[theli0nheart]

> Can you expand on this. Is this something like melatonin to help reset your circadian rhythm for sleep? Or supplements to jump start your pituitary gland?

Shots. I'm seeing an endocrinologist. OTC supplements did nothing for me.

> I guess am curious is the pituitary shut down was caused by the lack of sleep, and getting the good sleep will reactivate the gland, or if the gland is an issue you are addressing with the supplements directly.

My sleep habits were fantastic prior to my illness. The issues started after I got two bad viruses in succession. In early 2018 I got the Flu followed by Hand, Foot, and Mouth. I just never really recovered; my body just kind of sputtered out. Hormone production tanked, which led to poor sleep, which further messed up my hormone production, etc.

[throwaway_law]

Sorry to hear all this, but glad it seems to be improving now.

I had a similar issue (and like you I was engaged in serious endurance training). I would also go to sleep early, wake up at 4AM without an alarm and knock out a 2 hour run. I ended up with pityriasis rosea (which is kind of a medical mystery in terms of cause but linked to viruses), and thereafter some sleep/hormone disruptions.

In addition to what you are currently doing to address the sleep issue, consider testing your microbiome. Often bacterial infections and viruses change the makeup of the microbiome which also has significant negative influences on hormone production/regulation. In my case gut health helped break the negative feedback loop.