| So, there you are, dragging your patooty and | | | | throughout the day and evening. Then you ship |
| wondering what in the world happened to you. | | | | everything off in the prepaid envelope and wait for |
| A friend suggests that you probably have thyroid | | | | results. |
| problems. Another friend jumps in to say, no, you | | | | Insurance covers the test, but doctors don't like it-for |
| probably have adrenal problems. So you poke around | | | | reasons they don't explain. Endocrinologists are trying |
| the internet, getting nowhere. When they talk about the | | | | to get it outlawed, even though it's the only accurate |
| adrenal glands, they seem to repeat everything they | | | | test available. You might need to practice your |
| say about the thyroid. And vice versa. | | | | assertiveness skills-which will absolutely thrill the |
| Truth to tell, the symptoms do overlap, sort of like a | | | | average doctor. Change doctors if you have to, but |
| plate of spaghetti. They're all over the place, and it's | | | | get the saliva test. |
| hard to tell one from another. | | | | Meanwhile, be testing your thyroid yourself the |
| Fatigue squeezes you in a bear hug. Sleep comes | | | | old-fashioned way. Get a mercury thermometer and |
| fitfully, and morning arrives at an indecent hour, sun or | | | | shake it down each night in preparation for the morn. |
| no sun. Your brain plays hide-and-seek, in an old | | | | Then, first thing in the morning, before stirring, certainly |
| codger, cranky sort of way. Emotions whip you one | | | | before getting out of bed, put it under your armpit next |
| way, then the other, without much encouragement. In | | | | to your skin and hold it there until, say, the snooze |
| short, life's a mess. | | | | alarm goes off. Write down what it says. Do this for a |
| There are a few clues. If you're cold all the time, it's | | | | week, then take an average of your morning |
| probably thyroid. If your body can't make up its mind | | | | temperatures. (Menstruating women should start on |
| about whether to be hot or cold, it's probably adrenal. If | | | | the second day of their period.) |
| it varies from day to day, it's probably both. | | | | Normal underarm temperatures range from 97.8 to |
| If you get dizzy when you stand up, or your hair | | | | 98.2 degrees. If you consistently run low, go to the |
| changes color, or you crave salt, it's probably adrenal. | | | | doctor, outline your symptoms as concisely as possible, |
| Untreated thyroid problems cause adrenal problems, | | | | and present your temperatures. And ask for a natural, |
| so guessing you have both wouldn't be unreasonable. | | | | dessicated thyroid medicine, not the standard Synthroid |
| But you really need to know the deal to chase down a | | | | or thyroxin. |
| cure. | | | | Like the saliva test, natural thyroid is what works, but |
| Doctors might give you a thyroid test, unreliable in any | | | | not what doctors like. |
| case. They probably won't order an adrenal test | | | | So, whether it's thyroid or adrenal, you have to test |
| unless you ask-and then they'll order a blood test, | | | | both. That probably won't happen unless you request it. |
| signifying nothing. | | | | Make that strongly request it. Maybe even change |
| The first thing you want to do is get a saliva adrenal | | | | doctors. Do whatever it takes. |
| test. Treating your thyroid when you don't know what's | | | | If you go down the path of least resistance by giving |
| up with your adrenals is asking for trouble. | | | | up just because a doctor-or anybody else-says no. |
| The saliva adrenal test is a take-home test, ordered | | | | you're toast. Not insisting on the help you need and |
| by your doctor, in which you put a small, hard roll of | | | | deserve because you want somebody to like you |
| cotton under your tongue at four specified times | | | | won't make you healthy. You deserve healthy. |