Addisons?

[Bluedragon]

Hi, thoughts please from the wisdom of this forum.

My 22 yr old son (adopted) has diagnosed attachment disorder and ADHD.

He suffered fainting spells 16/17 and had heart tests and was put on tilting table. Nothing conclusive. Temperature is always low.

Had one cv injection, had a bad reaction.

Always tired - he puts it down to working for a landscape gardener but not normal.

Now he is heavily urinating, almost to point of wetting himself- definitely leaking when doesn’t get there on time. No other signs of a UTI. He did a blood glucose test on a friend’s machine as we thought diabetes but it came back as low at 3.8. Today he tells me he is getting erections during the day for no reason.

He finally has a Drs appointment this afternoon. I’m thinking the whole picture looks like Addison’s disease but I have no experience of this. I hope it isn’t. Thoughts?

In the past he has had low vitamin D, low ferritin. Dr said nothing. I was able to do vit D, K2 and magnesium at that time. (When on Concerta he was regularly monitored but now off meds two years). He refuses any help from me at all. Eats badly, abuses weed. I’m in process of getting him out of my house because of it - as in I’ve given him notice to move.

I’ve suggested he ask dr for Addison tests, ferritin, electrolytes, B12, thyroid. He probably won’t.

Sorry for long post. I’m pulling my hair out as he won’t let me help. With anything.

[StitchFairy]

So sorry you're in this situation. It's heart breaking when we can't help someone close to us that so obviously needs help.

I don't know anything about Addisons. I do know from experience that frequent, excessive, urgent urination can be a symptom of wonky thyroid levels.

[Bluedragon in reply to StitchFairy]

I’m very appreciative you responded. Sometimes we just need to have an outlet. It is frustrating when you know- but kids have to do things their own way. Of course the dr just gave him antibiotics and sent off a urine sample. No bloods 🤦🏻‍♀️

[StitchFairy in reply to Bluedragon]

Docs don't seem to be able to think beyond the obvious. Urination problem - do a urine test - simples! 🙄

I suppose your son wouldn't do a home finger prick blood test, even if you said it was just to put your mind at rest?

[Bluedragon in reply to StitchFairy]

I thought I might ask him - perhaps the urine cortisol test too. Can’t see him doing the four saliva ones. I don’t want to spend all that money and then he refuses either. I might suggest he go to a friends house to help him do it, that might work.

[HowNowWhatNow]

Ask the doctor about the glucose levels and diabetes and present all of his symptoms and just see what they says, in general, before suggesting any things. Re: Urine there is diabetes insipidus and mellitus to consider, too.

[Bluedragon in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

He has a follow up appointment next week. I plan to ask if I can go with him. I don’t have high hopes but I might be surprised. Agree re diabetes- but would his glucose test not be high after eating, not low? I got him to do a urine test with a dip stick. Showed raised protein, slightly raised blood and all the way elevated specific gravity (which I understand could give false negative for leu). His dr did one in surgery after my son showed him photo. said the sg meant nothing , the blood was concerning. On my dip stick is was only the first point along. Anyhow, I’m waffling on. Thank you for your comment and thoughts.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Bluedragon]

You might well be right, it’s just good to ask the question. I think they look at the HBA1c when thinking about glucose too.

And diabetes insipidus works completely differently to the diabetes we all know much better but does display symptoms relating to urine.

[Bluedragon in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

I forgot about the HBA1c test 🤦🏻‍♀️ Yep, you’re right. More research needed. Thanks again.

[humanbean]

One thing to remember is that there are multiple types of diabetes and getting a diagnoses for some types can be quite difficult.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes

I don't know enough to make any comment on your son's symptoms other than to say that this website is well worth knowing about :

diabetes.co.uk/

and joining the forum on the same site as well could be very helpful for asking questions :

diabetes.co.uk/forum/

There are other diabetes forums out there, but diabetes.co.uk is the best one, in my opinion.

If you want to know about Addison's this link might be helpful :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adren...

As you can see from that link it is possible to have adrenal insufficiency of various types. Be aware that doctor's rarely test for anything other than Primary Adrenal Insufficiency, which I think is absolutely appalling.

A link that is useful for all sorts of info on endocrine testing - the Endocrine Bible :

imperialendo.co.uk/Bible201...

Good luck.

[Bluedragon in reply to humanbean]

Wow, thanks Humanbean. That bible is immense lol. Some great links here to keep me busy. I find it appalling he didn’t do any blood tests but equally, my son might have just presented himself as someone with a urination problem. ☹️

[Barrister]

I see someone has already suggested Diabetes Insipidus which was my immediate thought on reading your question. I would definitely ask for that to be tested. It doesn’t sound particularly as though it could be Addisons but there is no harm in requesting an early morning cortisol blood test from your GP.