Adrenal Fatigue with TRT
- Thread starter mylesmg
- Start date
CHIP WADOWSKI
New member
mylesmg..... If you google "treating adrenal fatigue", you will come up with a ton of different articles and opinions. I guess thats a place you could start.
cjw2021
Pro Bodybuilder
"Adrenal fatigue" is a very broad term. I myself am on full adrenal replacement hormones through my GP. Fludrocortisone for aldosterone, hydrocortisone 20-25mg a day, and DHEA. It is possible to use hydrocortisone 5mg 4x a day while the adrenal glands are healing. If you are constantly stressing yourself out it is hard to heal. Sometimes they cannot be healed. My aldosterone levels are under 1 so I replace aldosterone.
The adrenal supplements are mostly adaptogens which downregulate the stress response. Korean ginseng has been shown to prevent atrophy of adrenal glands during cortisol replacement therapy. 20mg a day shouldn't cause atrophy. If you aren't on armor thyroid already I would look into that as well as testosterone raises thyroid binding globulin, lowering circulating free thyroid hormones.
A common symptom of cortisol deficiency is hypoglycemia - the craving of sweets, because cortisol regulates blood sugar. When I don't take my cortisol I will literally put down every candy in site and still feel stressed. The stress response from the hypoglycemia is a vicious circle. Without hydrocortisone for cortisol and fludrocortisone (taken w 1 salt pill) for aldosterone I would not be functioning.
My cortisol level as of about 1 year ago was a 7 in the AM. This is "in range", though granted in the bottom end of the range. I would recommend doing the saliva cortisol tests 4x during the day. I am not a 120 lb 80 year old woman. I need more than a 7 level of cortisol to wake up in the morning. Unfortunately the standard reference ranges don't take into account that the bottom levels are 80 year olds and their day consists of watching the price is right, not working out, working, and coming home with more stuff to do.
Cortisol as a hormone has been demonized by people and the medical doctors ignorant to its use. It is essential for life. It regulates blood pressure, blood sugar, stomach acid production, dopamine functioning in the brain...and I'm sure a lot more. If your levels are low testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) alone will not fix your fatigue.
The adrenal supplements are mostly adaptogens which downregulate the stress response. Korean ginseng has been shown to prevent atrophy of adrenal glands during cortisol replacement therapy. 20mg a day shouldn't cause atrophy. If you aren't on armor thyroid already I would look into that as well as testosterone raises thyroid binding globulin, lowering circulating free thyroid hormones.
A common symptom of cortisol deficiency is hypoglycemia - the craving of sweets, because cortisol regulates blood sugar. When I don't take my cortisol I will literally put down every candy in site and still feel stressed. The stress response from the hypoglycemia is a vicious circle. Without hydrocortisone for cortisol and fludrocortisone (taken w 1 salt pill) for aldosterone I would not be functioning.
My cortisol level as of about 1 year ago was a 7 in the AM. This is "in range", though granted in the bottom end of the range. I would recommend doing the saliva cortisol tests 4x during the day. I am not a 120 lb 80 year old woman. I need more than a 7 level of cortisol to wake up in the morning. Unfortunately the standard reference ranges don't take into account that the bottom levels are 80 year olds and their day consists of watching the price is right, not working out, working, and coming home with more stuff to do.
Cortisol as a hormone has been demonized by people and the medical doctors ignorant to its use. It is essential for life. It regulates blood pressure, blood sugar, stomach acid production, dopamine functioning in the brain...and I'm sure a lot more. If your levels are low testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) alone will not fix your fatigue.
Last edited:
CHIP WADOWSKI
New member
Great post cjw.... You always come out with gunz blazing. This is exactly why "team maximus" has become what it has become.... Because everyone cares and helps one another!
mylesmg
New member
Chip, I did that but I got so many results that were selling herbs and nutritional supps that I thought I would ask you guys first (cuz I trust you).
mylesmg
New member
AWESOME! Thank you SO much. This is exactly what I was looking for. I have heard on these boards before that saliva tests are BS, so I was skeptical. I have one in my medicine cab that I'm going to do tomorrow. Now I'm super curious.
rowdybrad
Welcome Wagon
Good info. I am gonna have to study up some more.
I used bronkaid/caffeine for over a year with minor breaks and was told on another board that without proper breaks it could lead to adrenal fatigue syndrome.
I kept using it anyway because it gave me energy and motivation and less hunger.
Now i haven't taken it in months but have developed nearly crippling panic disorder and generalized anxiety attacks that make me constantly think I am having a heart issue. I think I will tak a exercise stress test to be cleared once and for all, the doc gave me an ekg and a chest x ray as protocol. I cant exercise without shortness of breath and anxiety.
Dont know if the two are related, but now I'll check.
I used bronkaid/caffeine for over a year with minor breaks and was told on another board that without proper breaks it could lead to adrenal fatigue syndrome.
I kept using it anyway because it gave me energy and motivation and less hunger.
