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Adrenal fatigue or burnout? (bloodwork included)
For the past 6-7 months my problems/symptoms have been getting worse and worse. Some things I can deal with, but some of this I absolutely cannot. Here are the major symptoms I am experiencing.
- intolerance to exercise
(i.e. I can work-out as usual, but about 4-5 hours later, I start to feel awful. Even with the right rest and nutrition, these symptoms are unavoidable, and are as follows:
- inability to sleep (it is absolutely impossible to sleep on nights that I workout, even though my workouts are in the morning. Whatever chemical imbalance occurs as a result of working out, it takes one full day for things to equilibrate, and for me to be able to sleep again)
- temperature intolerance (I cannot think of another way to describe this feeling, but 4-5 hours after working out, I get extremely uncomfortable, hot, headache, and start sweating. If I turn up the A/C, or get under a fan, I get very cold, and uncomfortable)
- extreme irritability (this only happens later in the day following a workout. I feel like I go out of my way to become irritated over absolutely nothing (even though I am a very passive person). again, this never happens unless i exercise.
-joint pain/weakness (my wrists and knees hurt. I actually seriously injured my right wrist 5 months ago in the gym, and once it finally healed (3 weeks ago), I injured my left one. My joints are much weaker now than they ever have been, and they are very prone to injury).
(i should also note that these symptoms are not just something I noticed a few times - this has been ongoing for several months)
I dont know what my problem is, I feel like it has to be adrenal. All I know is, on days that I do not workout, I feel much better (although still very fatigued). And whatever my problem is, once provoked, it begins to spill into the CNS, creating a variety of symptoms that can ultimately be summed up as "feeling like ****."
I went to the doc. about 4 months ago to try and get this sorted out. I had some bloodwork done, and it showed elevated CPK and aldolase. doc. told me to stop working out at that time - to take a break. My workouts were pretty lengthy and intense at that point, so I toned down the intensity, and started exercising only every other day.
This did not help, my symptoms still became increasingly bad, and I was getting less and less sleep. I had some more bloodwork done last week, which I will post here, but before that I'd like to give a breif background of myself before posting the labs.
I have been a very avid bodybuilder for the past 5 years. My workout, rest, and nutrition has always been very on-point, and it has always shown.
About 10 months ago, I was prescribed an ADD drug (Strattera), which I honestly didn't even need. He prescribed it to me because I was looking for a script for Adderall - another thing I didn't need, but I wanted at the time (things were starting to get a bit stressful w/ school - i'm a 4th yr. biochem major @ UF)
Anyways, long story short, I took strattera for about 3 weeks (first 2 weeks of low dosage), and in my last week, I lost 17lbs (at least 10 of which being muscle) in a matter of 6-8 days. I immediately stopped taking the drug. I went from 170lbs (6-7% bodyfat, 5'5"), to 153lbs. I was about as skinny as I was when I first started training 5 years prior. This was very detrimental to me in general (overall health/morale/training). 10 months later (now), I've gained back maybe 30-40% of what I lost - it has been very difficult.
Ever since this Strattera incident, and the weight loss (muscle/bone) associated w/ it, I have had all of the symptoms previously described, which have gradually been getting worse and worse. I have now officially stopped working-out for the time being, as I can no longer handle all of these new problems that go along with it. I'm going to allow whatever ailments to heal for the time being, so I can hopefully revisit my normal bodybuilding lifestyle sometime next year.
Sorry for the lengthy post - here are my labs:
http://img215.imageshack.us/f/scan0001qxj.jpg/
http://img687.imageshack.us/f/scan0002ui.jpg/
http://img215.imageshack.us/f/scan0003mv.jpg/
http://img293.imageshack.us/i/scan0004x.jpg/
- intolerance to exercise
(i.e. I can work-out as usual, but about 4-5 hours later, I start to feel awful. Even with the right rest and nutrition, these symptoms are unavoidable, and are as follows:
- inability to sleep (it is absolutely impossible to sleep on nights that I workout, even though my workouts are in the morning. Whatever chemical imbalance occurs as a result of working out, it takes one full day for things to equilibrate, and for me to be able to sleep again)
- temperature intolerance (I cannot think of another way to describe this feeling, but 4-5 hours after working out, I get extremely uncomfortable, hot, headache, and start sweating. If I turn up the A/C, or get under a fan, I get very cold, and uncomfortable)
- extreme irritability (this only happens later in the day following a workout. I feel like I go out of my way to become irritated over absolutely nothing (even though I am a very passive person). again, this never happens unless i exercise.
