Adrenal lesions

[Cb1963]

I'm early 60s and had a scan recently, I've got various aches and pains which I put down to old age, I also have a larger type growth in my pelvis, I'm really unsure how I should feel these days I have B12 deficiency issues but get a 3 monthly injections for this, I've had a dodgy stomach for years and noticed my stools are ribbon type when using the toilet, sorry about the graphic explanation is there any other symptoms that adrenal problems can cause, oh and my skin on my face gets terrible acne!!! Thank you in advance for any helpful advice 😊

[J972]

You might want to look into increasing the frequency with which you have B12 injections. I know of someone who described their stools in the same way as you have and, since self injecting twice daily, most of his wide-ranging and debilitating symptoms have been resolved. Are you aware of the pernicious anaemia forum on healthunlocked?

[Cb1963 in reply to J972]

Yes I'm a member of that part of the forum, obviously many of these people are self injecting but I'm concerned about even ordering the extra B12 vials from abroad I'm not that sure on even how to go about this as I'm scared of getting scammed, obviously I'm concerned about the growths in various parts of my body, and one is quite a size 6.6x7x 7.82 Centre metres so its gotten a lot bigger than the previous scan in 2016 , I've got a telephone consultation on Thursday with the endocrinology specialist but I've been told I'm also going to be listed with the urologist, so obviously I'm really unsure what will happen I'm worried this growth could rupture, so hopefully I'll find out more next week, thank you for your reply 😀

[J972 in reply to Cb1963]

All the best

[Cb1963 in reply to J972]

Thanks 👍 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

you need to test folate, ferritin and vitamin D too

is your low B12 diagnosed as PA?

Having one autoimmune disease makes others more likely

Have you tested thyroid levels

[Cb1963 in reply to SlowDragon]

Not tested for thyroid, but it was myself who requested to be have B12 injections, as once I needed folic acid tablets as I was struggling breathing and I've had numerous problems with my stomach as well as numerous general anesthetics which affects the stomach with the nitrous oxide used in the surgery.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cb1963]

Injection every 3 months, is often too long between jabs

You can request GP increase to monthly

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and may help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid supplements

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Breathlessness often low thyroid/low iron or ferritin

Poor gut function common when hypothyroid as it results in low stomach acid

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Cb1963 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks there's plenty of in depth detail here and I'll try and understand all the information Thanks 👍

[CoeliacMum1]

Apologies if stating obvious but is the growth anything to do with narrow stools has this been investigated?

High androgen and hormones out of whack can cause acne … Adrenal can become fatigued due to variety of reasons cause an imbalance and acne.

All the best.

[Cb1963 in reply to CoeliacMum1]

No I've mentioned the stools at the hospital I was taken into as I had a kidney stone and it wasn't my own hospital I was visiting my mum and the ct scan was just the basic one, I've now had a ct scan done with a contrasting dye to identify the growths in more details, I'm now in the system where I live and have a telephone consultation on Thursday but I think I'm going to be under the endocrinology specialist and the urology specialist as well, the first telephone consultation is with the endocrinology specialist and I'll find out more, i really appreciate your reply ,thank you for help !

[CoeliacMum1 in reply to Cb1963]

Re bowels and your problems regarding stools I’d say you require to see a gastroenterologists, unless this has been ruled out as digestive, and the other areas (endocrinology & urology) are causation, I just read in your bio it mentions Ulcerative colitis so this still needs to be taken into consideration if it’s not already been looked into…I’d definitely mention this to your GP if not done so already and other consultants you’re under, regardless of the other investigations.

I’ve had two pelvic mris but it’s horses for courses with consultants … the orthopaedic looking at bones gynaecology looking for other pelvic issues… all for same pain problem … so they only look at their areas….sometimes a good generalist (GP) is extremely valuable and gets you to the right place, if it’s straight forward symptoms, but in my case it’s taken many years of figuring out researching and ruling out numerous other things as my symptoms haven’t been straight forward.

Hopefully you’ll get some answers Thursday 😊

[Cb1963 in reply to CoeliacMum1]

Thanks 👍 😊

[Cb1963 in reply to CoeliacMum1]

And I'm unsure if this growth is causing this ribbon effect, the hospital where I ended up were concentrating on the kidney stone problems, so I meant to say I don't know about this at the moment.