Other autoimmune diseases

[Macey2009]

HI sorry this is not technically thyroid related. I saw my gp for some discoloured brown patches that appeared on my skin.(skin is very pale) She thought it was a fungal infection but skin test was negative for that. She has referred me to a dermatologist for what she thinks might be an autoimmune disease. I know from reading that if you have one then more likely to develop another. (Very high tpo antibodies suggestive of autoimmune thyroid disease) I have Googled but not sure what condition she may be thinking of.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous posts and profile confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s and still untreated

You need vitamins tested annually

Full thyroid testing as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water will give highestvTSH

Darkening skin can be adrenals struggling....or Addison’s disease. Where’s the darkening skin?

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

In primary adrenal failure, as the disease develops pigmentation changes may also be seen around:

The creases of the hands

Gums and the inside of the mouth (which starts to look bluish)

Recent scars

Pressure points like elbows

Armpits

nhsinform.scot/illnesses-an...

You may also develop small areas of darkened skin, or darkened lips or gums.

You need cortisol and DHEA testing

Ask GP to refer you to endocrinologist for testing for possible Addison’s disease

[Macey2009 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for the reply. It's on my stomach and chest area. And down the sides of my arm pit area (if that makes sense) I first I thought vitiligo as that's associated with hashis. When my skin tanned I would get white patches. Now my skin won't tan. Like I have lost melanin or something. It's a strange one lol

[Macey2009 in reply to SlowDragon]

Just checked. Cortisol was tested. It was 259 no reference range on the nhs test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Macey2009]

Yes vitiligo is common with Hashimoto’s

What time was cortisol test done?How long ago?

Obviously need ranges on result

Hidden knows lots about cortisol testing

[Macey2009 in reply to SlowDragon]

It was tested at 9.40 Sept last year. I have the print out. No range on it which is odd.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Macey2009]

Did you have skin issues back then?

[Macey2009 in reply to SlowDragon]

No. Also developed a sun allergy that i've not got to the bottom of either yet.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Macey2009]

Saliva test for cortisol and DHEA

regeneruslabs.com/products/...

cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...

[Macey2009 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the links.

[Hidden in reply to Macey2009]

What time was the cortisol test done? Sorry just seen 9.40, it's slightly on the low side, cortisol around 8-9am should be 350-550nmol/Ls so it may be worth asking your GP to do an early morning blood cortisol, especially as it last September.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply. It's odd that the nhs doesn't have a range beside it. So i had no idea what the result meant. I put a pic of the brown patches. Just to see if anyone knew what it could be.

Not easy to take a pic. Not sure what autoimmune disease the dr is thinking of.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Macey2009,

I'm having a similar problem as yourself which my doctor thinks is a fungal infection but I'm not convinced it is.

I've darker irregular shaped patches of skin some on the top of my feet that I've had for over a year. They are a darker red/brown in colour but are not bruises.

The rest are under my arms and on my inner thighs and some around my waist. I do think it is immune related but the doctor doesn't seem to agree; though I did get morning cortisol done last week which came back in range.

I've also got a small patch of vitiligo around my belly button this appeared the last few months.

I'm still not diagnosed with thyroid problems but most recent GP blood tests last week showed below range FT4 so now hope I may actually get some help.

You do need to get your adrenals checked properly. Hope you get some answers soon.

Take care.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

Hi intersting to hear something similar. Did your dr not do a skin test to rule out a fungal infection? I don't have a diagnosis of a thyroid condition either. Except the high antibodies indicating autoimmune thyroid disease. My gp said fungal infection at first then the skin test ruled it out. So she thinks autoimmune related. Which would make sense since you're more likely to get more than one.

[Hedgeree in reply to Macey2009]

No he just gave me a cream only last week.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

Was it clotrimazole? That's what my gp prescribed but told me to stop using it after the skin test came back negative.

[Hedgeree in reply to Macey2009]

Hi Macey2009,

Sorry for the delayed reply. It was miconazole and hydrocortisone cream but I don't think it's a fungal infection that I've got. They didn't do any skin tests.