-joint pain/weakness (my wrists and knees hurt. I actually seriously injured my right wrist 5 months ago in the gym, and once it finally healed (3 weeks ago), I injured my left one. My joints are much weaker now than they ever have been, and they are very prone to injury).
(i should also note that these symptoms are not just something I noticed a few times - this has been ongoing for several months)
I dont know what my problem is, I feel like it has to be adrenal. All I know is, on days that I do not workout, I feel much better (although still very fatigued). And whatever my problem is, once provoked, it begins to spill into the CNS, creating a variety of symptoms that can ultimately be summed up as "feeling like ****."
I went to the doc. about 4 months ago to try and get this sorted out. I had some bloodwork done, and it showed elevated CPK and aldolase. doc. told me to stop working out at that time - to take a break. My workouts were pretty lengthy and intense at that point, so I toned down the intensity, and started exercising only every other day.
This did not help, my symptoms still became increasingly bad, and I was getting less and less sleep. I had some more bloodwork done last week, which I will post here, but before that I'd like to give a breif background of myself before posting the labs.
I have been a very avid bodybuilder for the past 5 years. My workout, rest, and nutrition has always been very on-point, and it has always shown.
About 10 months ago, I was prescribed an ADD drug (Strattera), which I honestly didn't even need. He prescribed it to me because I was looking for a script for Adderall - another thing I didn't need, but I wanted at the time (things were starting to get a bit stressful w/ school - i'm a 4th yr. biochem major @ UF)
Anyways, long story short, I took strattera for about 3 weeks (first 2 weeks of low dosage), and in my last week, I lost 17lbs (at least 10 of which being muscle) in a matter of 6-8 days. I immediately stopped taking the drug. I went from 170lbs (6-7% bodyfat, 5'5"), to 153lbs. I was about as skinny as I was when I first started training 5 years prior. This was very detrimental to me in general (overall health/morale/training). 10 months later (now), I've gained back maybe 30-40% of what I lost - it has been very difficult.
Ever since this Strattera incident, and the weight loss (muscle/bone) associated w/ it, I have had all of the symptoms previously described, which have gradually been getting worse and worse. I have now officially stopped working-out for the time being, as I can no longer handle all of these new problems that go along with it. I'm going to allow whatever ailments to heal for the time being, so I can hopefully revisit my normal bodybuilding lifestyle sometime next year.
Sorry for the lengthy post - here are my labs:
http://img215.imageshack.us/f/scan0001qxj.jpg/
http://img687.imageshack.us/f/scan0002ui.jpg/
http://img215.imageshack.us/f/scan0003mv.jpg/
http://img293.imageshack.us/i/scan0004x.jpg/
I also experienced extreme irritability and heat intolerance increasingly when I was taking twice as much atomoxetine as I as should have been unknowingly - 160 mg. Symptoms. For me went away when I reduced the dose.
But I worry the drug might be causing adrenal issues which is way I'm here
But I worry the drug might be causing adrenal issues which is way I'm here
Elevated cortisol is *sometimes* a culprit in low testosterone - and it can cause fatigue and sweating.
Hi any update on this? I'm basically in the same bag. I've been treated with Wellbutin, Ritalin, Dexamphetamine, anti depressants. Still I kept sweating tons for no reason when everyone else is fine. So I went to see an endocrinologist who specialises in andrology (testosterone) then started hormone replacement. I've been on testosterone gel, tablets, and injections none of which solve my fatigue or relieved my sweating. Anyway now I suspect my adrenals because I took some cortef (hydrocortisone) and felt better for approximately 4 hours, clear thinking etc. I'm coming off my hormone therapy and my doc will test my adrenals and pituitary gland once I'm clean in 2 months. Hopefully we'll spot something odd with my adrenals, or pituitary which explains my chronic fatigue. I'm 32 now and its just been getting worse year on year since I was 27. How have you got on?
