My self-diagnosis was correct: I have Adrenal Fatigue

This is going to be a short post because I'm trying to cope with extremely low levels of energy.

I had an Adrenal Fatigue crisis 2 weeks ago, then last week I had the most abysmal migraine with very unusual presentation (more about that next time).  

First off, I'm really proud that I was able to diagnose my own medical crisis and seek help before I had serious consequences.  

My blood test came back: 'Further exploration is needed for possible Addison's Disease'.  

I told you that if the doctor confirmed it, he would prescribe steroids and the last thing I'm going to do is take steroids.

My blood serum reading was way below the very lowest point on the register of what's 'normal'.  

As soon as I knew what was wrong with me (light-headed upon rising or lying down, extreme muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, blurred thinking etc) I downloaded Dr Wilson's book, then skipped to the chapter dealing with medication and found 'Adrenal Cortex Extract', then ordered a bottle by Thorne Research of these capsules from amazon.

The bottle states '3 capsules a day', I'm sticking to the dose rigidly.

On top of that, I started taking:

DMAE

DHEA

L-Carnosine.

Plus LOTS of Vitamin C.

Anyone with this complaint, has to take TONS of vitamin C, the equivalent of 19 oranges a day, as per the advice of Dr Lee in his book 'What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about menopause'.  

On top of that, I'm taking Agnus Castus, Zinc and applying Natural Progesterone Cream twice a day, half a teaspoon each time (which is double the dose recommended but you need to 'find your own dose', as I've read in two books recently).  As well as a whole load of other stuff but I've especially named these medications, in case anyone is coming to this blog for the first time.

The DMAE and the DHEA didn't seem to be doing much, while I was really ill.  But now that I'm getting stronger, I can see they are having an effect.

You should note that: DHEA does not work while you're fatigued!

Now the funny thing was, that even when I was in the chronic stage, I still looked this side of normal.

During adrenal episodes, my appearance can deteriorate dramatically and that can add to the depression associated with this health crisis.  But this time that did not happen and I put this down to my taking the combination of DMAE, DHEA and L-Carnosine.  (They're all anti-ageing and boost your concentration and energy levels.)    

My eyes did not become that awful dark yellow and lifeless colour, in fact they remained bright white and shiny.  As far as my hair and skin go, they look better now than they have in about 7 years.  My hair is full and strangely glossy and my skin really looks amazing.  Zinc has done wonders, but I think DHEA has a lot to do with this improvement too.  In fact, you wouldn't know I was ill from looking at me!  This made my symptoms seem hallucinatory to my family, which was a drag, but who cares, because now its on a doctor's chart just how ill I was, so they no longer look at me funny.  

Conversely, this gradual, but definite improvement in my appearance, has given me the courage to believe in what I'm doing for my longterm health and has also restored my faith in the possibility of being well again.

Last time I had this health crisis, when I was 35, it lasted 3 months and was a living hell.  Mainly because it first presents as anaemia, which I didn't know and consequently didn't treat!

This time Thankfully, I recognised the signs of anaemia, treated it quickly with liquid iron (Floradix), and now, as I'm taking the Adrenal Cortex, I can feel an improvement already in the deeper fatigue issues, even though I'm only half way through the tub of capsules.

It no longer kills me just to stand up, and I actually have some reliable strength.  This weekend I spent the whole weekend cleaning, washing and ironing.  I had a pile of ironing that was 6 weeks deep!  That proves how long I'd been really ill, because usually I like to keep on top of the (damn) ironing.  

I started taking L-Carnosine about a week ago.  I noticed an effect after 24 hours.  I take two capsules a day (one after breakfast and the other after lunch).  Something very positive has happened inside my head since taking this substance, and I think its got something to do with all the accumulated metals that were sloshing around my brain?  

I think I mentioned before that in perimenopause, we become extremely low in ZINC, due to low progesterone and this means that Copper builds up in the brain to the levels that cause depression.  Its my personal view that L-Carnosine is cleansing me of the copper build up and consequently, my head feels a lot 'clearer'.  Either that or its helping my 5-htp to work harder?

DHEA, DMAE and L-Carnosine are all anti-Alzheimers.  Its my personal view that Alzheimer's/dementia is predominantly a nutritional disease, by that I mean, something is being missed from our diets as we age, that we badly need increasing amounts of, in order that the ageing brain stays healthy.  

Ideally I would like to post lots of relevant links but I'm going to bed now, as the hours from 10pm till 1.00am are when our bodies detox, especially our brains!

Adrenal Fatigue has led to my first ever Kidney Infection

'When it rains, it pours' as they say...

