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So, I was talking to the Naturopath and I told him that at the end of 2012 and 2013, I had experienced, a "trauma". That I was on "high alert" for almost one year. I said that the silver lining was that I lost weight. But, I have since gained it back. I am now at the exact same weight I was just before the A. YUCK!

He asked if I was in fight/flight mode. Well...No. Not for an entire year but I was "revved" up. I felt like I was always the hamster running on the wheel! He then explained what was happening with my adrenals at that time. He said, "If I gave you a sponge and told you to wring it out every half hour from 9-5pm would what it be like at 5pm?"

It would be dry. Yes. He said. That is basically what happens to ones adrenals. It seems like once things settled down, everything else did too. He is talking adrenal fatigue now.

This seems to make sense to me. I go to the gym, I enjoy food but I don't eat a lot but its like the food is....not going anywhere! It is just....sitting there. He said that I will likely never have my adrenals back where they once where but we can work to improve them. Plus, I am in my mid-40's so it doesn't make it any easier.

I take a supplement called, Adrenal Rebuild. I take the B's, go to the gym and try to eat well from the time I wake up. Something's gotta give. Just a little!

Have you had your thyroid checked? After going through all of this, my thyroid just stopped working.

I've been talking to a gf about this same thing. Kind of an interesting theory, tying it to the trauma. I hadn't considered that. But my body doesn't like to lose weight, that's for damn sure.

I had adrenal fatigue. You need to change your diet. "Paleo" is the way to go. No alcohol or coffee. Stimulants are the worst for this. Also, you need to be on a lot of supplements to repair your system. Let me know if you want further info.

Oh please God no!! My losing weight was one of the positives of this thing. I really don't want to gain it all back :(

Good luck LA! I hope this helps you!

Ditto on having your thyroid checked. It's common for women suffering from traumas, particularly those who also had tough childhoods, to end up with thyroid issues.

I actually burned mine out pre-A, and had no idea until my primary ran a series of tests and caught it. The symptoms can be all over the map, so it's often initially overlooked because we see separate doctors for each symptom.

Funny how a small pill can make such a huge difference.

Extreme stress, such as the trauma of learning of a trusted spouses affair, causes people to release excess cortisol which will eventually lead to adrenal fatigue. It also reduces the appetite.

Extreme prolonged excess of Cortisol causes muscle destruction after the fat is wasted from fasting or not eating due to stress and anxiety.

Once the extreme stress and anxiety of learning of the affair subsides, we still release more cortisol but not at such an excessive level, and the lower level causes weight gain, particularly in the abdomen. We also have our appetites back, even if we don't over eat. We at least eat.

Cortisol increases blood sugar and that increases appetite. If the cortisol is not high enough to cause fat, muscle and bone deterioration, we may gain weight, particularly abdominal fat.

Here is some information from wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol

Severe trauma or stressful events can elevate cortisol levels in the blood for prolonged periods.

Elevated levels of cortisol, if prolonged, can lead to proteolysis and muscle wasting.[9] Several studies have shown a lipolytic (breakdown of fat) effect of cortisol, although, under some conditions, cortisol may somewhat suppress lipolysis.[10] Another function is to decrease bone formation.[3]

Anorexia nervosa may be associated with increased cortisol levels.[114]

Cortisol is a steroid hormone, more specifically a glucocorticoid, produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex.[1] It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoid. Its primary functions are to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis, suppress the immune system, and aid the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrate.[2] It also decreases bone formation.

So, an affair is just the gift the keeps on giving.

[This message edited by seethelight at 3:51 PM, June 26th (Thursday)]

Seethelight, thanks for that.

Seethelight, thanks for that.

You are welcome.

Thanks so much seelight! I am certain my Naturopath said all this but all I could remember was the sponge being wrung dry and how it was attributed to massive amounts of stress.

We also have our appetites back, even if we don't over eat. We at least eat

And its so true. I eat - even a little and it feels like I have just eaten 3x as much as then...it all just sits there. But then when I do OVER eat? I feel it for days.

Yes, I have had my thyroid checked and have been on meds since 2007 for that. My sister had thyroid cancer two years back. We check it every 6 months now. Apparently Canadians have a higher level of "normal" then what Americans will tolerate so perhaps I fall into the "normal range" but it is not normal for me. And it may be abnormal if I lived in the US. Frustrating.

No alcohol or coffee

Oh good grief. I cannot imagine my life w/o a daily cup of Joe!

I will check out the Paleo diet Shed...thanks. I have heard of it but not familiar. That's what Google is for!

So ShedsomeLight, when you changed your diet did you really notice a difference? Did you do anything else? Exercise 5x week (and in your sleep?)!

And its so true. I eat - even a little and it feels like I have just eaten 3x as much as then...it all just sits there. But then when I do OVER eat? I feel it for days.

Ditto to that, LA44.