Adrenal "Crashes"

Hello everyone,

I haven't been here in a long time as I joined several Lyme groups on FaceBook. IV Ozone therapy continues to be the game changer for me as I'm seeing substantial improvement in my chronic pain. However, I am struggling with increased fatigue and will regularly 'crash' after overdoing activity (whether that be walking too far or going to too many events in a weekend). This intense fatigue is currently the prevailing problem for me.

When I crash, I feel absolutely exhausted, body feels heavy/weak, winded walking up the stairs (not my normal), worse sore throat (already chronic, but will get worse when I flare), digestive system will be off, and my blood sugar will feel low/high when it shouldn't be. I also feel downcast/depressed, can't wake up in the morning even after sleeping all night, don't think properly/brain fog.

I've taken adrenal cortex for several years which helped my energy but now is not working (and makes me more fatigued). I take digestive enzymes, vitamin c, licorice root extract, and B vitamins - though I occasionally get nightmares from the B's.

I'm not sure what to do. My pain levels are decreasing but my energy is too. I thought my energy would improve after pain wasn't a big stressor anymore. I had worked myself up to walking several miles a day (without crashing) and now I am struggling to walk half a mile.

I'm very sensitive to anything that has blood pressure lowering effects. Ashwagandha is a no, Ginseng is a no.

Thanks for reading, any input is appreciated.

astroman said...
Hello, Unfortunately, I have years of experience with reduced energy symptoms related to all things in the endo system.

Even though I am pretty good at guessing my own levels based on my symptoms, I know that I cannot guess and then I need thorough testing. That is often the case.

You did not mention Any test results other than symptoms that you feel which could be from adrenal, sugar, imbalance, or thyroid, Or any of the above combined. Energy crashes can be from any of these.

I have elevated thyroid antibodies but other thyroid numbers are good. I am avoiding gluten for this.

I've had hormone panels done in the past that showed low cortisol and low hormones all around. Last one I had was early '23 that showed low hormones still but cortisol had leveled out. (But I know levels change in a year.)

I'm thinking I should recheck thyroid antibodies and probably get another hormone panel done.

I keep tracking my blood glucose as well. Even though I’m not Diabetic yet (hopefully never).

The diabetics that I do know are always convinced that energy crashes are due to glucose, however, that is not always the case in other people. It certainly is not with me.

I can have slightly high glucose however, my glucose never falls below 85; while I’m eating low-carb diet my glucose also never elevates above 130.

Post Edited (astroman) : 5/10/2024 9:31:20 AM (GMT-8)

Well, it’s that or cortisol saliva at a regular doctor. Some of them do this I had an endocrinologist who actually did this, and I was surprised.

Then there’s morning cortisol and afternoon Cortisol blood test. But as you know, those do not tell the true story of the rest of the day.

alsmith said...
Hello everyone,

I haven't been here in a long time as I joined several Lyme groups on FaceBook. IV Ozone therapy continues to be the game changer for me as I'm seeing substantial improvement in my chronic pain. However, I am struggling with increased fatigue and will regularly 'crash' after overdoing activity (whether that be walking too far or going to too many events in a weekend). This intense fatigue is currently the prevailing problem for me.

When I crash, I feel absolutely exhausted, body feels heavy/weak, winded walking up the stairs (not my normal), worse sore throat (already chronic, but will get worse when I flare), digestive system will be off, and my blood sugar will feel low/high when it shouldn't be. I also feel downcast/depressed, can't wake up in the morning even after sleeping all night, don't think properly/brain fog.

I've taken adrenal cortex for several years which helped my energy but now is not working (and makes me more fatigued). I take digestive enzymes, vitamin c, licorice root extract, and B vitamins - though I occasionally get nightmares from the B's.

I'm not sure what to do. My pain levels are decreasing but my energy is too. I thought my energy would improve after pain wasn't a big stressor anymore. I had worked myself up to walking several miles a day (without crashing) and now I am struggling to walk half a mile.

I'm very sensitive to anything that has blood pressure lowering effects. Ashwagandha is a no, Ginseng is a no.

Thanks for reading, any input is appreciated.

I was too sensitive to ashwagandha as well amd ginseng.forget it. My doctor told me I had to literally nibble bits of magnesium instead of taking a whole dose as that can overwhelm our nervous system even more since our bodies aren't used to feeling so calm and relaxed we wouldn't be able to handle a whole dose at once. Slow and low also applies to vitamins and minerals.not just meds and now I know why. A nibble of magnesium does it for me, if I take any.ire than that, I'll feel slumped like I'm going to stop breathing into a deep sleep or feel way too calm which my body isn't used to so it scares me . I have c-ptsd and am so used to being hypervigilant or on fight or flight so once I feel come from adaptogens or ashwagandha etc. I'm like uh oh, this doesn't feel right because I'm not used to feeling so calm. Electrolyte powder does wonders for me that has potassium and magnesium with pink Himalayan sea salt in it. Vit B1 is a game charger when it comes to the CNS and nerves anxiety, depression, helps you gain weight and digest food properly. B12 methyl the ones that met under your tongue give me energy literally the entire day, I never knew how low I was on it. Vit D liquid with zinc , I use Dr. Berg brand and can't complain. Only wish the bottle was bigger.