Getting out of the sun

Posted Sun, 09/05/2010 - 15:41 by Melissa

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending Robb Wolf's Paleolithic Solution seminar at Crossfit South Brooklyn. I wasn't feeling so awesome (I must have had caught a bug, I haven't been sick for ages, but I'm definitely feeling it today), but I really perked up when we started talking about one of his trainers— a "superwoman" trainer/mother-of-3/do everything kind of gal. One day she had a couple of shots of espresso and just collapsed.

Like um...me? The past couple of months I've been to pretty much every type of doctor and it's been a slog because all my numbers are good. So why did I collapse? 

Dr BG tipped me onto the concept of adrenal fatigue as a possibility and at the seminar Robb really convinced me that I haz it.

Which is big, since I've been very skeptical of it in the past, because like "candida" it often is described as something with vague symptoms that could easily be something else. But here I am with medical markers of such a syndrome. I'm already seeing an endocrinologist. According to him I have some borderline markers, so I'm not a full-fleged case, but they can leave me with some issues. It's been a nightmare trying to get treatment. Even with insurance, every time I go to the doctor I feel like I'm gambling. I dread getting the mail. What will I owe this time? It's a surprise!

As Robb says "if you have a sunburn, get out of the sun." Easier said than done since I seem to be great at getting myself into high-stress situations. And all these medical bills don't do much to help one of the major sources of my stress: bills. But there have been other sources ranging from losing my apartment, work-related stress, and an extremely stressful breakup. I'm really kind of good at hiding that and seeming to be successful, but if you noticed I was off, this is why.

Let's be honest: I might have to leave NYC and move back home. I was certainly too proud to do it before (even when I was barely scraping by), but now that I'm sick this becomes a less unattractive option. Wouldn't it be nice if this could be like Eat Pray Love where I get a book advance and rest my weary head in Indonesia? But it's not like that. I am however very lucky that this problem comes at a time when my family has started farming, though that's a whole different set of stresses.

I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, but you met me at a very strange time in my life.

Comments

I'm guessing you had an ASI

by Diane - 09/07/2010 - 13:41

I'm guessing you had an ASI done by your doc? I took a functional endocrinology course and learned about protocols if you're interested.

Feel free not to publish this comment if you'd like to just contact me instead... I couldn't find an email for you here!

Diane

I'm sending my well-wishes to

by Cindy - 09/06/2010 - 19:44

I'm sending my well-wishes to you also. Be sure to spend time outside in nature--it truly is a life-force replenisher. Have faith in whatever path you choose for your health right now.

Sorry to hear Melissa! I did

by Darryl - 09/06/2010 - 15:53

Sorry to hear Melissa! I did actually invite you to a 'what do think about some MovNat in Central Park. Probably not the best idea given the circumstances! I wish you all the best and feel confident you will make the right decision.

Rest up.

Darryl.

Just wanted to join the many

by TPSW - 09/06/2010 - 07:53

Just wanted to join the many that are working to send you more force for your force field through the either. Best of wishes and strength to you in your time of rebounding and decision making. My guess is that the farm might just be the thing for you at this time. Remember it does not mean that you can't return to the big city in the future. A step back can lead to a leap forward.

Oh, and as someone who is finishing a right nice peel right now, sometimes getting out of the sun happens too late. So don't put off what you need to do, the consequences are lame.

Melissa: Good luck with the

by Lewis - 09/06/2010 - 06:04

Melissa:

Good luck with the adrenal issues AND the big city issues. My family recently made a big, big change, moving from Houston up to Amarillo (everyone say, "Where?"). The weather is more salubrious (a good thing), the pace of life is slower and quieter, while still being, you know, city life.

One of my favorite things about Mark Sisson is that he emphasizes the Primal Blueprint is about more than just the diet, or even the diet and exercise. It's about the rhythms of life.

We're in your corner, cheering you on. You can haz force field, and you do haz fanz.

So sorry you're dealing with

by Erin - 09/05/2010 - 20:41

So sorry you're dealing with this- I'm all too familiar with adrenal fatigue. The longer you don't change things, the longer it takes to heal (and the shittier you end up feeling!) so it's really important to make it a priority.
I didn't make it one and I spent too many years pushing myself (not enough sleep and a vegetarian diet did me NO favors!) and in return ended up exhausted with low hormone levels, poor T3 conversion, elevated inflammation and had to eventually quit my job in order to get better.

There are lots of tests to confirm adrenal fatigue (DHEAS, 24 hour saliva cortisol, low blood sodium, low aldosterone).

I HIGHLY recommend James Wilson's book "Adrenal Fatigue: 21st Century Syndrome", as it goes into great detail about the myriad causes and treatments of adrenal fatigue: http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/

Here are some quickies, though:
-bed by 10:30 at the latest (or BEFORE you hit your second wind, which is actually a cortisol spike and is terrible for your adrenals)

-if you have low blood pressure or poor heat tolerance, add high mineral salt to all your water. Adrenal fatigue usually equals low aldosterone which equals low blood sodium in relation to potassium (called salt wasting), which causes low blood pressure/muscle fatigue and weakness/low heat tolerance. Drinking unsalted water while in this state dilutes blood sodium further.

-adaptogens like rhodiola rosea and Himalaya Stress Care are well researched herbals and help to normalize cortisol production. If your cortisol is really low, raw adrenal extract might help and licorice increases the half-life of circulating cortisol.

-qigong and tai chi are very beneficial. Qigong was the first thing that really made me feel better.

Hope you start feeling better soon!

We all love you and KNOW you

by Bill - 09/05/2010 - 20:19

We all love you and KNOW you will get through this! Strong, smart and haz a Force Field! Cannot fail.

Stay strong

by Michael - 09/05/2010 - 19:35

Stay strong

Sorry to hear things are

by Kate - 09/05/2010 - 17:43

Sorry to hear things are going so poorly for you. As hard as this decision will be to make, sometimes going home is for the best. I am speaking from my own personal experience - it did wonders for me to go home when I was in a highly stressful situation. And I can empathise with the whole "not wanting to give up easily". Take care of your health and I think, once you're feeling better, you'll be able to deal with the other stresses in your life much easier.

You may want to check out

by kilton - 09/05/2010 - 15:50

You may want to check out some of Matt Stone's posts on adrenal fatigue, and the comments sections as well.

I know you don't care for him, but it would probably be in your best interest to put that aside for a while and give him a chance. His posts on this issue (and, perhaps even moreso, the comments section where many people who have experience with this disorder chime in) are very informative.

I read his blog, but his

by Melissa - 09/05/2010 - 19:36

I read his blog, but his theory for lc/paleo causing this doesn't hold weight for me because I'm not low-carb and I almost never fast. In fact, in most ways I follow his recommendations. I was more worried about the VLC people commenting saying that if I didn't eat all those carbs I wouldn't have this problem :) I might try keto again, but I don't think that will fix this either.

Based on my MRI, it's possible that there is something more serious, unrelated to diet, at work.