Addisons Disease?

[needtobebetter]

Hi guys..I am waiting to go into barts havent been here a while thought i had celiac but now had 7 blood tests and a biopsy..they think its relating to endocrine..maybe its the candida giving me the food probs dunno what do yuou think:

Addisons??

Estrogen very low 33 yearsold no period for 1.5 years

Thyoid low

Diagnosed systemic candidas by GP - in finger nails, bottom, thrush, oral thrush and feet..

Fatigued

Nausea

Thin

Distsned belly (more so wjhen very teired (which i get on gluten free) so I think its low cortisol

Sudden shock last year :

Right side of face spasm causing facial weakness, neck spasm, spasm arm and leg right side causing weakness

Dioreah

weight loss looked anorexic

Tremors

Out of it

Change in personality

Back pain right side back bottom of ribs area

nausea

I keep getting espisodes noticed more so wheni am stressed muscle weakness, nausea, dizzy..

If excersise my salt craving is very bad feel bit better once eaten some salt..

Have to keep drinking tea for energy

I am not sure whether I have just gluten intolerance or whether the foods I eat making me ill are affecting me if iam an addion patient!!

So confused:(

My nan ha had problems for years collpasing with shock, fainting with upset, allergies to foods, anemia, big swollen belly, very thin etc..

and now my brother is showing signs also been tested for celiac he is worse with stress, dioreah, lossing weight, tired fatgued, weak, some times a bit constipated feeling..symptoms all worse with stress..

I think we have polyglandular automiune disease with candida, addisons and parapthyroid

But has anyone heard of the spasms??

xxx

[RiceGuy]

Addison's has been associated with Celiac. Check here for more info on that:

https://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Di...-and-Disorders/

Given the symptoms of your relatives, I'd say it is a genetic problem, and I wouldn't rule out Celiac just because of negative tests. You wouldn't be the first one on this board to have negative tests. However, have you considered additional intolerances? Many need to avoid more than just gluten to feel better.

Spasms are common, and can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies. Magnesium and B12 are just two which you may need. You may need lots of B vitamins too. I had a lot of twitching and spasms until I started taking those. I was also constantly thirsty, and used a lot of salt for awhile. However, I eventually discovered I needed potassium, and it has helped tremendously. The fatigue can also be caused by deficiencies, as can many of the other symptoms you've mentioned.

The distended belly does eventually subside, though it can take awhile. I'm sure you already know the connection to Celiac there.

How long have you been on a gluten-free diet? How strict have you been with it? Have you eliminated other suspect foods at the same time?

[needtobebetter]

Well at the bgeining I went to a homeopath for 8 months she took everything out that i had problems with but I was having bad cases of hypoglycemia and tiered etc..

I know i cant eat: sunflower oil, wheat etc, processed foods, tomatoes, carrotts (I seem to really react with hi gu stuff) sometimes i even get up in the night needing sugar thats hypoglycemia..

I have a low thyroid and deficent estrogen tried using soya to get my estrogen up but then I have thyroid problems more, feel cold etc..but soya is a goitrogen..so its affecting my thyroid, which ive been taking armour for..

My skin problems etc came about whilst doing gluten challenged and stopping birth control this is what tells me even more so its hormones. The hospital in london said its Ovartian Failure or pit problem as my estrogen is at menopause levels and has been for a few years..

The right sided muscle problem isnt just a little spasm here and there its locked has been since june 207..but its does fluctuate with the fatigue that comes on..if i try and excerise I dont sweat really and afterwards it wipes me out and i notice the cravings for salt even more must be dehydration..

Iam constantly going for a wee 15 times a day..i think I have gluten intolerance not celiac. MY brother has been ested for celiac and he hasnt got it via bloods, he has been having problems also dioreah and some foods affect him. We just did gluten free and its not celiac..he has problems when stressed or when he has a cold it makes him very ill for a t least a month..looses weight etc..and he has the jaw problems aswell

Thanks hun..going to take some more bvits anyway like you said but my diet that seems to make me okay is

meat, veggies (no carrot or stachy veggies), eggs, fish, pumkin seeds, oilive oil, olives cant eat any fruit!! I cant eat like this forever!!!

Thanks hunx

Addison's has been associated with Celiac. Check here for more info on that:

https://www.celiac.com/categories/Celiac-Di...-and-Disorders/

Given the symptoms of your relatives, I'd say it is a genetic problem, and I wouldn't rule out Celiac just because of negative tests. You wouldn't be the first one on this board to have negative tests. However, have you considered additional intolerances? Many need to avoid more than just gluten to feel better.

Spasms are common, and can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies. Magnesium and B12 are just two which you may need. You may need lots of B vitamins too. I had a lot of twitching and spasms until I started taking those. I was also constantly thirsty, and used a lot of salt for awhile. However, I eventually discovered I needed potassium, and it has helped tremendously. The fatigue can also be caused by deficiencies, as can many of the other symptoms you've mentioned.

The distended belly does eventually subside, though it can take awhile. I'm sure you already know the connection to Celiac there.

How long have you been on a gluten-free diet? How strict have you been with it? Have you eliminated other suspect foods at the same time?

[RiceGuy]

Well, if it isn't Celiac, and if you still have malabsorption, it would seem to support the possibility of candida, which you mentioned. Not being able to eat fruits or starches would also suggest this. You could try taking caprylic acid capsules, and see how you feel. The usual recommendation is to start with one capsule per day, and work up to the suggested dose on the bottle over a period of a week or so. This gives the body time to eliminate the toxins which are released when the yeasts die. Too much die-off at once can make you feel ill until things get under control.

