| In some cases this could be a diagnosable and treatable cause of the kind of illness that often gets described as "adrenal fatigue". I have some experience with this topic, having spent at least 13 years in that category of people who is ill in a way that mainstream medicine can't really diagnose or treat - and in a way that has parallels with the symptoms described in this article (though not nearly as severe or debilitating). The idea of "adrenal fatigue" and "adrenal insufficiency" has come up a lot in the self-directed research I've done, but only among complementary/alternative practitioners like naturopaths and chiropractors. It's not really a medical way of thinking about things - i.e., "your adrenal glands must be tired because you've been too busy/stressed". It's not something you can test for or address with medical treatment - which is why people who go down that path end up undertaking 'holistic' treatment approaches like diet, supplements, exercise, emotion-based therapies, etc, with varying degrees of success. But there are plenty of people I've come across, particularly in communities of people who diagnosed with, or presumed as having "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome", who suffer without any improvement for many years despite trying every conceivable remedy, whose condition may well be explained by what is described in this article, or by something comparably obscure, relating to the adrenals or other parts of the autonomic nervous system. |
About 5 years ago I was fairly healthy, eating great and CrossFit 6 days a week. Then my body started to become tired all the time. I had pretty high work stress at the time along with what might be considered frequent physically stressful workouts. I suddenly found myself sleeping most of my Saturday and Sundays. Struggling during the week, just enough energy to get myself to work and back to crash at night. Eventually dropping exercise altogether. Along the way I started feeling weak, shaky and would have almost tremors in my body. I had read about adrenal stress at the time and suspected it might be an issue.
It’s hard to tell what’s related but I eventually developed prostatitis, a few rounds of cipro and no help. Then almost a year later some pretty severe digestive issues developed and they thought I had Crohn’s disease, then hospitalized due to reaction to medicine. Then kidney stones, gallstones, gallbladder removed. The last few years have been hard but so many people have it worse.
After the gallbladder removal I’ve finally starting to feel meaningfully better, digestive significantly better and prostatitis issues resolved.
I don’t work out like I used to, I’ve had times that I try to get into a running regime but eventually I start to feel sick and pain around my kidneys. I’m able to do extended hours of yard work and be outside for long hours. I’m lucky that my health appears to be coming back. I have no idea the ultimate root cause of all this but I’m counting my blessings.
When I read about stories like this, it’s inspiring and relatable. When doctors and specialists can’t figure it out they send you to someone else or suggest psychiatric issues. It’s disheartening and easy to lose faith in the medical system.