Help figuring out neck hump [buffalo hump], please

[Guest guest]

I am 44 yo female, recently diagnosed with Hashi's. I ran a cortisol

saliva test 3 months ago that showed normal cortisol levels in the

am, but the rest of the day low cortisol (all 3 values right on or

just below the low value of the range). I have been supplementing

with isocort and am currently on 3 grains armour.

Last night my husband came home from work and told me to stop

slouching. I wasn't slouching, but tried to straighten up more, and

then he said I had a hump on my back. I went and looked in the

mirror, and yes, I have a hump at the base of my neck. I didn't know

it was there (it's covered by my hair), and I don't know how long

I've had it. I'm thinking it's new, since this is the first either

of us has noticed it. It feels like the same kind of swollen

tissue/fluid retention I have in my face and upper arms from the

hypothyroid.

I remembered seeing something about " buffalo hump " on a couple of

thyroid forums, so ran a quick search. It seems to be associated

with excess cortisol production, not low cortisol production.

Does anyone know what else might cause the hump? Is it possible that

my cortisol levels would change from low to high? I've been taking

about 10 isocort tabs a day, which is I think less than 25 mg of

cortisone.

Are there adrenal conditions that can cause you to swing between

hypoadrenal and hyperadrenal? I have Hashi's, which can cause me to

swing back and forther between hyperthyroid and hypothyroid, so I

wonder if I don't have other autoimmune problems.

I will be going to my doctor at the end of next week. I tried to

wean down from the isocort 4 weeks ago, so we could run an ACTH stim

test, but my body wasn't ready and I had a bunch of low cortisol

symptoms return. So I gave up on that idea, but have cut back on raw

adrenal gland supplements as well as all my vitamins, selenium,

iodine, magnesium so he can run a bunch of bloodwork tests. Could

any of those changes play a role in the hump?

By way of further background, I went through a very stressful time

about 3 years ago - I think I was high cortisol for awhile, developed

a Homer Simpson belly in a relatively short period of time, and had

horrible menstrual trouble culminating in the complete loss of my

periods. After that, I think my adrenals went on vacation. I

recently got copies of some of my labwork from my old doctor back

then and my TSH was elevated above range, as was FSH and prolactin.

The only thing she ever told me was out of range was the FSH and that

it proved I was perimenopausal.

Thanks for any insight and assistance.