Driven and Confused

[PCAdmin3]

http://dermnetnz.org/systemic/acanthosis-nigricans.html - another thought. It can also be related to Cushing's syndrome which can be caused by high cortisol, so definitely something worth mentioning when you go to your appointment. Also take pictures of it! Then if it goes away you still have a record.

HTH

[Morph]

Hello,

What a good idea to take pictures; I've taken some. I'd be interested in anyone's opinion.


By pigmentation at 2010-06-15

The camera I've used is fully automatic and tends to err on the side of over-exposure, which I've tried to correct in Photoshop with brightness and contrast, - but only so as to replicate what I see with my eyes.

In the following image, though, I've deliberately manipulated brightness and contrast so as to reveal the underlying tonal trend in the underarm area, which is totally uncharacteristic for my skin.


By pigmentation at 2010-06-15

The soles of my feet are brown too, and have been for a couple of years. I'd just assumed it was dirt. Is this normal for anyone?


By pigmentation at 2010-06-15

Recently, though, it's not just the soles but the whitest skin that seems to be darkening too, around the sides of the feet. I have no memory of this skin ever tanning before:


By pigmentation at 2010-06-15

Morph x.

[Paul Clarke]

I Bet Addisons

Paul

[Morph]

As a postscript, I'm thinking I've over-emphasized the depth of shade a little, though not the fact of colouration. I suspect it's been there a while, but has accellerated lately.

Otherwise, I'm feeling less dizzy these days, almost normal. I've agreed to go to Hungary next week, to accompany a friend having dental surgery. I deliberated a lot over whether to inform my GP about the pigmentation before leaving. But by the time I return, it'll almost be time for the hospital appointment anyway ...

Cheers,
Morph x.

[Morph]

Hello Again,

Just to let you know I had my appointment with the endocrinologist a week early, just after returning from Budapest, but have since felt too tired to write. I did a lot of walking whilst away, which I thought I was getting away with, but now seems to have caught up with me.

I handed over a summary of symptoms, handwritten so as to be memorable. I'm guessing that wasn't necessary or of any use, but I couldn't help myself, having no other switches to pull.

1. Absent periods. Absent libido
2. Fatigue. Weak legs climbing steps. Stiffness on waking, as though after a hike
3. Dizziness; low blood pressure?
4. Constipation
5. Double chin. Bloating. Surges in appetite
6. Short-term memory loss. Brain fog
7. Skin discolouration, particularly under arms and on soles of feet

I showed my orange skin. The woman said my symptoms could be indicative of a number of things and that if she wasn't focussed, she could end up ordering lots of tests that could prove nothing. She won't attempt the insulin test, believing it unnecessarily unpleasant. She said there were better ways to get the information. They took my blood, then injected me with something, waited for half an hour then took more. This was apparently to test my body's ability to generate cortisol.

The good news is I have an MRI scan, a week on Friday. I noticed my blood pressure was more normal, - higher than it's ever been at home, maybe due to the stress of being there and all my recent walking, drinking and consuming of restaurant food.

Morph x.

[Bev]

Good luck with the scan Morph. At least they are doing something & this could be the breakthrough you have been waiting for.

[Morph]

Hello there,

Thanks Bev. I had the MRI last week. My next hospital appointment is in September. I can't help but want to know more before then, but not sure what will be forthcoming. I wonder how many such tests show nothing? Is that a common outcome?

I've received a copy of a letter sent to my GP, summarising what has been done. It says:

CORT baseline 395 + 30 mins 1083, presumably a normal response?
Glucose 9.1
Urea 4.8
Sodium 141
Potassium 4.7
Creatinine 77
Ferritin 25
Hb 13.5
WBC 6.6
Platelets 303
RBC 4.62
- all of which I think are normal.

It also says "Blood tests have shown normal thyroid function, prolactin, testosterone and a random cortisol at 982. However, she has low estradiol at 45 with a low LH and FSH."

Although it's good to be proved "normal" in these areas, I still feel like a zombie and can't help but hope the MRI shows something, as at least that might signal the start of some movement in treatment. I know I'm not "with it" for much of the time. Yesterday, I realised half way through a trip that I was driving without my glasses, which is quite illegal in my case and something I could never normally forget ...

Morph x.

[Bev]

Well it all sounds double dutch to me! Hope you finally get the answers you need.

[Morph]

Me too. But thanks x.