Hashimoto's for 24 years and gastric dumping + most symptoms of Addison's but recently got "normal" syncathen test result what can I do??

Hi this is my first post - I have been learning a lot from this site and wonder if anyone can advise me what to do next!

The more I read the more I know something else is wrong with me - I've seen allergists, rhematologists and gastroenterologists and was surprised to find most of my symptoms are in the NHS choices description of Addison's so I asked for Endo ref.( not seen one for 22yrs) I was found to be VitD deficient 27.9 mmo/L and gp has prescribed re this. My Syncathen test result 09.50 337 and at 10.20 684 mmol/L reported as totally normal, not being seen again.

But these are my problems -

Chronic exhaustion, muscle weakness - x6 gynae surgery hysterectomy due to periods alternate weeks with crash team called out to one op as heart stopped (no more GA), lab lost one of the blood samples to establish why this happened so never found out. more recently surgeon telling me to find out why my muscles are so weak. Approx 1 or 2 days a month often when stressed - I feel flu like, have hypoglycemic type symptoms, feel sick weak cold/clammy then vomit every 30 mins approx for 12 hours plus going really hot and cold afterwards, really weak and dehydrated as I cannot even sip water without vomiting again, it isn't much fun being me this has gone on for years. More recently I am urinating frequently and thirsty and craving salty things. Family history of Thyroid problems and two male relatives with hormone probs but now deceased so cannot establish what they were. I am also left handed have an auto immune disease and have those white skin legions 3 things I have found are common in adrenal problems.

So now I wonder if this is more to do with my adrenals than dumping syndrome - I have not had my ACTH tested when the syncathen test was done. If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear from you.

12 Replies

oldest • newest

Hidden

4 years ago

Have you ever had your B12 tested? B12 deficiency / pernicious anaemia (PA) is associated with hypothyroidism and vitiligo (the white patches). Also, you say you've had multiple surgeries. If you had nitrous oxide based anaesthesia this inactivates all the B12 in your body. A healthy person would build their stores back up through diet, but it's really bad news for someone with an undiagnosed B12 deficiency or PA. Gastritis and gastric symptoms are very common in PA, and possibly gall bladder issues. Also Coeliac Disease or Non Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity. Did the Gastro do Endoscopy / Colonscopy? A gastric auto-antibody screen?

If you haven't already done so get copies of all your blood test results and other investigations, because we are often told they are normal when they actually are not.

Try this symptom checker and see how you score:

b12d.org/b12-signs-symptoms...

And some more info here:

b12deficiency.info/

Hi Ivorheadache (great name, very apt)

Can't help you with adrenal issues though there are folks around here who are very knowledgeable and will do their best to advise. If you don't get many responses here do please repost in the questions part of the forum as it gets a lot more traffic and messages here in the posts section do unfortunately get missed sometimes.

Looking at your history, it's clear that you've got quite a few autoimmune issues going on (including vitiligo - is that the white patches thing you mention?). And am I reading right - you had 6 surgeries? Was that 6 lots of general anesthetic? If it was ( and even if it wasn't) the symptoms you're describing, coupled with a few doses of anesthetic gas, scream vitamin B12 deficiency to me. Oh, and if you've had gynae issues, there's a good chance your iron levels are in your boots. Have you ever had your ferritin levels checked? If you're any one of ferritin, B12 or Vit D deficient, your body will find it incredibly hard to convert T4 to T3, the active version of thyroid hormone. If you're deficient in all 3 it's likely you'd feel terrible (and it sounds like you do!)