I really need advice!!!! I have been seeing an endocrinologist as I have low blood sugar (yesterday it was 45!), low pulse, severe vertigo, nausea, leg aches, easy bruising, fatigue, and depression.

He ran a few tests and came back saying I had GAD antibodies. He also did an adrenal function test and it came back with a very low response (ACTH test) I hardly responded to it.

I don't know what any of this means and I feel really ill, I can hardly function. I don't know what to do or what it all means. I am eating but have lost so much weight and I am really pale.

Please:eek: help.

Hi Naomi

Addison's disease is an endocrine or hormonal disorder that occurs in all age groups and afflicts men and women equally. The disease is characterized by weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and sometimes darkening of the skin in both exposed and nonexposed parts of the body.

Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol and, in some cases, the hormone aldosterone. The disease is also called adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism.

Cortisol

Cortisol is normally produced by the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys. It belongs to a class of hormones called glucocorticoids, which affect almost every organ and tissue in the body. Scientists think that cortisol has possibly hundreds of effects in the body. Cortisol's most important job is to help the body respond to stress. Among its other vital tasks, cortisol

helps maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function
helps slow the immune system's inflammatory response
helps balance the effects of insulin in breaking down sugar for energy
helps regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
helps maintain proper arousal and sense of well-being
Because cortisol is so vital to health, the amount of cortisol produced by the adrenals is precisely balanced. Like many other hormones, cortisol is regulated by the brain's hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, a bean-sized organ at the base of the brain. First, the hypothalamus sends "releasing hormones" to the pituitary gland. The pituitary responds by secreting hormones that regulate growth and thyroid and adrenal function, and sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. One of the pituitary's main functions is to secrete ACTH (adrenocorticotropin), a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands. When the adrenals receive the pituitary's signal in the form of ACTH, they respond by producing cortisol. Completing the cycle, cortisol then signals the pituitary to lower secretion of ACTH.


i was tested for addisons last year as i was the same as you but it turned out i have crohn's instead.

Naomi
You have many of the symptoms of Addison's -- including the low blood sugar. When do you see your doctor again? If you didn't stimulate with the ACTH stim test, I'm surprised he hasn't started you on steroids (Cortef or prednisons). I wonder what he is waiting for. Did he diagnose you with Addison's? Good luck to you, and I hope the doctor starts moving on this right away. Untreated Addison's can be fatal.

Thaks for the replies!

I feel so awful! I can hardlly function. I have my docs appointment in 2 hours, he said he wanted to test me for adrenal antibodies before doing anything????

He has not diagnosed addisons but says that I look like I have it (very thin, pale, small pigment areas). I keep fainting as well.

I can hardly cope at the moment, just want to get better!