So...this is likely going to be a long post, I apologize in advance as I kind of just have a lot of my mind to expand upon.
I am a 33 year old male, I first got Covid in late December 2023. It was rough, What complicates this for me is that I didn't feel good before Covid. For years I dealt with major fatigue issues, what some would consider similar to adrenal fatigue type symptoms, low blood sugar feelings every day, anxiety, all kinds of weird stomach/chest sensations, lack of energy, heat sensitivity, anxiety and more. The only things I previously had been confirmed to have that could have contribued to this were low Vitamin D and a hiatal hernia. Over the last few years I've had a batery of heart tests, stomach tests, all never really found much other than the hiatal hernia.
Covid was rough on me for sure. Had the worst cough I've ever had for weeks. Though oxygen remained normal, the worst muscle pains I've ever had, and stomach issues, frequent bowel movement. In the weeks following Covid I felt like my hiatal hernia had been made worse as I was just noticing symptoms in there more. I also feel sleepy way more than I did before Covid. The coughing stopped, but I dont know that any of it totally went away, there were periods of time where I forgot I had Covid and even thought I was totally over it a few times, but right now I am reconsidering it.
The last few weeks I have really been just not been feeling rough..and its nothing new to me totally but it all feels worse.
Muscle pains and soreness...I dont have horrible muscle pains, but I have pains that are just there that I didnt notice before, arms, legs, ribs, back, chest. Now weird feelings werent new to me, but its all so much more noticeable after Covid. Its almost like...My muscles are all just a little heavy/sore, like if I want to go on a walk, its like starting an old car, something at 33 I dont think is the norm, just sitting here typing this paragraph I've noticed a strain/muscle pain in my left knee, upper thigh, fingers, and left wirst. They are low on the pain scale like 2 or 3 out of 10, but they are there. It is similar to the muscle feelings you get when you are sick but not quite on that scale, just a lower level daily 24/7 version of it.
My hiatal hernia has felt so much worse in the last few weeks. I am noticing so much more pressure around it, its almost like a baby kicking in my lower chest/upper stomach when I move positions or lean wrong, or strain. I've had lots of nausea last few weeks also going along with it, it also goes along with the low blood sugar feelings I get which are fixed by foods (not sugar), and sometimes its hard to tell if I am sick or hungry or what.
Along with the theme of stomach issues, and this one gets a little more graphic...I haven't been normal with bowel movements since I had Covid. Atleast my usual. I was..pretty regular pre-covid. Every couple days, maybe once a day, but it was..simple..relatively the same...Since I had Covid, its extremely irregular, much more frequently it can be more diahhrea like, usually very soft, sometimes multiple times a day which used to be extremely rare for me, and where I used to be able to hold it before, it seems to come on much more suddenly for me now.
For a weird one, I feel like my anxiety is worse again since Covid...now I had anxiety for years which was actually caused by all the strange symptoms I had over the years. But it had been maintained and stable before Covid. Now it feels like any adrenaline release at all absolutely screws up my body. Good or bad energy. Watching a sporting event and getting excited = feeling bad...Even gaming...I am an eSports compeititor, mainly with sim racing, but I enjoy other games. I've noticed that if I play a game like Fortnite now, when I get done if its a tense game, I am borderline panic attack and my body freaking out for literally no reason, and it comes on out of nowhere once i'm done. Fortnite seems to do it worst of all games.
There are more things im sure I am forgetting but its very late, and this really hit me today that maybe somehow Long Covid is playing up all of these things after all. I did have an episode of my heart racing last month and they said it was POTS..I had an EKG while it was going, EKG was normal, Chest XRay was normal...I dont necessarily believe it was POTS but I also cant rule it out as I have had other POTS like symptoms before.

Hi, hopeful that an endo may be interested in responding to this. A little of my history; 34 y/o female, no surgical history. H/O pituitary microadenoma (was 13mm at 17 y/o and 5mm at 30 y/o), Lupus (stable on Plaquenil only), thyroid nodules (stable, TSH/T4 recently tested and mid range normal). Current ACTH is 5 (range is 7-63) and cortisol was 6.9. Today’s stim testing was baseline cortisol of 9, cortisol of 18 at 30 minutes, and 21 at 60 minutes so adrenals are working fine. C3-96 C4-20 CBC, normal CMP, only abnormal today was low potassium Random insulin (two hours post meal) was 3.5, glucose was 70 A1C is 5.4 (I have never seen my blood sugar elevated and test quite frequently 1-2 hours post meals) Urine sodium is 41, out of range high. urine osmolality is 309, blood osmolality is 290, normal range for lab ranges provided. Potassium is 3.2, so assuming this may be the reason for frequent urination mentioned below.
Current symptoms: weight loss of 15 lbs since February, loss of appetite, recurrent hypoglycemia (30’s-60’s occur weekly, no day without a reading of 60 or so—but rare fasting hypos), polyuria/polydipsia, intermittent diarrhea, fatigue, joint pain, back pain, night sweats, orthostatic hypotension with narrow MAP (96/84 for example) and heart rate ranging from 54-148 on average. Both slightly relieved, but not resolved, by Adderall 10-20mg BID (just so happen to have started taking this BID for this reason.)
Went to urgent care three weeks ago due to pretty significant symptoms and bad back pain— took a Toradol shot and Medrol dose pack for six days. For the first 3-4 days I had significant improvement in symptoms, slept better, had an appetite, no low blood sugar readings. I’ve never taken a steroid before, even with lupus. Today after stim testing felt more like my normal “pre-sick” self. Ate breakfast without gagging, no low blood sugar episodes all day. Had the energy to finish some documents for work and cook dinner.
God bless you if you’ve made it this far: Does this seem like very early secondary adrenal insufficiency? I am worried that my results are borderline enough to cause a watch and wait approach, but not sure I can handle feeling like this 24/7 when I know what it’s felt like to have cortisol in my system. I’m not naive to the harm of lifelong steroid requirements and do not want adrenal problems, but if I can feel better sooner I would like to. I have three kids and work an emotionally taxing job.
TLDR; pt with pituitary adenoma, thyroid nodules, borderline results for cortisol (6 and 9) and low ACTH (5), passed stim testing. Have classic SAI symptoms and feel better on a steroid/with acth stim testing.

