Hi, I have had a viral infection for two weeks so far. I don't know if it's coincidence or my general health problems, but I have been suffering worse depression and I wonder if flu viruses can cause depression? I feel like everything is dark and I just can't shake it off.

Has anyone had this with the flu? Is it normal? I feel severely depressed and I'm eating well etc, but nothing is helping.

Hi bex, i only really got the full blown flu, once and it was really bad but only lasted 48 hrs. I think it can make you depressed especially in our situations where we are weak already. Drink loads of water, flush it out.
I remember once, i bought a ticket to a concert that was really expensive but the day of the concert i got a really bad cold, i was sneezing, coughing, sweating, i had sore throat and felt weak, actually this sounds like flu, but anyway, i really didnt want to miss the concert so i drank pint after pint of hot water with pure lemon juice all day, and it cured me. the next day it had gone.

Bex

Thierry Hertoghe, my very respected endocrinologist here in Europe, told me that flu is a severe virus which causes an acute shortage of cortisol. The reason why so many of us with amalgam illness have constant fluey feelings is that our adrenals are under producing (because of the mercury) - and this is at its worst in the morning, when the adrenals would normally be producing the most cortisol.

Depression is associated with low cortisol. I know from my own experience after my adrenal crash at Christmas I had feelings that I simply did not want to live any more, not even for my three kids, and even though my life seems enviable. These feelings disappeared once I got on adrenal support. I take 5mg of prednisolone a day, and this has given me my life back in terms of being able to get around and about, but also relieved the worst of the depression. Sure, I still get down at the prospect of the long recovery ahead, but I don't feel nearly as desperate as I did. Armour thyroid medication has helped with this enormously as well.

So my advice would be to get on some adrenal support - glandular, or RX. This will help with the depression, give you more energy, and improve your immune system and digestion. If you have had a virus for two weeks you will be very low in cortisol now. Cortisol is essential to life - you would simply be taking what your body cannot produce by itself.

I hope this helps.

Best
Nicola

Hi, I am looking into the adrenal issue too and found that licorice can help with cortisol production. I had the worst flu weeks ago and don't seem to have recovered yet.

"Licorice extract not only boost cortisol bioactivity, but the herb also boost the effects of mineralocorticoids by inhibiting two key enzymes in the break down of aldosterone, the principal sodium retaining hormone (abstract). Both the cortisol and aldosterone effects of licorice are very valuable to those with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or adrenal insufficiency."

The above is taken from this very interesting site about licorice:
http://www.jacemedical.com/store/licorice1.html

M.A.

Wow good info, no wonder I was such a bad sick person...it really got me down and of course with mercury toxicity and candida, it hung around forever and I got every one that came around.

Licorice hey? I love licorice, wish they made some without wheat and sugar.

Hope you are on the mend soon Bex, nice people like you shouldn't get sick. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />..have you got some oil of oregano, that is a great immune system booster.

Feel better soon!!!

Sandi
xoxo

Hi thanks so much for the advice everyone. I think definitely my adrenals are taking a pounding, but my immune system is just not able to kick it, obviously too many things to deal with at once.

Thanks Sandi for the kind words lol. (some might not say I was too nice...). <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bex, i think your nice aswell!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> thank you Dawn.

And Im your number one fan Bex, Hope you feel better soon! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> thanks Tgoss, I hope I kick this virus properly too!! You guys are a great help to me.

Hi Bex,
I have been in bed for the last 2 days with the flu. Cold shivers, fever, achy joints, sore throat etc etc. And yep, certainly feel a lot more depressed than I usually do. Just went to my herbal shelf to look for some licorice. Bummer, none there !!

Interesting to read about how viruses affect the adrenal glands. Learn something new everyday. Thanks everyone and hope you are just about all better Bex.