It's a combo of adrenal problems, hashimotos and/or diabetes. I have schmidt syndrome as well, but I have adrenal/hashimotos. My doctor only calls it Schmidt when interns or other doctors are sitting in with us, otherwise he calls each illness by it's individual name.

I've had doctors in the past who liked to toot their horn by naming every disease combo the weird technical name leaving me completely baffled, but I finally got tired of it and asked them to stop. It wasn't received to nicely, but they stopped because it kept confusing me :)

Gash,

Do you have any tips on how to feel better?

Lynn

The things that have brought about the best improvements for me are the following:

1.) I take an early morning dose of HC around 4am and I take my thyroid meds at that time. Some times I'll take my thyroid meds at this time and then take HC as soon as I get up.

2.) Breaking up my HC into smaller doses throughout the day. I recently changed from 5/15/10 to 5/10/5/5/5 (sometimes skipping the last one all together if I'm feeling good). First dose starts at 4am, then one shortly after getting up, then one around lunch, one late afternoon and one with dinner.

3.) Eating a diet that consists mainly of low glycemic indexed foods and I eat little to no gluten. I roughly follow a diet called 'The Zone'. It focuses on eating low indexed foods and each meal having equal protein:carb:fat ratios to help maintain a level blood sugar throughout the day. I don't stick to it like glue but it's a rough guideline. I also plan all my meals throughout the week for my family and we all follow the same general idea. If I'm out and about I pack foods for us so we're not tempted by fast food or other convenient foods. I have a small cooler in the backseat of my car and a tote bag full of good foods.

Since doing these things I feel like a million dollars. Granted I have my rough days, but they're much easier to recover from.

Dang it, hit enter and it submitted my post.

I should add too that this approach has made weightloss a lot easier and energy go through the roof! :)

If you have any questions you can ask here or PM me and I'll gladly help y'all!

- Kristen

I forgot to add the supplements I take that have helped also:

- Collagen to help my skin, since our skin can get really poor while on steroids.

- Vitamin B12, it helps with the skin sensitivities I get and the nerve issues I have as a side effect of AD

- Prenatal Vitamin, simply because it has the most band for the buck

- Vitamin D, helps with energy and mood

- Iron, I'm not anemic but I did find that taking Iron helped with energy and overall feeling better

- Evening Primrose Oil, helps with the horrible menstrual cycles I have since getting my tubes tied.

- Calcium/Magnesium supplement, bones and energy

- A liquid mineral supplement I add to my water because I have reverse osmosis we drink out of and it removes EVERYTHING, including all the good minerals we'd get from our well water.

Kristen, where do you get collagen? Do you buy it online or from a vitamin store? I'd like to start taking that also. I already take all the other supplements you take, plus a few more for migraines, and thrush that I am having trouble with. Thanks for your help.

Lynn

It feels good that someone understands I was just baffled that the Dr out of the blue said that I had Schmidts Syndrome and yest there was an intern in the room. I had thought I had Addisons, Hashimotos and Type I diab but when that was said my spirits just sunk. I am getting my diab pump next week and dr assured me that would make me feel better but after the appointment I went home and tried to find info on Schmidts Syndrome and there really isn't much. I wish I could get rid of these nasty headaches but did not find much. I will take your advice and ask dr too not make my illness so dramatic around others

Lynn - I buy from Vitacost.com they are the cheapest, even after shipping.

This is the one I take. I love it.

http://www.vitacost.com/neocell-super-collagen-plus-c-type-1-and-3-6000-mg-250-tablets

I only take 2 of the 6 recommended capsules a day and have seen a dramatic improvement :)

To livinginmontana, try taking B complex, and magnesium for your headaches. For migraines the advice is actually B2, B complex, CoQ10, a magnesium zinc and calcium combo, and a multiple vitamin everyday. These have helped me greatly reduce my pain levels. You might be deficient in your minerals and that is causing the headaches. Vitamin D is good to throw in since most people are deficient in that. I take 3,000 a day. Sorry you are feeling bad. I hope the pump makes you feel better.

Kristen, thanks for the shopping info.

LyNn

Thanks for the info but why am I pay my endo so much money to help me if she doesn't know this, (just a little vent) thanks I will try this, actually I will try anything.

Hahahaha, yeah most Endos are overpaid regurgitated textbooks. But also the western medical approach, generally, is sticking with pharmaceutical drugs rather than natural supplementation to aid in improving overall well-being. I've found doing a lot of reading and researching I have been able to solve a lot of my own problems AND surprisingly educated my very receptive Endo.

Anyone know about pregnancy and schmidts? If all levels are good is it still disasterous? Im trying to figure out if this is something we could consider but I dont know if I want to put my body through that?
Lucie

I have a 1 year old son who was conceived while having Schmidt syndrome. I have a 3 year old as well and it's suspected I had the beginnings of AD during that whole process and both of my kids are doing awesome! They both chart way ahead then others their age.

The horrible stories you read about are really few and far between. Yes we have a higher risk of the horror happening but it's really only a percentage or two above any other normal human being. If you have any questions please feel free to private message me and I'll be happy to answer :)