I'll be speaking to the gp tomorrow about last weeks blood results so hoping they may suggest what to do next.

Hope you get some answers.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

Good luck with your gp. I know how long a process it can be. I've suspected thyoid issues for years. I only know i have hashis thanks to this site. Have you had your antibodies tested?

[Hedgeree in reply to Macey2009]

I did get them tested myself once, they were very low in range so ok. But I may get antibodies done again on my next private blood test.

It is a long process! I'm the same; I think I've had thyroid problems for a long time but it's always been explained away by something else.

I have a continually low and often below range FT4 but the gp won't consider the possibility of me having a thyroid problem as any below range results I have are private ones.

This changed last week as my NHS thyroid FT4 test came back below range so I'll be speaking to them tomorrow as it may indicate the possibility of central hypothyroidism. It'll be interesting to hear what they say this time.

Good luck to you also, hope you get somewhere.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

It's frustrating isn't it. My old gp liked to blame everytime on anxiety. Although since switching to a new gp they are now monitoring my levels every 6 months due to the high antibodies.

Not easy to take a photo but that's part of the brown patches. Is yours similar?

[Hedgeree in reply to Macey2009]

Yes very frustrating! Very similar patches! My gp does the same and says it's down to anxiety. Which I don't think it is.

The ones on my underarms are not as dark but similar irregular pattern; the ones on my inner thighs are similar colour to your photo.

I'll try and get a photo but it's a bit difficult due to them being on my inner thighs.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

It's strange isn't it. Maybe we have the same condition lol. Probably your skin test would be negative too. You could maybe ask next time you speak to them. I know it's not easy. Difficult to get anywhere with a dr sometimes.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

I know vitiligo is obvious on dark skin with white patches but not sure how it would show up on light skin. My skin couldn't be any paler so not sure about showing up white patches.

[Hedgeree in reply to Macey2009]

I'm quite pale skinned too but the white patch is tiny but visible.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

I used to get white patches when I had a tan but my skin won't tan now. Another weird thing lol

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hedgeree]

Looking at previous posts healthunlocked.com/thyroidu.......

You also need vitamin levels retested

Hopefully now improving on previous low levels

Ultrasound scan of thyroid too.

20% of Hashimoto’s patients never have high thyroid antibodies. Ultrasound scan can help diagnose

[Hedgeree in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon,

My next private test will include vitamin levels again. I have requested a thyroid scan previously from my gp but that gets ignored so I may have to get that done privately.

I'm hoping that as last week's NHS blood test FT4 came back below range 10.0 pmol/L (12.0 - 22) that they may start to take my issues seriously?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hedgeree]

If GP still won't investigate....Private ultrasound scan approx £125

[Hedgeree]

How do you feel in yourself? I do feel nausea quite a bit and often get left sided discomfort in my kidney area.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

I used to get really bad spells of nausea too. Not so much now. My gp prescribed anti sickness tablets. Symptoms are

Always cold

Cold hands and feet. Diagnosed raynuads.

Bad fatigue

Weight gain

Frequent urination (overactive bladder)

Awful dry brittle hair

Very irritable

Low mood/mood swings

Zero energy (used to work full time very active job)

[Hedgeree in reply to Macey2009]

Glad you're having less problems with nausea.

I do have quite a lot of fatigue and have gained considerable weight over the last few years but I just put the weight gain down to getting older! ☺

Let me know how you get on with your doctor? Hope you get some answers soon, I know how frustrating it can be.

Take care.

[Macey2009 in reply to Hedgeree]

Thank you. I will see what happens when I see the dermatologist. My next nhs thyroid test isn't till Aug. Let me know what your gp says tomorrow. I hope they're more helpful ☺

[Lizzo30]

I went thru a period where I was getting burnt by the sun so I took the amino acid tyrosine which fixed it - I bought the tyrosine from Holland and Barrett - I wouldn't have a whole capsule just a pinch , tyrosine creates melanin in us it is also an essential part of the thyroid system ,