My DH was so concerned about my health he forced me to visit the GP.  I'm glad I did, because after a clinical examination, he confirmed I had a kidney infection (on top of everything else!).

I had no idea my condition had deteriorated as much as that, as I presented with no fever or burning upon passing water, just lower backache.  It was only discovered upon clinical examination.  He put me on 250mg of antibiotics and sent me for a blood test.

As I said last time, I fully understand what's happening to my body.  Its trying to cope with TWO new eventualities:

1.  Adrenal Fatigue - probably caused by excessive bleeding and poor diet.  Anaemia was the first part of it, but now its a different kind of fatigue.

2.  Ovaries Stopped Ovulating - It's my belief that if my ovaries hadn't packed-up working, my endocrine system would not have put the extra burden on my adrenals to make 40% of my sex hormones, and in turn, this would not have compromised my general kidney function.

Adrenal Fatigue & Kidney Infection - Rolled into One
Looking back, I think I've been ill for about 6 weeks or so.  It was sort of, worse, than anaemia because it made me fall backwards, which I've never experienced before!

I felt really cold and even became a little incoherent.    But the really weird thing, as compared to typical anaemia, was that mental concentration was not as difficult to achieve as was physical  concentration.  Even maintaining my posture was almost impossible during the very worst of it.  Also, I kept fretting about and things I felt unable to do.  But looking back, I think the very worst symptom was that my legs just refused to do what I said.  I would try to stand up and it was like they were not getting the message from my brain.  I now realise it was chronically low adrenaline/cortisol that caused this.  It actually felt as if my legs were like lead or concrete, made of solid matter rather, than flesh and bone?  I was totally washed out!  

I never want to experience that kind of fatigue again, if I can at all help it!! 

So I decided I needed to get wise quickly to know how to get well, in the shortest available time.  I quickly found two things that have helped me a lot.  

1.  I started taking Adrenal Cortex Extract capsules (of Bovine origin), 50mg.  I take three a day.  I'm taking them as per the advice of Dr James Wilson, in his book Adrenal Fatigue: 21st Century Stress Syndrome.  His book does not specify whether you should take extract from Bovine or Porcine origin, but I note interestingly, that on his website, he sells the medication of Porcine extraction, only!  

The point of taking this medication is that it is supposed to help you recover from Adrenal Fatigue much faster than lying around resting, which is out of the question for most people.  It's recommended for moderate symptoms.  But for acute symptoms, you would need to take a much stronger composition in liquid form.

I wanted the liquid form but its not available in the UK and they wont permit shipping from the US for this product on amazon.com.    

From what I've read so far, if I visit my doctor with adrenal fatigue, he'll no doubt give me steroids - which I have NO intention to taking.  So, I'm self-medicating upon Dr Wilson's advice.    

2.  I also started taking Vitex Agnus Castus, two capsules of 400mg each, twice a day.  I'm taking this because, interestingly in contrast, it targets the pituitary gland and helps you to make more of your own progesterone as well as lowering prolactin levels.  A lot of women take this substance for fertility problems (presenting typically as low progesterone) and PMS, but also for menopausal symptoms (yippee!).  

Agnus Castus wont be a forever thing, but for the next few months, hopefully, it should help to level out progesterone levels, especially at night.  Because I'm finding that Natural Progesterone Cream is not really getting me through the night and I need to get up, pass water, then apply the cream, before I can go to sleep again.    

I've noticed two things happening while taking Vitex Agnus Castus.

a.  I perspire again!  Remember, I said I wasn't perspiring ages ago and that it worried me that I may be overheating because of this?  

Well, Agnus Castus seems to be correcting that situation.  It means I get less of those strange pulsating twinges across my head, which always remind me of a brewing migraine.  

b.  I've also noticed the reinstatement of slight panic attacks type anxiety symptoms in the afternoon.  

Its a wild guess, but I think Agnus Castus is helping me to make more testosterone again?  I need to read further into this, but always during my cycle, when I was making more testosterone, I would get quite anxious and have panic attacks.  This was very much part of PMS for me.

I'll monitor the situation regarding the increased anxiety, but I intend to persevere with Agnus Castus because I've thought for a long time that my pituitary was possibly not performing properly? even when I was really well, like 10 years ago?

So, you can see, I'm trying desperately to cope with several health issues at the same time:

1.  Adrenal Fatigue

2.  Perimenopause (last stages)

3.  Thyroid dysfunction (due to low progesterone production and low Iodine intake)

4.  Dieting (often at starvation levels)

5.  Possible pituitary dysfunction (since birth, no doubt)

6.  Oestrogen dominance (for the last 10 years)

7.  Low progesterone (definitely for more than 10 years)

8.  My first ever kidney infection

9.  Migraine (really bad last 14 months)

10.Ongoing stress (work and home)/

About the stress.  Remember I said I was suffering uncontrollable stress - mainly due to our dog's health?  Well I found out recently that the real reason I couldn't stop the stress, may have been because I was actually chronically deficient in magnesium.  

