This is my first post to this message board, but I am overwhelmingly drawn to offer you my experience with adrenal exhaustion. I am a highly productive person. As a child growing up, my family considered need for rest a character flaw! I felt I could push through anything. I, too, was a runner (by all definitions)! I used to take pride in bragging that my body and mind did better with four hours sleep a night. I was Superwoman!
Five years ago, that came to a screeching halt. I had crossed a line. Looking back, I probably had been running on adrenalin for a very long time. As I understand it now, the cortisol levels in my body were likely extremely high (this caused weight gain for me, especially in my belly). When the cortisol began to deplete, I began to feel exhausted, my metabolism really shut down, and I gained even more weight.
It took a long time and several physician changes, but found an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid and adrenal issues about a eighteen months ago. She has her own compounding pharmacy and I am taking a small dose of cortisol daily now (in addition to other supplements). I watch what I eat, but I wouldn't say I "diet". Yoga has been a extremely important part of my physical activity - but gentle and restorative yoga as opposed to a very active practice. I walk three to four miles, several days a week. I wear a heart rate monitor, not to make my heart go faster, but to be sure I am not working too hard. I have also recently begun working with a personal trainer doing some resistance work, but looked long and hard for someone who understood my special needs and requirements. I also religiously get eight hours of sleep nightly - and guard and protect my need for that. I take a supplement with suntheanine, HTP5, GABA, and melatonin that assists with that.
I have lost forty pounds in the last year and am more well balanced and happier than I've ever been. I have learned to listen to my body and honor its need for rest. It is so hard to walk when I used to run, but I have traded the wind in my hair for the sun on my face.
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Hi Dianne,
This is my first post to this message board, but I am overwhelmingly drawn to offer you my experience with adrenal exhaustion. I am a highly productive person. As a child growing up, my family considered need for rest a character flaw! I felt I could push through anything. I, too, was a runner (by all definitions)! I used to take pride in bragging that my body and mind did better with four hours sleep a night. I was Superwoman!
Five years ago, that came to a screeching halt. I had crossed a line. Looking back, I probably had been running on adrenalin for a very long time. As I understand it now, the cortisol levels in my body were likely extremely high (this caused weight gain for me, especially in my belly). When the cortisol began to deplete, I began to feel exhausted, my metabolism really shut down, and I gained even more weight.
It took a long time and several physician changes, but found an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid and adrenal issues about a eighteen months ago. She has her own compounding pharmacy and I am taking a small dose of cortisol daily now (in addition to other supplements). I watch what I eat, but I wouldn't say I "diet". Yoga has been a extremely important part of my physical activity - but gentle and restorative yoga as opposed to a very active practice. I walk three to four miles, several days a week. I wear a heart rate monitor, not to make my heart go faster, but to be sure I am not working too hard. I have also recently begun working with a personal trainer doing some resistance work, but looked long and hard for someone who understood my special needs and requirements. I also religiously get eight hours of sleep nightly - and guard and protect my need for that. I take a supplement with suntheanine, HTP5, GABA, and melatonin that assists with that.
I have lost forty pounds in the last year and am more well balanced and happier than I've ever been. I have learned to listen to my body and honor its need for rest. It is so hard to walk when I used to run, but I have traded the wind in my hair for the sun on my face.
I wish you well.
March 4, 2009 - 10:05amThis Comment
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