Hello there.

I've noticed semi-recently that when I get surges of adrenaline, that I feel sharp, throbbing pain in my lower back, about where my kidneys should be. I know that the adrenals sit atop the kidneys.

My fiance suggests that this may be tense muscles, but I don't think so. It doesn't feel muscular.

Since mid-January of last year, I've had a mysterious group of symptoms. Panic attacks in the morning, intermittant anxiety, especially at night. Weight loss seems difficult. Exercising an hour a day and keeping caloric consumption down doesn't seem to be yeilding any significant results. Before all this started, I was losing weight with reasonable ease. Since then, I've gained 20 pounds back. It takes until the day is half over for me to have the will to get off my butt and do something productive, and sometimes I just feel so tired and lethargic that I can't do anything at all. I also have very dark circles under my eyes that refuse to go away. Sometimes I get sleepy in the middle of the day for no reason, and sometimes I feel depressed.

Initially, I suspected these symptoms of being Premature Ovarian Failure, but after further research, I'm thinking something having to do with my adrenals. When I suspected POF, I went on birth control as hormone replacement. They help, but do not eliminate symptoms. I still suffer with intermittant fatigue and depression, and bouts of anxiety, usually at night.

I think the fact that B/C pills help is because of the progesterone. I don't think I'm producing enough.

I am poor and on SSI (in a state where I can't get medicaid), and don't have one red cent to spare for a battery of tests and doctor visits. Since I don't wish to be on birth control the rest of my life and practically invite all sorts of health disasters, I'm going to taking pregnenolone, which is a precursor to adrenal hormones.

Can anyone give me any clues as to whether or not I may have adrenal fatigue, or the beginnings of it?