So it's been a strange day. I told my ME doctor of my increased fatigue due to work expecting him to agree with me that I should reduce my work hours. Instead he prescribed me Modafinil (a stimulant) and I've gone down a rabbit hole reading about it.
Firstly I read this post and thought no way am I taking this drug (https://www.healthrising.org/stimulants-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-fibromyalgia/) Specifically after reading this paragraph: “Whipping the exhausted horse harder and harder isn’t the answer – eventually your fatigued adrenals, like the exhausted horse, will give out, no matter how hard you try to stimulate them"
Then I come across this post explaining the immune modulating effects: https://www.suzannegazdamd.com/scientifically-speaking1/modafinil-goes-well-beyond-addressing-fatigue#comments
I'm wondering if folks have found it beneficial in this immune modulating sense? I'm already taking LDN so I'm already on 1 immune modulator. Or have people found its fake energy and they crash and burn from it?

Hey y’all! I’ve attached a chart and graph detailing my BP and HR over time and by body position. My cardio suspects POTS, and I’ve been on Fludrocortisone (0.1 mg) for 2 weeks now due to chronically low BP. What does this look like to you all? I am wondering if it could be adrenal dysfunction or another form of dysautonomia rather than POTS, and am also seeing an Endo to figure that out soon.
ADDITIONAL INFO:

1. Chart background: This data began roughly when I woke up, feeling terrible/fatigued after an uninterrupted 8.5 hrs of sleep. I decided not to take my salts/fludro/water to get a picture of my baseline.
   
2. BP/HR history before Fludrocortisone: My standing tachycardia is historically more aggressive than is shown. My standing BP was lower (closer to sitting/supine) before Fludro.
   
3. Other conditions/medications: I am confirmed hypermobile EDS and have Hashimotos/Hypothyroidism. I take the following meds; Levothyroxine+Liothyronine (Hypothyroidism), Vegan Multivitamin (DEVA Prenatal-not pregnant), Zyrtec, and Fish Oil (2000 mg/day).
   
4. Symptoms: I feel TERRIBLE in the mornings with low BP and severe fatigue that persists through most of the day. The Fludro has helped raise my BP, but REALLY works when I’m taking buffered salts and drinking copious water throughout the entire day. I feel normal and like a completely different person, but only if I’m adding in the constant salt+water. My fatigue nearly vanishes.
   

Thank you so much for your input! I’m lucky to have found something that have worked on my extreme fatigue (Fludro, salt and water). But I want a clearer understanding of my exact condition.

Hey y’all! I’ve attached a chart and graph detailing my BP and HR over time and by body position. My cardio suspects POTS, and I’ve been on Fludrocortisone (0.1 mg) for 2 weeks now due to chronically low BP. What does this look like to you all? I am wondering if it could be adrenal dysfunction or another form of dysautonomia rather than POTS, and am also seeing an Endo to figure that out soon.
ADDITIONAL INFO:

1. Chart background: This data began roughly when I woke up, feeling terrible/fatigued after an uninterrupted 8.5 hrs of sleep. I decided not to take my salts/fludro/water to get a picture of my baseline.
   
2. BP/HR history before Fludrocortisone: My standing tachycardia is historically more aggressive than is shown. My standing BP was lower (closer to sitting/supine) before Fludro.
   
3. Other conditions/medications: I am confirmed hypermobile EDS and have Hashimotos/Hypothyroidism. I take the following meds; Levothyroxine+Liothyronine (Hypothyroidism), Vegan Multivitamin (DEVA Prenatal-not pregnant), Zyrtec, and Fish Oil (2000 mg/day).
   
4. Symptoms: I feel TERRIBLE in the mornings with low BP and severe fatigue that persists through most of the day. The Fludro has helped raise my BP, but REALLY works when I’m taking buffered salts and drinking copious water throughout the entire day. I feel normal and like a completely different person, but only if I’m adding in the constant salt+water. My fatigue nearly vanishes.
   

