Newbie - Addison's question

[Guest guest]

Hi all, My name is , and I am new here. Thank you for having

me [] To cut a long story short, I am worried that I may not

" only " suffer from low adrenal reserve, but that it may have progressed

into 's. I've never won the Lottery, but wouldn't it just be my

luck to be the one in 100.000 [8-|] I have recently been diagnosed

with Hashimoto's and my GP has put me on 25 mcg Levothyroxine for now.

Been on it for nearly two weeks, and I'm tolerating it ok so far (I

support my adrenals with Nutri Adrenal Extra). My is TSH 7.3 (03.-5.0) ,

FT4 13.6, FT3 5.2 (sorry,don't have norms) and Peroxidase antibodies

196 (0-100). In addition to a long list of hypothyroid symptoms I also

have nearly ALL of the adrenal ones, with the exception of weight loss,

skin pigmentation, asthma or breathlessness. In particular I have a

rather prominent drop in BP from sitting to standing (consistently

around 15-20 points), unstable pupillary reflexes and high pulse rate

(80-100), often palpitations (never irregular). I had been self

medicating for a full year (with advice from Dr. Peatfield, UK) with

Nutri Adrenal Extra, Nutri Thyroid glandulars and Nutri Thyro Complex

plus lots of other supplements, like Q10 (200 mg), Vit C (2000 mg),

Garlic (300mg), SAMe (400mg) and antifungals and probiotics for my

Candida. I have also been keeping to a sugarfree, yeast free, alcohol

free Candida diet for the past year. My doc did comprehensive blood

test, most were normal, Ferritin high (248), serum chol high (5.5) - but

what really worries me is my potassium, which is 5.8 mmol/l. Sodium was

142 mmol/l .... and in my book that comes to a Na:K ratio of 24.48 ...

well below the critical figure of 27 for 's. Since I clearly

suffer from Hashimoto's and in addition from SEVERE Candida albicans

(salivary test showed IgA antibodies of > 150 (norm <10)) I am now

worried that 's could be on the cards. My GP is blissfully

unaware of my worries. He has referred me to see an Endo, but my

appointment is not until the end of March. My question - are my

worries about 's unfounded? Could there be another explanation

for my low Na:K ratio? I feel ok most of the time, but still suffer

from hot flushes after 10 years of menopause, and when I do, I have the

most unpleasant sensations - a mix of faintness and restlessness - as

well as the usual flush itself. Thanks for listening - Any ideas?

[Guest guest]

, what this sounds lie is possible pituitary dysfunction btu

not 's. Dr Peatfield would have sent you to an Endo for

Hydrocortisone if he thought there was a posibility of that I am sure.

Low Aldosterone is what you are describing wiht the potassium/sodium

imbalances. It also occurs in bad adrenal fatigue in somep;eople and in

lowered pit function., I would ask this Endo to test Aldosterone and

Renin and you willneed ot be OFF all adrenal support fo rtesting to be

accurate as he should order an ACTH serum and ACTh Stim which should

tell what is truly going on.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

[Guest guest]

>

> , what this sounds lie is possible pituitary dysfunction

btu not 's.

Hello Val,

Thanks very much for that. This is very interesting, and something I

did not know. I am just glad that I don't have to rush back to my GP

and demand an ACTH test.

Btw, Dr. Peatfield is the one who diagnosed me a year ago, but I only

appeared to be borderline hypoT at that stage - hence my self-

medicating with NAE and Nutri-Thyroid glandulars on his advice. My

thyroid function must have taken a nose dive since. It is only now

that I have the " official " NHS stamp of approval from my GP and the

blood results to match .... (I know... silly system !!) that I have

been put onto Levothyroxine.

I have managed today to put in a phone consultation to Dr. Peatfield

for Wednesday, as I trust his judgement on my clinical symptoms more

than the blood results. I just need some re-assurance that my fears

about 's are (hopefully) unfounded. I have been wondering

what is going on, since only my potassium was over the limit, but my

sodium wasn't low. So the 's theory didn't really match up.

If this Endo will order some Aldosterone and Renin testing, or an

ACTH stim or serum test .... how long before those tests would I have

to stop the NAE ? I am taking 2 tablets a day at present, which is

not really enough, but just enough to keep those palpitations at bay.

If I stop the NAE, I may have to stop the Levothyroxine temporarily

too, as I am worried that without the NAE I might get palps on the

thyroxine alone .... oh, what a business!!!

Many thanks,

[Guest guest]

You need to be off any HC and/or adrenal support/cortex type things for at

least 2 weeks before testing cortisol or ACTH levels or they will be

worthless. Aldosterone you need to fast salt as much as possible for a few

days before the test.

Rie

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy

enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright

>

> If this Endo will order some Aldosterone and Renin testing, or an

> ACTH stim or serum test .... how long before those tests would I have

> to stop the NAE ? I am taking 2 tablets a day at present, which is

> not really enough, but just enough to keep those palpitations at bay.

> If I stop the NAE, I may have to stop the Levothyroxine temporarily

> too, as I am worried that without the NAE I might get palps on the

> thyroxine alone .... oh, what a business!!!

>

> Many thanks,

>

>

>

>

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