Since I read recently that 'magnesium puts the brakes on the flow of adrenaline'. 


I found that information out coincidentally, and was surprised that it was a subject that hadn't been covered in the book on Magnesium that I download a couple of months ago, called: The Magnesium Solution for Migraine Headaches
Well I suppose the emphasis of that book was really about pain relief from Magnesium.

Its a shame it wasn't covered, as the need for us all to have enough magnesium to prevent us becoming chronically stressed, is a wonderful preventative piece of advice, surely?  I wish I'd learned that when I was in my mid-thirties and going hammer and tongs at everything in my life: such as, organising charity events, bringing up children, working long hours, studying part-time, house renovations and alcohol consumption, to name a few...

Quite honestly, the life I've lived the past 15 years has really come home to roost during these perimenopausal/menopausal stages of the game.  I've had to ask myself: What kind of an old woman do you want to be?

1.  I want to remain slim
2.  I want to be fit - be able to walk 5 miles a day, if needs be
3.  I dont want to get Alzheimers - if I can supplement and avoid it, because I think it probably is a dietary disease.  
4.  I dont want Osteoporosis - my aunt had it, she died in a hundred little pieces, her deterioration was the most devastating thing to observe  - the poor thing, God rest her soul!
5.  I still want to do millions of things and have the energy for all of them
6.  I dont want my face or hair to deteriorate to the point of invisibility
7.  I want to balance my hormones and not end up an emotional wreck that buys crap from the internet to fill emotional holes.

(My GP confirmed: it is medically possible to come off HRT suddenly.  But reiterated that I should never have been prescribed it in the first place (by my private doctor), due to my history of migraine! - how comforting!!)

About DHEA
I've read that because I'm currently suffering Adrenal Fatigue, I wont be able to really notice the effects of DHEA until that's under control.   

Confirmed: My Sudden-Onset Adrenal Fatigue is the result of Suddenly Coming off  HRT 

I'm suppose to be ending my cycle this week.  Well that didn't happen, instead this did...

Weekend From Hell

I cannot for the life of me believe how suddenly and how low my energy levels dropped.  I stopped applying Natural Progesterone Cream about a week ago and since then I have gradually felt the full force of life without HRT.

(Biologically speaking, the work of my ovaries has been taken over in large part by my (personally depleted) adrenal glands.  They now have to pump out 40% of the sex hormones oestrogen, progesterone & testosterone that were previously pumped out by my ovaries.  Needless to say, my adrenals are struggling to cope.  The resulting fatigue, I find, is much worse when I'm at rest, as the body will always put the stress response before sex hormone production.)

Bloating

First I got really bloated.  My womb is very engorged and of course its pressing on my bladder.  Then I got very slow cervical pain, not really period pain, but it was a little 'uncomfortable' and persisted.  

Emotional Imbalance

Then my emotions went off the roof and I was crying about emaciated slave donkeys and their ill-treatment.

Low Grade Migraine

Then I got a painful but not agonising migraine, that lasted about 9 hours.  I took one dose of 500mg soluble paracetamol and had to get through a very emotional funeral and wake.

Muscle Weakness

Then I started to go downhill with extreme muscle weakness in my legs, fatigue like nothing you have ever seen.  I had all the symptoms of having done a half marathon and my lower back ached on either side (a sure sign my adrenals were enlarged). I couldn't do anything until 4pm yesterday.  The house was a mess and I hated that!  I was walking like an invalid.  I grew more and more distressed at my weakening state.

Shocking Bags Under the Eyes

Then at around 10.30pm I looked in the mirror and saw these enormous dark circles under my eyes and awful puffy skin underneath.  I thought what is this?  Plus, there was weird swelling under each eye??  I don't usually have bags under the eyes.  

Polyuria

I peed about 25 times, a weird colourless stuff that remained like that all day, even though I made sure I ate as well as I could yesterday. This symptom did not surprise me so much, as that's what happens when I get a migraine.  The migraine had ended but this symptom persisted.  Makes me wonder which came first, chicken or egg, because I realise now that my kidneys are receiving a knock-on effect and have been for some years?

Tremors

Then, something very strange happened, I kind of keeled over, went into a ball and shook.  The slight trembling I'd noticed in my legs earlier, just kind of washed all over me and by then, I was shaking all over.  

