DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND ADRENAL FATIGUE SYNDROME

happyheathen927

I have heard so many stories of people whose symptoms have been drastically improved by diet changes. Specifically, following a paleo/primal diet. If you're feeling this bad, and have been suffering for so long, what could it hurt to try an elimination diet for a month, just to see if it helps?

jamk1446

I was diagnosed (by blood labs) with adrenal insuficiency a few years ago and was prescribed Cortef.

It sounds as if your dose of Cortef isn't right but you have the confounding factor of weening off the anxiety/depression meds. Did they give you an estimated time to return to normalcy from them? I think it will be hard to judge an accurate HC dose until then. Be prepared that the road to adrenal recovery can be a long one. Most people need a minimum of a year on HC, I needed almost 3 years, gradually tapering down.

dallas4u

I am looking into the Paleo/Primal issue. I can only attach one issue at a time - my body is currently detoxing as I wean off the anxiety meds. Then, I am dealing with the adrenal fatigue. Then, diet adjustments. If I try to handle everything at once (a lot on my plate right now), I will feel overwhelmed.

I have read alot about anxiety and fatigue and how to treat naturally. Several sites mention the paleo diet as a treatment.

Is there a Paleo for Dummies site anywhere. I don't want to buy books or an expensive program, if that is what it entails.

ileen327

Hi, I have severe GAD ( general Anxiety disorder) have been on meds for years and just got off my Celexa about 7 months ago. I take Zanax XR 1 ml a day and keeps me pretty even keel. But in the last few months have been getting break through panic. I am going to a pshycologist on Friday. Dont want to go back on the Celexa, hate the sweating!!Really bad, ( because of being fat still its worse) I am going to agree with Butterfly, make sure you don't have sleep apnea, I was tested in November and I have it. Not too bad but,I have the CPAP machine and feel really awake and not groggy in the morning. Getting up early was never my thing, but now I do . Took me about 2 weeks to get used to the machine but now sleep great with it. Getting 7 to 8 hours solid sleep. And no snoring!! I can sleep in my own bed again after 2 years. The sleep will also help you lose weight. That is an advantage of quaility sleep.
Hope you feel better soon , best wish's Ileen

dallas4u

I was diagnosed (by blood labs) with adrenal insuficiency a few years ago and was prescribed Cortef.

It sounds as if your dose of Cortef isn't right but you have the confounding factor of weening off the anxiety/depression meds. Did they give you an estimated time to return to normalcy from them? I think it will be hard to judge an accurate HC dose until then. Be prepared that the road to adrenal recovery can be a long one. Most people need a minimum of a year on HC, I needed almost 3 years, gradually tapering down.

The dosage of Cortef was 10 mg as follows:

5 mg @ 8-10am
2.5 mg @ noon
2.5 mg @ 4pm.

I felt the cortef and my body responded with panic, elevated HR, and high BP. I have never had a BP of 150/110 in my entire life.

Weird because I read others being on 30mg-100mg of cortef a day.

tropicpalm

Hi there,

I am sorry to hear about your health concerns. I know how tough it is to feel motivated to make changes when you are depressed and tired. I have seen a lot of success for myself with diet changes. I started with Dr. Hyman's book UltraMetabolism (you can check it out on his web site). Dr. Amen has written books with similar dietary changes with the point of view of changing your brain function. On his web site, you can take a test to see where you can make changes that will improve your own situation. Mostly, it's cut out the junk, eat organic as much as possible, minimize starches and sugars, etc.

In spite of me doing all of these things, I still suffered with fatigue and joint pain so awful that I could barely walk up the stairs! I finally had a naturopath care enough to look over all of the lab work I had done over 8 years and she suggested I have my parathyroid checked. Long story, but I finally had the surgery to remove TWO adenomas (in spite of the endocrinologists here saying that "it wasn't that bad") and it made a huge difference for me. The other problem I have is hypothyroidism. I wasn't feeling right until I was changed to Armour thyroid instead of Synthroid. Recently, a new doctor decided that I should go back on Synthroid because Armour is compounded and therefore not consistent enough in dosage. Within days, the terrible aches were back, my nails were peeling and ridged, etc. I was changed back to Armour and everything began to improve again.

I share my story with you so you won't give up trying to find your OWN answers. Doctors are not sufficiently trained in nutrition to know how to use food as medicine. If you educate yourself, you will find the answers for your own situation. Since my experience, I only go to doctors who are willing to be partners in my medical treatment rather than those who come to hasty conclusions and treat before they consider all options.

Don't give up! I wish you much success in finding the answers you need to improve your health as well as lose the weight.

Sincerely,
Cat

CarmenSRT

It's odd that you have a "naturopath' prescribing medication. In Texas the law does not allow that. In any event, you are the one who gets to pay the price so it's up to you. I hope you are telling the real doctor everything the 'naturopath' is doing. That will give them a chance to save you from the worst of the damage that you're at risk for.

Good luck.

odusgolp

*cough* Excuse me.

MaraDiaz

I have fit all the signs of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome for years, and for years I've waited for mainstream physicians to acknowledge its existence. Maybe someday.

I'm not messing with the alternative doctors. I'm just not interested. For me the symptoms seem to be tied in part to my immune system, I'm guessing my allergies really play havoc with it.

