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  #1   ^
Old Mon, Jun-23-03, 18:57
wcollier wcollier is offline
Mad Scientist
Posts: 4,402
 
Plan: Healthy eating/lifestyle
Stats: 156/115/115 Female 5'4 - small frame
BF:
Progress: 100%
Default Tests for Adrenal Fatigue You Can Do At Home

In Dr. Wilson's book, Adrenal Fatigue , he lists 3 tests you can do at home to help determine if you have Adrenal Fatigue (or Burned Out Adrenals, as Dr. S calls it). This might be helpful for those who can't afford a Cortisol test.

Test #1: Iris Contraction Test
Equipment required: chair, small flashlight, mirror, a watch (with a second hand), and a dark room.

In a darkened room, sit in a chair in front of a mirror. Holding the flashlight at the side of your head, shine it across one eye (not into the eye). Watch what happens in the mirror.

You should see your pupil contract immediately after the light hits the eye. The pupil will normally stay contracted, but if you have adrenal fatigue, the pupil won't be able to hold its contraction and will dilate. This dilation will take place within 2 minutes and last for about 30-45 seconds before it contracts again. Time how long the dilation lasts and record it along with the date. Retest monthly as it serves as an indicator of recovery.

Test #2: Blood Pressure Test
If your blood pressure drops when you stand up from a lying position, this almost always indicates low adrenals. This can be measured with a blood pressure gauge (a sphygmomanometer), which you can buy at a drug store. Make sure to purchase the type that doesn't require a stethoscope to take your blood pressure.

Make sure to do this test when you are well hydrated or it could give you a false positive. Lie down quietly for about 10 minutes, then take your blood pressure (while still lying down). Then stand up and measure your blood pressure immediately upon standing. Normally blood pressure will rise 10-20mmHg from standing up. If your blood pressure drops, you likely have adrenal fatigue. The more severe the drop, the more severe the adrenal fatigue.

Test #3: Sergent's White Line
This is only present in about 40% of people with Adrenal Fatigue, but if the test is positive, it's a "slam dunk" confirmation.

With a ballpoint pen, take the cap end of the pen and lightly stroke the skin on your abdomen, making a mark about 6" long. Within a few seconds, a line should appear. In a normal reaction, the mark is initially white, but reddens within a few seconds. If you have Adrenal Fatigue, the line will stay white for about 2 minutes and will also widen.

Last edited by wcollier : Mon, Jun-23-03 at 19:01.
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  #2   ^
Old Mon, Jun-23-03, 21:30
Cindy007's Avatar
Cindy007 Cindy007 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,598
 
Plan: ??
Stats: 135/???/120 Female 64 inches
BF:
Progress: 33%
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What a trip! I did the flash light test and my pupils immediately redilated. They stay dilated long enough for me not to want to be shining a light almost in my eyes anymore and stop. Nice to have some confirmation that I am on the right plan. As I read more of the links I find posted on here listing symptoms, I am amazed at how many of my ailments can be explained by adrenal fatigue. Thank goodness I found SP!! Thanx for posting those Wanda.

--Cindy
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  #3   ^
Old Mon, Jun-23-03, 22:21
KoKo's Avatar
KoKo KoKo is offline
Stepford Malfunction
Posts: 25,926
 
Plan: FatFlush inspired
Stats: 143.5/132/130 Female 62.5 inches
BF:37%/25.%/19%
Progress: 85%
Location: Ontario Canada
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THANKS WandyBeiner,

I'll try the ball point pen trick - with my presbyopia don't know that I could do the pupil test and am not willing to spend money for a blood pressure device. But the pen trick I can do!!!!
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  #4   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 09:59
m1whowaits's Avatar
m1whowaits m1whowaits is offline
Plemorphist
Posts: 7,925
 
Plan: Schwarzbein Principle II
Stats: 150/129/130 Female 5' 5"
BF:??%/??%/ 22%
Progress: 105%
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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Did the pen test and got a normal. I'll try the light test later.

LizzyB
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  #5   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 10:18
wcollier wcollier is offline
Mad Scientist
Posts: 4,402
 
Plan: Healthy eating/lifestyle
Stats: 156/115/115 Female 5'4 - small frame
BF:
Progress: 100%
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Koko, don't you have glasses? If not, maybe get DH to watch for you in the mirror.

Heck, I don't need the blood pressure gauge either. When I stand up, I sometimes black out so I think that's a pretty sure bet that my blood pressure has dropped.

Wanda
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  #6   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 11:39
m1whowaits's Avatar
m1whowaits m1whowaits is offline
Plemorphist
Posts: 7,925
 
Plan: Schwarzbein Principle II
Stats: 150/129/130 Female 5' 5"
BF:??%/??%/ 22%
Progress: 105%
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Default

I did the eye test. Gonna have to figure out how to watch the watch and my eye at the same time!! But initally it contracted for about 2 or 3 seconds and then it was like it couldn't hold it and dialated a little a kinda fluxed slowly like it was trying to hold it but couldn't .

The BP thing. I must have healed a lot in the last 3 months. I wouldn't black out upon standing, but I'd get so dizzy I'd have to grap something. Now I may just have a little "head rush." I can stand in place longer than I used to be able to. Once when I was preggers with #2. I was 23. I was in line at the commisary (45 min in line was not uncommon) I had to leave my cart and run to the bench in the front of the store. By the time I sat down I had lost sight & sound. If I had stayed in line, i'd been on the floor. Too bad I wasn't really showing yet. I'd got a little more compasion that I did. Sitting with my head between my knees only one person came over and asked if I was OK. And that was after I'd been there for a while. Done and gone. Just nice to not have to sit on the floor and get wierd looks when standing in line for something. I just rock a little to keep the blood flowing. Maybe they'll just think I'm hyper and can't stand still .