At that point I knew exactly what was happening to me and I finally knew what to do.

Crashing-Out

Basically I was having a terrible crash.  This meant that the more I tried to relax, the more toxins and waste products were being flushed out of me, from way back when I'd been tense all week and before.  Remember, I'd had 5 sleepless nights preceding this episode.  The only other time this has happened to me, as badly as this, was when I had to decorate an entire house, ceilings, walls, stairwells and hall all by myself within a week's deadline.  I remember coming home and all my muscles aching, keeling over, then starting to shake uncontrollably.

The difference this time is that I've not exerted myself at all this last week, except for the sleepless nights.  

I know understand that what actually must have taken place is that my adrenals finally got the message that they have to take over from my dried out ovaries.  

Last Remnants of HRT Washing Out of Me

In other words all the HRT that was washing around me has now, finally, been flushed out and my own endocrine system is picking up the pieces.  No wonder I felt so overwhelmed by the process?  If I'd stopped HRT gradually, I feel sure I wouldn't have had such an extreme response.  

Adrenals Have Taken Over from my Ovaries

The adrenals have obviously now taken over "40% of sex hormone production" from my (dead) ovaries.  That's why I couldn't actually pinpoint the centre of my problems, because they were systemic and nothing to do with what I had or hadn't done, in terms of exertion.

I also read that the body will always put the Adrenalin/Cortisol stress response before the manufacture of sex hormones.  Its my guess, that because I was trying to rest-up, the adrenals got the message that they could switch operations and finally had the chance to pump out oestrogen, without any stressful interruptions.  This meant that all my aches and pains were louder and louder.  Then the more I rested, when I tried to get up, not even a tiny bit of adrenalin/cortisol was sent my way to help me to get up!   

Feeling Very Cold

The worst part was the fact that I couldn't warm up.  I had two thick blankets across my legs and yet they were like ice.  I was freezing cold for many hours, until my energy levels finally normalised, at around 4-6pm.     

Honestly, I was so shocked at how awful I felt I found myself toying with a packet of HRT and started wondering if I should take it again??  Can you believe how far gone I was?

Progesterone Cream

Then I said to myself, 'look love, face it, this is your body getting old.  No more babies, no more periods, get with the programme!'  So I went over to my drawer and took out the tub of Natural Progesterone Cream and applied it to my aching thighs and tummy.

The pain went after about 10 minutes.  I was then able to sit down and watch Joan Rivers perform her comedy sketch where she talks about ageing and 95-years olds taking viagra, having sex and almost setting each other on fire with the dry friction - lol!!!

Conclusions

My DH was very concerned at my deterioration and felt I should call or visit the doctor next week.  I then had the problem of pacifying him, on top of everything else!  I told him if I went to the doctor, he would try and cover himself by having me take all kinds of kidney lab tests.  I could be in the system for months, with no solution.  I told him I understood what was happening to me and that this is the result of being an adrenalin junkie when I was younger.  I also realise that my kidneys were very involved in my cycle, probably from the age of 35, when my PMS got a lot worse.  I can see now that the elusive 'electrolyte crisis' that was mentioned as the probable cause of my migraines, in all likelihood started in my kidneys!  Fascinating.

Here is the little video that helped me to understand what's happening to me.   I've since downloaded this doctor's kindle book (OMG, another kindle book - don't tell my DH!)

JAMES WILSON - AUTHOR OF ADRENAL FATIGUE - THE 21st CENTURY SYNDROME

Here is a great interview with the author of the above leading book on this endocrine crisis, which he names simply, as 'Adrenal Fatigue'.  The section that's of particular interest in the video is from 14.29 minutes onwards, where he discusses perimenopausal hormonal imbalance leading to adrenal fatigue.  (Personally, I never realised the adrenals had to take over as much as 40% of sex hormone production after your ovaries have dried out - that's a lot of work for my little worn out walnuts!)  

A Word More About Adrenal Problems

Addisons Disease is the very extreme end of low Cortisol production.  Low Cortisol production is the result of longterm stress.  Cortisol protects us from the short term stress response, by giving us anti-inflammatory protection etc, but when the adrenals are depleted, Cortisol production tails off, hence the overwhelming feeling of fatigue sets in.  

The thing that worries me most about longterm adrenal fatigue is how it can also be a precursor of diabetes.  This is why even though in this condition I know eating sugary things would give me a much needed lift, I have to resist the temptation to do that, as I really don't want to get Diabetes, if I can avoid it.  After all, Diabetes is a Western Disease.

