Addison's disease

[toph]

Does addison's disease happen /caused by b12 diffency?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

to the best of my knowledge no causal link has been established

Addison's is a hormonal problem

niddk.nih.gov/health-inform...

It sounds as if it could be caused by auto-immune disorders. If the cause of B12 deficiency is auto-immune that increases the chance of developing another auto-immune disorder but the underlying mechanism for this correlation isn't understood at the moment.

[pvanderaa]

Although Dr Addison originally helped to define the B12 deficiency, his name went to the disease associated with the adrenal grand.

[Polaris]

Hi Toph

Dr Addison is part of the forgotten history of PA and autoimmunity - his patients had untreatable anaemia, now known to be late stage PA/B12 deficiency......

This paper also connects it to autoimmunity:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/234...

"Addison-Biermer's anaemia is an autoimmune disease and the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. Hashimoto disease is the most common type of the thyroiditis and also has autoimmunological origin. Frequent coexistence of both mentioned entities has been observed. "

[helvella]

What is now called Addison's disease was destruction of the adrenal glands - hence a lack of the hormones produced by healthy adrenals. When first identified, that was usually by infection with tuberculosis. Nowadays, it can be called that regardless of cause. I'd have to check, but I think the most common cause now is autoimmune adrenal disease.

Some of these pioneering doctors had their fingers in many pies - hence subsequent confusion.

[helvella in reply to helvella]

Why it happens

The condition is usually the result of a problem with the immune system, which causes it to attack the outer layer of the adrenal gland (the adrenal cortex), disrupting the production of steroid hormones aldosterone and cortisol. It's not clear why this happens, but it's responsible for 70-90% of cases in the UK.

Other potential causes include conditions that can damage the adrenal glands, such as tuberculosis (TB), although this is uncommon in the UK.

nhs.uk/conditions/Addisons-...

addisons.org.uk/

[Frodo in reply to helvella]

Very interesting. I was tested for this by an endocrinologist, the test was negative but as I've responded to B12 injections I think PA was probably what was going on. There's thyroid disease (under and over active) in close family members also but I always test negative despite symptoms. As we know, none of the tests are definitive. It's about time the medical establishment got a grip on all this.

Just speculating here - you mention TB and I wonder if it's possible the TB vaccination might therefore be a trigger - there seems to be so much autoimmune disease now.

[helvella in reply to Frodo]

However, if the statement below is true and BCG really isn't widely used in the USA and Netherlands, we have to ask why the rise in autoimmune disorders that we seem to have is so strongly reported from the USA.

Two countries that have never used it routinely are the USA and the Netherlands (in both countries, it is felt that having a reliable Mantoux test and therefore being able to accurately detect active disease is more beneficial to society than vaccinating against a condition that is now relatively rare there).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCG_v...

[Frodo in reply to helvella]

Interesting. I suppose it doesn't rule it out but it's obviously not the only cause.

[Marz in reply to Frodo]

Maybe not just the TB vaccines - but others that damage the immune system ....

[helvella in reply to Frodo]

A very common theme over on Thyroid UK - but I always test negative despite symptoms.

Most especially if you only have TSH tested. Sorry, I cannot recall if you posted there - and your profile is, umm, quite long!

I can point out that we have a steady trickle of questions about migraine and I certainly believe there can be a thyroid connection. Started to get aura-only migraines as my levothyroxine dose was being adjusted. (Having only ever had a few migraines, and none for years before.)

[Frodo in reply to helvella]

All my symptoms and family history point to auto immune thyroid disorder of both kinds, I'd say over active until 12 yrs ago then switching to under = increase in terrible migraine (my brother recently found he had antibodies for both after developing heart block). When I first became ill I was told thyroid results were 'borderline' but I knew nothing back then. I've had two comprehensive tests in recent years but everything always comes back dead in the middle of the range.

[helvella in reply to Frodo]

A dead-middle-of-range TSH is very likely too high!

My first TSH test, as I had started going downhill, was about 2.1 (range 0.5 to 5.1, if I remember correctly). So well below middle of range.

Over the next months, I deteriorated, and had further TSH tests. Each one higher than the one before, until it hit just over range. At that point, my GP accepted I had an issue.

(Yes, FT4 and FT3 are more important, in my view.)

I so wish I had a lifetime history of test results - but I was never tested before then.

[Marz in reply to Frodo]

Frodo - I had the TB vaccination in my teens and after years of illness I was diagnosed with ileo-caecal TB at 27. Almost six months in hospital and loads of horrid surgeries and meds followed. Crohns discovered in the ascending colon. More complicated surgeries followed. At 59 back in 2005 I was diagnosed with Hashimotos here in Crete. Like you I think my health issues began with the vaccination.

Reading Robert Kennedy 's website about vaccinations affecting the health of our children - I can only agree. He is attempting to bring awareness in the face of adversity.

[Frodo in reply to Marz]

I remember slowly going downhill afterwards but only recently wondered about the connection.

[cainburrows]

Hi toph.my daughter was born with Addisons disease 37 years ago and wasn't diagnosed with PA until 2 years ago,so I don't know,my mother and I also have PA but not Addisons.

Addisons disease is adrenal insufficiency.Sorry I cant help anymore

[toph in reply to cainburrows]

I'm 40 and I have been diagnosed with MS but paid for a blood test which proves I have addison's.

Who know what the heck is wrong with me. NHS certainly do not.

[cainburrows]

I sugest you see an Endocrinologist,you may have to have Fludrocortisone.I am not medically trained but if you have Addisons you will get very tired and if you get an infection,are involved in an accident or have extra stress you can go into an Addisonian crisis which can be very dangerous or fatal.My daughter has just spent 17 days in hospital with an Addisonian crisis due to gastroenteritis and was very poorly,she had to have frequent Hydrocortisone shots and all her meds were changed tempororally.Dont want to worry you,but if you have Addisons you need an Endocrinologist,and more so with the MS.

Take care

[Katherine1234]

I am borderline Addisons with low B12