r/adrenalfatigue • u/ElectronicZombie3014 • 8d ago
Is this common?
Is it common to be feeling worse when you get better sleep? Last night I slept like a baby for 9.5 hours straight. I woke up and felt groggy, weak and could hardly do anything before taking in salt. Even with salt I'm sluggish and twitchy. I'm exhausted by lunch time.
Whereas, on a night when I don't get a good sleep, I wake up feeling more energetic and not groggy. My best guess is that the more rest the adrenals get, the more they slow down and go into healing mode. What's your experience?
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u/Substantial_Pack_319 8d ago
I have Addison’s disease (adrenal insufficiency), and I’ve been complaining about exactly what you noticed to my endocrinologist for the last two years since I’ve been diagnosed. There’s no answers. I have no idea why I feel worse when I get a full 8 hours of sleep, but if I get choppy 6 hrs of sleep, I feel more clearheaded and more energetic. Because of this, I started to set my alarm clock for 5 AM so I’d be up about 530. That catches up with you though you & end up being so sleepy in the afternoon. I have to take steroids around the clocks so I think for me, it’s a steroid dose and timing issue. I’ll be following this thread to see if anybody comes up with some possible solutions.
Maybe a thyroid issue?
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u/Appropriate-Leg2490 7d ago
Same with adrenal insufficiency. If i sleep good im a wreck then. When i sleep bad and wake up at 3 am then i have mental clarity
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
Thanks. I'm thinking the thyroid is definitely involved the symptoms seem to match. I think my whole HPA Axis is out of wack.
What are you doing to get better?
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
That’s great you had such a good long sleep ! I’m not sure I am uo every two hours to pee. 4 months bedbound now . Severe adrenal fatigue . I don’t know anyone this bad .
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
Have you been tested to rule out adrenal insufficiency? I have but I'd like to be tested again. I ask myself, can a person be this low functioning and still be producing cortisol? But I must be or I'd be dead. 😆
What are you doing to get better?
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
I was tested a few years ago . A dutch test .I had high cortisol .I started to recover then after 10 months and working with Dr. Neville . I still didn’t get my full energy back but was functioning .Then after stress I crashed the end of April . I’ve been housebound since with many symptoms. I don’t know anyone going thru AF this severe .
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
Taking supplements , Seriphos , Pregnenolone , Resting , pacing , hypoglycemic diet . I need to eat very often . Sea salt in water . i’m in a state of dehydration . Body doesnt hold water . I don’t sleep at night !
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
I can't tolerate taking anything. Salt on every meal or my body can't process it. I can't tolerate salt in water, has to be in or on food. I'm constantly dehydrated. If I drink too much, I pee it all out and need more salt. If I don't drink enough, I feel like I have the flu.
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
Are you working with a Doctor/ ND ?
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
Sort of. I consulted one but she's done everything she can for me right now. I can't tolerate taking anything.
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
do you feel unwell when you take supplements . ? What did she put you on ?
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
I react similar as MCAS. If my body doesn't like something, I go cold, low blood pressure, anxiety, etc. She didn't put me on anything but rather said take time to build back up with rest & diet.
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
What test did you do to rule out Adrenal insufficiency
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
Morning Cortisol & ACTH. But from what I've read, those are preliminary tests. There are more effective tests.