Even if you don't have a yeast overgrowth, the caprylic acid isn't expected to have any negative effects. There are other products out there, but that's what worked for me. You should also avoid all sugars, vinegars, and yeasts. I recently read, that proteins can form ammonia in the gut, which apparently promotes yeast, so it may be wise to limit complex protein sources, and get your amino acids from vegetables.

You may want to look up member MELINE, who recently found a method which is finally helping. Apparently, candida can maintain a grip on you even while you are fighting it, and some people experience years of awful symptoms in spite of their best efforts.

Coconut oil has caprylic acid in it. Not only that, but it helps elevate thyroid function. So you may find it beneficial to use coconut oil in place of all butter, margarine, shortening, and cooking oils. It is solid at room temperature, and melts easier than butter. It can handle cooking temperatures up to about 350

[Di-gfree]

Most of the symptoms described, for adrenal insufficiency, are similar to what's been happening to me over the years. My health finally crashed (adrenal crisis, I believe); and I'm finding out not only do I have Celiac and Hashimoto's, but I am hypopituitary (meaning my pituitary is not producing enough of certain hormones to signal different glands in my body to produce essential hormones). I had my ACTH and AM Cortisol tested in my last blood work. My ACTH is way below normal, meaning my pituitary isn't signalling my adrenals to produce enough cortisol; therefore, it seems I have secondary adrenal insufficiency - which isn't the same thing, I don't think, as Addisons (which I believe is primary adrenal insufficiency caused by malfunctioning adrenals). Of course, it could be your adrenals that are the problem for you. So, needtobebetter, I suggest you get ACTH and AM Cortisol checked together - just for starters. I also had a 4 pt. cortisol saliva test done - this test shows how much cortisol you have at various times during the day. A pitiutary MRI, ACTH Stim test, and other hormone tests are in my near future.

Something caught my eye about your first post - tea isn't really a good idea for those of us with thyroid problems. Apparently it contains a lot of fluoride which is very bad for the thyroid gland. I've even given up fluoride toothpaste.

Good luck - I know it's so difficult to deal with.

[needtobebetter]

Ive just thought of something..ignore me if this sounds silly..XX

Addisons has high potassium right!! Well, due to such bad candidas, swelling, nausea..etc..anxiety, change in personality..i stay away from candida foods..

Well, all my symptoms sound like addisons even got the black freckles didnt realise til last few days that was a symptom..but my potassium is bottom of the range..so i thouhgt it cant be..

I googled potassium foods and i dont have any apart from chicken and i dont have that everyday..so could i be treating it and messing tests..i eat lots of sea salt and no potassium foods!!!!!

What do you think..and thinking about it..the symptoms iam getting when i do eat them foods is swelling, muscle weakness, spasm, nausea change in personality..etc..

Maybe its tme i started eating bananas!!!!

xxTHanks for listening Mand

[Mtndog]

I'm being checked for it too! I freaked out at first but it now may make sense- the hyper-pigmentation (my latest scar is black!), the fatigue, but I have other issues too so I'll keep you posted.

Chronic low sodium is also a sign!

[Skylarker]

*** Those of you who think you may have Addison's ***

PLEASE get checked out by an endocrinologist immediately. If you don't get this treated you could die from an Addisonian crisis which can come on from increased stress -- something as simple as the flu or an intestinal bug or a sprain -- or, for some people, seemingly for no reason.

Diarrhea, weakness, and loss of appetite at times of stress are key symptoms of Addison's. When you call the endocrinologist's for an appointment, if they want you to wait a month or more for an appointment, tell them you have these symptoms at times of stress and ask for an earlier time slot.

Don't let them tell you if you don't have low sodium or potassium you can't have Addison's. If you're weeing a lot, you may have diabetes insipidus (not the same as the well-known diabetes), where your pituitary doesn't make the hormone that keeps you from peeing all the time, and that screws up your sodium and potassium so you can't tell by them whether or not you have Addison's.

I know because I have complete pituitary failure (panhypopituitarism) which causes secondary Addison's. I went into the beginning stages of an Addisonian crisis because an endocrinologist would only look at my sodium numbers for a diagnosis -- not taking into account that I also had diabetes insipidus.

Seriously, it's a scary thing *** if it's not treated *** . Go ahead and try dietary changes, but ALSO get that appointment with an endocrinologist.

Good health to you,

skylarker

[Di-gfree]

Skylarker, thanks for posting. I have (so far as I know from the testing I've had) hypopituitary (secondary adrenal insufficiency) (along w/Hashis, celiac). The only things I've had tested are thyroid panel (and antibodies), ACTH (which was below range), AM cortisol, and some sex hormones. Progesterone is low, DHEAS is low, and prolactin is high.

What kind of testing did you get for your diagnosis of panhypopituitary, if you don't mind me asking? I'm seeing a specialist in June (to get an MRI for one thing); and prior to that, I plan on getting my regular doctor to run some more tests. I'm compiling a list right now - IGF, Growth Hormone, aldosterone, renin, vasopressin, ACTH Stim Test...

What treatment are you in for panhypo - ie. what replacements are you taking? I'm only on desiccated thyroid hormone right now (and gluten-free diet, of course).

Thanks, D