Addison's Disease Support Group

Addison's disease (also known as chronic adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism) is a rare endocrine disorder. It is estimated that it affects about 1 to 2 in 100,000 people. It occurs when the adrenal glands, seated above the kidneys, fail to produce enough of the hormone cortisol and, sometimes, the hormone aldosterone

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Endocrine System
/ Addison's Disease Support Group

Addison disease and myasthenia gravis

cherokee23
cherokee23
Does anyone have these two diseases? I was diagnosed with myesthenia gravis in 2011, three years after I had a thymona removed. I was in the hospital with a myesthenia gravis crisis and not getting better in April, 2015. It was then discovered that I was also in an addisonian crisis. I had not been diagnosed with Addison prior to this, so it was a surprise to everyone. I have a neurologist and and endocrinologist trying to stabilize these diseases. Has anyone experienced this? How can you tell which disease is causing the problem?
Jeff159
Jeff159
I can't really help much, but can certainly sympathize with what you're going through. I've been suffering from fatigue and muscle pain since around 2000. In 2010 I was diagnosed with MG and subsequently had a thymectomy. Over the last few years I've been hospitalized a couple times and been on varying doses of prednisone. I finally tapered the prednisone down to 2.5 mg AM for a few weeks, but have been experiencing low blood sugar, extreme fatigue and insomnia. My GP ran some blood work and told me that my AM base cortisol level was only 0.7, and has taken me off the prednisone and started me on hydrocortisone (15 mg AM, 10 mg PM). I haven't seen an endocrinologist yet. One of the Websites I read on Addison's lists Myasthenia as a risk factor, so I'm sure there's others out there with the same combination.
tmack
tmack
I thought I was the only one in the world with both these rarities. I have had Addisons go over 40 years, well controlled with maybe 4 episodes considered Addison crisis. I take hydrocortisone 15mg in AM and 5 PM plus fludrocortisone in AM.
I was diagnosed with MG in April of this year. I am still in the phase where the neuro is still experimenting with doses of meds. I am on cell cept 1000 twice per day; Mestinon 90mg four times per day and I have an IV/IG once per week. I am getting progressively better. I can swallow well enough that I eat three meals a day at the table. I still am being Tube-fed once or twice a day, but I see that ending in the next couple of weeks. I still have to stop 2 - 3 times a day and put my feet up and rest. The strength comes and goes without warning.
I hope you get better and get control of these two wierd diseases.