Finding a Doctor to assist with OTS, Adrenal Fatigue, Hypothyroid issues

Most doctors won't recognize that as a real thing. How much are you running?

Top This wrote:

Most doctors won't recognize that as a real thing. How much are you running?

Agreed

OTS - fake, usually means depression

Adrenal fatigue - fake

Hypothyroid issues - can be legit when not abused ala NOP

-Doctor

Was consistent 90-100mpw. Multiple 100 mile races back to back to back. Been diagnosed hypothyroid and now on meds for that. it's a fight to even get out of bed anymore, let alone to actually get a work out in. AM cortisol levels are extremely low and then a bit of a spike in the evening which has really messed up the ability to sleep at night.

How about trying traditional Chinese medicine?

There is a Dr. Brown in Houston...

Stop with the Chinese medicine!

Make sure you don't have Lyme or any other infectious disease.

Stop running until you feel better.

nomoreenergy wrote:

Was consistent 90-100mpw. Multiple 100 mile races back to back to back. Been diagnosed hypothyroid and now on meds for that. it's a fight to even get out of bed anymore, let alone to actually get a work out in. AM cortisol levels are extremely low and then a bit of a spike in the evening which has really messed up the ability to sleep at night.

It sounds like you just need to take some time off to allow your body to recover, especially if you have done "multiple 100 mile races back to back to back" as you have said. I'm not talking about a couple days off - but maybe several weeks off. You need to give your body time to recover, and based on your mileage and comment about the 100 mile races, I'm guessing you don't build in much recovery in your training and haven't recovered from your 100 mile races. You don't need a doctor. You need rest.

Full physical with blood workup. Stop running for awhile.

I doubt you have the conditions you mentioned. Self diagnosis is rarely correct.

Multiple rounds of bloodwork already done. Let me dig up my results and I'll post.

Multiple 100 mile races and you are surprised you are having endocrine system issues? Do tell. It's like an alcoholic complaining he has liver issues. Ultras are not good for your body. You don't need to see a doctor about OTS, you need to see a psychiatrist about your OCD.

titaniumbolt wrote:

Top This wrote:

Most doctors won't recognize that as a real thing. How much are you running?

Agreed

OTS - fake, usually means depression

Adrenal fatigue - fake

Hypothyroid issues - can be legit when not abused ala NOP

-Doctor

Over the years as a manager, I've come to recognize Adrenal Failure, Chronic Fatigue, OTS, Fibromyalgia as.....malingering. However, when applied to your voluntary activity of running, it's difficult to NOT conclude that you simply need to stop for a while. If you find that to be impossible, then the answer if clear. You need a shrink.

I am not denying what has led to this current state, just simply trying to find the best path to treatment/recovery. My training has been almost completely halted until this is remedied and even then I am unsure if I'll jump back in fully.

You were asking more of your body than it was designed for and now it is fighting back. You need sleep.

Post the bloodwork when you can and let us know how you felt when each particular bloodwork was done. Or did you wait to feel horrible and then get labs done? Either way it'd be interesting to see.

I'll get them posted. Currently waiting for results on aldosterone levels as well.

Thanks for the podcast also, definitely seem to align more with adrenal insufficiency and I guess the aldosterone results will help to rule that out or confirm.

Sorry for the delay, was waiting for most recent labs. This is just the second round of labs, the first were about 8 weeks ago and most values were lower/worse so there has been minor improvement in values but overall fatigue is actually much worse now.

Cortisol AM 6, PM 12.8

t4 Free .73

t3 free 2.3

triiodothyronine WBC 3.6

Aldosterone 6.7

B12, Folate, Iron are all on the low end of "normal"

Currently on 30mg Armour for thyroid. B12 injections weekly, have added meat back into diet 2-3x week, iron supplementation, and just starting Cortef supplementation.

nomoreenergy wrote:

Sorry for the delay, was waiting for most recent labs. This is just the second round of labs, the first were about 8 weeks ago and most values were lower/worse so there has been minor improvement in values but overall fatigue is actually much worse now.

Cortisol AM 6, PM 12.8

t4 Free .73

t3 free 2.3

triiodothyronine WBC 3.6

Aldosterone 6.7

B12, Folate, Iron are all on the low end of "normal"

Currently on 30mg Armour for thyroid. B12 injections weekly, have added meat back into diet 2-3x week, iron supplementation, and just starting Cortef supplementation.

How about some specifics? Saying they are on the low end of normal is vague. Are we talking about a ferritin of 30? 20? 12? How exactly are you supplementing with iron?

Cortef supplementation? How will that help your adrenals?

I'll see if I can find the actual values. Iron is through a vitamin/tablet as well as beginning to eat red meat again which hasn't been touched in over 15 years.

Cortef is supposedly to help with daily energy levels.