Cushing's Syndrome: When there is a high amount of Cortisole in the body, it can lead to a condition known as Cushing's Disease. This is one of many hormonal disorders that is related to type 2 diabetes,

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/enlarged-adrenal-gland.html

All this serves to show that longterm stress is very bad for us and taking time out to relax and do nothing is not a sin or a bad thing to do.  

Funny though how when we do NOTHING, you end up feeling a lot worse than if you were actually doing something.  

I've Self-Diagnosed and Confirmed that I'm Suffering from Adrenal Fatigue

My migraine yesterday lasted 8-9 hours.  I had it all through the funeral I attended and it spiked twice, the second time was my cue to leave.  I felt dreadful, although the headache I would class as painful but never really reaching the point of being 'agony', the adrenal fatigue however was the most horrible part.  

I was very concerned about how I was coming across and in those circumstances, this makes me more anxious in a way, because you can end up being 'too friendly' in order to appear more normal? 

I spoke to my the widow as if we had not lost touch, which came naturally and I know would have pleased the deceased husband, had he lived.  She mentioned the will and how nothing was decided or written down.  I knew she would be anxious about that part because when I was in touch with her last, she was having difficulties with other members of the family in that regard. 

I noticed that I happened to be the only one of her 'friends' there.  I found this touching but also a positive indication as to how difficult it is to get on with this woman.  Anyway, without wishing to sound effusive, it was the saddest funeral I've ever been to, in that most of the room was full of men and they were actually sobbing all around me!  Unforgettable, because after all this was England!!!

Adrenal Fatigue is Up there with Pernicious Anaemia and I'm not sure which is worse?

The thing with anaemia is that you find it so hard to concentrate on anything, you hold your head in your hand and pant for breath.  But with this Adrenal Fatigue business, the bottom half of your body especially, is rendered practically paralysed.  I've known for a long time that I've been producing too much Cortisol but I'm only now realising how BAD that is.  

I think subconsciously I knew I was getting worse because of all the pills I kept buying.  I know I have to get better, while on-the-go, but I just don't know how long this is going to take?? My DH suggested we go on holiday.  I freaked, I said 'you have to be kidding, I couldn't pack a bag or stand around in airport lounges in this condition'??

My legs are so incredibly heavy and without energy, its like there's lead in my veins and muscles instead of blood??  I have a lot of trouble changing from doing a fast activity to doing a slow one.  I get constant 'head-rushes' and 'feeling faint'.   When I stand up I feel my legs are going to give way beneath me, but usually they just tremble.  I've also noticed my legs are very thin now??  

I think I'm more worried about my health with this complaint than with anaemia, because at least with anaemia you know its going to end.  With this, I just cannot sense from any part of my body how long this will take to improve??  

I've had a lot of stress for the past 24 months, but particularly the last 15 months.  I had a long chat with my DH last night because he saw me almost collapse twice yesterday and I could tell he was getting worried.  

We went over what's happened in our lives that's driven me to this point?   We concluded that every new problem that came along was resolved, Thankfully, but there has been an unending stream of 'unforeseen circumstances', which has given me a lot of stress.  

I'd warned everyone I was getting worse, but no one really believed me, and because I look so much better with all the supplements I've been taking.

I had to remind my DH that my migraines have been occurring twice twice a month for about 6 months and I've been very anaemic and stressed, before, during and after.  

Obviously for the two weeks a month where I'm not in pain, I've been pushing myself too hard.  On top of that the dog had been very ill, culminating in a grand mal seizure and on top of that there have been property refurbishments and exams.  The whole thing has driven me to the point of near- complete depletion.  

No wonder I've been so sad about rubbish dump donkeys, its because I have (a relatively small) insight into how exhausted they must feel!     

There are three important tests that you can do to find out if you have Adrenal Fatigue.  I've failed two and the third I've half failed, in that one of my pupils dilates much more slowly.   

Here's a link to the best article I've found on this evaluation:

Recovering from Adrenal Fatigue: How your body can overcome chronic stress and feel energised again.

and this one, which gives me a diet to follow which is basically, low in *potassium (hence I stopped the supplements), high in protein (too many skipped meals) high in Vit C supplements (but not fruit).  

Adrenal Fatigue Diet

Its really interesting to note that in these circumstances I should increase my salt intake, as I had worked out by a process of elimination that salt made me feel better.  In fact I've noticed that for about 4 months.  If I think about it, that's how long I've been really low.  

Now here's a weird thing.  I think I should have felt the adverse effects of Adrenal Fatigue a lot sooner, were it not for the fact that I was taking 5-HTP.  Because remember, my mood is fine now but my energy levels are low.  Before I took 5-HPT, if my energy levels were low, my mood would plummet, and that was invariably my cue to rest-up.  Reluctantly I have to admit that supplements may in fact turn out to be a self-perpetuating scenario??

