Too much Cortisol? Help! Extreme fatigue after work.

[SandalsAndSox]

I am late 40s and on HRT I have just returned to work after a career break of a few months.

I have normal energy levels when not at work and am active and slim but not sporty.

I have found that the slight feeling of being on edge and ‘on’ all day in a professional role leaves me with absolutely debilitating fatigue.

I am unable to think or enjoy the evening at home. I just feel utterly floored (a bit like when getting over a terrible shock).

Now, I know that adrenal fatigue isn’t ‘real’ but could I be producing too much adrenaline or too much cortisol or something?

I hoped the HRT might fix this but the same issues with fatigue are appearing in the be role.

There’s nothing negative about the job apart from how extremely tired it makes me.

Any advice?

Could you be lacking in certain vitamins and minerals? Worth asking doc to do a blood test for iron levels and maybe thyroid test.
Best of luck

I get this too so following. Shattering.

Also get this, particularly through winter and this time of year.

I get this when I have ‘big’ work days. Absolutely shattering. I literally can’t function after and feel like I’ve been awake for days. I agree that it just be something like too much adrenaline.

@Whiteminnowfish I will ring the dr. I am wondering about overactive thyroid but I’m not underweight…could it still be that? I have many other symptoms.

@AgnesNaismith is it related to sunlight perhaps then?

@Aliceforgot is yours only when you feel a bit nervous? I’ve got lots of stamina for other kinds of activity.

You can ask for a morning cortisol test and that will tell you if you have too much cortisol (cushings disease) or too little (Addisons / adrenal insufficiency- I have this). There is no such thing as adrenal fatigue - you either have too little cortisol which is medically identifiable as such or you don’t. If you have adrenal insufficiency you’ll need steroid replacement.

HRT can falsely elevate cortisol levels so you’ll need to stop any HRT and / or anything containing oestrogen for 6 weeks prior to any cortisol testing.

Yes I think kt is when I am nervous as I also get it at big social occasions. I have never been more shattered than after my (afternoon reception only) wedding for example. Big family dos.

At the moment, an office day is a rare 'treat' for me so involves suddenly worrying about what I going to wear/public transport, meetings and greeting colleagues/making small talk people I haven't seen for ages or going for lunch.

This group is for Addisons but some here have experience with cushings as some people have cushings due to a tumour that’s removed and then they swing the other way -

www.facebook.com/groups/175948922471395/?ref=share

I would speak to the GP about getting iron, ferritin, b12 and thyroid tests. Even if they come back ' normal' ask for a printout so you can see whereabouts you fall in the ranges.

Another thought on a tangent, could you be neurodivergent? If you are having to mask or use all your energy on executive function while at work could be causing an extreme fatigue feeling afterwards.

@Bagelsandbrie you’ve now got me wondering if would I be able to have a thyroid function test whilst on HTR.

Interesting @Aliceforgot

@genome I don’t think so as it’s only been in the last couple of years.

I mean that I coped well at work previously- I still felt a bit nervous when younger being ‘watched’ but the physical impact / fatigue wasn’t anything like it is now.

Get up early and meditate for 20 mins

@Polyanthus2 I’d like to explore / rule out underlying health issues as I have other symptoms ( excessive thirst and irregular heartbeat).

[quote SandalsAndSox]@Bagelsandbrie you’ve now got me wondering if would I be able to have a thyroid function test whilst on HTR.

Interesting @Aliceforgot[/quote]
HRT doesn’t affect thyroid blood tests. Just cortisol ones. (I have Addison’s, lupus, hypothyroidism, pituitary issues etc - and I take the mini pill and HRT).