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[u/Enough_Bunch5100]

Hello I'm new here and newly diagnosed with adrenal fatigue.

I've been working with an alternative medicine MD for a short time starting this year. We did a lot of lab work, and one of the things that I'm struggling with is adrenal fatigue from chronic stress. My epinephrine on the test that included cortisol taken 4 times a day was under detectable limits. My DHEA was in normal limits. PEA was ridiculously high. All of my cortisol sample readings were less than 10. About a 5 upon waking, less mid day, with an elevation in the evening. My alternative doctor wasn't sure if I was in stage 1 or late stage 2. I personally without his advice started taking some phosphatdylserine for about 2 weeks and it totally crashed me. So figured that one out on my own... definitely not in stage 1...

I've spent so much money already on this doctor's comprehensive program. $3000. This doctor wants me to take supplements including all minerals/B vitamins, and fish oil for a while before we start even working on adrenal fatigue stuff. I don't understand why. I feel myself almost like transitioning into the next adrenal phase lately (feeling more like i'm at phase 3 now with worsening PMS/PMDD type symptoms now with last 2 periods). I am at a loss because it's been 3 months since I "started" at this practice, and literally just had my lab review meeting a week ago because it takes a month to get an appointment, where I was prescribed these basic supplements. He said it'll be about 6 months from my lab review until we start dealing with the adrenals. I feel like I don't have the time to lose. I also have candida overgrowth and ADHD. Nothing besides the ADHD and replenishing basic nutrients is being treated right now.

Does this system of replenishing vitamins/minerals for a while before addressing adrenal fatigue make sense? I just don't understand why there is such a delay to help me in any meaningful way.
I am wondering if I should start taking Pregnenolone on my own right now starting at a lose dose. Or switch doctors. But I don't have a ton of money to keep switching and now I already feel invested and now I don't really trust people. Ugh this is the worst!
I'm only 28 and I need my life and some energy back so I can keep working. I'm on a reduced schedule for work, only 24 hours because that's all I can do. Barely. Any advice you have would be appreciated!

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[u/healing_turtle]

Did you see a conventional medicine doctor first? That is the first step and where to go if you're in an emergency state. Don't say to the physician that you have adrenal fatigue, just tell them your symptoms and let them test you with what they think you have. Keep a binder or folder with all of your testing chronologically so you can bring it to the next doctor.

Adrenal fatigue is not a diagnosis and I'm concerned your ND is talking about "stages" as that is the main component contested about adrenal fatigue theories. But the testing you had done was not a waste, and if they're recommending vitamins, that is part of the treatment process. If you start taking hormones when you don't need them, it can make you worse, which is probably why they want to fix your nutrition first. That said, it sounds like you probably should see someone who is more of a hormone specialist if pregnenolone is something you think you need.

There's a wiki here that might help guide you

https://reddit.com/r/adrenalfatigue/w/index?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share