After a period of time allergies, psychological stress and other conditions can lead to adrenal problems.  The Center for Disease Control has stated that people with chronic fatigue on average have lower levels of adrenal output.   Unfortunately, traditional tests cannot be used to diagnose the condition since there is a wide variation in normal levels.  Traditional tests cannot detect this until it becomes severe.

The most important substance produced by the adrenals is cortisol, similar to cortisone.  Adrenal problems often get worse when allergies are resolved.  Allergies stimulate the adrenals to produce more cortisol. When this stimulus is withdrawn, adrenal production drops.

When the adrenal output starts to drop a strange thing happens.  The pituitary gland frantically tries to signal the adrenals to boost their output.  The result is wild fluctuations with the adrenals overproducing in the morning and underproducing the rest of the day.  Both too much cortisol and too little cortisol can produce fatigue.

There is good news.  A new test available from the Great Smokies Diagnostic Lab can detect weak adrenals that the traditional tests cannot.

After I started taking adrenal supplements, my sinus and fatigue problems showed distinct improvement.

The Test

The Great Smokies Lab offers an adrenal test which is more sensitive than older tests.  It is a saliva test with four samples taken throughout the day.  It is more sensitive than traditional adrenal tests. 

The test is controversial.  Most mainstream endocrinologists don't yet know about it.  Others use it only if the patient has been diagnosed with Cushing's Syndrome.

Treatment

Suggested treatments are available from the lab.  Treatment typically consists of adrenal hormones and supplements.

It can take 2 to 18 months to treat adrenal problems.

Warning!

On another page I discuss Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome.  Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome treatment has some risks associated with it including rapid heartbeat and anxiety attacks.  Combining the Wilson's medication and adrenal medications may increase the risks of these problems.

I took adrenal extract for a period of almost two years without a problem.  I then started treatment for Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome.  I found that adrenal extract and the Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome medication don't mix.

I was fine before I started Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome treatment, but then I had a number of side-effects including anxiety attacks and rapid-heartbeat which landed me in the hospital for a night.  After I discontinued the adrenal extract, these problems improved (though they did not go away completely) and I had better success with the Wilson's treatment.

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