hypothyroidism and addison's disease connection??

I have symptoms that are very close to both hypothyroidism and addisons. I have weight gain, confusion, lack of problem solving and aches and pains everywhere. basic blood work up is normal. MRI clean and family history of lots of autoimmune diseases and thyroid problems. I have an enormous craving for salt all the time and dark pigmentations under my folds of skin on my chest and belly area. Also my elbows and knees. How are hypothyroidism and addisons connected and what is the probability of having them? Drs and I are also suspecting Lyme, with one negitive test and no rash, and fibromyalgia. But I do not want to get dumped into the fibro- no diagnosis pot. Please if you have any information it would be much appreciated.

[kitonthemoon]

First, I'd like to pay my respect to your hubby for doing a job that not many people want to do and sacrafice his life to save others everytime there's fire somewhere.  

I do believe Hypothyroidism and Addison are connected somehow, with some people.
They came to me gradually, starting from ME/CFS, then Addison 7 yrs ago, then Hypothyroid 2 yrs ago.  Simply because most ME/CFSers started with low cortisol.  I didn't develop a full blown Addison until I had my very first Addison Crises.

There're so many autoimmune diseases that share common symptoms, instead of going thru uncertainty and wondering what's wrong with you  (emotional stress worsens your condition of all of the diseases you mentioned)....why not go to your doctor and insist that he give you a thyroid test, Addison test, and lyme test.  So, you will know for sure and begin taking the medications necessary for your condition.  Make sense to you?

I know how scary it is to know something is terribly wrong with your body, yet not knowing 'what' can drive you nuts.

Here's a general info site where you can find more info on what tests, etc.  Hope it will give you all the answers you need.
http://www.pituitary.org

Leave me a message, if you need extra help on this, or just have someone to sound off.

Happy weekend.

[firemanswife21]

thank you that was very helpful! I had a thyroid test... T3 Free T4 and TSH, it was all within normal limits. The Lyme test I am going to ask to retake it, through a lab that is known for doing it correctly. The addison's test will take some more convincing for him to test me. When I mentioned it before he acted all weird and asked where I had heard about it. Casually shrugging it off. I'm going to a new doctor next week hopefully he will be more open minded and do all of the tests I ask for. What type of specialist would i want to go see for the Addison's and Thyroid?

[kitonthemoon]

Sorrry I haven't been able to get online for days.....
To answer your question......I believe you may consider seeking the care under an Endoctrinologist (?). Link to such doctors is as follows.
.http://www.aace.com/resources/memsearch.php

although  I was diagnosed by my Prime Care after my first Addison Crisis.  So, I think a general practitioner who is knowledgeable about Pituatary Disease could help you just as much  I ususally ask the doctor's office if he treats such and such, and for how many years as a genearl gage is I should waste my time and energy on any new doctor I'm seeking.

As for T3 Free T4, TSH test interpretations.....
I've read about the traditional 'test range' has been revived.  I cannot remember the sites I researched.  But if you just type in 'T3, Free T4, TSH test interpretations' you should be able to find it.

My brain is kinda mushy at the moment.  I apologize for not able to direct you to a proper site.

I know how daunting the task looking for answers ...  but don't give up,  We know how our  body feels, a doctor should be open minded enough to help us with answers.  If he cannot, please find someone who can.

Leave me a message, ifI can be of more help to you.

Wishing you the best of luck.

Kit

[rumpled]

How was your MRI done - was it done with contrast and did they do a pituitary MRI?

Did they test your ACTH and did they do that properly (chilled tube (rare), spun while you were sitting there, and they told you they were going to freeze it promptly? ACTH degrades very quickly. The ranges are pretty narrow and you can get a normal result just from lab handling.

Did they test cortisol at the correct times where there are lab ranges? Cortisol also has to be tested at various times and there are medications that can interfere. Weight gain shows more on the Cushing's side rather than Addison's, but you can be episodic or cyclic and go up and down, which would give you the symptoms of both (hence the salt desire) and give you the pain. I had cyclical Cushing's and it hurts. I was also given the diagnosis of fibro when they did not figure that out. I also have hashimoto's and a lot of other endo issues.

The dark skin can be ACTH or glucose - you need to see an endo that knows pituitary disorders - a neuro endo.