Thank you so much for your input! I’m lucky to have found something that have worked on my extreme fatigue (Fludro, salt and water). But I want a clearer understanding of my exact condition.

Hi everyone! I've been suffering for almost 2 months now from suspected adrenal fatigue that has snowballed into some other issues.
I got sick about 7 weeks ago and ended up going to urgent care where they prescribed me Prednisone. They gave me 3 pillss that were 50mg each. Ever since then, my life has been a living hell. Naturally, none of the regular doctors I've spoken to believe me when I tell them I think high dose prednisone wrecked my body somehow.
I've been having nightly insomnia, GI issues, lost my appetite, panic attacks at night (these have been SO bad), shortness of breath/can't get a full deep breath, anxiety, sensitivity/reactions to basically everything like food and supplements, heart palpitations, weakness, exercise intolerance, etc. Night time has been the worst with the shortness of breath, anxiety and panic attacks. During most mornings/afternoons, I feel almost normal. But once I head to bed the symptoms rear their ugly heads again w8th a vengeance.
My cortisol saliva test showed low DHEA's and low night time cortisol (i tested my last at 10pm). My morning, afternoon, and evening/dinner time levels were normal though.
My functional doctor today that I visited told me I have severe adrenal fatigue but gave me no direction on where to start to fix this.
I have not touched alcohol, any sort of medicine including ibuprofen, aspirin, or caffeine since I was sick and took the prednisone. I was taking supplements like magnesium, B vitamins, D3, iron, etc but i felt like they were exacerbating my symptoms so i just stopped everything. It's like I became allergic/hypertensive to everything I was putting it my body (for lack of a better way to describe it).
It's currently 2am and I'm wide awake, having shortness of breath and the tingle of anxiety when I try to shut my eyes and sleep. A few times now I have gone a full 48 hours without a single ounce of sleep due to the panic attacks when I close my eyes. It's such an odd symptom to describe but the panic attacks only happen right as I'm about to drift off to sleep.
I will say, this EXACT scenario happened 6 years ago to me. I got sick with an upper respiratory infection, went to urgent care, got on prednisone and it took me 6 months to feel normal again. But back then I did not realize what was going on as I had come off birth control at the same time and blamed everything on my put of whack hormones. Now I'm realizing that was wrong.
Have any of you had a high steroid dose catalyst wreck your adrenals like I have??? This is twice in life now and cannot be a coincidence/something to scoff at like my non-functional medicine doctors think.
How on earth do I fix this? The solutions I've read are conflicting best. I'm afraid to try anything out of fear of worsening my symptoms/panic attacks. I'm also afraid that I will never fix this an this will just be my life now...
Sincerely,
An exhausted and scared gal 🥺

The number of self-ascribed "wellness" influencers I see pandering to the masses about disproven diseases like "leaky gut" and advertising downright harmful products and services on social media is astounding. In the context of Big Pharma wants to kill us all for their Q2 profits and your family doctor is in bed with NovoNordisk, spouting bullshit like vajacials and highly-processed plant milks seems to be a natural counterreaction to disillusionment of modern medicine. That being said, the sheer number of people that lack elementary critical thinking skills presenting themselves as scientific experts is alarming and detrimental to society. The state of "wellness" in America is a slap in the face to genuine efforts to improve health. We are constantly being advertised unproven "solutions" to non-existent problems like adrenal fatigue.
What especially never fails to amuse me is the rise of pop psychology and its perception as a bona fide science, especially since the pandemic. Canva template infographics laden with therapy speak on addressing topics such as "deeply-rooted trauma" are on every corner of the internet. The content is simple, digestible: everything is traumatic -- your childhood, your partner, your job, your life. Everyone is inherently damaged goods and deserves concessions. The rise of this overpathologizing content has paralleled a rise in another worrying trend -- the self-diagnosis of autism/ADHD/rare personality disorders. This kind of approach diminishes any attempts at resilience and results leads to a group of people being defined by "adversity", rather than overcoming it.
All this goes to show is the interconnectedness of these two issues: the distrust of science. When capitalism and scientific advancement are inextricably linked, as they are in our current society, the society tends to distrust scientific experts and professionals. But capitalism and science have been around forever, and the rise in these antiscientific attitudes has grown unprecedently in recent years. I ascribe this to two issues: 1) the internet, for providing those deficient in scientific or media literacy with uncurtailed access to misinformation and a channel to voice their hypochondriac attitudes; and 2) hyper-individuality and the desperate desire to adopt identities based on arbitrary habits -- "therapy girlies", "probiotic girlies", etc..

I am a 41 year old woman with a BMI about 30. I did 2 weeks of the starter dose and am now on the 2nd week of 7.5 dose. I’ve lost 0 lbs and feel like my appetite and cravings are more. I have a ton of dry mouth. I have adrenal fatigue and low hormones as well and I think this medication is not great for those things as it is a stimulant. I’m working on stopping. I’ve previously used Wegovy x 9 months and lost about 16 lb but when it was hard to get I stopped and gained it all back. I’d also hit a wall at the time anyway. I’m hoping to try Contrave next. Anyone have any similar experience or tips? I do think it’s weird to have zero weight loss on Qsymia whatsoever in over 3 weeks. Thanks.