Plus there are several really good YouTube videos that are extremely informative and comforting to watch:

I've chosen these two videos because I've just started to take DHEA - today is day 3.  

In the first video he describes the feeling of going 'further and further down in your energy levels'. 

I know exactly what he means, and I'm at the point where I have next-to-no strength left. 

I'm extremely worried about my health at this time due to my overwhelming physical weakness.   

* With Adrenal depletion, your body will not cope well with high potassium levels and for this reason I've stopped taking Potassium supplements - for the time being.

5-HTP discussed

I said I would discuss my experience with 5-HTP.  

Dosage

I take it twice a day, when I get up and before bed.  I take 50mg tablets.

I felt positive effects quite quickly after taking this tablet but didn't outwardly show any signs for about 5-6 days.

The changes I noticed is that my mood is more stable.  I don't sink like I used to, especially before mealtimes.

All suicidal thoughts have been banished and I can get to sleep much more quickly.

I smile a lot more and am ready to laugh - a lot of the time - which is very unusual to how I've been since 35.  People have remarked that I seem a lot more cheerful and positive.  

I still lose my temper, momentarily, but its worth noting that these outbursts are much shorter and don't affect my overriding mood.

Because I've responded positively to 5-HTP, I can only assume that I must be a person that has never really made enough Serotonin and needs help in that department.

I've decided to take 5-HTP for the longterm, and probably the rest of my life, as life feels better with it.

But, there is a but, as usual.  5-HTP will make you feel happier in yourself but if you're exhausted, it wont give you any added energy.  Which is a weird thing to experience for me, because I usually associate an improvement in mood with an improvement in energy levels.    

Changes since stopping HRT

Since stopping HRT I've noticed that my sleep pattern is a bit weird again.  I wake up around 3 or 4am, visit the bathroom and then either lie awake for hours, or sleep in short bursts, till its time to get up.

I feel much better without HRT, and more like my old self.  I'm leading up to a supposed menses now.  I can feel that my cervix is quite sensitive and painful.  Its like the period pain I used to get as a teenager.  Funny how the whole time I took HRT, I didn't have period pain ever, but horrendous migraines instead.

I would prefer the pain to come from my cervix any day!  

Progress with supplements
I'm really pleased at the condition of my hair and skin as a result of taking Zinc and my trim figure as a result of taking Potassium and shedding all that water retention.  

I now also take Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid and Vitamin D3. 

I'm not sure if one of these is causing my sleeplessness, or whether its just life post-HRT?  If the sleeplessness continues, I might discontinue Vit E and Vit D3 and take them sporadically.   

Of all the supplements that I'm taking, the top 5 for noticeable results are:

Zinc

Potassium

Magnesium

5-HTP
Rhodiola Rosea

Thank Goodness the first three on the list are comparatively cheap to buy!

Here's a list of all the supplements I currently take (I've not mentioned DMAE because I haven't yet noticed any change, apart from the feeling that it freshens me up in the morning, especially after a double vodka the night before - lol!)

Fish Oil (High Strength)

Multivitamin (with Lutein)

Vit B3

Potassium

Magnesium

Liquid Iron (occasionally)

Zinc

Folic Acid

Vit E

Selenium

Vit B complex (pathetic RDA doses)

Vit D3 (new addition - will discuss at a later date)

Vit C (1000mg)

Vit B12 (new addition, need it for Thyroid etc - yet to be discussed)

Rhodiola Rosea

5-HTP

I take supplements in complementary groups, with food.  Rarely do they state you should take them before food. 

My life is pretty hectic again and I'm having to drive long distances.  Skipped meals and vodka when I get home are not the way to live but we all handle stress in different ways.  

I'm quite surprised at how exhausted I am and I think now that my migraines may be calming down, the true state of my health is emerging.  

I intend to take LIQUORICE ROOT EXTRACT quite soon, because I've read it helps with adrenal function.  

When I'm lying in bed with this damn insomnia, I can't help but wonder what lasting harm I've inflicted on my brain tissue and nerves in my head from taking HRT.

I just want to say that although it seems stupid of me not to have realised what was happening sooner, I need to remind myself that I had really bad migraines for 3 years while I was badly anaemic too.  This turned out to be a misdiagnosis and eventually I learned that my real problem was Hypothyroidism.  

Now all these years and nightmarish migraines later, I have come to think that my real problem is renal fatigue.  If my renal fatigue wasn't so awful, I think I would still be able to take HRT.

Anyway, who cares about all that, I'm just glad I'm off it!

