Laika
08-25-2012, 06:52 PM
Hello. Glad I found this forum as maybe I can find some answers and share some info.
I am 45 yr old male. I have had chronic-stress conditions on-and-off for the past 18 years, sometimes dealing with very severe-stress situations of long-duration. It wasn't until the last couple of years that I felt that this really was having an impact on my health to the point where I couldn't ignore it anymore.
In 2011, I had one ER visit for significant fatigue & minor chest pain and pounding heartbeat. I was checked-out with the usual process of EKG, blood work, chest X-ray, etc., and sent on my way with a prescription for valium. Then, earlier this year, same deal. Both were diagnosed as "anxiety attack". After both instances, symptoms improved to a degree that I could function, and I would go about my business.
In early August, I had another episode of significant fatigue, pounding heatrbeat and chest discomfort, only this time it did not significantly improve. Basically felt like I was having an adrenal fight-or-flight-response with no off-switch. I had this response 24/7 which made it impossible to sleep, which made matters worse.
Rather than go back to an ER and get the same diagnosis for another $3K, I went to my primary care person and began investigating what I could do by myself to try to solve what was going on beyond just having anxiety and chronic stress, because clearly something had changed with my physical ability to cope. I obtained a few tests to see if some indicators were normal or out-of-order and found that I had both low testosterone and high cortisol levels. Doc started me on testosterone to attempt to fix at least that level, but it has not changed any of my other symptoms of fatigue/pounding heartbeat, etc.
As of now, I am exploring being tested for Cushings, and trying to change my diet by limiting sugars, taking different supplements and possibly taking Phosphatidyl Serine, all to try to lower my cortisol level to a degree where I can function somewhat normally again.
...
I am 45 yr old male. I have had chronic-stress conditions on-and-off for the past 18 years, sometimes dealing with very severe-stress situations of long-duration. It wasn't until the last couple of years that I felt that this really was having an impact on my health to the point where I couldn't ignore it anymore.
In 2011, I had one ER visit for significant fatigue & minor chest pain and pounding heartbeat. I was checked-out with the usual process of EKG, blood work, chest X-ray, etc., and sent on my way with a prescription for valium. Then, earlier this year, same deal. Both were diagnosed as "anxiety attack". After both instances, symptoms improved to a degree that I could function, and I would go about my business.
In early August, I had another episode of significant fatigue, pounding heatrbeat and chest discomfort, only this time it did not significantly improve. Basically felt like I was having an adrenal fight-or-flight-response with no off-switch. I had this response 24/7 which made it impossible to sleep, which made matters worse.
Rather than go back to an ER and get the same diagnosis for another $3K, I went to my primary care person and began investigating what I could do by myself to try to solve what was going on beyond just having anxiety and chronic stress, because clearly something had changed with my physical ability to cope. I obtained a few tests to see if some indicators were normal or out-of-order and found that I had both low testosterone and high cortisol levels. Doc started me on testosterone to attempt to fix at least that level, but it has not changed any of my other symptoms of fatigue/pounding heartbeat, etc.
As of now, I am exploring being tested for Cushings, and trying to change my diet by limiting sugars, taking different supplements and possibly taking Phosphatidyl Serine, all to try to lower my cortisol level to a degree where I can function somewhat normally again.
...