Now i haven't taken it in months but have developed nearly crippling panic disorder and generalized anxiety attacks that make me constantly think I am having a heart issue. I think I will tak a exercise stress test to be cleared once and for all, the doc gave me an ekg and a chest x ray as protocol. I cant exercise without shortness of breath and anxiety.
Dont know if the two are related, but now I'll check.
Motiv8ed
Iron Clanger
rowdybrad...I used to have the same anxiety over rapid heart rate and breathing. This is easily overcome. It goes along the lines of facing your fear to kill it.
Write yourself a list of 8-10 steps to overcoming this fear. Basically you want to raise your heart rate and breathing, through exercise, in increasing increments. Never go to the next step until you're comfortable with the step your on. Your list would look something like this:
1. Ride a stationary bike for 1 minute. (substitute any aerobic exercise if you don't have access to a bike)
2. Ride stationary bike for 3 minutes.
3. Ride stationary bike for 5 minutes.
4. Ride For 7 minutes.
5. Ride for 10 minutes.
6. Ride for 15 minutes.
7. Ride for 20 minutes.
8. Ride for 30 minutes.
After each ride, just sit down or lay down, close your eyes, relax, and let your heart rate and breathing come back down to normal.
The idea is to get your heart rate and breathing to ever increasing levels, remembering not to go to the next level until you are comfortable with the level you're at. You will be a little uncomfortable at each new level, but don't let yourself get in full panic mode. Once you've made it through all 8 steps and you've raised your heart rate and breathing many many times without actually having a heart attack, you'll no longer be bothered by it. Just remember one thing, no one ever died from a panic attack....I promise.
Write yourself a list of 8-10 steps to overcoming this fear. Basically you want to raise your heart rate and breathing, through exercise, in increasing increments. Never go to the next step until you're comfortable with the step your on. Your list would look something like this:
1. Ride a stationary bike for 1 minute. (substitute any aerobic exercise if you don't have access to a bike)
2. Ride stationary bike for 3 minutes.
3. Ride stationary bike for 5 minutes.
4. Ride For 7 minutes.
5. Ride for 10 minutes.
6. Ride for 15 minutes.
7. Ride for 20 minutes.
8. Ride for 30 minutes.
After each ride, just sit down or lay down, close your eyes, relax, and let your heart rate and breathing come back down to normal.
The idea is to get your heart rate and breathing to ever increasing levels, remembering not to go to the next level until you are comfortable with the level you're at. You will be a little uncomfortable at each new level, but don't let yourself get in full panic mode. Once you've made it through all 8 steps and you've raised your heart rate and breathing many many times without actually having a heart attack, you'll no longer be bothered by it. Just remember one thing, no one ever died from a panic attack....I promise.
MoparMuscle
Amateur Bodybuilder
What was a minor break from the caffeine? Just wondering? I do 2 months on then 2wks to a month off caffine at a time (stops doing much for you if you consume it 24-7). Normally I ramp down to a herbal tea before dropping everything. Not that I take tons but on a normal day during a peak month I consume 1 enegy drink, 1 or 2 16oz cups black coffee. Do it because it helps with my ADHD, I'm not medicated at all other then testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but the caffeine helps (and it's really a drug). Never had an issue when coming off other then a headach if I forget to have any during the ramp down period.
I also supplement dhea at 32mg Ed (topical application).
I also supplement dhea at 32mg Ed (topical application).
MoparMuscle
Amateur Bodybuilder
rowdybrad
Welcome Wagon
I was doing 400mg caffeine and 50mg ephedrine per day. Every month or so I would take a week of, but a couple times it was two weeks while I waited to get the bronkaid.
Would definitelt follow the recommended protocol for anyone use an EC stack.
MoparMuscle
Amateur Bodybuilder
Good info thanks man. I probably am consuming more caffeine then that a 16 oz has 250-320mg and an energy drink is 160mg. I'd better stick to a month off every few months.
MoparMuscle
Amateur Bodybuilder
Recovering from adrenal fatigue: How your body can overcome chronic stress and feel energized again
If you google it lot of opinions on cause but caffeine is one of the common roots along with stress, lack of quality food, quality sleep etc.
I probably have moderate symptoms right now and I'm stress free, eat great, sleep great so my only contributer at the moment is excessive caffeine.
If you google it lot of opinions on cause but caffeine is one of the common roots along with stress, lack of quality food, quality sleep etc.
I probably have moderate symptoms right now and I'm stress free, eat great, sleep great so my only contributer at the moment is excessive caffeine.
cjw2021
Pro Bodybuilder
Stanazolol is king. As far as I know it's still not illegal to be prescribed it, most of the pharms just got scared and pulled it when the fda said they might ban it early next year. I don't know of a pharm that has it nor does Chip. 25mg shot with b12 once a week for 12 weeks will drop it as low as you need it....and maintain the dose once per week. Some docs might still have it I don't know.
Some guys here claim to be having great success with danazol though with their labs showing a lowered shbg.
Some guys here claim to be having great success with danazol though with their labs showing a lowered shbg.
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