Lizzy B
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  #7   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 15:03
wcollier wcollier is offline
Mad Scientist
Posts: 4,402
 
Plan: Healthy eating/lifestyle
Stats: 156/115/115 Female 5'4 - small frame
BF:
Progress: 100%
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I finally did the Iris test. I got the initial contraction followed by a dilation, but it continued to cycle with dilations and contractions. Not sure what that means. Maybe I'll try tonight when the room is darker.

Wanda
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  #8   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 16:47
lauren1960 lauren1960 is offline
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Posts: 4
 
Plan: many
Stats: 290/225/165
BF:
Progress: 52%
Location: Boca Raton FL
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When I went to my new Dr . a month ago he looked into my eyes and said that I probably have burned out Adrenal glands. Then he told me to read Schwartzbein and get on the program. I am
feeling worse than ever but on Thursday I will get the results of the 15 vials of blood tests he ordered
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  #9   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 17:15
wcollier wcollier is offline
Mad Scientist
Posts: 4,402
 
Plan: Healthy eating/lifestyle
Stats: 156/115/115 Female 5'4 - small frame
BF:
Progress: 100%
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Lauren, that is totally cool. Please let us know the outcome of your tests.

Oh, I just noticed that was your first post. Welcome to the SP forum. We're a small group, but we have big hearts.

Wanda

Last edited by wcollier : Tue, Jun-24-03 at 17:18.
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  #10   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 19:56
KoKo's Avatar
KoKo KoKo is offline
Stepford Malfunction
Posts: 25,926
 
Plan: FatFlush inspired
Stats: 143.5/132/130 Female 62.5 inches
BF:37%/25.%/19%
Progress: 85%
Location: Ontario Canada
Default

Quote:
Koko, don't you have glasses?


I have 6 pairs all purchased from the $$$ store

I only need them for reading or really close work, never got around to making an appointment for prescription ones, so I leave them scattered around the house in areas where I need them, and another pair in my purse for label reading when shopping. My son and his freinds dissolved in hysterical laughter when I had to put them on to read something at the party - I didn't realize wearing them provided amusement to others

I suppose DH might assist me - more likely he'd jot in down a notebook for proof that I am no longer just eccentric but heading towards total madness

I still haven't done the belly button test - must remember tomorrow.

ps I didn't think the test would work if the glasses were on -
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  #11   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 19:59
Piano Piano is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 607
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 200/162.5/140 Female 5' 5 1/2"
BF:no clue
Progress: 63%
Location: Colorado
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I think I'm too uncoordinated. I tried the ball point pen and ended up with a green line (the color of the ink)! Add that to the stretch marks and the test didn't work! I will have to try again with a different pen!

Pianobeiner
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  #12   ^
Old Tue, Jun-24-03, 21:55
tigger64's Avatar
tigger64 tigger64 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 193
 
Plan: Schwarzbein
Stats: 104/114/99 Female 4'10"
BF:
Progress: -200%
Location: Arkansas
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I did not notice anything with the pen test, and my blood pressure went up like it was supposed to on the BP test--that really surprised me! I have been working on adrenal fatigue for awhile now. I have all but 2 or 3 of the symptoms on Dr. Wilson's cartoon "test" and lots and lots on Dr. Rind's. On the pupil dilation test, my pupil contracted but then went back and forth for a long time. I think if I had done all these tests at the worst of my fatigue, they would have shown more--I think I am recovering some but Baby Steps!

Tig
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  #13   ^
Old Wed, Jun-25-03, 07:41
m1whowaits's Avatar
m1whowaits m1whowaits is offline
Plemorphist
Posts: 7,925
 
Plan: Schwarzbein Principle II
Stats: 150/129/130 Female 5' 5"
BF:??%/??%/ 22%
Progress: 105%
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Default

Tigg, me too. I haven't done the BP test, gonna have my chiro do it saturday. At my worst the symptoms were moderate to severe. Now they are either gone or mild to moderate. I did sit for 25 min in one spot this morning and when I stood I got very dizzy. Not good. But I didn't have to grab for support like before. Baby steps...

LizzyB
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  #14   ^
Old Wed, Jun-25-03, 08:36
KoKo's Avatar
KoKo KoKo is offline
Stepford Malfunction
Posts: 25,926
 
Plan: FatFlush inspired
Stats: 143.5/132/130 Female 62.5 inches
BF:37%/25.%/19%
Progress: 85%
Location: Ontario Canada
Talking Don't it figure

I did the white line test - My results don't fit any description given - I got a red line and a white area - red line down the middle bordered by a white area on both sides!!!!

The line I made was vertical - did you others go horizontally or vertical Well now that the pen is in my powder room I shall no doubt perform other experiments each time I visit
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  #15   ^
Old Fri, Jun-27-03, 15:46
mmoranmic mmoranmic is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 345
 
Plan: Schwarzbein Principle
Stats: 168/168/155 Female 68"
BF:
Progress: 0%
Location: California
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I tried the line test and mine came out white then immediately red. I drew a horizontal line. I know that my adrenals were really burned out at the end of last year and it took a long time to get them healthy again. Good SP food and lots of the supplements she recommends for burned out adrenals.
Maureen
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