I am moving back to Calgary from Edmonton, My partner has lost his employment and we just can't afford to get by here so we have to move back home with his parents. Normally this would be fine, however I just recently started to go down the path of looking into diagnosing a couple different things, including an adrenal gland mass amongst other things that require a little bit more in the way of complex care. I am looking for recommendations for GPs in preferably the NE area that would be capable and willing to take on a new patient with these more complex care issues. (also a doctor with understanding surrounding mental health, ASD, Bipolar and ADHD would be beneficial as well)
I have looked through the PCN to find a doctor but I genuinely don't know who to turn to and I submitted a request to be matched with a doctor and haven't heard back for a while.
We will be moving to the area by the end of June, and I have an MRI in Edmonton that has been booked since February in August, so I will need to either have someone in Calgary to have the results sent to or I will have to make the drive back up here to see my current GP, and I'd ideally like to avoid that as my fatigue levels are quite high and the drive would be very taxing.
Anyways, thank you in advance, I look forward to coming home again finally.

Intermittent fasting has many health benefits, including weight loss, increased insulin sensitivity, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
However, those new to fasting may experience bloating, gas, discomfort, and other digestive issues as the gastrointestinal tract adapts to a new way of eating.
Learn what may trigger abdominal distension and how to get rid of bloating while fasting.

What is bloating?

Bloating is a digestive condition characterized by air or gas buildup in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Abdominal bloating can be caused by various factors, including:

• Sensitivities to certain foods
• Carbonated beverages
• Hormonal changes
• Imbalanced gut microflora
• Stress
• Dehydration
• Eating too fast
• Swallowing too much air

Bloating can lead to abdominal discomfort, a feeling of fullness, and belly swelling. A bloated abdomen can also be associated with other symptoms, including flatulence and intestinal rumbling.
Approximately 25 percent of people experience occasional bloating, which typically is linked to excessive food intake or the consumption of gas-producing foods.
Bloating also affects up to 90 percent of those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as an estimated 75 percent of women during their menstrual cycles.
Watch the video below to learn more about fasting-related bloating and its causes.
Intermittent Fasting. Bigger Meals. Avoiding Excessive Bloating

What causes bloating while fasting?

Although fasting generally helps keep your digestive system functioning properly, some people experience bloating while fasting.
Fasting-related bloating can have various causes but is generally triggered by eating too much during the eating window. Overeating can strain the digestive system, leading to slow digestion, gas, and bloating.
Food intolerances, such as gluten sensitivity or lactose intolerance, can inflame the digestive system, which can cause bloating immediately or hours after eating.
Fasting has been found to increase beneficial gut microbes. Changes to the composition of the intestinal microflora can cause temporary bloating as different bacterial strains become more dominant.
However, over time, this shift often leads to better digestion and reduced bloating as the gut adjusts to the new microbial environment.
Another common cause of bloating while fasting is dehydration. Optimal water intake aids digestion by helping break down food and softening stools. Dehydration can stall digestion and lead to constipation, causing excess gas and bloating.

Is bloating while fasting normal?

Yes, it’s normal to bloat when switching to an intermittent fasting routine.
Bloating and other digestive issues can occur as the GI tract adjusts to the new eating schedule. Once your body adapts to fasting, these digestive issues typically improve.
However, bloating with additional symptoms, including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain, may point to an underlying digestive problem.
It’s vital to contact a healthcare provider if bloating persists, is painful, or doesn’t resolve on its own.

How to get rid of bloating while fasting

Though bloating can last for a few hours, there are steps you can take to reduce discomfort and the time it takes to recover.
Here are four ways to alleviate bloating while fasting.

1. Drink peppermint tea

Peppermint is a natural antispasmodic, which relaxes muscles and helps move gas and stool along the digestive tract.
Herbal teas won’t break a fast or kick you out of ketosis, making peppermint tea a safe way to manage bloating during fasting periods.
Peppermint oil capsules can also help reduce bloating. A study published in the Journal of General Gastroenterology found that supplementing with peppermint oil improved IBS symptoms and abdominal pain.
However, peppermint oil capsules may lead to heartburn, and it’s recommended that those with heartburn and acid reflux consider an alternative method.

2. Apply heat

Heat from a heating pad, warm compress, or bath can help ease pain and move trapped gas through the intestines.
Warmth relaxes the muscles and can support stress reduction, which may improve digestion and alleviate bloating.

3. Lightly exercise

Light exercises, such as walking, jogging, or stretching, have been shown to help expel gas and deflate a bloated stomach.
A study published in Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench found that incorporating light exercise after meals reduces bloating and improves other symptoms of digestive upset, including flatulence, belching, and abdominal discomfort.

4. Abdominal massage

Massaging the abdomen along the large intestine can help relieve bloating discomfort and promote bowel movement.
It’s recommended to massage in gentle, circular motions starting from the right hip bone and moving up toward the bottom of the ribcage. Then, massage across the abdomen to the left rib cage and down to the left hip bone.

6 ways to prevent bloating while fasting

Bloating often results from overeating but can occur for various other reasons. Luckily, there are natural ways to support digestion and decrease the risk of bloating during fasting periods.
Here are six ways to prevent bloating while fasting.

