Hi,
I'm really struggling with trying to understand what is going on with my metabolic health. It has been neglected by 3 different NHS GPs for about 5 years. However, the symptoms did seem to come and go, so I didn't pursue it as I have Crohn's, which is severe and meant all the focus was on that.
Unfortunately, being already so ill, I have been persecuted by the DWP for the last 7 years, and the intense day in day out stress of this caused adrenal problems (many courses of high-dose steroids can't have helped, either) that then impacted my thyroid. The first time it was recognised my GP told me to avoid stress and take kelp for my slight hypothyroid (all 3 GPs said I had adrenal fatigue and should rest and avoid stress!). Unfortunately, the DWP had other ideas and the stress continued - albeit with 8-12 months of 'relief' from DWP oppression in between assessments. During these periods of relief my conditions improved, including adrenal issues and thyroid.
However, following another protracted assessment period by the DWP, I became so exhausted and had terrible brain fog, I managed to see Dr Peatfield in August 2017. He diagnosed Low Adrenal Fatigue straight away as the primary problem (which was lucky as I couldn't afford private tests) and put me on Adrenavive, then Matavive 2 weeks later. Within 10 days the brain fog started clearing, and after about a week on Metavive I had so much energy I was a bit manic and had to slow down the introduction of the Metavive and build it up more slowly.
I started to look and feel normal again - lost weight, hair, lashes, eyebrows growing back, etc. I also realised that these metabolic conditions came with IBS - which meant the Crohn's I thought I'd had without remission for years was in fact a mix of Crohn's and IBS (I'd never had IBS before - I was either ill with Crohn's or my stools were fine). The IBS went, too.
My good health was short-lived, unfortunately. The DWP sent me PIP forms less than 2 months later and all progress stopped. Then a few months later (with PIP still going on) I received ESA forms and the pressure made me suicidal (I won't go into the gory details, but I'll just say the assessment process is horrific and literally kills people on a regular basis).
By February 2018 things started to slide and my adrenal and thyroid symptoms worsened. I rang Dr Peatfield, as I couldn't get there, and he said I could increase my NDTs and salt intake (I was getting terrible migraines through dehydration). But the problem with Dr P is he's often ill himself, and he can't prescribe.
I took a blood and 24hr urine test last December and have just got an appointment with an endo - for June 18th. Without the NDTs I was so ill. Migraines daily and complete exhaustion and craving sugar. I thought I might bounce back once I was back on them but I haven't. I've been increasing the NDT dosage and I get a short spell of energy and then things slide back again.
I'm pinning my hopes on the endo... but after reading the comments on here I'm now very worried. I find the whole thing very confusing - even after reading Dr P's book and others like it. I don't know if it's a bit of brain fog and tiredness, but I can't seem to take in all the info about T3, T4, and all the derivatives that go with them. And there doesn't seem to be that much info about adrenals out there - the focus always seems to be on thyroid issues.
Regarding my bloods and urine, the GP said they came back as normal. But I have read many times that NHS tests are poor.
I feel completely overwhelmed by it all but feel I need to get my act together somehow to face the endo, but I don't know how to understand all this stuff. I'm in West Sussex and the appointment is with Dr Bosman, if anyone has seen or heard of her?
Sorry the post has been so long, but many factors have got me to the unfortunate position I'm currently in, so I thought it best to give some background.
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