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After finding out I had adrenal dysfunction in the form of high cortisol all day, back in January, I worked on lowering this. I took Seriphos, among many other vitamins and supplements, I implemented a stricter bedtime schedule and diet and have been dealing with stress a lot better/constructively.
I’ve come on in leaps and bounds with how I feel, and I saw it in my thyroid blood tests too, as my pooling Free T3, has come down to normal levels. I’ve been pretty much symptom-free and living without any interference from my thyroid and adrenals for a while.
So when I got my latest adrenal stress test results today, I was devastated to see that my cortisol has not come down. It’s actually kind of got worse.
In January, I had elevated cortisol at all four tested points of the day. For my June readings, I show elevated cortisol three times of the day, with the other one now optimal (good). But the elevated ones have got worse. They’re ‘more elevated’. I just don’t understand it! I feel so much better and I’m sleeping better. Confused is an understatement.
I think I could have blood sugar imbalances, after reading about it in Dr Datis Kharrazian’s book, and I think I might get hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) when I eat refined carbs and sugar. My diet for the most part these days is good, but I want to rule out low blood sugar, still. When you have low blood sugar, the adrenal glands produce extra cortisol, so I need to check if this is what’s causing it, and if not, well, then I can tick it off. So, I’ve ordered an at-home blood sugar testing kit.
I also had some more bloods taken last week and it found my MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) is below the ‘normal range’, and my ferritin is also low in range at 47. Sources suggest it being 70-90 for optimal iron levels. So my doctor has given me some iron tablets to see if they help.
After returning to two NDT tablets a day for my thyroid, my full thyroid panel reads well and I’ve been feeling good, so my thyroid seems under control for now.
It’s just these darn adrenals!
I knew it was too soon to say I was feeling completely better! Well, I guess I am feeling completely better, it’s just that the high cortisol is still concerning as long term, if it stays elevated, it could progress in to combined and then low cortisol which isn’t good.
So I need to catch this in the bud. I’m also going to start Ashwagandha which is an adaptogen. Adaptogens can help even out cortisol levels, so lower high and raise low. I have some Holy Basil and Seriphos left but I’m going to try Ashwagandha alone for now.
The bottle says to take for at least three months, so I’m going to take it at each high cortisol reading I have. Then retest my cortisol levels.
I’ve been reading that low blood sugar can cause high cortisol and vice versa, plus high cortisol and low blood sugar can cause high blood pressure. And back in May my blood pressure was still a bit too high. My GP says low blood sugar causing high cortisol is possible, so encouraged me to monitor my blood sugar levels at home and make adjustments where necessary.
Sigh. Round two, commence.
Do remember that you can keep up to date with my personal health journey via Instagram. My Instagram is updated with realtime updates and you’ll be able to follow along as and when everything happens over there!
Do you have any experience with any of this?
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