Addison's???

I am a 39 year old woman with diabetes for 10 years.  4 months ago I got sick Feeling like I was going to pass out (woozy) Since then I get the following symptoms... Evveryday 1. headache 2. shaky 3. heat intolerance 4. really sleepy 5. trouble getting to sleep 6. ringing in ears (4 months straight) Alot of the time 1. lightheaded woozy 2. nausea 3. paniky-anxiety 4. weak 5. muscle twithes in hand And at least once a month 1. zig zag vision 2. dehydration  3. belchy  I have had the following test and results...
FSH 7.1 mlU/mL
Hemoglobin A1c 6.4
Progesterone 1.0 nanog/ml
Prolactin level 9.1 nanog/ml
T4 free 0.93 nanog/dl
TSH Sensitive 2.00 mlU/mL
Folic acid 4.0 nanog/mL
Hematocrit 48.5%
Hemoglobin 16.7 gm/dL
RBC 5.45  x10 6/uL
WBC 11.5  x10 3/uL
Eosinophil percent 3.2
I am not sure where they are going with all this but our doctors are not very good about communicating :(  Can someone help me find out what is wrong? Also I forgot to add I have lost 49lbs without trying in these 4 months.
Could this be due to addison's?

[rumpled]

Sadly, your listed testing does not help - do you have sodium, potassium, renin or aldosterone? Cortisol, ACTH?

Weight loss like that is suspicious - but I cannot tell about your thyroid (they ran the useless panel... - no graves? and without ranges it is hard to tell much since labs all vary.

Has your doc checked you low cortisol? Do you crave salt? Is your skin darkening?

[babyg888]

These are the only test my dr. has done.  I'm not sure what tests I should have done!  The Dr.s around here aren't great! You basically have to ask them to test you for certain things and only then do they do the bascis.  I am an educated woman in general but when it comes to these symptoms everyday and these episodes once in a while (Feeling like I am going to pass out, dehydration while drinking 80-100oz of water a day) low blood pressure, weightloss) I am totally clueless and it seems my Dr. is even more clueless than me.  In our area EVERYTHING is the flu :)  I don't believe I've had the flu for 4 months.  My GYN was the one who did the above tests.  Also, at least once a month my blood sugars take a dive for a couple of days!!  The more I eat the lower they go!!  Scary!!!  I feel so alone!!!

[rumpled]

Try to get a CMP - which will have sodium and potassium in it. Cortisol and ACTH need to be done fasting at 8am and one test is not diagnostic - you have to see an endo.

With the low BP - have you seen a cardiologist - they can look at causes and see if you need meds like florinef to keep the BP up.

The flu - that is a good one. Salt can help the BP stay up too. You need a better doctor.

[babyg888]

I am being seen by my Family Dr. today and I am going to ask to see an ENT and Edno!   I will be asking for these tests and posting my results when I get them back!! Thank you so much for your help!! :)

[rumpled]

Keep us posted! Be persistent - take someone with you and bring pictures, lists etc.

[babyg888]

They wouldn't refer me to an Endo but they drew blood for an ANA and celiac disease.  Will an ANA show Addison's or do I need to ask for that out right?  They also ordered a sleep apnea test.  Thank you so much for your help!!  I should get the results next Tuesday (Aug 2nd) So I will post the results :)  Thanks again!!

[rumpled]

ANA is a non-specific test looking for inflammation in the body.  The Celiac is a good idea after weight loss like that - it could be the cause.

Your doc is looking for all the more common reasons. Those tests will not show Addison's at all.

[babyg888]

UGH!!  What tests should I have done for Addison's?

[rumpled]

8am Cortisol, ACTH - fasting. Renin. Aldosterone. Adrenal antibodies. That is a baseline - then 24 hour urinary free cortisol - saliva tests to test how cortisol is on the average and at point of time at other times of day. If it comes up low - then a stim test is done.

There is no one test and it cannot be done just once. Cortisol varies with time of day.

[babyg888]

THANK YOU!!!!

[babyg888]

Only thing I found out so far is I was slightly low on sodium and folic acid.  They are fitting me in with my diabetic doctor today because my blood sugars are still dropping.

[rumpled]

Low sodium can be a tip off for an issue with aldosterone or cortisol - so if you feel like you need salt, take it.

[babyg888]

My diabetic dr. told me she wants me to start decreasing my insulin intake.  And ordered a c-peptide and gad antibody test.  She also told me when I see my family dr. today that I need to tell him srtaight out I want to be tested for addison's and gravesa disease.  Praying he will have a heart and do so :)  Thank yo so much for all your help!!  It is nice to have someone to talk to about all this craziness!!

[rumpled]

Let us know how the testing comes out. I hope you get some answers!

[babyg888]

Well, my diabetic Dr. sent me a letter today saying that she thinks I make enough insulin to come off of insulin therapy. :)  I saw my family Dr. yesterday and he finally tested my cortisol.  He also tested TSH, CBC and something else (forgot)  But I will have those results next week.  Thank you for being so supportive!!

[rumpled]

That is nice to be off insulin. What time did you test the cortisol? Time of test is critical so you just cannot do it any time of day.

Good luck!

[babyg888]

He just did a simple blood test around 3 pm.  What does that mean?  Should I ask for more depending on my result?

[rumpled]

3pm is not a diagnostic time for cortisol. That test is useless. It needs to be done at 8am, fasting. Cortisol changes per time of day. The only way this test can help is if it is very abnormal but ranges in the afternoon can vary so...

[babyg888]

OK, these are the other results I just got back yesterday...
C-reactive Protein ref range 0.0-0.9  Result 1.8
cortisol random no ref range Result 8.0
TSH Sensitive ref range 0.30-5.00 Result 2.09
Hematocrit Ref range 35-45 Result 48.4
Hemoglobin ref range 11.7-15.5 Result 16.4
RBC ref range 3.8-5.1 Result 5.52
Sedimentation Rate ref range 0-20 Result 20
I don't know what any of it means but my Dr. says it's ok?!?!?!

[rumpled]

CRP shows you have inflammation - but it does not show where. It is not specific. A random cortisol is pretty useless - it needs to be done correctly - your doc is working against you in this case.
Most people feel better with a lower TSH but that is subjective - it is in normal range (and the lab used old, obsolete ranges).
The CBC would have to be checked over time - I am not good with that stuff.