Flashback: Energy Level Profile

This is an excerpt from my personal journal, dated 2003-06-12. This is what it was like for me to have adrenal fatigue, although I didn't know it at that time. I didn't get any sort of treatment until the summer of 2006 when I got my CPAP machine, and again in April 2007 when I saw the N.D. who recommended supplements and the Blood Type Diet.

• 6AM: Sleeping/groggy.
• 7AM: Awake, but low functioning.
• 10AM: Energy still is low, despite coffee, but I can catch up on email. Sometimes I can't remember having driven to work. Energy slowly rises.
• 1PM: Lunch brings a brief energy rise.
• 3PM: A descent into an abyss. Stupor.
• 4PM: "Tea-time" break. Energy improves somewhat.
• 5PM: Best energy level yet. Now that most people are gone, I can focus well on my work.
• 7PM: Levels are being drained in the attempt to keep up with the 5yo.
• 8PM: The 5yo's bedtime routine, which I participate in, causes a precipitous drop in energy. I lapse into sleep while reading books [to her]. The 5yo smacks me to keep me awake. I lie on her bedroom floor waiting for her to finish using the bathroom before I can tuck her in.
• 9PM: Recovery, thankfully. Many chores await. The brisk walk with the dog causes an energy surplus.
• 10PM: Most of the chores are done. I hit the computer or read a book on a high.
• 11PM: Waning energy develops into periods of lost consciousness. I fight to keep my eyes open. When my book finally falls out of my hands, I start thinking about rousing myself enough to get to bed.
• 11:30PM: I use the 5yo's berry-flavored toothpaste. The minty stuff might wake me up.
• 11:35PM: My head hits the pillow. Usually I can stay awake long enough to turn out the light. But not always.