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Fatigue and Adrenal Connection

“I just dragged through my day with a feeling of relentless fatigue.” Often patients claim it feels like they are carrying around a ball and chain that they just can’t seem to shake. Particularly at the hours of ten, two, and four they feel a major drop in energy production and concentration. After a careful review of their history and an examination, there are often many causational factors stemming from an immunological issues to lower hormonal levels and heavy metal exposure. These include Epstein Barr virus and other B-cell viruses, Lyme’s disease and more recently in Arizona, West Nile virus.

These pathogens, along with many others, affect the adrenal gland and it’s proper functioning. First and foremost, we need to rule out causational pathology and concurrently treat adrenal fatigue. Signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue are difficulty getting up in the morning, continued fatigued not relieved by sleep, cravings for salt or salty foods particularly foods that also contain excessive fats such as potato chips, french fries, etc., increased effort to do everyday tasks, decreased sex drive, light headed when standing up quickly, colds that drag on for multiple weeks, increased PMS, menstrual irregularities, bloating, and irritability.

There are several testing mechanisms to diagnose and effectively treat adrenal fatigue. First and foremost, a complete hormonal profile is utilized. This enables us to find out if there are other deficiencies that exist in the endocrine system. Additionally, we utilize the salivary adrenal function test, and then we follow a specific protocol that allows us to cross correlate this with hypoglycemia. In lipid profiles, we will often see an LDL problem. Finally, we utilize complete metabolic testing to rule out electrolyte imbalances along with renal and or hepatic problems.

Nutritionally, we treat with a combination of therapies; often intravenous and intramuscular therapeutics will bring about the quickest result. Additionally, some oral supplements that can be helpful are DLPA and vitamin C along with pantothenic acid. Several botanicals are also helpful, for example, Maca and Siberian Ginseng. Adrenal hormone replacement may also be indicated such as DHEA and pregnenolone. Occasionally, pharmaceuticals may prove to be beneficial in the first month or two of treatment.

It is important to remember that adrenal fatigue did not transpire overnight. It is usually a long-term reaction to either a pathogen or continuous, long-term stress. Recuperation time varies as much as three months to twenty-four months depending on the patient’s lifestyle and ability to comply with a therapeutic regime.

If our office can be of any further assistance in helping to diagnose and treat adrenal fatigue, please feel free to contact our office.