No, actually since the last several doctor visits, my BP has fluctuated from low to good. Weird thing is my blood pressure has always been good. Only more recently has it shifted.
I have an appointment w/ another doc. today. I'm hoping he'll know what my next move is at this point...if nothing else I'm going to have him order one of those saliva/urine tests for me.
I'm also scheduling an appt. to see an endocrinologist. she will probably want to order the stim test after seeing me.
I have an appointment w/ another doc. today. I'm hoping he'll know what my next move is at this point...if nothing else I'm going to have him order one of those saliva/urine tests for me.
I'm also scheduling an appt. to see an endocrinologist. she will probably want to order the stim test after seeing me.
11:30 is not a diagnostic time to test the adrenals.
The sun is good for vitamin D.
Adrenals can work all day and all night, no problem unless there is a disease. Have they done an ultrasound of the adrenals?
High cortisol at night is Cushing's syndrome but that is not in keeping with the weight loss exactly. Is your blood pressure high? That signals more about the adrenaline and cortisol.
The sun is good for vitamin D.
Adrenals can work all day and all night, no problem unless there is a disease. Have they done an ultrasound of the adrenals?
High cortisol at night is Cushing's syndrome but that is not in keeping with the weight loss exactly. Is your blood pressure high? That signals more about the adrenaline and cortisol.
I've been wondering...what would cause the sudden onset of symptoms (mainly restlessness) about 5 hours after exercise.
I was thinking that the possibility of 'overtraining' (or just simply exerting myself) during adrenal fatigue may cause me to deplete adrenals, rendering them inactive for the rest of the day. Then 5 hours later they come back with a vengeance, causing a surge of adrenalines and cortisol, lasting for 6-9 hours - keeping me awake. Could it happen this way? or is it even possible?
I was thinking that the possibility of 'overtraining' (or just simply exerting myself) during adrenal fatigue may cause me to deplete adrenals, rendering them inactive for the rest of the day. Then 5 hours later they come back with a vengeance, causing a surge of adrenalines and cortisol, lasting for 6-9 hours - keeping me awake. Could it happen this way? or is it even possible?
Thanks. and yea I forgot to mention - the blood was drawn at about 11-11:30 AM
and I was expecting to see FSH, because it was checked on the order. This bloodwork is partially incomplete though, maybe thats why - should be done soon.
I also plan to have a complete work-up of hormones and neurotransmitters.....which will hopefully tell me how severe my problem is, and if i can relate it to adrenals. https://www.neurorelief.com/ does mail-in salivary/urinary analysis so i'm thinking of getting a doctor to order that for me.
and if there was any unusual tanning of the skin I wouldnt notice, as it would be masked by my skin tone. I usually lay out in the sun every other day to get a base tan (for just 5 mins nothing major)
and I was expecting to see FSH, because it was checked on the order. This bloodwork is partially incomplete though, maybe thats why - should be done soon.
I also plan to have a complete work-up of hormones and neurotransmitters.....which will hopefully tell me how severe my problem is, and if i can relate it to adrenals. https://www.neurorelief.com/ does mail-in salivary/urinary analysis so i'm thinking of getting a doctor to order that for me.
and if there was any unusual tanning of the skin I wouldnt notice, as it would be masked by my skin tone. I usually lay out in the sun every other day to get a base tan (for just 5 mins nothing major)
The doc did a cruddy job of testing your thyroid - he only tested what your pituitary tells your thyroid to do, not your actual thyroid function.
As well, cortisol, but not the rest of the loop - ACTH. He did testosterone, estradiol but not LH, FSH - not the whole loop. He did cover a lot. The alk phosphotase may be that you are making bone or your liver is off...
I don't know what time the testing was done. That impacts cortisol. Plus one round of testing - well you need several rounds - and a stim test. Any tanning at all?
As well, cortisol, but not the rest of the loop - ACTH. He did testosterone, estradiol but not LH, FSH - not the whole loop. He did cover a lot. The alk phosphotase may be that you are making bone or your liver is off...
I don't know what time the testing was done. That impacts cortisol. Plus one round of testing - well you need several rounds - and a stim test. Any tanning at all?
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