1. Avoid overeating

Intermittent fasting requires larger meals to compensate for the lack of calories and nutrients throughout the day. However, overeating in a short amount of time can overwhelm the digestive system and lead to bloating.
It’s recommended to eat slowly until comfortably full to prevent bloating while practicing intermittent fasting.

2. Identify potential trigger foods

Dairy and gluten are common food sensitivities that cause bloating, along with gas-producing foods, such as beans, apples, and certain artificial sweeteners.
Vegetables high in dietary fiber, including Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage, can also cause excess gas and bloating.
It’s recommended to keep a food diary to pinpoint specific foods that may lead to digestive issues and bloating.

3. Separate foods

Eating too many different types of food at once can slow digestion and lead to more gas buildup in the GI tract.
“When you combine multiple food groups, it can strain the digestive system,” explains Dr. Berg. “Large meals with various foods require more enzymes and are harder to digest, which can cause bloating.”
Spacing out meals and avoiding eating many different types of foods in one meal can help reduce the risk of bloating. An example would be to consume vegetables and then eat protein and fat an hour or two later to give the body time to digest.

4. Support stomach acid production

Stomach acid breaks down food and stimulates the gallbladder to release bile, a crucial digestive fluid needed to emulsify fats into smaller particles for absorption.
Inadequate stomach acid levels can lead to partially undigested food, which can strain the digestive system and cause bloating and other digestive discomforts.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) contains acetic acid, an organic acid that supports digestive processes and enhances the stomach’s acidity levels.
Combine one tablespoon of ACV in eight ounces of water and consume before a meal to boost stomach acid and promote optimal digestion.

5. Support fat digestion

Eating too much fat at once may overwhelm the gallbladder, especially if you are new to fasting or have a sluggish gallbladder.
Poor fat digestion can lead to gas and bloating and is a leading cause of foul-smelling, floating, and discolored stools or diarrhea.
Purified bile salts can help support gallbladder function and increase bile production, which promotes the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K.

6. Manage stress

Chronic stress can cause bloating and may contribute to gastrointestinal diseases. Managing stress with breathing exercises can help keep the digestive system functioning correctly.
A study published in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology found that “Stress results in alterations of the brain-gut interactions ("brain-gut axis"), ultimately leading to the development of a broad array of gastrointestinal disorders.”
Researchers also found that constant exposure to stress increases the risk of gut dysbiosis and intestinal permeability, widely known as leaky gut. Intestinal permeability can lead to serious health issues, including autoimmune diseases, skin problems, and chronic fatigue.

How long does it take for bloating to go away?

Bloating usually resolves within a few hours as food is processed through the digestive tract.
Episodes of fasting-related bloating typically improve as the digestive tract adjusts to time-restricted eating, and the intestinal microflora adapts to time-restricted eating.
Persistent cases of bloating may benefit from an elimination diet, which removes potential irritants such as dairy, gluten, eggs, processed foods, and carbonated drinks. Avoiding these triggers can lead to immediate relief and help manage bloating effectively.
However, feeling bloated over a few days may indicate an underlying digestive issue. Those who can’t find relief with natural remedies should contact their healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation of their symptoms.

Hello! I'll try to make this easy for you all.
My overall question: Am I being unreasonable? Is this all a normal part of aging and it's just...all happening to me at once? Am I just fat with a bad diet and that's why everything feels terrible?

• I'm 30F, 190lbs, 5'2", white non-Hispanic
• Existing diagnoses (and approximate diagnosis timeframe)
  • rheumatoid arthritis (June 2023)
  • autism (august 2022)
  • adhd (may 2022)
  • severe anxiety disorder (2011, existed since 1997; significant improvements over the last few years with therapy)
  • cPTSD (2023, existed since forever probably, significant improvements over the last year with therapy)
  • migraine (2000)
  • cervical herniated disc C6-C7 (diagnosed two weeks ago, still waiting to see neurosurgery for their recommendation of how to proceed)
  • sleep apnea (existed since at least 1999, diagnosed may 2023, been CPAP compliant ever since)

Medications

• sertraline
• omeprazole
• concerta
• simponi aria (as an infusion, every other month)
• rizatriptan as needed
• Mirena IUD

Current concern: I think I might have an adrenal problem, and my new PCP is insisting I come see her in person to discuss my history before she orders any tests, because "the tests for Cushing's aren't typically run in routine bloodwork and require very specific administration". She also noted that, because my general bloodwork and thyroid labs came back good in February, that she doesn't understand why I'm "suddenly" worried about this. So now I'm second-guessing myself. I've only had her as my doctor since the start of this year, so it could just be because we're both new to each other.
Relevant history:

• My mother was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue in the early 2010s and still displays many symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, among many other problems that this post is not about.
• My first dermatologist said I probably had high testosterone for a girl, and recommended putting me on birth control (which we didn't do, so...yeah)
• I've always been shorter than expected with my family's characteristic round, red face
• I used to be underweight but that was due to unhealthy eating habits. As soon as I started eating like a typical person, my weight went up to healthy levels, then drastically increased after that.

