Hi doctor,
I was 160 pounds and felt good and gained 40 pounds in the last two years, 25 of those pounds in three months with no diet change. I typically only eat once a day. I eat more and gain more weight. Yes, I know it is bad for me, but I cannot change it unless I get some help. I have been told over the years I have extensive internal inflammation and that I probably have cortisol issues. I have not done any testing. Then just had a saliva cortisol test says the normal rise in cortisol in the morning and afternoon sample was fine, but then cortisol goes way up in the evening and before bed. It was a typical not stressful evening. I have diligently, over the years, tried to reduce stress to the best of my ability. Now, what should I do further with it? Or will a little licorice root and whatever the others I have found fix this? Could I have been taking licorice root for the past 20 years instead of living with this? Yes, extreme stress for many years in the past. I was hypervigilant for years. This should have corrected itself by now. I take natural thyroid twice a day, Glucophage twice a day 1000 mg for polycystic ovarian syndrome, an Iodine pill to help the thyroid, and now Progesterone at night before bed. I have also had testosterone and estrogen pellets every four months. Nothing working yet. Please help.