Adrenal Gland Fatigue vs PCOS...

by April
(Kentucky)

Hi Kerri.


I've been having a conversation with Joshua at www.TendonitisExpert.com

Here is the page with the conversation so you can see details and my history and such. 23-year-old-production-artist-with-tendonitis-in-the-wrist-and-forearm

You were commenting on that, and Joshua sent me to you to follow up on Adrenal Gland Fatigue as the cause of my fatigue and wrist pain, and what to do about it.

I bought an Adrenal Function Test off your site and was wondering what to do next.

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Adrenal Gland Fatigue vs PCOS..
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi April,

Thanks for coming over to my site. I got your request for the Adrenal Gland Test and I'll get that out to you in the mail on Monday.

So, the first thing that I thought about your case is that your doctor is seriously insane to tell you that you have PCOS! Where DID he get that!!

So, since the syndrome is called "Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome", all of the experts like in this study called Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, recognize polycystic ovaries as being one of the requirements for having the syndrome. And a vast majority have some degree of insulin resistance, which is what they did the orange juice and sugar test to check you for.

There are a LOT of reasons to have missed periods and PCOS is only ONE of them. So, other tests seem justified and while Adrenal Gland Fatigue with the subsequent Pregnenolone Steal is likely to be a HUGE factor, we'll also have to find out the reason why your adrenals are in such bad shape too- so the adrenals are only a start, but a good start.

If they are in bad shape, we'll know that it's likely your menses are irregular because of your adrenals. That's better than some random diagnosis of PCOS anyway.

So, I was curious as to what your previous vitamin d level was- and you said that you've been taking 4000 IU's of vitamin d since?

How aggressive are you willing to get with diet and supplements? We can wait to see what the vitamin d level and the adrenal test show- or I can recommend some dietary modification and/or supplements right away that might help with your fatigue in the meantime.



Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
3/27/10
by: April

Hi Kerri,

Well I really don't understand the whole thing with my doctor and the PCOS. I was even sent to a specialist, and everyone seemed to be in agreement. I definitely was confused about how I could pass all the tests, but still have something. As far as I know, I just had irregular cycles, slightly elevated testosterone and acne, and that is what they based it on. They told me I would only need to worry about it if I wanted to get pregnant, which wasn't the case.

As far as the missed cycles, I am fine as long as I am on the pill, otherwise I have that problem.

So if my adrenals are bad, is that why I am so horrible at dealing with stress?

I am not sure what my levels were, but I might be able to contact my dr to find out, unless I should get it tested again since that was almost 2 years ago.
I am actually taking more than 4,000 iu's a day, it just depends on the day. Josh told me that it takes magnesium to absorb the Vit. D, so I am kind of experimenting with it all right now as he told me too. I am also trying to drink a ton more milk than I usually do. This morning I took 4,000 iu's Vit. D, with 1,000 mg of Magnesium (I still have Magnesium Oxide, which he said doesn't absorb as well, so I took double what I normally do) with 16 oz of skim milk. My wrist and arm felt pretty good today. Although it never feels like it should.

"How aggressive are you willing to get with diet and supplements?" I am willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of the irritation and feel better. I can't really pinpoint when all of this started because I used to be really active. Anymore, I go out running errands and come home feeling fatigued and have a headache. I don't feel 23 at all...
Whatever you think I should start, I'll start it now. I appreciate all of your help!
Forgot to mention...
by: April

Hi again! This may not be related, but a lot of things I never thought were important to all of this happened to be. When I get stressed, anxious, nervous, or pretty much anything... my chest starts to get blotchy and red. It isn't anything raised up on my skin, just the coloring. It doesn't itch or anything. I have no way of controlling it, which is frustrating, but I was told it is normal. Anyways, if you could let me now if this is related, and what I can do about it, I would appreciate it.
Couple of questions...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

So, had a couple of other questions before I make any recommendations.

When are you getting your vitamin d level?

If you can think back to what your general diet was when you were in Hawaii. Since you felt better there, I want to see if maybe you were possibly unintentionally not eating a specific food while in Hawaii that might be problematic for you.

Specifically, I'd be interested in you trying to remember if you were eating more or less:

Breads, pastas or other gluten containing foods
Milk and dairy
Soy
Corn

Or just in general if you are eating any foods on a regular basis that you weren't eating in Hawaii. What most people don't realize is that we are most allergic to the foods we eat all the time, so just trying to 'rule out' any food allergies as a possible cause of your problems (which CAN show up as pain and/or fatigue with no other symptoms!).



Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
3/29/10
by: April

Hi Kerri,

When I get my Vitamin D tested, is it ok that I am still taking supplements?

My diet was the same in Hawaii. I was still eating the same types of foods.

My wrist and arm felt better in Hawaii, but I was still tired, so the fatigue was the same.

I took more magnesium and Vitamin D this morning, just like yesterday, and no irritation while working. That was at 8am, and the irritation came back around 6pm.

Should I worry about the high doses of Magnesium? Or am I okay experimenting?
Vitamin D and Magnesium...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi April,

Do you know what DATE you are going to have your vitamin D level retested on? I'll have you start taking 20,000 IU's a day IMMEDIATELY after you get your vitamin d level drawn and then let me know what the results are when you get it back and we'll adjust from there.

