Let me say at the onset of this article, that the "natural treatments" I will be referring to, cannot substitute synthetic treatments in all cases but only in certain patients, with certain disorders. Many times natural treatments are incorporated into other medical treatments, for added benefit but any natural treatment should be discussed with your Doctor and researched thoroughly, when added to other medical treatments. Also be aware that when hormone replacement therapies are needed, treatments other than actual hormone replacement, carefully monitored, cannot be substituted.
In late 2002, I made a Doctor appointment because of worsening symptoms of fatigue, joint pain, anxiety alternating with depressive symptoms, dry skin, constipation, slow heart rate, spells of low blood pressure etc… At the Doctor’s Office, I described my symptoms, making sure to include all of them, including the emotional ones. The Doctor immediately diagnosed me as having emotional problems, despite the fact that I had a lot of physical symptoms, not always related to an emotional disorder, such as the dry skin and joint pain, after all, I’m sure the Doctor, thought a big scrapping 220lb, 39 year old man, couldn’t possible have some type of disease process going on! I suggested to this Doctor that I felt I had a physical, medical problem going on and I even asked; “Could this be my thyroid?”. She simply replied “Could be.” and proceeded to write me out prescriptions for an anti-depressant, an anti-anxiety medication and a beta-blocker.
I took the medications for about six weeks and continued to get worse, my symptoms increasing in severity, with each passing week, so I stopped taking them (weaned off carefully & slowly). Before starting the medications I had blood tests ordered through another doctor office. The results revealed that I had hypothyroidism, with very high thyroid antibodies levels but the period of non-treatment and incorrect treatment, severely stressed my adrenal glands, so left me with both low-thyroid and “adrenal fatigue“. The adrenal fatigue aspect, also called “adrenal exhaustion” and “low adrenal reserve”, combined with the hypothyroidism, cause me to also experience the onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which was debilitating.
Researchers have concluded that CFS can have different triggers for different patients but the triggers are usually some types of diseases, viruses, bacteria, etc…, that cause the immune system to be chronically activated. In my case, my hypothyroidism was caused by “autoimmune disease” of the thyroid gland, in other words, my immune system was attacking my own thyroid gland. This is also called “Hashimoto’s Disease/Thyroiditis” and it was causing constant activation of my immune system and the CFS symptoms.
The major stress hormone the adrenals send out to help with these stressors, is called “cortisol” (also called cortical) and this major “stress hormone”, is also our body’s own anti-inflammatory agent. The constant need to fight inflammation from a virus, autoimmune process, bacteria, severe allergies etc…, combined with the stress diseases can cause on the body, is what causes the low-adrenal function found in CFS in my opinion and in the opinion of many medical research conclusions.
Research over the past 15 years, in regard to CFS, has concluded that patients with the syndrome (also true of Fibromyalgia), have low cortical levels, indicating adrenal hypo-function. They also found however, that patients cannot be treated with the same steroids that patients with full blown “Adrenal Insufficiency” are, due to severe side effects and resulting adrenal suppression.
I had repeated testing that clearly revealed that I had consistently low cortical levels, along with my hypothyroidism. My then Doctor, ruled out full blown adrenal insufficiency, with an “ACTH Stimulation Test”, which I passed with a normal result. He concluded because of this, that my low cortical levels, had no treatment available for it.
He began treating me for thyroid-only, with synthetic “Thyroid Hormone Replacement Medication”, called “Synthroid”, the most commonly prescribed for hypothyroid patients. My reaction to the medication was not favorable, mainly due to not being on a high enough dose. I had my Doctor to switch me over to a natural brand of thyroid hormone replacement, called “Amour” because I suspected I might be one of the small percentage of patients needing the T-3 hormone found in Armour. Once on the proper dose of this natural hormone, I began to improve. I realized I was not on an adequate dose of the Synthroid, which would have also likely improved my hypothyroid symptoms.
For my adrenal fatigue, I found through research, that I could take natural supplements for it as well. I found information on “Adrenal Glandulars” and multi-vitamins that contain those that boost the adrenals, such as vitamin B-12, B5, B6, E and C, magnesium, selenium, zinc etc… I incorporated these supplements into my treatment and began to experience significant improvement in symptoms. Specifically I now take two supplements made by the Metagenics company (pharmaceutical grade) called "Cortico B5 B6" and "Adreset". Today, I have recovered significantly from the more severe symptoms. I do have flares of CFS symptoms from extra stress and when I exceed my tolerance level for physical activity but is improved greatly since diagnosis.
The Doctors I received much of the information about these supplements from, were “Osteopath Doctors” and MDs that incorporated “Holistic Remedies” into their treatment.
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