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Yup. Not sure if it is primary due to an adhesion she has on her adrenal gland or if it is secondary due to the fact that growth hormone deficiency runs in my family. She says that cortisol treatment is defiantly helping her tremendously, but she is making the claim that such treatment will cause her adrenals to stop production entirely. Is this true?
Anyway, our medical symptoms are identical, so i'm starting to think I may have Addison's as well. I always believed that Addison's was complete dysfunction of the adrenal gland, but it seems like her adrenals are working somewhat but are not producing enough cortisol.
I'm going to give her a call and try to learn more about what is going on.
Anyway, our medical symptoms are identical, so i'm starting to think I may have Addison's as well. I always believed that Addison's was complete dysfunction of the adrenal gland, but it seems like her adrenals are working somewhat but are not producing enough cortisol.
I'm going to give her a call and try to learn more about what is going on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease
"Maintenance
Treatment for Addison's disease involves replacing the missing cortisol, sometimes in the form of hydrocortisone tablets, or prednisone tablets in a dosing regimen that mimics the physiological concentrations of cortisol. Alternatively one quarter as much prednisolone may be used for equal glucocorticoid effect as hydrocortisone. Treatment must usually be continued for life. In addition, many patients require fludrocortisone as replacement for the missing aldosterone. Caution must be exercised when the person with Addison's disease becomes unwell with infection, has surgery or other trauma, or becomes pregnant. In such instances, their replacement glucocorticoids, whether in the form of hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, or other equivalent, often need to be increased. Inability to take oral medication may prompt hospital attendance to receive steroids intravenously. People with Addison's are often advised to carry information on them (e.g. in the form of a MedicAlert bracelet) for the attention of emergency medical services personnel who might need to attend to their needs."
On the other hand, I just got off the phone with her and she sounds MUCH better. She said the swolling in her ankles is gone and her back pain diminished by nearly 70 percent. Also, finding out what is wrong means that she can now be weaned off all of the narcotics she is on!!! She sounded lucid and not drugged up like usual. I know all of this is scary, but I hope that in the long run it is a road to recovery.