My Journey of Hell and Healing - Joy

[Joy]

Hi Sheila,

Thank you for your message Sheila. That is kind of you to think of me. Sorry I have been laying low for the last week but I haven't disappeared.

How are you doing? I hope you are feeling well and enjoying the summer. Is it very hot there? Here is has been around 30C.
I have been finding it too hot in the day to be outside much but when we are driving the air feels lovely with the wind is blowing through and I feel contented at that time. The land is pretty now. There are fields of barley and hay and yellow fields of canola. Everything has come alive.

I haven't been feeling good. I don't think it is because of w/d. I am crashing faster now. (aka, hitting the wall)...not as bad as I can feel it coming but I think it is more often. Last Friday we went out, about a 40 min drive and then we got groceries in a small place. I had a telephone call that was long and a little trying but felt good that day. Sat, Sun and Monday I was in bed and felt awful. Just crashed. I cried because I felt so weak and tired and depleated. It felt terribly wrong.
Tuesday morning my partner made an appointment for me at a different doctor and we went there. Of course that day after laying around for 3 days, I was feeling and looking much better. I told the doctor about my adrenalectomy and suggested some testing. The doctor was very nice and let me pick what I wanted tested. We went over the sheet together. (I am sure he love that!!, lol)..I am leaning toward thinking that there is still something wrong with my levels. Also I am having the pressure on my abdomen still...although no pain. I was feeling anxious and maybe I just seemed whacked, (didn't think so), but the doctor responds to my comment that I was having trouble sleeping...with..do you think you have anxiety? Maybe you are depressed? I said NO, I am not depressed (this may not be 100% true but I didn't like where it was going). He says maybe an antidepressant would help me. I said I wasn't feeling depressed or anxiety. He said maybe I could try a little bit like 10mg of something. ERRRRR, I found it insulting and just said NO, I would not be taking anything, ever. He stopped then.
The doctor called me tonight to say my potassium is low and to take some supplements, slow K (600mg) 2x day until I see him on Wed. I don't believe it is very low..just a little, he said it was 3.2. Interesting enough, the last useless doctor I had before this did blood tests and the level was the exact same. He said it was fine and wasn't concerned. ..not sure what to think..it shouldn't be low at all. I requested my aldosterone to be checked too and I expect that it will come in high.
I don't think the removeal of the adrenal glad with the tumor solved the problem. I remember when the specialist had looked at me he had also commented that my renin was low. As far as I remember the renin is produced in the kidneys and the increase in renin signals the adrenals to produce more aldosterone. So low renin...should mean low aldolesterone. My understanding of it. The tumor I had was a functioning tumor that produced aldosterone. The removal of it should have solved the problem. However, I left that specialist because he insisted on doing a test I didn't want. It involved a stint in the leg where they would pump in salt and simply watch what happened in my kidneys. He wasn't sure that the tumor was the entire problem..but I bypassed him while he was on holidays and got a surgeon to remove it for me. I never went back and had no followup. So...maybe the doctor's hesitancy was with good reason. ...anyway, will see on Wed what the blood tests say. I think I forgot to ask the doctor to check the Renin level. Hope this isn't too long and boring Sheila, sorry.

Yesterday we were out again and it was a good 11 hours and busy. i did fantastic. I didn't crash..and today..crash!! Not completely, but very lethargic and don't feel very well. So that is where I am at.

I really appreciate your caring,
thank you Sheila,
love joy

[stan]

in withdrawal many experience waves of extreme weakness, extreme muscles pains, before becoming stronger,

[Sheila]

Ach, I’m sorry you’re feeling icky. Like Stan, I feel it is extremely likely that what you’re experiencing has something to do with w/d, combined with the fact that you have a history of adrenal problems and are minus one adrenal gland.

When you had the tumor on the adrenal gland, were you taking any psych meds?

Where are you in your Vit. C intake?

Still at the same Omega-3 dose since 25 June? And have you noticed any pattern of benefits of side effects when you updose?

[Joy]

Thank you Stan and Sheila for your messages. You might be right it could just be w/d. I guess the blood tests will tell me for sure.

Sheila, I am still at they same level of Omega 3's. I did have one bad day after taking the updose, but bad days are common enough not to be due to the increase. My quality of life isn't there because of Crashing with any stress, good or bad. But other than that I don't feel bad and often have good days. I was irritable today for awhile, but that cleared up and I had a good day. Heat or still air sets me off..every time. More than anything else this is a trigger. It happens before I am aware that I am hot.
Yes, yes, yes, I do believe the Omega 3's have been good and helpful for me. I feel it has 'smoothed' over things that could be harder. For now I feel at the right level at the 11 pills I am taking. I will probably updose eventually, but for the next while plan to remain at this level..until the feeling of wanting to increase is there. I have had it all along until now where it feels right.

The tiredness I have is very likely the low potassium. It should be between 3.6 -5.2, and I am at 3.2. ( 2.5 it is considered life threatening). Today I have had more energy and better spirits and have not once had that feeling I get where I can't go on. I have had 3 doses or 1,800mg of potassium since last night, plus what I get from food.

Yes, Sheila, I was on 2 medications when I was diagnosed with the tumor and I had lived for years with the tiredness and low quality of life, low and very low potassium levels. I learned from studying that often when there is a potassium/aldosterone problem after surgery it often means that it was bilateral and not just one adrenal gland as in Conns syndrome, that I had. My doctor hadn't ruled out the other adrenal's involvement when I left him and sought out surgery. My CAT scan had revealed cysts on my liver, kidneys and many kidney stones to big to come out. Yes, I also blame the meds for throwing off renal function. I also learned that AD's influence the cortisol level..and I believe make it higher. I only found that in one article I read. I believe if I can regulate my hormone levels I will feel much better but only time will tell.