Getting on well with Natural Progesterone Cream - Zinc discussed - DMAE discussed

Double Doses of Natural Progesterone Cream
I've continued to apply double doses of Progesterone Cream.

I think I may have overdone it because I ended up controlling my symptoms residual migraine pain and bruising but felt very 'sleepy' after a few days.  Now that I've received my copy of:

What your doctor may not tell you about menopause


I can see that the risk overdose is quite common.  I'm not too worried about this at this stage because if I am overdosing, its for two reasons: one is I came of HRT  very abruptly and want urgently to oppose all the (horses) Oestrogen that's sloshing around my body.

Two, is that because my last migraine was so excruciating, I wanted to soothe a sore brain.  Natural progesterone is also a pain-killer!

Applied to forehead
I stopped applying it directly to my forehead after 3 days, as my head no longer throbs or twinges.   

Adrenal Fatigue Neck Pain
I have been getting discomfort from both sides of my neck though.  I've noticed this has been happening for at least the last 3 months.  This tells me something very important, that only I can work out, as I've watched my body so closely.

Ovary Pain
Another strange thing I noticed for the past 2 months, for certain, is that I got quite sharp pain from my ovary and fallopian tube area.  Last month it was the right hand side, this month the left.  The pain lasts for a couple of days and it really is quite stubborn and loud.  I can only imagine that this is because its basically shutting down and maybe trying to give out its very last?  Of course the ovaries will continue to produce Oestrogen, probably until 85 years of age, but the progesterone side of things is honestly kaput!  

Anovulatory Status Check
Very low progesterone is very a clear indication that my ovaries have stopped ovulating.  In my case this is putting an added strain on things because now my adrenals are having to make much more progesterone.  This process is probably OK for most people, but because I have significant adrenal fatigue, it causes my Thyroid to overwork itself and if I'm also suffering from stress, then apparently the stress hormone cortisole 'steals' progesterone, so you're even more deficient.  Hence a lot of women's periods stop after they've had a shock of some kind, like death of a parent, loss of employment of finding out your husband has been banging his secretary.    

Low Progesterone Since age 35
Since the age of 35 I have felt like crap.  But only now am I finding out why that has been the case.

I wish I'd taken PMS more seriously over the years.  But because my mother had suffered badly with it, I just accepted it as 'my lot'.  

Now I'm finding out that if I had applied progesterone cream back then, my symptoms would have lessened and I would have had a better marriage??

Extreme PMS Due to Low Progesterone
I have muddled my way through years of torture with  extreme PMS (I say extreme because it always ends up with my threatening to become violent), years of adrenal fatigue, years of low progesterone, years of not putting my needs first.  All in all added up to significant years of self-neglect, which have all finally caught up with me and the result is that my perimenopause is dreadful.

Here's a great article by the way, that explains the involvement of your adrenals in a decreasing progesterone situation: Adrenals, Stress & Progesterone Levels.

Its fascinating observing all the tiny changes taking place in my body since I stopped taking HRT and started using this natural hormone cream.  

Breast Improvements Since Stopping HRT
The first thing I noticed was that my nipples became paler.  (I've never had dark areolae but for the 17 months that I took HRT, they were always a very angry colour the whole time? and kind of hot?  Now Thank Goodness, they're their normal colour again and normal temperature!

Effect of Natural Progesterone Cream on Breast Tissue

I also noticed that since using the cream on my breasts, they are significantly less lumpy and don't feel so hot and uncomfortable.  This makes sense, because its suppose to guard against fibrocystic breast problems.  

(I'm not certain if the HRT made my breasts lumpy, or whether the lumpiness was just exacerbated by taking it, as breast tissue changes after 35 anyway.)

DMAE

I've received my first bottle of DMAE capsules from the U.S.  DMAE is the abbreviated name ascribed to the biological substance called Dimethylethanolamine.

What Is DMAE?

DMAE is short for (dimethylaminoethanol), a naturally-occurring nutrient that enhances acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis. Adequate levels of ACh are important for proper memory function. Normally found in small amounts in our brains, DMAE has been shown to remarkably enhance brain function when used as a supplement in clinical studies.

(Source: L-Carnosine Formula - End of Old Age by Jon Barron)

I bought this supplement after reading Jon Barron's article and also a book about DHEA, which I'll discuss another time. 

DMAE is recommended as the perfect companion to take with L-Carnosine.  I've also ordered that but it will take another 10 days to get here.  Both supplements are anti-ageing, but what particularly attracts me is their anti-Alzheimers properties.  