20,000 a day will be safe for the few days that it will take until you get your results back- even if your level is normal, but if it's a little low, then you'll have a head start.

Yes, it's important that you DO take vitamin d supplements when you have your level drawn, we want to know what level your CURRENT dosage gets you so that it can be adjusted as needed.

Magnesium: Yes, experiment with it by reading my page on Magnesium Dosage. If your tendonitis is getting better taking mag supplements, but wears off around evening, I suspect that you are not taking the magnesium FREQUENTLY enough. Take smaller amounts more often throughout the day. A really good way to do this is to get some powdered magnesium and mix it up in a water bottle that you carry around and sip on throughout the day- or just keep some pills in your pocket if you'll remember to take them every few hours.


Fatigue: OK, that's good information about your diet and the fact that your fatigue didn't improve in Hawaii. I know that you felt like fatigue was your only symptom on the Symtpoms of Gluten Intolerance page. But you also have missed periods and pain- that's THREE symptoms. So, gluten, dairy, soy and corn are all highly allergenic and COULD be the cause of your symptoms, so it would be great to just eliminate these common problems to see if that improves your fatigue.

I recommend being on the Gluten Intolerance Diet- and preferably the diet as outlined in The Healthy Urban Kitchen for a full two months. But you can just eliminate:

Corn
Dairy
Soy

for the first two weeks. If your fatigue HASN'T improved, then you can just add all those in at once. If your fatigue HAS improved, then add only ONE of them back in every 3 or 4 days to see if one of them is causing you problems.

But staying gluten free for 2 months is recommended.


I know that's a lot to take in, so start out with the diet and you can check in if you have any questions.


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
3/30/10
by: April

Kerri,

I ordered a Vitamin D test from the Vitamin D council yesterday, and it is shipping UPS Ground, so hopefully I will get that in a week.
I'll start taking the higher Vit. D now.

When I drink milk though, it actually helps lower the wrist irritation. I've noticed that over the last few days because I have been drinking a ton more than normal. Should I still cut it out of my diet?
Milk rarely helps irritation...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi April,

Hmmm. Regular pasteurized milk is very rarely healing and the decreased irritation may just be due to the higher amount of magnesium, but everyone is different. I'd definitely be interested in you giving a 2 to 3 week dairy-free trial a try to see if it helps at all.

Are you getting more protein than normal since drinking the milk? Maybe you're a bit on the protein deficient side and a protein shake in the AM might give the same effect? Just tossing out ideas.

Also, I'm concerned about your fatigue and regular milk can VERY much be an allergen that leads to fatigue, so see what happens if you abstain.


Great about the Vitamin D, I would have liked to see what you were at on the 4000 Iu's a day, but it's more important getting you feeling better, so take the higher dose until then and we'll see how you are feeling too. Keep me (and Joshua) updated!


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Vit. D
by: April

Kerri,

Just to make sure I do it right... because I think I confused what you said before. Do I start taking 20,000 iu's a day NOW, or right after I do the Vitamin D test?
After the test...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi April,

I would love to see you wait until you take the test. That way you can see what your level is while you have been on 4000 IU's a day. But DO continue to take the 4000 Iu's per day.

It might be very interesting.


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Test
by: April

Hi Kerri,

Just finished the Vit. D test, and will mail it tonight. I will receive the results 5-7 days after they receive it.

I also received the Adrenal Stress kit and had a question. They ask for payment if the paper does not say prepaid above the barcode (which it doesn't), although I already paid for the test. Is there an additional fee, or can I just leave it blank?

Thanks!
Cross it out...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi April,

Forgot to tell you about that part. Just cross out the payment info and say, "Paid by Practitioner". It's taken care of already.

Just make sure to read the instructions carefully.



Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Vit. D Results
by: April

For my Vitamin D evaluation, I was listed under the "Out of Range" at 103H ng/ml units with the range they have at 32-100.

That was while taking 4,000 iu's a day, along with 3-4 8oz glasses of milk (if that matters). During that time, along with the magnesium, B-6 and B-12, I felt fine.

No irritation as long as I took them around 6am, and 5-6pm. If I waited until 8 or 9 sometimes I would feel irritation.


Under the test results it says I am above the reference range and above the range most experts consider as optimal for health (50-70 ng/ml).
Let me know if you need other info from the results.

Thanks!
Cut back on the Vitamin D
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi April,

So, you had been taking 10,000 IU's for the past week I think, so you're level will be a bit higher than that.

Definitely 'Above Optimal', but nothing to worry about. Why don't you stop taking any vitamin d for about 2 weeks, then you can restart taking about 2000 IU's a day for the rest of the summer and then go back to 4000 IU's starting about October when you're not getting any more vitamin d from the sun.



4000 Iu's seems to be a good level for you.


I'll be on the lookout for your Adrenal Function Test. So, that's good that you're pain is better. So, lets work on that fatigue- it's definitely not due to vitamin d deficiency, that's for sure!


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

 


PS: If you found this website helpful, please consider using the
Easy Immune Health Product Store the next time you purchase your supplements online. Thank you for visiting my site!
Adrenal Test is Back
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi April,

Check your email for the results of your adrenal gland test. It might have gone to your spam folder if you don't see it right away.

Let me know when would be a good time to go over your test.


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

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