 -
VintageFeline wrote: »Out of interest, what supplements were recommended?
A specific supplement for Adrenal Health that I wasn't able to find right away, so I tried a few and found that Adrenal Health by Emerald Laboratories had the most positive impact on the way I felt. As symptoms improved, I have added Magnesium and Vitamin D to get to a place where I feel I'm at optimum health as long as I pay attention to my body.1 -
ketomaniac wrote: »I think what people refer to as "Adrenal Fatigue" is the over-activation of our Fight or Flight response, which then leads Chronic Systemic Inflammation in the body. This is usually a result of poor adaptation to environmental stressors and malnutrition.
Can you tell me how "Chronic Systemic Inflammation in the body" is diagnosed please?
There are plenty of inflammatory markers that can be tested for - which ones are raised in this condition?
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ketomaniac wrote: »ketomaniac wrote: »I think what people refer to as "Adrenal Fatigue" is the over-activation of our Fight or Flight response, which then leads Chronic Systemic Inflammation in the body. This is usually a result of poor adaptation to environmental stressors and malnutrition.
Can you tell me how "Chronic Systemic Inflammation in the body" is diagnosed please?
There are plenty of inflammatory markers that can be tested for - which ones are raised in this condition?
I was hypothizing that the over activation of the adrenals may lead to hypocortisolism which will in turn will lead to autoimmunity
So an unproven hypothesis then. OK.
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VintageFeline wrote: »Out of interest, what supplements were recommended?
A specific supplement for Adrenal Health that I wasn't able to find right away, so I tried a few and found that Adrenal Health by Emerald Laboratories had the most positive impact on the way I felt. As symptoms improved, I have added Magnesium and Vitamin D to get to a place where I feel I'm at optimum health as long as I pay attention to my body.
I just looked this up. Basically a B vitamins supplement. Plus your vitamin D. Both things people are commonly lacking and nothing to do with the fictitious adrenal fatigue. Not to mention hideously expensive from what I can tell. You could buy the same thing a lot cheaper and not go to a chiropractor who knows nothing about endocrinology.6
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