Hi, I am hoping someone can help me. I am 29 years old, diganosed with Hashimoto's this year. My endocrinologist ruled out Addison's Disease and Cushing's Disease through ACTH testing but I have a feeling I may have artificially raised my cortisol after drinking coffee.
Would drinking coffee cause my cortisol levels to rise?
Symptoms I have are:
- Weight loss despite eating well (as well as I have done in the past)
- Heavy periods
- Hair on my face and body
- Hair loss from my head and legs
- Heavy periods
- Constipation 10-20 minutes after food
- Dark circles around eyes (endocrinologist called it hyperpigmentation)
- Hyperpigmentation on back and legs
- Joint pain
- Headaches, nausea and dizziness upon waking
- Dizziness/tinnitus and blood rushes after standing from sitting
- Low body temperatures, ranging from 34.9 degrees Celsius to 36.5 degrees Celsius
- Fatigue
- Pain in muscles, more noticeable just before it rains (?)
I have a thyroid problem as well - like Hashimoto's I'm Hypo after a treatment for Hyper. Many years later I was diagnosed with malfuncitoning of the adrenal glands. A few things I learned not to take: caffeine, alcohol and additional sugar products. And now also gluten free.
Symptoms related with addrenal gland malfunction:
Joint pain, fatigue, strange dizziness, and unexplanable headaches on one side of my head just above my right ear. Could no longer drive a car, sit in a boat because of the movement whereby it felt as if my head was 'left behind'. Also resulting in having difficulties reading anything, because I had difficulties focussing. After an hour or so of sitting still this would subside.
The adrenal glands are helped with a small amount of medication and both my thyroid and adrenal glands seem to be in balance with each other now. I have a good part of my life back. Too bad it took so long to find out.
I have no concrete advise other than to go and see a doctor who understands that thyroid and adrenal glands need to be in balance with each other. And go from there.
The last time I saw my endocrinologist was the end of May. She told me to eliminate gluten and then reintroduce it but when I reintroduced it my antibodies almost quadrupled and I don't understand why they would rise when I thought I had taken all the bad stuff out.
I don't drink alcohol, not that I never have, just something I don't get any pleasure from.
Caffeine: I drink black tea with dairy free milk but only up to 3 cups a day and not past 8:30pm. Coffee I used to drink one a week but I don't drink any at all.
My endocrinologist has not gotten in touch with me since I saw her in May and I have left her emails and messages with her secretary which she does not return. I am tempted to request a referral to a different endocrinologist because of the way this is carrying on.
I have seen my treatment nurse today for my new patient registration. She has weighed me and my weight is now 45.9kg and my waist is 61cm. I calculated my BMI (height 5'3" and I am underweight with a BMI of 17.9 (I think normal range is 18.5 and upwards for my height)
I will see my new GP on Wednesday to talk about the problems I have had with my weight despite the lifestyle changes I have made and I think they may want to recheck my thyroid function since I am on a repeat prescription.
I hope to see a dietician through my local hospital. If not I might try the naturopathic route.
Hi I have been reading entries in this discussion after looking up sypmtoms of feelings of very low mood and joint aches when the weather is dull or wet. I don't know if this is connected, but when I found the diagram showing the adrenal glands attached to the kidneys, it made me wonder as I only have one kidney, and had the other one removed shortly before my 5th birthday, I am now nearly 59, and wndering why when the weather is good, I can get on and do things at double speed, and when the weather is wet or dull, I seem to have little motivation for anything, even things I know I should be enjoying. I also feel as if my joints ache more, particularly knees, back & hips. Having said all of this, my doctor retired about 4 years ago, and the new, much younger doctor has asked that I have yearly checks for urine, fasting bloods, and blood pressure as there was a history of high blood pressure on my mother's side, and heart attacks on my father's. I would have thought any problems would have showed up, or would this have to be done as another blood test, depending on what they are looking for in the blood?
I realise this might sound a bit petty if you're really suffering with a more serious disease, but can't really work out why, year by year, my symptoms seem to be worsening..or is it just hormone related?