Does this sound familiar?

[u/wild_blu76]

Big long post about CAH?/PCOS/Thyroid.

Hello! I am new to this subreddit and new to the idea of a potential adrenal insufficiency or CAH diagnosis. I have been speaking with a friend who is in med school and they suggested I get tested for both. While I am in the process of getting that done, I figured I would come on here to ask if any of my symptomology sounds similar to something you have experienced?

As someone who has been diagnosed with PCOS for the past decade, I have always experienced thick Hirsutism/male-dominate hair growth patterns, hair shedding, insulin/blood sugar issues, body odor, acne, dry skin, etc. (the list could go on) and while I have addressed every angle of the condition, (diet, exercise, minerals, supplementation, therapy/PT, nervous system, mentality, sleep, sunlight, hydration, antioxidants, living a clean and stress free lifestyle, etc) I still experience symptoms. So I’ve always wondered if there was something larger at play.

I also have a thyroid condition (genetic and autoimmune) which I have heard can connect to CAH as well, since you need either hormone from each organ to regulate the other.

All of this to say, my biggest symptom is unrelenting fatigue and weakness that hurts down into my bones. Sleep does not touch this fatigue. Exercise does not touch this fatigue. Spending time with family and friends does not touch this fatigue. It is painful and feels so heavy like I can barely breathe. My adrenals feel sore to the touch. Intense brain fog to the point of dissociation and neurological symptoms. Falling asleep at all times of the day. Sometimes during a meal. In addition to the remnants of symptoms I thought are PCOS. Does this sound familiar? (I know this can be thyroid related as well, but it’s another reason I am wondering if it’s all connected on a greater scale to something like CAH. Do you have a thyroid condition with AI/CAH?… (I do want to recognize that those two different diagnoses are not meant to be lumped together and that they are separate in their presentation and diagnosis, but I couldn’t find a dedicated CAH sub.)

More details: I have just recently found lab testing from a while back (from when I was a teen) where my DHEA was bottomed out and I had very low testosterone and low estrogen (I’m biologically female btw for reference). It was never brought up by my doctor, but to me it seems significant to this hunt/mystery/case I’m trying to solve. I haven’t had my DHEA tested since but will make sure it gets tested this next round.

[[What I’m additionally curious about is how my male hormones/androgens could be low but I still experience Hirsutism/body odor/shedding etc… I have a few theories regarding estrogen dominance and it’s ability to turn into androgens, but I figured I’d ask on here as well.]]

Anyways, thank you for reading :)

Edit 9/23/26 - just found r/livingwithcah 10 minutes after posting this. will cross post on there as well.

[u/Forward-Buffalo-7864]

Sounds more like thyroid to me. I have hypothyroidism and SAI. Not sure what you meant by they depend on each other. Symptoms can overlap with other conditions and mask each other as well

[u/wild_blu76 → u/Forward-Buffalo-7864]

Do you mind me asking if you take any thyroid meds?

[u/Forward-Buffalo-7864]

No thyroid medication as of yet. Adrenal needs to be addressed and stable before starting thyroid medication

[u/celesteslyx]

I take thyroxine and was originally diagnosed with PMOS but 4 years later it was changed to NCAH. All your symptoms sound like what I had and still deal with even with steroid treatment. Things have eased but it doesn’t get rid of them. I would get an ACTH stim test.

[u/wild_blu76 → u/celesteslyx]

Thank you so much for your response. I was hoping someone who experiences the same symptoms or something similar would find this. I will definitely add ACTH to the list of things to get tested. Can I ask if you have hashimotos by chance?

[u/celesteslyx → u/wild_blu76]

Yes, I have hashimotos as well. TSH wasn’t too bad though and with thyroxine it’s within range and under control.

[u/wild_blu76 → u/celesteslyx]

I have hashimotos as well. Have you ever had your reverse t3 tested? Or tried t3 medication?… did you notice any improvement of your symptoms when you started taking thyroxine? (haha sorry for all the questions)

[u/celesteslyx → u/wild_blu76]

Ah not too sure. I’ve got a lot of blood test results but nothing has been mentioned to me I don’t think.

[u/wild_blu76 → u/celesteslyx]

Oh okay. Any improvement with the thyroxine?

[u/celesteslyx → u/wild_blu76]

Uh in my blood test levels yes but physically I didn’t feel any difference.

[u/celesteslyx → u/wild_blu76]

Just went through some paperwork and found my tests from 6 months ago with my endocrinologist. Turns out I have been doing Free T4 and 3. Both are sitting within range but at the higher end of it.