Adrenal Fatigue is REAL

June 20, 2008 (original excerpt from journal)

Otherwise known as my adrenal rantings...

After all the blood work I've done, I'm starting to feel like a vampire victim. I have NO energy, I barely can make it up steps and I have the hardest time getting up in the morning....and I know it has to do with this thing growing inside me. I've been reading as much as I can about adrenal tumors. They are supposedly common, but not the kind I have. Endo # 2, after all was said and done, was pretty sure I have hyperaldosteronism (PH), one of the longest medical terms I've ever seen. He did say fatigue was not uncommon. I wish he told me more. He also called it Conn's syndrome. He did not however call it adrenal fatigue.

Now that I have become my own patient advocate, I am reading as much as I can on my condition. And I keep finding varying bits of information. But here is something interesting I ran across. I feel this best represents what I have been feeling for close to a year.

ADRENAL FATIGUE SYNDROME:
* excessive fatigue and exhaustion
* non-refreshing sleep (you get sufficient hours of sleep, but
wake fatigued)
* overwhelmed by or unable to cope with stressors
* feeling rundown or overwhelmed
* craving salty and sweet foods
* you feel most energetic in the evening
* a feeling of not being restored after a full night's sleep or
having sleep disturbances
* low stamina, slow to recover from exercise
* slow to recover from injury, illness or stress
* difficulty concentrating, brain fog
* poor digestion
* low immune function
* food or environmental allergies
* premenstrual syndrome or difficulties that develop during
menopause
* consistent low blood pressure
* extreme sensitivity to cold

When I read this, I had one of those serious "a ha" moments. Most of these were me, except the low blood pressure... hyperaldosterone raises the pressure instead. But at least I was getting closer to the culprit of my exhaustion and physical misery. Why endo #2 didn't assist me more when I called him pleading for help after individually mentioning these symptoms as well as others, I'll never know.

But after some more digging around on the web, I see that perhaps there was a reason why he didn't acknowledge my complaints. According to most board certified endocrinologists (including an explanation provided by the Mayo clinic), "adrenal fatigue" is a term that the alternative medical community has created. It's found in health books and web sites, but still isn't an accepted medical diagnosis. But how can this be I ask? I know what I am feeling. Are they disputing that? Well, maybe they are or maybe there still just isn't a lot known about hyperaldosteronism/Conn's. I haven't found any sites that list adrenal fatigue as a symptom of Conn's, only the word "fatigue" shows up.

All I know is what I am feeling and the above list hits it pretty much on the mark, even if it is coming from the 'alternative' community. In my opinion, it sounds a bit like medical east meets west. I have always identified with the eastern doctrine, which has a mind-body connection. But here in the west, we don't do that...we need endless research and testing, concrete evidence, factual data, and sometimes drug company involvement for a condition to become a legitimized condition. As a patient, I still want and need that, but I also need a wellness approach with holistic ways of healing. I heal better when my condition is listened to and so am I. I wonder if we can ever have it both ways in medicine.

Perhaps I am getting way ahead of myself here... like I said these are my rantings and I'm writing this at 2:00 a.m....(just around the time I get the big cortisol energy burst, thanks to this stinking disease). For me personally, I'd love to know more about the mind-body connection with Conn's syndrome. I'd be interested in hearing from others to see if there was a stressful event that occurred before the tumor. I know I had one, a very long drawn out event. Five years ago, I experienced serious stress when I was became involved with a mentally ill person who lived in a revolving state of paranoia and anger, which ultimately came out on me. I was walking on eggshells and dodging landmines, all the while I was trying to run a business. It put me in chronic fight/flight mode, which is a horrible way to live. I also survived a near fatal car accident last year which I am still recovering from. I cannot think my stress glands weren't on major overload from these events. After my mind had had enough, my body gave out, I got sick and the adrenal fatigue symptoms followed. Hyperaldosteronism or not, I have adrenal fatigue.

All I really want is to feel better, like I did before 5 years ago, before all this weirdness started. And to have a good nights sleep, and not be so exhausted all the time. To not have to take horse pills 3x a day and to never have a migraine again or have hypertension at my age. That's what I really want. Well, that and a doctor who will listen seriously to all of my symptoms and maybe just for once, look me in the eye.