I finally got an appointment for May 15th. I am seeing a general doctor and will probably start there to figure out where to go and if a specialist will be needed. It's a long time to wait for my appointment and I am going to try and have it pushed forward but at least now I have an appointment to at least see someone. I need some help though with what I'm supposed to be asking. I have already been told to request the ACTH test, plus thyroid and liver panels done. But I guess I'm not sure how to request that. I don't want to walk in there and start making demands but I do know that I need to be my own advocate and make sure this doesn't get shoved aside. Do I go in and ask for certain tests if they aren't done right off the bat? I've met some doctors who don't like being told what they need to do. I don't want to get that reaction.

Any advice on this?

Happy Easter everyone. :)

I think you should just go in, explain why you think you may have Addison's, and ask for the ACTH stim test. If the doctor gives you attitude, s/he is not the right doctor for you. If s/he won't order the test, ask to be referred to an endocrinologist. I wouldn't be the least bit shy about it. If you have both adrenal and thyroid problems, be sure to ask for a growth hormone test, which is first the IGF-1, and then -- to confirm growth hormone deficiency -- the arginine stim test. Good luck to you.

When requesting thyroid blood tests be done, insist that they run FT4, FT3 and antibodies tests. Not all medical practitioners will run these tests, even though they're the most telling if you have a thyroid problem. Someone can have a normal TSH level and still be experiencing hypo symptoms.

Good luck and keep us posted! :)