Suspect I have Addison's

[antiloquax]

I had a blood test yesterday and my serum cortisol was 330 nm/l.I have some hyperpigmentation & vitaligo. I think my GP was checking for Addison's.

Hopefully now I can see an endocrinologist

[McPammy]

Cortisol of 330 is good. Is the range 155-650?

You don’t want to be any higher. Cortisol goes high in times of stress, sickness or flight and fight mode. You need to leave some head room. You don’t want it higher than your test result which is normal.

[caledoniancat]

You are correct in thinking that hyperpigmentatation can be a symptom of Addison's also that there can be associated vitiligo. The most common symptoms are tiredness/exhaustion which gets worse through the day, dizziness that can be particularly bad when you sit to stand, salt cravings, headaches, loss of weight, muscle and joint pain, if you get to the point of diarrhea and vomiting that's becoming a crisis that needs intervention asap. Addison's is often overlooked but if identified it can be treated appropriately with daily steroids. US president JFK had Addison's, there are athletes, gymnasts etc with Addison's but you do need to be properly investigated to determine if you have the condition and if so, to then be provided with appropriate health care/steroids and self management advice. Hope you get your endo appointment and answers soon.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your fatigue highly likely linked to your anaemia

Levothyroxine can not work well until ferritin at least over 70

Aim to maintain nearer 100

Have you done full iron panel test yet

retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.

It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Stop iron supplements 5-7 days before testing

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

[JumpJiving]

Definitely not the guidelines that my local hospital follows, otherwise I would have been admitted (my level was 1/3 - 1/2 of the bottom of the reference range). I was given a short synacthen test, then sent home with hydrocortisone tablets and emergency injections (and no training in how to use them). With a level of 330nmol/L they would have been high-fiving for a good result (although what time of day the test was done makes a big difference - what time was yours?), not referring to endocrinology for more tests. Hyperpigmentation & vitaligo can be symptoms of cortisol problems, so it's reasonable that they did that blood test, but given the result I would not be unduly concerned. But, as I mentioned above, what time the test was done is important. If it wasn't around 9AM, they might want to re-do it. With a result of 330nmol/L, I cannot imagine they will be in a hurry though.

Addison's is a rare condition. The average GP practice has 1 - 1.5 patients with Addison's. Don't expect them to know anything about it if you have got it. As for endo's, if the average endo is poor at anything to do with the thyroid, the average endo is even worse at anything to do with the adrenal glands. They simply don't see that many patients with adrenal problems. If you do get a diagnosis of Addison's (or adrenal insufficiency), you may want to have a good search for an endo who knows about it.