Hi hoshi - I have a lot of suggestions for you, and I'm only going to give you a few in this post because I'm tired and want to keep this short.

First, start taking St. John's Wort and cod liver oil for your depression. If that doesn't work, try adding 5-HTP as needed. Read "The Mood Cure" by Julia Ross to learn about what else you do with nutrition and supplements to deal with Depression and related conditions.

It looks like you have several overlapping conditions, as I did several years ago. Read "Optimal Wellness" by Dr. Ralph Golan to learn about them and the best ways to treat them. Also, check out http://www.drlwilson.com
and http://www.arltma.com
for good articles on several aspects of your situation. I'll tell you more later.

Tom

Hi Hoshi,

I have so much empathy for you and can relate. I tried all of Dr. James Wilson's Future Formulations products for 6 months. After not making any progress,especially with the most tormenting symptom of all, sleep deprivation, I decided I probably needed Cortisol. And, for clarification when I state sleep deprivation I mean my body would let me sleep one hour about every 72 hours. I was torn about whether I needed to begin taking Cortisol SR because of what I had read in Dr. James Wilson's "Adrenal Fatigue, the 21st Century Stress Disorder", specifically, that it could further suppress adrenal functioning. I started seeing a local osteopath who stated she had trained under Dr James Wilson and Dr. Edward Lichten, yet my condition further deteriorated under her care. I started out on 1.25 mg of Cortisl in the A.M. and like you, was progressively increased to 13.75mg. I don't want to go into all the mistakes the osteopath made in my care that I have learned in hindsight. My issue with most of the practitioners utilizing bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is that they are essentially doing the same thing that conventional doctors do and that is rely too heavily on looking at your saliva and nutritional test results and instead of prescribing conventional medications they prescribe bio-identical hormone replacement/compounded medications (which I DO believe are safer than pharmaceutical drugs & hormones)and supplements rather that utilizing a body based response to treatment and making adjustments as our bodies change in response to treatments ordered. I also believe proper nutrients in their proper time is in order, which differs from indvidual to individual. BHRT is harsher than nutritional support of the adrenals so Cortisol in and of itself and other hormones are not the answer or we would get better on them, wouldn't we, rather than languishing and/or further deteriorating.

I suggest reading all of Dr. Michael Lam's articles on Adrenal Health @ http://www.drlam.com
and as you are a female, particularly read the one on the Ovarian-Adrenal-Thyroid Axis (OAT). In my experience, Dr. Lam, has the best and most detailed information out there on advanced cases of adrenal fatigue.
It also sounds as if you have fibromyalgia with mulitple chemical senstivities, the stiff neck and jaw (TMJ)................I too have lots of back and neck pain which has improved with various vitamin C's,active form of vitamin B5 (co enzyme A precusor), and low dose naltrexone. Also have MCS as well.
Like Seattle Tom, 5 HTP has helped the low serotonin levels, Depression and also helped to block some of the excessive excitatory activity.
I also have 10 mercury Amalgams and toxic root canals which are contributing factors in the adrenal fatigue and fibromyalgia. I'm taking liposomal gluthatione to help detoxify the liver, remove mercury from the body and recycle the nutrients.
I am very sorry for what you have endured. You are right, it can be very lonely and difficult yet please don't give up.