As I've abandoned HRT, I'm now very interested in finding other ways to remain on top of my game.  The fact that both these substances help with skin rejuvenation and memory and brain cell renewal is amazing.  Apparently they are both safe and if you read down the page at the long list of things DMAE is supposed to help with, its quite amazing.  Notice also how its particularly suited to people who like to drink alcohol in that it:

"Decrease the incidence and severity of hangovers in people who consume excessive amounts of Alcohol"
(Source: Jon Barron)

Strictly speaking these vital building blocks to our sense of wellbeing should be provided by an adequate balanced diet, but I'm of the opinion that I would virtually have to eat all day long to the get the quantities of these nutrients that I require.  

Again, soil depletion is such a serious problem for industrialised societies and as much as we like to think we're buying good food, its quality is very much in question.

Millions upon millions of people need to be fed,  consequently food production is extremely intense and fast.

This results in food that is grown to be a consistent size but is largely composed of water and starch.  

Inevitably, we now tend to eat food that has minuscule amounts of the things people in the 1900s, say, took for granted, like Magnesium.

Magnesium deficiency was unheard of in 1910.  But by 1950, the first cases were being reported.  I now know for sure that I was severely Magnesium deficient, and its horrifying to read now, how low magnesium is a marker for heart disease.  

I will need to watch out for heart disease, as now that I'm producing less progesterone naturally, I have a typicallyk higher cholesterol reading.  

Zinc Deficiency & Perimenopause
I almost forgot to mention my experiments with Zinc.

My reading is going much faster than my reporting on this blog, so you'll have to bear with me.  

For the last 6 years I've had a very annoying skin complaint. The doctor diagnosed it as eczema and I treated it as such.

However, unlike eczema, I noticed it was stress-related.

I did some further research and worked out that it was in fact more akin to Seborrheic Dermatitis.

This meant for a long time that I treated the yeast infection part of that complaint.

However, due to my reading further about vitamin supplements and especially the electrolyte crisis that I've researched previously, I came across the importance of Zinc and so started taking it. 

In truth I don't eat much seafood these days.  This is a shame but as I was the only one that liked it, in the end I just stopped buying it.  

I started taking Zinc Citrate 15mg about 2 weeks ago.  

After about 2 days I noticed that my skin started to feel less sensitive.  After 4 days my suspected 'eczema' started to clear up!  This was not the only change I noticed.  

HRT is supposed to help with 'personal' dryness.  I found it did nothing of the sort.  However, Zinc has sorted out that problem.

Zinc also increases libido.  A lot is written about libido.  This is not a libido blog.  If you want to read about libido, I suggest you find another blog to read.  

However, even though I'm not interested in libido cures, I have noticed that Zinc makes me feel better all over.  My skin is glowing again, my complexion is radiant (if it can be over the age of 40!!) and on some weird level, I'm being noticed again by the opposite sex.

Male attention boosts confidence.  Half of them I wouldn't poke with a bargepole, but its still nice to have doors opened for you, again, rather than have them fly shut in your face.  

I was so impressed with Zinc, I suggested my DH should use it.  After 4 days his Psoriasis and dermatitis and eczema all improved.  12 days later and his skin is now 98% improved.  This is nothing short of a miracle!

This man has spent a fortune on quacks telling him to use this cream or that.

Well, it turns out that during Perimenopause, low levels of progesterone and high levels of Oestrogen means that we will absorb less Zinc and become deficient, and retain too much copper.  This can lead to depression due to the build-up of copper toxicity in the brain.  I managed to find this article that explains it well:

"imbalance of too much estrogen can cause the body to retain copper and lose zinc in the blood and brain. There may be a link between zinc levels and depression. Symptoms of depression have also been associated with copper toxicity."

(Source : http://www.livestrong.com/article/470270-low-progesterone-and-depression/#ixzz2Nyvkqmmd)

This explains why my skin had become very inflamed since 6 years ago.  It also explains why I have reacted so well to Zinc supplements.  

I am utterly fascinated and grateful that I've discovered this link with Zinc and my general health.  My skin problems were so bad at times that I refused to meet up with people on a social basis.  Now my skin feels younger, my eyes are shiny, my complexion is clear and those disgusting red patches that I had round my chin, nose and brow are completely gone!  I have gone back to using anti-wrinkle moisturiser, instead of that horrible stuff aimed at eczema outbreaks.   

So ladies, take your (low dose) Zinc and start clicking those heels, life is NOT over, by a long shot !!!

Disclaimer: Any medical views offered on this blog are put forward purely by means of my own personal experience and are not intended to encourage others to abandon medical regimes for which they are under the care of their family doctors.  Please check with your doctor if you would like to start taking anything that I've discussed.  However, most GPs in the UK have not even heard of Natural Progesterone Cream.