Symptoms:

• Weight gain of 60 lbs over 4 years (10 one year, 20 second year, 20 third year, 10 fourth year), primarily in abdomen, resulting in deep red stretch marks around my belly button/lower belly over the last year. Attempts at weight loss (involving diet changes and light exercise as that was all I could handle at the time) resulted in 2 lbs loss over 3 months. Kept it off for another 3 months, but then it came back.
• Chronic "bloated" feeling, but gastro insists there's no actual bloat
• Generalized muscle weakness. I genuinely struggle to lift anything over 10lbs right now. It's embarrassing as well as inconvenient.
• fatigue, especially a significantly worsening heat intolerance
• brain fog, but that could be the sertraline
• "moon face" effect that has worsened after a recent round of prednisone for my RA
• hand and feet swelling (separate from the RA joint swelling)
• a light fat deposit on the back of my neck
• a significant "double chin" effect and increased neck size
• growing inappropriate facial hair (dark hairs on my chin, longer and coarser vellus hairs on my cheeks, including two literal tufts at the mandibular angles just below my ears) and increased body hair in both density and darkening of color.
• Also have darkening skin patches below my breasts, under my arms, and probably elsewhere but I can't see them.
• Chronic acne on my back, chest, and face, which has persisted since puberty onset around age 12. It's all better than it used to be, but my chest and back still get it bad sometimes.
• Inconsistent menstrual cycle. My cycle was 27 days exactly before I got this IUD. Now I went 3 years without a period and randomly start getting it again, somewhat. Just enough to be inconvenienced, uncomfortable, and hormonally depressed.

I've always been treated like a hypochondriac by doctors of all kinds, so I'm extra sensitive to this kind of "wait and see" response she gave me today.
Thanks for reading, regardless. I'll try to answer any follow-up questions you have.

I am “diagnosed” with adrenal fatigue. I have switched doctors a few times trying to find the person I clicked with and one of them in this process diagnosed me with adrenal fatigue. This was years ago and honestly I wrote it off because I googled it and it said it wasn’t real & I did not click with her so I moved on with trying to find a PCP. I honestly forget she said this and consider my misc chronic symptoms just a mystery.
I was recently diagnosed with chronic migraines but I cant help but think its not the full picture? Or maybe I don’t understand chronic migraines either?
I guess I’m just lost. This just seems like an even harder road to go down since it’s not recognized. I finally am at a point in time where I want to fix my chronic illness as much as possible but I don’t know what to do with this random unofficial(?) diagnosis that I don’t even think is in my records. Am I going to look like an idiot bringing it up?
I hope this is not offensive, I do not mean it that way at all.

If you've recently left an abusive or toxic relationship, you may find yourself experiencing strange physical symptoms and illnesses in the aftermath. Headaches, exhaustion, nausea, body aches - you might be surprised at just how drained and sickly you feel, even though you've removed yourself from that unhealthy situation.
This phenomenon of feeling physically unwell after ending a toxic relationship, despite being free from the abuse itself, is actually quite common. The reasons behind it reveal just how profoundly your mind, body and spirit can be impacted by the abuse you’ve gone through.
The Stress of Surviving
One major factor is the intense physiological stress your body has endured just from surviving in a toxic environment for an extended period. Living in a constant state of hyper-vigilance, anxiety, and fear takes an immense toll. Your body's fight-or-flight response has been in overdrive as you navigated the landmine of avoiding your abuser's next eruption or cruel put-down.
This chronic stress weakens your immune system over time, leaving you more susceptible to every bug and virus. Your adrenal glands may be depleted from pumping out excessive cortisol. Muscle tension, teeth grinding, disrupted sleep - all can contribute to physical pain and fatigue building up.
So when you break free from that toxic environment, it's almost like your body crashes from running that endless marathon of being on high alert. All the adrenaline being pumped through your veins on a daily basis suddenly stops, and you're left feeling physically depleted.
The Traumatic Impact of the Abuse
Toxic relationships can cause a lot of emotional and mental pain, even if there is no physical violence. The constant manipulation, belittling, and betrayal in these relationships can be very damaging. This kind of trauma affects both your mind and your body deeply.
Many people who leave abusive relationships experience symptoms such as panic attacks, being overly alert, flashbacks, and difficulty managing emotions. The trauma has affected your nervous system, making you feel constantly uneasy, jumpy, or unwell without knowing the reason. On a subconscious level, your body holds the weight and remains of the trauma you've experienced. This means that new situations in your life can trigger these unprocessed traumatic memories, making you feel uneasy and often sick.
For example, if you experienced intense criticism in an abusive relationship, hearing even mild criticism from a coworker or friend might trigger a strong reaction. You might feel panic, a racing heart, or a sense of dread, even though the current situation is not as severe. This is because your body is reacting to the old trauma that hasn't been fully processed.
Lack of Self-Care
In toxic relationships, there is often a codependent bond between the victim and the abuser. To survive, you might have adapted by focusing intensely on your partner's needs and ignoring your own. This means you learned to overlook your own physical and emotional well-being. After leaving such a relationship, you might feel lost, confused, and physically unsettled. Simple self-care tasks like eating regularly, staying hydrated, exercising, and nurturing yourself can feel unfamiliar. Without your narcissistic partner directing your life, you might drift in a depleted state, struggling with basic self-care. So, without you taking care of yourself you will of course be feeling lethargic, exhausted and sickly.
Emotional Numbness and Dysregulation
To cope with ongoing abuse, you might have developed emotional numbing or dissociation, shutting down parts of yourself just to survive. While this coping mechanism helps during traumatic events, it becomes harmful in everyday life. After leaving the abusive situation, reconnecting with your emotions in a healthy way can be very difficult. You might either feel numb and disconnected from your feelings or overwhelmed by delayed emotions that crash through your defenses. This emotional dysregulation affects your body too, causing panic attacks, erratic sleep and eating patterns, and physical illnesses.
Conclusion
Even after leaving an unhealthy, abusive situation, you might grieve the loss of what you hoped the relationship could have been. You may feel guilt, shame, denial, or wonder if you made the right choice. These feelings are normal stages of grieving the idealized future you had invested in. Acknowledge this genuine loss by allowing yourself to feel sadness, anger, and disappointment. Like recovering from any major trauma, there is a grieving period needed before you can rebuild and move forward healthily. Be gentle with yourself during this period, as you might experience mood swings, lack of motivation, and even physical discomfort. But there’s only one way to go, and that is facing that pain even when it seems or feels overwhelming.
Note from the Author
If you’re ready and you’d like my help with healing, finding peace in life and breaking free from these toxic patterns, then you can book a FREE BREAKTHROUGH CALL with me HERE. Happy healing 💙💙. Feel free to share and comment! Use this information with caution, it comes from my own thoughts & bias, experiences and research😊.

