I’m worried about my health and feel no one is taking me seriously

[CherriesAndBerries5]

I’ve always struggled a bit with my mental health but honestly I feel like it’s getting so much worse. People are noticing my dips in mood etc. but also:

• my cortisol was sky high in December. I was referred to endocrinology and have still not got an appointment
• sometimes I get kidney pain but not very often
• my heart rate is often quite high
• i feel hungover every time I wake up, and extremely thirsty
• I am always tired and my iron and vitamin D are the lowest of the normal range (44ish) - but this isn’t low enough for any action to be taken other than to take supplements (which don’t appear to be making a difference)
• my hair is really oily, and my skin is getting worse. My hair grows but not past a certain length
• i have had my thyroid checked and it is fine
• I am much more unfit than a few years ago, and my running has slowed a lot (I could easily run a 15k, now my fastest 5k is at a slower pace than that, and it’s high effort)

People keep telling me I’m worrying too much, that I just need therapy etc but I’m noticing changes in my body. Every time I see a doctor they tell me there’s nothing to worry about, that my bloods are normal, and that I just need to exercise/destress. But I just don’t feel myself at all 😕

I’m also not sleeping very well. Some nights I wake up at 3am, but not all the time. I was falling asleep after work yesterday but then couldn’t fall asleep at night until 1ish

How old are you?

How old are you? Menopause / peri can have some REALLY odd symptoms. The sleeping, the skin and hair, the hangover feeling etc...

whats your Hab1c levels?

Have you been checked for diabetes?

I’m 28 and I have been checked for diabetes about a year ago and it wasn’t that

Take your vitamin D with vitamin k to help you absorb it. Have you been tested for diabetes?

I’m sure the endo will refer you for a pituitary MRI. You may have something going on there if your cortisol is deranged. Have you had your other pituitary hormones checked?

I would ask to be checked again - a year is a long time. Are you taking regular supplements, eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise?

Unfortunately the older we get (not that 28 is old) the less our bodies can tolerate not being looked after.

Have you looked up cushings syndrome?
And do you have any of the symptoms and/or body shape?

I have a host of autoimmune diseases but recently added low cortisol to the bunch and now have Addisons Disease, another type of cortisol disorder. Since it's been treated I feel like night and day. So much better
But it took a long time for a Dr to take me seriously and not just dismiss my symptoms as part of the other AI diseases I have.
And before I was diagnosed with those it took about 10 years of going to the GP begging for help before finally I was helped.

Id suggest if you do think you may have cushings and if its at all affordable to pay and see an endocrinology consultant privately. It will hopefully bounce you up the NHS list and at least start you on treatment soon which will be a massive help (if it is the cause of the high cortisol)

Wishing you luck

Go back to basics. I think most of your problems are probably lifestyle related.

Drink lots of water
Wake up and go to bed at the same time each day
Look at your diet
Exercise

If its not diabetes and your waking up thirsty with kidney pain (do get this rechecked first though) then i imagine its your lifestyle causing this. You need to drink plenty of water otherwise you will feel like crap.

Um, are you drinking enough water?

how do you know you have high cortisol? My daughter's is astrononimcal - she has poor sleep but all drs say its because she is on contraceptive pill (for endo) and they are not worried about it.

I drink lots and lots of water I drink 2l a day and I’m always sipping. I also start the day with an electrolyte tablet.

my cortisol was tested and it was 990 (meant to be below 600). I also have sleep disturbances and a round face

The mind can make you feel ill and cause genuine symptoms. I am not saying that you are doing this but it’s a consideration. I wake up very thirsty every morning and it doesn’t bother me.

The tiredness, increased heart rate, could be from keeping it together as you have a MH condition. The Doctors could very well be correct. Of course the other issue is you may be dismissed more due to having a MH condition. If you can afford it pay for therapy. Unless you are in the category of a danger to yourself and others it will probably be just 6 sessions on the NHS plus of all the medical professionals you need to click with a therapist more than anyone else. Surgeons may sometimes be charmless, worked with a few but their bedside manner is less of a bother as their patients spend a lot of time unconscious.

My thoughts too however the kidney pain makes me think more adrenal glands than pituitary.

Have you ever heard of cushings OP? This is what's jumping out to me with your symptoms.

What's your weight like? Any significant increase in recent years/months ?