Many times when individuals, especially women, go to their physican complaining of
chronic fatigue they are prescribed synthroid or armor thyroid. Sometimes that is
all that is needed to correct the issue. When symptoms do not resolve with thyroid
medication, what can we do next? When I see these cases in my office, I often find
that the thyroid panel from their lab results is normal. When thyroid medication is
added where thyroid function is normal, the fatigue can worsen or other
complicating symptoms of nausea, headaches and difficulty concentrating or
sleeping can appear or get worse.
What may be causing the fatigue is not the thyroid or even the sex hormones but is
instead an issue with adrenal dysfuntion. The adrenal hormones (cortisol,
norepinephrine and epinephrine are some), thyroid and sex hormones are from
separate systems but they influence one another. We refer to this connection as the
HPA axis, which stands for hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis. The HPA-axis is
responsible for regulating all homeostatic function from metabolism to heart rate to
even brain function. The foundation of the HPA axis is the adrenal system. The
adrenal function in our bodies has the responsibility of helping us manage stress. If
we do not have good stress management skills in our life, the adrenal system will
take the hit and eventually cause dysfunction in many other systems.
If you are struggling with fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, or even food sensitivities, an
adrenal imbalance is most likely involved. There are very good assessments that
can help illuminate dysfunction in the adrenal system. Contact me today to schedule
a free consult so you can learn more about what you can do to restore balance and
vitality in your life.