I have been experiencing symptoms of adrenal fatigue for a few years now. This time last year I started seeing a naturopath and was able to make some changes to my diet and start healing my gut. It did help a lot. I felt better for awhile.
Then, in the fall I went travelling with my partner for a work trip and I ended up getting Covid (second time I’ve had it). Thankfully it was pretty mild and I recovered quickly. I felt okay over Christmas, and then in January I contracted some horrible virus where I was was constantly nauseated, couldn’t eat, and had a fevechills for several weeks. It was awful and felt like it would never end. Once I finally was over the worst of it, I still felt shaky and weak for a long time, and even now I still feel that way.
Every day is a struggle. I don’t ever wake up rested like I used to. I can’t really workout anymore because I get big crashes. I’m shaky, like when I try to use my muscles in any way I start vibrating. I have derealization every day. My memory sucks. I keep getting blood work done and everything comes back normal.
Before the illnesses I also have a long history with trauma/PTSD and have struggled through much of my adult life. I wonder if this also has contributed to how I feel now.
Its such a loss. I wish I could get my life back, to feel that spark again that I used to have.

For context: I am 19 (F). I’m an endurance athlete training for a marathon, and I do heavy resistance training as well. I have been super active my entire life.
For the past year and a half, I have struggled with an ED, and for the last 5 months, I’ve been recovering slowly, gaining weight and energy.
I was diagnosed with bradycardia this November. My heart rate would drop as low as 38 and I would experience dizziness, extreme fatigue to the point I felt glued to my chair, extreme coldness, lightheaded, slurred speech, shortness of breath, confusion, would forget names of people I knew, etc. However, my EKG was normal and basically, I was told to eat more and exercise less.
Now that I’m in recovery, this happens less often. But if I go without eating for more than 3 hours, this happens all over again, and if I get cold, I can’t warm up unless I sit in a hot car or take a hot shower. If I let it get to that point, eating doesn’t fix all of my symptoms. Even if I eat enough, I’ll have these “low heart rate days” where I can do absolutely nothing about it and I feel absolutely horrible all day, like i’m trudging through mud. I vaguely remember feeling like this as a kid…so I don’t know if it’s brand new or…
It almost feels dehabilitating, especially at work where I do sales and can’t always get a break to eat or warm up. Every doc I’ve talked to tells me it’s a “mental health thing”, because i’m so fit, or that I just need to eat more. Do you think this is purely a biproduct of my ED, or could it be something else? I don’t know what else to do because everyone tells me the same thing.

Does bicalutamide lead to a mild increase of testosterone if its derived from the adrenals and not gonads ?
Recieved my blood work today Estradiol : 214pg/ml Testosterone: 68ng/dl
Im on 4mg ev twice a week subcutaneous because i work out so i do subcutaneous now. I also take bicalutamide because i had issues with high adrenal Testosterone it was 75ng/dl in my last labs before adding bicalutamide.
I took 12.5mg twice a week but the last two doses i took 12.5mg every 4 days because i had issues with fatigue. If that T level is because i take bicalutamide then that means if i stop it will likely go into female ranges !?
When i got the 75ng/dl reading before adding bica i found out i was vitamin d deficient so iv been supplementing for 2 months with D3 now i don't know if that cant indirectly affect levels.

