Adrenals (& Pituitary) Aren't Doing Their Job

This week I have some stressful things going on. I have to meet with some attorneys. YUCK. Anyway, I decided it was more important to feel better for these events than to get my blood work done, so I started on some cortef yesterday. You have to be off of cortef for 2 weeks prior to testing, so that pushes things back.

Yesterday, I took 10mg in the morning. Didn't really feel much of anything. Then at noon, I took another 5mg. Eh, it was Ok. Nothing spectacular. Then another 5mg at 4pm. That is when I finally felt it working. We went to the mall to find an outfit for these meetings. By the time we got out of the mall, I felt like I was dying. I drank a 20 ounce bottle of water in 5 minutes because I was DYING of thirst. The woman checking us out looked at me really strange as I was trying to drink the water as fast as possible! I could tell she was thinking...wtf is wrong with this girl. My mind was not in a right state either.

My mouth was making that tacky sound. Felt like I had eaten 2 jars of peanut butter! haha Now since I have DI, I know what thirsty can feel like, but this was on a completely different level. In addition to that, I felt like I wanted to just cry and fall down. I was so irritated and angry, but I had no idea why. I assume that the cortef completely wore off and I was experience low cortisol. It appears my suspicions were correct!

Here's a list of symptoms found on the website, stopthethyroidmadness.com This website talks about adrenal and thyroid problems.

Items in bold, I am currently experiencing.

• continuing hypo symptoms with a high free T3, or high amount of Armour
• shaky hands; shakiness
• diarrhea
• bad palps
• feeling of panic
• weakness
• inability to handle stress
• inability to handle interactions with others
• inability to focus
• rage or sudden angry outbursts
• emotionally hyper sensitive
• overreacting
• highly defensive
• feeling paranoid
• exacerbated reactions to daily stress
• no patience
• easily irritated
• mild to severe hypoglycemic episodes
• taking days to recover from even minor stress
• taking days to recover from a dental visit
• clumsy (drop things, bump into things)
• suddenly feel extremely hungry
• dull cloud-filled head (happens when this patient is due for a next cortisol dose)
• light headedness
• dizziness
• coffee putting patient to sleep
• almost passing out every time patient gets up
• dark circles under my eyes
• waking up in the middle of the night for several hours
• frequent urination
• difficulty falling asleep
• extreme fatigue

I HAVE to get through this week in 1 piece and taking cortef is the ONLY way it's going to happen. Then once this is done, I have another deadline I need to meet. It's long overdue too.

Here's something you didn't know about me. Driving is so stressful for me that I don't even like to do it anymore. My husband practically drives me everywhere and I know it annoys him. Last week I drove myself to voice lessons and the whole time I was a complete wreck (shhhh don't tell my husband this--I told him I was OK). My hands were shaking and my thirst was OUT of control. Nothing would quench my thirst (even though I took my DDAVP). Today, I drove myself to one of the attorney meetings and I was actually calm. I took 10mg cortef in the morning and then right before I left another 5mg. That last me half way through the meeting. Popped another 2.5mg when she went to make a phone call and I needed more when I got out.

Now I still feel really wiped out from the meeting, but I noticed considerable difference in my driving. I was more focused and wasn't scared. Normally I am literally scared to death driving...This only happened about a year ago! I used to drive all over the place. I drove myself to New York 6 years ago to see a friend.

What the hell has happened to me in this time frame?

I'm telling you now, Thursday I'm going to be a wreck. I'm already a wreck. My body isn't working right. Sometimes I think since I don't work out of the house anymore (I quit because of my health) that I forget how bad I am. I go out on my own so infrequently, that I don't put my body in a stressful environment. On a normal day for me, stress is at a minimum.

This is all making sense to me now. I never thought I had a stressful life. In fact, I need to be more grateful for how easy I have it. If my pituitary isn't telling my body to make cortisol at an appropriate level, that's why my adrenal fatigue isn't necessarily related to bad stress. Any stress--whether good or bad--will cause my body to immediately fail. This week is certainly putting things into perspective. I'll need to talk about these symptoms and problems when coping with stress to the endo.

If it weren't for the cortef, I probably would have collapsed today. Once I figure out all of my problems, I'm going to be a large medical alert bracelet put all of my problems on it. haha

Mineral Deficiencies Exaggerated While Detoxing

My mineral deficiencies are coming back full force. I guess it must be because the mercury is pulling good minerals out with it.

My muscles are trembling. If I sit my leg up, it beings to shake erratically. It looks like Parkinson's...So I am betting it is my potassium levels. They are ALWAYS low. When I was 18, I went to the ER for lower back pain. Well I found out I had a possible kidney stone and kidney infection. While I was there they did a bunch of blood work and my potassium was very low. I'll never forget what the nurse told me, "Your potassium levels are about as low as we'd expect a 90 year olds to be." I was shocked and asked her what type of symptoms this would cause and she said weakness in the muscles and tremors. I thought to myself...wow I do have that sometimes! I was a young PUNK though with a terrible diet and sleeping schedule. Working 40 hours a week and school for 20 hours a week. I was an insanely busy person.

My potassium has been low forever. As long as I can remember when I've had blood work done. The last time I had a BMP (basic metabolic panel) drawn was 2 months ago and once again, low potassium serum of 3.4 This week I've been doing more research and it keeps coming back to my pituitary. Maybe I can nudge Dr. Goldstein to do a CMP (complete metabolic panel) to see what else is going on with my blood cell count. My white blood cells have been chronically low for about 3 years. I think if I mention the fact I'm using DMSA, he'll agree to it.

Anyway back to the potassium. Low potassium can be a sign of secondary-adrenal insufficiency. I actually read this on page 119 of Dr. Cutler's book, Amalgam Illness: Diagnosis and Treatment. Well I started this blog with the notion that I had primary adrenal insufficiency. This week I'm starting to wonder if it is secondary caused by my under performing pituitary. If my pituitary is not telling my adrenals to make cortisol what other organs and glands are suffering?

We know it isn't making ADH (antidiuretic hormone), which is why I was diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus. Your pituitary is one of the powerhouses of your body's hormone.

The Anterior side of the pituitary controls ACTH (adrenals), TSH(thyroid), PRL(lactation while pregnant), GH (growth hormone, endoriphins, FSH(reproductive system), and LH(triggers ovulation in women).
The Posterior side of the pituitary controls, ADH(tells your body to conserver water) and Oxytocin(allows for body to begin labor in childbirth).

I am definitely oversimpling but it gives you an idea how important it is. Mine is FULL of mercury, which is what's screwing it up. I wonder how many other people with weird idiopathic pituitary problems are just mercury poisoned...