Low testosterone indicator of Addisons?

[KittyI]

Hi all!

I'm new here, so hello, hope you are well. I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight/advice?

I'm a 21 year old woman and for 3-4 years now I've been suffering from some vague symptoms that have steady grown and got much worse.

They are:

Nausea/vomiting
Bloating
Fatigue
Fainting
Dizziness
Weakness
Extreme thirst
Shortness breath
Very cold
Numbness is hands & feet (finger tips go blue)
Dizzy upon standing
Can't walk up stairs due to dizziness/fatigue

More recently (past 6 months) I've been short of breath much more, been getting very confused (forgetting words, where I am, what I am doing, who I am with etc...) and increasingly weak and dizzy. I also began testing my blood sugar and having periods of very low numbers (often within the 2.7 mmol/L-3.8mmol/L range even after eating)

I have been for countless blood tests, my thyroid is ok and I'm not anaemic. My doctor a year ago said it was anxiety, I saw a specialist but determined it wasn't. A few weeks ago (after letting symptoms worsen for a year) I saw him again and he gave me an anxiety questionnaire ignoring my 2.7 blood sugar reading!!

My new doctor has been very helpful and tested for lots of things, all came back normal except my one hormone test, testosterone, which is abnormally low. I am seeing him tomorrow but would feel more prepared if I had a better understanding, as I've got all the Addisons symptoms I am now thinking its quite likely.

Does anyone know if low testosterone indicates other hormone problems, that can be caused by Addisons? I haven't yet had the proper test for Addisons done as he wanted to rule out other problems (B12 deficiency, Lupus etc...)

Any advice would be so appreciate! I am feeling so miserable and tired, the confusion and weakness is really upsetting me. Thanks very much everyone :)

[rumpled]

A crisis for me starts as a severe head ache and confusion. Then I get a belly ache and nausea. If the confusion has not taken over, I can head it off with meds, but I am usually too stupid at this point.

I then usually start throwing up, my BP drops like a stone and if I cannot control it, I then have to go to the ER to get fluids and steroids.

It can be triggered by a fever or just nothing.

[KittyI]

Hi all, thank you! A few things on my tests have come back abnormal more then once, but ruled just about okay by my GP, so that's very interesting to know, thanks!

How would you describe a crisis and how do you know you're having one?

There are moments I've had when I'll wake up in the middle of the night, shaking and dizzy and sweating and begin retching and convulsing and then violently vomiting. This lasts for about 20 minutes and then my boyfriend has to carry me back into bed and force me to drink water before I pass out. It takes me a few days to recover.

I've never understood why this happens, is it a crisis? Or is a crisis much more serious and the person always ends up hospitalized?

Thank you!

[rumpled]

I am AI, but I drop in both sodium and potassium when I am ill.

The typical is to drop in sodium, spike in potassium. Most of us drop in BP during a crisis (I do) but some rise - so the point is to look for a change.

You do still need the stim test, but the doc should do one as your electrolytes are indicative of either a cortisol or renin/aldosterone issue.

Salt is your friend - use it! Tomato juice, gatorade, v-8 whatever - salty and high and potassium is going to be your friend. Stock up. Drink up.

[LowCortisol]

I am no expert on potassium and sodium but my endocrinologist has a rule: if your results are within the normal range but at the extremes eg very low or very high ON CONSECUTIVE tests, then you should regard your results as abnormal and not treat them as "normal".

[KittyI]

Hello all, thank you for your help!

My sodium came back ok, on the low side but within the NHS range. My potassium came back just below the NHS range.

I understand that high potassium and low sodium indicate adrenal insufficiency? Not sure what to think of these tests then, but I have been told by others that this doesn't rule anything out, as these tests don't give definite answers, only a ACTH stimulation test does.

What are your thoughts? Thank you!

[LowCortisol]

A couple of things come to mind:

1. I had AI and no interest in sex which was diagnosed as low libido, while testosterone was always normal

2. If any hormone measure is not good (such as your testosterone) the you should see an endocrinologist to analyse the result and not a family physician

3. Dizzines and fatigue are often caused by low blood pressure

I recommend you check your blood pressure a few  times when seated. Then check it a few times when lying down. If it is low when seated then you may have hypotension which explains (3) above.

BUT if your blood pressure is low while seated and high when lying down then this may be Shy-Drager syndrome, this rare disorder causes progressive damage to the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and digestion.

Shy-Drager can be associated with muscle tremors, slowed movement, problems with coordination and speech, and incontinence. BUT its main characteristic is severely low blood pressure when standing in combination with very high blood pressure when lying down.


Best wishes

[rumpled]

AI means abnormalities in sodium and potassium.

[KittyI]

Thanks very much for your reply!

I haven't had them tested yet so I don't know, I will mention this tomorrow and see what the doctor says, thank you.

[rumpled]

I know with elevated cortisol, that can lower testosterone.

How is your sodium and potassium?