Adrenal Insuffiency & Weight Management

[CHANI469]

My daughter has been diagnosed with Adrenal Insuffiency with Low cortisol levels.

6:00 - 8:00am Katie is  4 normal is 13-24

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Katie 3 normal is 13-24

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Katie >1 normal is 3-8

10:00 - Midnight - Katie 2 normal is 1-4

Cortisol Values

Katie is 10 normal is 23-42

Insulin:  Fasting

6:00 a.m. Katie >3 normal 3-12

After food Katie >3 Normal 5-20

SIGA Output Katie >5 normal 25-60

GLIADIN-AB SIGA

Katie 13 normal 13

Her Thyroid comes within normal levels however the range between the T3 and T4 is one being borderline low and the other being borderline High.

Katie has a impossible time losing weight, she diets, works out everysingle day and even goes thru periods of the weight just pouring on.  She has sleep problems, problems with cold and heat, sweats profusedly, suffer from periodic depression (probably because she is so frustrated).  Her Endo is putting her on a cortisone based med, with supplements of iodine, vitamins B, C, D and something else.  Won't this make it even harder for her to lose weight.  She changed to a low carbo diet at his suggestion, but the weight is SLOW to come off, now he wants her to go gluten free too.  If she starts gaining even more I really worry for her emotionally.  She is Chemical Engineering student at GA Tech, so she doesn't need for stress.  Katie had weight issues as a child, but lost in the 5th - 7th grades in the 8th grade when she started her period the weight came back and she has struggled for YEARS to not become OBESE.  She is 5'9" and about 190 someodd pounds even DIETING and exercising.  We are desperate for help for her.  

[CHANI469]

Can you suggest a Doctor for me to call?  I called back her endo and asked for an MRI 10 days ago, but he has not agreed to order one yet.

[rumpled]

Sounds like she has another issue going on - did she get other pituitary tests done?

I mean, I had cyclical Cushings - so my cortisol would go from high to low - but I also had a hidden disease that was eating the cortisol to an extent so that my symptoms were both of Cushing's and of addison's - that happens. Some people are extreme. My tumor twin used to go into adrenal crisis all the time yet she had Cushing's.

I had two types of pit tumors, every gyne issue known save cancer, every hypo thyroid issue plus nodules, ... pretty much everything was a mess but the glucose, oddly, stayed ok which is just wild since diabetes runs in the family.

You don't need just an endo on your daughter's case - you need an endo that knows their stuff like no other endo - and/or a rheumy for the auto-immune component for all this. They need to look at her, not just what the labs say. There are a few out there, but you may have to travel.

[jdrtwin1]

i can relate. I was just diagnosed with addisons at 22 and have been trying unsuccessfuly to lose weight for years.  I am also on high doses of steroids for my addisons and have yet to find an endo to meet up with, will share when I do.

[enzymelover]

  If she has not already had an MRI to check for a pituitary disorder, she should have one, asap. This seems a likely possibility. Find an endo who will do this.

Best Wishes to you and your daughter.

Enzy