I am on 4,000mg of VitC, plus the many berries and things I eat that contain VC. So my actual amount would be higher.

[biscotaki]

Hi Joy,
I hope you are having a peaceful day today ..:)
I come and visit your thread here and there ..I am saddened on days you are struggling ..I quess we all have to struggle till we are healed ..
I wanted to ask you if you would tell me which Flora vitamin do you get ..I am looking for a gentle one, but have not been successful finding one .. I would be grateful for that ..
I send you loving thoughts of wellness Joy ..hugs, biscotaki

[Joy]

hi Biscotki,

Thank you for your very kind message. I am having a nice day and I hope you are too.
The Flora Vitamin is a Multi Vitamen and mineral formula. When I first got it 2 months ago I couldn't take it, so I tried one a day recently and was fine so now I have tried it 2x as suggested and I am fine.

Thank you for your positive thoughts of wellness Bisco. How have you been doing?
Hugs,
joy

[Sheila]

Well, so, it sounds like your adrenal and other endocrine problems might have been caused by or contributed to by psych meds. Terrible. But, now that you’re off the meds, I know your body can recover.

It is my intuition, too, that you should not go up on the Omega-3 again for a bit. I am wondering if sometimes updosing can cause some repair work or shifting that is tiring and/or causes some temporary side effects. I am wondering now if, the higher you get, the slower you should go. Especially in your case and mine, where you are already middle aged, and have had health problems for awhile. The shift in Omega-6 – Omega-3 ratio may entail a lot of work for the body. All to the good, but you have to go gently.

Now, on the other hand, you might look into the question of whether to raise the Vit C because the adrenals are hungry for Vit. C and it’s the best thing you can do for your adrenals. After years of w/d anxiety, I developed pain in my left adrenal. Raised my Vit C and it went away. Got pain again, raised my C, it went away. Take a look at the Vit C sticky if you haven’t already.

[biscotaki]

Hi Sheila, I have missed your presence ..:) I hope that you have been well ..Sheila, what type of vitamin C are you using?
I am having a hard time finding one without GMO.
I would appreciate some help with that ..
Take good care ..Always a treat to "talk " with you ..:)

[Joy]

Well, so, it sounds like your adrenal and other endocrine problems might have been caused by or contributed to by psych meds. Terrible. But, now that you’re off the meds, I know your body can recover.

It is my intuition, too, that you should not go up on the Omega-3 again for a bit. I am wondering if sometimes updosing can cause some repair work or shifting that is tiring and/or causes some temporary side effects. I am wondering now if, the higher you get, the slower you should go. Especially in your case and mine, where you are already middle aged, and have had health problems for awhile. The shift in Omega-6 – Omega-3 ratio may entail a lot of work for the body. All to the good, but you have to go gently.

Now, on the other hand, you might look into the question of whether to raise the Vit C because the adrenals are hungry for Vit. C and it’s the best thing you can do for your adrenals. After years of w/d anxiety, I developed pain in my left adrenal. Raised my Vit C and it went away. Got pain again, raised my C, it went away. Take a look at the Vit C sticky if you haven’t already.

Hi Sheila,

I agree.. I also think the problem I was caused by the AD;s. I know we can't say for certain..but at the very least it contributed to it.

That is a good theroy in regard to updosing of Omega 3's. I like the idea of listening to our bodies. I have been fighting it for so long on AD's. My body and I have been at odds...the drugs that stimulate and agitate and somehow makes you lethargic and tired at the same time. Now I try to give it nutruition and listen to it in return. I am loosing water quickly with the potassium and my blood pressure is going down more. I even slept half decently for 2 nights..although tonight..not so good.

I have been doing some reading on gluten. I do think I have an intolerence there..I really notice it now after eating a warm slice of the homemade bread we have. It is loaded with Oatmeal. My abdomen becomes very 'full' and puffy with it. Gluten is in everything..our spices, my Astro plain yougart and the sunflower seeds I have been using. I rather suspect thought that the problem might not be the gluten but the yeast in the bread.

I have also been reading about iodine and plan to try an iodine supplement more than my kelp one that is too weak for anything. I will try it for a few weeks and see if there is any difference.

Now Vit C, I will review the sticky again. I hesitate to move up with that right now as I am getting so much discomfort in my abdomen. I have a followup appointment tomorrow for the blood work that was done, and have been putting x's to mark the spot where I am sensitive. There is a horizontal line..to the left and right of the center of x's now.
Vit C might be the answer but I want to hold off until I watch and feel more of what is happening in my abdominal area.

It is late..after 4:30am. I can't sleep as the coyotes have been yipping and howling not far from here as they are out hunting. They have done this two seperate times tonight. They are probably hunting deer..It is an erie sound. I worry about the horses and pigs and Tom the barn cat.

How are you doing Sheila??

[Sheila]

A lot of people seem to develop a temporary gluten sensitivity in w/d.

Iodine is very interesting to me. I think it’s one of the great remedies that got suppressed by the AMA.

Remember there is such a thing as buffered Vit. C for people whose stomachs are sensitive.

I’m doing OK. The heatwave ended Thursday, but, to my dismay, when my feet shrank back down, it caused more release of schmutz, and I have had bad detox for a couple of days. It seems to be done with now. But, it was veeeery frustrating.