Over the last 5 days I’ve had allergic reactions and have been to urgent care 3 days in a row, with no answers. When my vitals are checked they appear okay, but I have swelling of my face, swelling under my jaw around the top of my throat, belaboured breathing (though I can still get air), tingling tongue, sudden extreme fatigue? (which presents as a slowing of motor skills, and feels like how you feel after waking up from anaesthesia but without the confusion or feeling loopy), floppiness in limbs. This happens EVERY TIME I eat ANYTHING and also sometimes when I drink more than a few sips of water.
I’ve begun thinking it’s not even an allergy thing, because its essentially my body reacting to anything I ingest. I am responsive to the antihistamines somewhat, I’d say, as they do reduce the symptoms and I’m able to feel much better. But then next time I eat, it happens all over again (less severe depending on how long it’s been since the last antihistamine dose).
I’m beginning to think it’s perhaps instead an auto-immune issue… maybe thyroid, adrenal, lymphatic issue? Has anyone had experience or heard of an immune issue like this?
I’ve had blood taken, blood pressure measured, lungs and heart listened to with the doctor’s stethoscope— nothing has come back notable. I had an ECG test and a minor irregularity in my heart was noted as my pulse and rate were jumping up and down quite quickly even while I was visibly calm, but apparently nothing that is cause for concern.
After the first visit to A&E I was given stronger antihistamines and told that the initial allergen might just still be in my system. But after day 3, doctors said that it shouldn’t be continuing to happen in this way— but they also won’t consider admitting me for observation as I haven’t shown signs of anaphylaxis yet and my vitals are not worrisome.
The issue is that I live alone and each time its symptoms have gotten more extreme or less predictable. Each time I’ve been told by them to come back if the symptoms persist or worsen but each time they’ve sent me home again with the same words.
I was finally able to speak with the head doctor yesterday who prescribed me a 3 day course of Prednisolone 30mg a day and told me to take the Chlorphenamine 3 times a day, a total of 12mg a day.
To add context: I have no known food allergies. About 2 weeks ago I decided to eliminate gluten as it’s known to be inflammatory (this didn’t change my diet much at all as I rarely have anything which contains it anyway). I have been speaking to my GP about getting allergy testing for environmental causes (dust, mites, pollen, down etc.) as I’ve had some reactions when staying in airbnbs, hotels or some new flats. But have NEVER previously reacted to any food in this way. I have an extremely diverse diet as I’m mixed and grew up eating so many different cuisines therefore there’s very little foods I have not tried… I’m not running into anything new at this point.
An additional point: I have no anxiety around food or food intake. I am a professional dancer who loves cooking and relies on fueling my body well in order to work but also because food is something I really enjoy! One doctor tried to pass all of these physical symptoms off as anxiety (something I have had experience with in the past, though in VERY different circumstances and with extremely different presentation) and although I understand that while looking at my vitals there doesn’t seem to be something that’s an immediately obvious sign of grave concern, its actually insane to me that a medical professional would not trust the visual, physical signs and also my own judgement when expressing that I’m not experiencing any anxiety around other things in my life at the moment and surprisingly I’m not even feeling anxious about this situation— I’ve displayed zero mental or physical signs of panic or distress even in the midst of having all of these reactions. And anyway, I’m regularly seeing a therapist, mediating everyday, doing things I love— overall in a really great place!
At this point, I’m just frustrated and confused as to what is going on and hoping it goes away so that I can go back to work and go back to eating without issue.
How is it that I’m suddenly reacting to foods that were fine a week ago? Any help would be so so greatly appreciated.

Is this Chi? Astral body waking up? Adrenals?
The closest experience I've had to this: a Tai Chi practitioner ran my meridians once and I felt something like that '9 volt battery on the tongue' feeling along my meridians. This doesn't feel electrical, it feels like a neurotransmitter flush, like adrenalin.
I don't know what this is, why it happens.
anyone else ever hear of this? Does it have a name?
when I'm trying for astral projection, getting relaxed and setting my intention to project, I feel whole body energy flashes or surges.
When I try to relax, WHÖOSH... WHÖOSH... WHÖOSH ... and I feel my whole body surge like somebody scared me
I feel some kind of barrier between me and the WHÖOSH, and if I 'let go' of something in my heart region, some tension in my torso, I feel a WHÖOSH.
I seem to feel something opening up and dumping this flash of intensity. I feel it in my torso, Head and arms.
I can also trigger it on purpose.
If I'm just sitting at my desk or standing at the stove, I can trigger it easily, but I have to try. If I'm preparing to AP, it's like there's a barrier between me and the WHÖOSH, and if I relax, the WHÖOSH hits me.
Does not happen when I simply want to relax for sleep. It never happens then.
I've had hypnic jerks, these are not that. My body doesn't move at all, it's something I feel internally, like that ice water in the veins feeling of intense sudden dread or threat, except I don't feel afraid.
I can pulse it anytime just by willing it, but I don't because I thought it was a stress response and more stress is the LAST thing I need
Strong, repeatable, easy to do
I will run a big test and see what happens if I do it a lot.
Either it will have no effect, or make my fatigue worse, or something else will happen
I've never had before, I just noticed it a few weeks ago when I first started trying to AP.
I'VE been horrible exhausted 4 years now with long covid, but if it was caused by the long covid I think I would have noticed it before now.