Adrenal Insufficiency Support Group

Hi all,

Just stumbled across you gals and guys accidentally (like most of us I guess..)

Anyways without going into too much detail any advice on my two attachments would be WONDERFUL. I had these a good few years ago after many, many years of misdiagnoses from UK GP's (NHS doctors)and wasting ££'s on private docs / quacks and idiots. The lady who went thru a series of requested tests with me was however v.good, two of which are attached.

She advised amongst other things Selenium for the thyroid imbalance and after only a few days noticed I 'didnt feel the cold anymore' This was NOT psychosomatic as I had no idea why I was taking this mineral. I also felt less fatigued (I have been for years with low blood sugar, panic attacks, prone to stress, and on and on, you all know the list....the ONE thing I've never suffered with is depression).

This year I've felt like sh*t for many reasons and need to nail a better plan to overcome this imbalance. Going to my GP is the last resort as here in the UK they tend to laugh at people like me....I'd much prefer to nail it with dietary supplements if possible. I'm a self employed musician who travels up and down the motorways of the UK and it'd be tiring for a normal person am sure. Having lots of time off is also not an option!

Many thanks in advance, Si x

HERE'S THE RESULTS I COULDNT UPLOAD HERE!:

http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w145/qunvat/tests/

Post edited by: qunvat, at: 04/21/2012 07:56 AM

No one????

Welcome. Not as many people are around as much on the weekends. I have read your post, but I do not feel I can contribute much yet. Thyroid issues are not something about which I know a great deal.

The dietary supplements are also something I am not entirely comfortable addressing. Most of us here (although there are some exceptions) are on full steroid replacement, and we may take some supplements based on test results when we show deficiencies.

There should be several people checking in over the next day or so who will be better able to address your questions. Please be patient with us! We want to give you the best information we can.

Cynthia

Thanks Cynthia! x

I had a lot of bother with the NHS. The endos have way too many patients and anything that is not "textbook" is not diagnosed or investigated. Have you done any cortisol testing?

Yes Claire if you look at one of the tests it's a Cortisol saliva test.

http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w145/qunvat/tests/

Thanks,Si

Hi and welcome! I don't treat with supplements, so can't speak to that at all. Also, I am not sure about a saliva cort test, as I had blood levels meeasured. In fact, I wish someone would do a write up comparing validity of blood levels vs saliva cort levels for diagnosis. What I've read here is that some doctors question/don't accept saliva cort levels for diagnosis, but I don't know if that's valid (ha, no pun intended) or a bias.

Anyway, obviously your saliva cort levels look low so that would suggest possible AI, and then you would match that with symptoms. It would be better to have a baseline ACTH level to match with that (do you have one?). If it's normal/low, that would suggest secondary AI; if it's very high, that would suggest primary AI (problem with adrenal glands). Again, don't know how to treat with supplements, as I take cortef.

As for hypothyroidism...unusual (imho and imhe) that your doc didn't measure TSH. In fact, if a doctor is going to skimp on testing, that's usually the only one they will do and they'll skip T3 and T4 (not that I think it's good to skip any). You're T4 is acutally normal, iirc. It would be interesting to know if your TSH is elevated (ie needing more stimulation to get a normal T4), which you would expect in hypothyroidism. But I'm no expert-what I see is normal T4 and low T3. T4 converts to T3, so for some reason, your T4 is not converting adequately to T3. Did your doc measure your hormones after you started the supplement? You want to make sure that your TSH, T4 and T3 are all back to normal.

Good luck.

Thanks for that.

It wasn't a Doc on this occasion it was a nutritionist (paid for privately) and out of the private practitioners I've seen over the last ten or so years she's easily been the best.

Doctors in the UK generally give you a blood test and if thats fine then you're labeled 'neurotic' and administered tranks and told to go away! (I was at 17 and have been on them ever since). Its an expensive business having to pay to go and have consultations and for a self employed guy like me I cant keep paying out, in other words extensive testing would cost a hell of a lot.

Am afraid I dont understand lots of the terminology you've used...here are the two test results I had asked for concerning my Thyroid / Adrenals.

The NHS (UK Doctors / GP's)tests were normal but am told they only check the TSH and not for things such as 'free T3'....

Any pointers would be grand but maybe in simpler terminology?

Cheers, Si x

Yup, that's UK doctors in a nutshell. They WON"T accept saliva tests and they will be very miffed that you went and got them. You need to convince them. My cortisol levels were lower than yours and they still tried to label me neurotic. Eventually my husband INSISTED that they test me for EVERYTHING to prove that I was neurotic and voila! - adrenal insufficiency!

I have a possible back door method for you. Do you have low blood sugar? Most AI sufferers do and they will agree to test you for hypoglycemia as controlling diabetes and lifestyle related diseases is a big NHS target. Go and ask for hypoglycemia testing (glucose tolerance test)because of family history (even if there isn't one!). When you come back as hypoglycemic then they have to explore WHY you are hypoglycemic and one of the tests is...cortisol!!! And this is where you accidently mention the saliva tests! You must also keep a diary of blood pressure, weight, temp and symptoms and bring another person with you. They are far less likely to "label" you when you have a fierce looking big brother/cousin/uncle with you. As I said, my diagnosis would not have happened without my 6ft 3 French husband.

Brilliant plan. My GP (new 2 years ago) in Brighton is open minded/ish and is also my girlfriend's and her family's GP he WILL listen if I take her...its worth a punt.