Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Lifeis2short 06/30/2013

Hi everyone! When I first started on this site about 3 years or so ago I was diagnosed with RA. Since then I have been diagnosed with Raynaud's syndrome, and Addison's disease. It looks like the addison's may have been brought on by the high doses of steroids I have taken over the last 6 years (before that they thought I had MS and was on IV steroids quite alot). Anyway, I always noticed so many people have such bad fatigue. Several months ago I was in the hospital because I started feeling faint all the time and my blood pressure dropped extremely low. I also had some chest pain so went to the ER where they admitted me for chest pain and did all the stuff for that and my heart was fine so they said follow up with my regular doc. She did some bloodwork and said I had Addison's and that's why I was so fatigued all the time. I'm just wondering if any of you have had any adrenal function tests and would highly recommend it, especially if you have been on steroids for a long time. Just thought I would pass this along.

RCross 06/30/2013

Funny you mentioned this....I was researching adrenal fatigue last week. I do have some symptoms. Even being overweight my blood pressure (resting) is 85-90/48-60. Low! I was in the hospital last week for a day and they didn't want to let me leave because my BP had dropped even lower than that. I don't have the skin "bronzing" though.

I'm going to call my PCP tomorrow and ask for testing.

deleted_user 06/30/2013

Thanks for passing this on Life. I hope you feel better soon.

Sunvalleygal 06/30/2013

Yes,i have had my adrenal glands checked. Right after i was diaged with RA i was diaged with CFS. I had sever adrenal fatigue syndrome and was house bound for a year. I was so weak that standing for five minutes at a time was an actual goal for my days. I started either in bed or a recliner for a year...didn't go anywhere but to a doctor s office. I finally went to a Cfs specialist in Denver for a year. It helped me greatly with the fatigue connected with cfs....

I saw a nutritionist for a year. He helped me greatly. Starting away from sugar, caffeine, and gluten helped. I also got Meyers cocktail IVs and AMP shots. Now i take Ra Meds that help with fatigue .

The only problem i seem to have now is when i work out it takes me a long time to recover.

bluedogs2 07/01/2013

Thank you Lifeis2short. I have placed this on both my doctor's question's list for next visit

Peace and rest to us all

Bluedogs2

Sunvalleygal 07/01/2013

What the will check is your cortisol levels

Lifeis2short 07/02/2013

RCross-I didn't have any skin color changes. I began having symptoms in November and kept getting worse. I actually passed out but I was also on a lot of RA meds too...
Suera-thanks...you too!
Sunvalleygal-yes they check the cortisol level in the blood, just a simple blood test. I found out the next day.
bluedogs2-good idea! Hope you do not have it!
Thanks for the awesome support and feedback!!

deleted_user 07/03/2013

Funny you should post this now. I am just coming out of an adrenal crisis. Been going for about a week. Still too weak to type too much about it. I have my rheumy and primary moving heaven and earth to get me an encrinologist appt. my cortisol level was 1.6. Very low. All brought on by weaning off pred after being on it over a year. Now back on for the immediate future...

Lifeis2short 07/03/2013

eemonkey...so sorry! I think that is also what made me get this. I'm hoping that my adrenal glands will eventually function without the steroids but it's a slow and weaning off process. My doc said it could take 1-3 years but I'm going to a new doc next month so we'll see. Take care and hope you feel better soon!

deleted_user 07/03/2013

Thanks LifeIs2. Do you have an endo treating you? Or your rheumy?
My rheumy and primary want me to see an endo. Sent labs over to endo. Doc there says 1.6 cortisol level is "normal" for someone coming off pred and they can give me an appt in3-4 months.
My dog had Addison's. As soon as she was diagnosed they did an ultrasound of her adrenals. So I feel like I'm slipping thru the cracks. Told my primary this and he said, "so, you want care at least as good as your dog's.". Love him
Rheumy is contacting an endo she did her residency with for me. Being a holiday though I doubt I'll hear for days.

deleted_user 07/08/2013

Wow, I can really relate to a lot of this, SEVERE fatigue, weakness, dizziness, a lot of times I can barely stand for a few minutes at a time.
I do have an endocrinologist, but he is the worst! Never asks how I feel, only goes by my tsh for my hashi's (not good practice)! Is this the test where you can have the saliva test done for the cortisol? I think I may just pay out of pocket and order it over the internet. Tired of feeling like crud.
But what I really had to add was eemonkey, I have a yorkie and she has addisons too! 7 years now. Just thought that was interesting.

DrSLPT 07/09/2013

I wonder if my cardiac issue relates to this topic. I had a tachycardia for 8 hrs after exercise for the first several weeks when I was finally able to try to exercise. I've read some things about "adrenal fatigue" that sound similar. I will ask my doc when i see him.

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