adrenal fatigue/hypothyroid

[Melinda Corey]

I am looking for some helpful thoughts re: adrenal fatigue/hypothyroidism. Based on symptoms and temp charting, I am almost positive this is my issue - really, really cannot afford testing right now, and I don't say that lightly. I've always invested in my health and been willing to spend what I need to spend for it, but in the past 3 months, we have had two major car repairs, a furnace repairs and a hospital bill in the thousands for an ER visit for my son that wasn't covered by insurance due to high deductibles. SO - that said - 

I am a 30 year old woman with one child (3.5). I have been eating WAP style for about 5 years or so...but I grew up eating total crap, all processed carbs, and ate that way until 5 years ago. I am also gluten-free. I have a vaccine-induced autoimmune skin disorder and chronic sinus issues.  I am working with a homeopath on this (have been for years with little results). I have tried everything and then some for all these issues - acupuncture, GAPS diet, Standard Process supplements, chiropractic, osteopathic manipulation, craniosacral - you name it. I do have silver fillings (5 small ones). 

Recently, I started having strange new symptoms - brittle nails, flaky scalp, sudden unexplained weight gain, insomnia, irregular cycles, increased anxiety. I started taking my temps and they are all over the place, but always low (an example day might be 98.1, 96.2, and 96.9, if I took my temp three times, three hours apart). 

I am overwhelmed by all the suggestions out there and would love to hear from people who have actually conquered this mess. I know I need to get more sleep, to start, but I assume sleep alone is probably not going to fix this! Any thoughts? 

[Kandy Inglis]

Melinda, just a couple of things come to my mind…how is your diet now?  Are there any big changes in your life, stressors, etc?  Have you moved to a new area?  If your child was younger, I would suspect hormonal imbalances for sure, but if this is new…? 

[Melinda Corey]

My diet is gluten-free WAP-style, though I am probably too high on the carbs. I have been eating GF bread and crackers out of convenience and didn't used to do that. 

This all started around December...nothing particularly bad/stressful happened. We moved/started new jobs in October last year but that was a very good change for us. Starting in December, we had a series of stressful financial problems hit us that totally drained our emergency fund and we still haven't recovered. That's the only thing I can think of. My son had a medical emergency last month, but all this mess started before that.

Coupled with the fact that my son STILL doesn't sleep through the night, so basically I've been sleep-deprived for 3.5 years...

[Kandy Inglis]

I would definitely do some research on adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism.  Job change, moving, lack of sleep, financial issues would be a lot for anyone to handle, no matter how "healthy" they are.  I would do whatever I could to address the sleep issues…if you DO have adrenal fatigue, oftentimes your cortisol levels are too high at night, which can wake you in the middle of the night.  Do you take iodine?  That can be somewhat controversial, but I would check that out, too.  I have found that if I really try to follow Pat's guidelines for "supplements", that I really feel much better.  It is a real commitment especially if you work full-time, but I would start there if you cannot have tests run.  There is a supplement by SP called Thytrophin, it is used to augment whatever thyroid hormone you have circulating.  I personally have had very good results with it.  I cope with no appendix, gall bladder or thyroid, and had such adrenal fatigue I was in a wheelchair last year, so I can certainly relate.  I will say that recovery from adrenal fatigue seems to be a very very long road, and often lonely.  If I had known then what I know now, I would have made huge lifestyle changes years ago.  I just didn't know =(.  Listen to your body!