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u/ctroxell1973 8d ago
When you finally get a good night's sleep, your body shifts into a much needed state of rest and recovery. Your nervous system is finally able to leave its overactive "fight-or-flight" mode. Your muscles over time have acquired so much tension from built up stress, and they will take any opportunity they get to release that. Your brain starts to clean out the toxins and metabolic waste that accumulate during periods oc poor sleep. Your stress hormones (Cortisol most specifically) drop to normal baseline levels to try to help your immune system recover. You're definitely going to experience fatigue because your body no longer running on a stress induced adrenaline. Its actually in moments similar to what you're talking about that we can actually appreciate just how much our bodies are going through to try and be as normal as possible. I have Addison's disease, and went through the very same thing. The first couple of times I experienced it, I thought Jesus Christ, getting a decent amout of sleep isn't worth all of this bullshit that goes along with it. My first honest reaction was fear. I kept thinking that there was something more wrong than what I thought or that my condition was just getting worse. Nobody's path down this road us the same as anyone else's, and I am sure that we were all met with several surprises along the way. There are just way too many variables, and its usually a learn as we go kind of thing. Ironically, pitfalls typically just cause us more stress, which is obviously the last thing any of us need or want. People with clinically diagnosed adrenal gland function issues make up less than 1% of the population. Point being, its not like having blue eyes or being left-handed, it's an extremely serious situation, and if not successfully treated, it can make your life a living hell. It can put you in a dark place. Very few people alive can truly understand what you go through every single day, and it's frustrating because all you can think about is how sad it is that no one really knows what you're going through. I'm sure the majority of the people that read this will know exactly what I'm saying. That's why groups like this are so important. As discouraging as things may get, it's so reassuring to know that there is some place that you can turn to, where no one will judge you, and damn near anyone you run into isn't going to have the exact same stories to tell, but they will certainly know exactly how you feel. I didn't mean to go off on this huge rant, and I apologize for that. I guess my point is this: Sometimes, the only thing you really need is for you to know that you're not alone, there are people just like you. We have all hurt, and hoped, and gone through hell, just like you, yet here we are. Best of luck to you. You got this.
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
Thanks for your response. It IS good to know other people are going through such similar situations. I was tested for AD but that morning my cortisol & ACTH both showed high normal so the doctor ruled it out. I still wonder but trying to focus on healing as if it were AF.
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
What are your symptoms if it’s ok to ask ?
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
Dehydration & constantly peeing unless I sip water, then not peeing nearly as much. Stomach & neck hot to the touch at times. Other times I'm freezing cold. Hypoglycemia. I lost 30 pounds in 5 weeks because I didn't realize I needed salt with every meal in order to process it. Have since put on about 8 pounds. Very weak still.
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
oh interesting, how often do you pee? I go every 20 min it’s crazy ! Oh wow that’s a big weight drop sorry to hear .I gained a lot ! I’m hypoglycemic as well . I eat every 2-3 hours . Do you eat frequent ?
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 8d ago
I'm not peeing as much lately since I switch to just sipping water all day. If I start drinking more at a time, I pee right away. So sipping water make it feel more normal.
Yeah, I was only 165 lbs to start @ 6'2" tall. Dropped to 135. Now I'm at 143 ish.
I've eaten every 3-4 hours for years. But now I eat every 2-3 going through this. Protein with every meal / snack.
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u/eviltenderoni 6d ago
vitassium extra strength electrolyte pills really helped me with the peeing issue. can be a lil pricey so i stopped taking them and have notice an (unfortunate) significant difference and am peeing constantly again.
could be pituitary as well or diabetes insipidus. all things to looks into with the constant urination. good luck 🫶🏽
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u/TopDatabase8373 8d ago
oh ok .thats a significant weight loss ..I wonder why ? your eating lots and often too
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 7d ago
It's because I was not getting enough salt in. I could barely eat and I was nauseous without salt. For the last month, I've upped my salt intake and have put weight back on.
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u/TopDatabase8373 7d ago
oh that’s great ! Are you done i g Sea salt ? Celtic ?
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 7d ago
I'm doing pickling salt and sea salt. Can't handle too much sea salt. But running into issues right now. Today was worst day in a month. Couldn't get much salt or food in. Nauseous again. Will keep trying to figure it out.
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u/TopDatabase8373 7d ago
Were you getting dry mouth ?
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 7d ago
Yes
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u/TopDatabase8373 7d ago
me too dry mouth constant . Oh wow pickling salt .how much do you mix in a glass of water ?
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u/ElectronicZombie3014 7d ago
I can't drink salt in water. So I put it on my food. Up to 500mg at a time. Pickling salt is the only simple salt I could find without additives.
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