MissJanet55

I can sympathize. I've also been tired most of my life. I have woken up rested so seldom that I actually remember the last time it happened. It was an event.

I'm in a similar situation with adrenal fatigue, also diagnosed by a naturopath. It's being treated with supplements, though, and I'm not experiencing side effects. There are some very good books about adrenal fatigue that are worth looking for, and some changes you can make to your diet.

One recommendation is to go to bed before 10:30. I was sceptical about this, especialy as I have never slept well, but I do find that this makes quite a difference for me.

Friend me if you want. Good look with resolving this. I think there are so many of us with these vague symptoms that there must be something that is fixable. It's a shame doctors keep throwing anti-depressants at it. I've been depressed, and I've felt like this, and it's different.

jamk1446

I was diagnosed (by blood labs) with adrenal insuficiency a few years ago and was prescribed Cortef.

It sounds as if your dose of Cortef isn't right but you have the confounding factor of weening off the anxiety/depression meds. Did they give you an estimated time to return to normalcy from them? I think it will be hard to judge an accurate HC dose until then. Be prepared that the road to adrenal recovery can be a long one. Most people need a minimum of a year on HC, I needed almost 3 years, gradually tapering down.

The dosage of Cortef was 10 mg as follows:

5 mg @ 8-10am
2.5 mg @ noon
2.5 mg @ 4pm.

I felt the cortef and my body responded with panic, elevated HR, and high BP. I have never had a BP of 150/110 in my entire life.

Weird because I read others being on 30mg-100mg of cortef a day.

10mg total isn't a lot but as I mentioned, you have the anxiety/depression meds to contend with, that may be throwing things off. Your plan of addressing one issue at a time- weening, diet, adrenal may help you figure out what specifically is working and what isn't. But you should have routine follow up labwork to help adjust the HC accordingly.

dallas4u

It's odd that you have a "naturopath' prescribing medication. In Texas the law does not allow that. In any event, you are the one who gets to pay the price so it's up to you. I hope you are telling the real doctor everything the 'naturopath' is doing. That will give them a chance to save you from the worst of the damage that you're at risk for.

Good luck.

I will also share with you that I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). I had all the text book symptoms (erratic periods, acne, facial hair) and sought treatment from my teens to 30s. I went to multiple MDs (including my primary doc, endocrinologists, and ob-gyns) but no answers. I was pretty dismissed for this condition until I turned 32 when PCOS became "mainstream" and scientifically acceptable to acknowledge. They finally gave me an ultrasound and then I was put on Metformin. My periods regulated, acne went away, I lost 40 lbs, and no more facial hair. Metformin was an absolute godsend Wish I was put on it when I was a teenager.

I get the impression from your posts that you have never been dismissed by a doctor or had a disabling condition where you could not function or get answers from any dr or specialist. Consider yourself lucky.

MissJanet55

It's odd that you have a "naturopath' prescribing medication. In Texas the law does not allow that. In any event, you are the one who gets to pay the price so it's up to you. I hope you are telling the real doctor everything the 'naturopath' is doing. That will give them a chance to save you from the worst of the damage that you're at risk for.

Good luck.

I will also share with you that I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). I had all the text book symptoms (erratic periods, acne, facial hair) and sought treatment from my teens to 30s. I went to multiple MDs (including my primary doc, endocrinologists, and ob-gyns) but no answers. I was pretty dismissed for this condition until I turned 32 when PCOS became "mainstream" and scientifically acceptable to acknowledge. They finally gave me an ultrasound and then I was put on Metformin. My periods regulated, acne went away, I lost 40 lbs, and no more facial hair. Metformin was an absolute godsend Wish I was put on it when I was a teenager.

I get the impression from your posts that you have never been dismissed by a doctor or had a disabling condition where you could not function or get answers from any dr or specialist. Consider yourself lucky.

It also took many years for mainstream medicine to accept that chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were real. Western medicine is traditionallly very slow to accept these things. For good and for ill. Doesn't mean they're not real.

Rhumax67

You've got a heavy load of medical problems. As far as the hydrocortizone--it can worsen your mental health issues, blood pressure and make you gain weight.You should check with your mental health providor, it might be best to put a hold on any further reductions of the benzos & SSRIs until your adrenals are working again.

I know exactly how you feel about the hunger & the 2 pizza thing--I've actually come close to eating the 2 pizzas.Just hang on & do the best you can. Try to make sure you exercise at least 30 min a day (weight bearing--walking is good) It's really dangerous to go off steriods cold turkey. They have to be tapered. I've been dropping 1 mg a mo. I'm down to 4. How fast depends on how long you've been taking it & the underlying disease. I'm on prednisone still a steriod but different from yours. The drug was a life savior, but boy the side effects suck!! You don't really have a choice, once they get your adrenals working you should be much better.

crazy4fids

bump

happyheathen927

There actually is a Paleo for Dummies book, co-written by author/blogger Melissa Joulwan (http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/), but it's not that complicated. Eat meat, fish, veggies, healthy fats, limited fruits and nuts. No processed foods. No grains or legumes. Some folks do dairy, some don't. That's about it. The aim is to limit or eliminate foods that cause inflammation in the body. Grains are a big culprit. Eliminate the causes of inflamation, and the symptoms go away.

happyheathen927

Oh, and one of the known side effects of prednisone is type 2 diabetes. Ask me how I know.