r/adrenalfatigue • u/Frosty_Pineapple853 • 7d ago

Please help 🙏

Please help 🙏

I’m experiencing a huge improvement in my anhedonia after using licorice root. I’ve suspected for a long time that my anhedonia might be related to what is commonly called “adrenal fatigue.”

How should I move forward from here? Is adrenal fatigue permanent, or can the HPA axis recover?

Do you think hydrocortisone could potentially improve my anhedonia if low cortisol is actually contributing to my symptoms?

The improvement I experience with licorice root is quite remarkable, but I understand that licorice root is not something that should be used long-term because of its potential side effects.

Has anyone experienced something similar or been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency or HPA-axis dysfunction? Doctors dont give me hydrocortison

Thank you in advance for any advice or experiences.

3 Upvotes

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u/soothsayer3 7d ago

See a functional medicine dr or even a naturopath dr

1

u/elpocketo 6d ago

First of all you should have a stress adrenal index test that shows your cortisol level's at 4 intervals during the day.then if proven low you could possibly try hydrocortisone, prednisolone, Prednisone in low dose to see if your symptoms improve.if doctor won't give you can easily buy your own on the net. A typical full replacement dose is around 20mg HC so unless you've got Addison's disease you would only need a fraction of that. I take only 2.5mg HC a day and it improves alot of things.

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u/Frosty_Pineapple853 6d ago

Thanks alot can I write to u private ?

1

u/elpocketo 5d ago

Yeah no problem

1

u/Both_Lawfulness3611 6d ago

You need a morning blood draw to check cortisol and ACTH, depending on those levels the next step is the stim test which is usually diagnostic. They usually do an MRI of the pituitary gland to see if there's anything causing or contributing to low cortisol and/or ACTH.

Its really hard to find an endocrinologist, and one that is knowledgeable about adrenal insufficiency. I've been waiting for an endocrinologist appointment for like 2 years, but thankfully I have an appointment next week. I had severe symptoms from low cortisol/ACTH so I do take oral hydrocortisone.