Adrenal Crisis

Question: What are the actual signs and symptoms of adrenal crisis? I ask this because if I do have an adrenal crisis I must inject or have an injection of Dexamethazone. Any help will be appreciated!!!

Answer: It can vary. I have no adrenals so I do the same thing. The first thing is that you can do other things before the crisis - you can take oral steroids if you can keep them down. Fluids, salt and rest will help. When I have a crisis, the first thing I feel is a horrible headache and nausea. I also tend to get very confused and cannot make decisions - even simple ones like picking a shirt or food. Vomiting may come soon. Once I vomit, then I need more steroids right away - so I take more orally, as well as a salt tablet (sodium going down is the crisis trigger BTW) and see how it goes as well as a zofran. Did you doctor give you zofran or phenergan to help you stop vomiting? That is needed. If I can stop, all is well, otherwise, then is when you need the injection. Usually the injection is solu-cortef or solu-medrol, which are faster acting corticosteroids. Dex takes a long time to act so that is an unusual choice for an emergency medication. Do you have an emergency kit together - the medication, needle, alcohol pads, instructions, contact info, letter from doc on how to treat?

Question: why does thyroid replacement therapy in hypoadrenalism cause adrenal crisis? Thyroid replacement therapy should not commence until normal glucocorticoud function is demonstrated or replacement steroid therapy is initiated because it can lead to adrenal crisis.... but how does thyroid hormone cause adrenal crisis?

Answer: I don't know where you got that *quote* but I know many people who are on both replacements. Even when one is off, and adrenal crisis is not automatic. A crisis is a very severe event. A person can become a bit AI- insufficient and that would not imply the same amount of illness but would mean that the person has some deficiency. Since the thyroid and the adrenals do work together, why oh why would anyone think that fixing one would be independent of the other? Quite often when I adjust one medication, I have to adjust others as there is a domino effect. I have doctors that control my dosages and test me regularly. I would advise against getting steroids off the internet as no one is monitoring you.

Question: What are early signs of acute adrenal crisis?

Answer: * Tendency to gain weight and unable to loose it, especially around the waist. * High frequency of getting the flu and other respiratory diseases and these symptoms tend to last longer than usual. * Tendency to tremble when under pressure. * Reduced sex drive. * Lightheaded when rising from a laying down position. * Unable to remember things. * Lack of energy in the mornings and also in the afternoon between 3 to 5 pm. * Feel better suddenly for a brief period after a meal. * Often feel tired betweeen 9 - 10 pm, but resist going to bed. * Need coffee or stimulants to get going in the morning. * Crave for salty, fatty, and high protein food such as meat and cheese. * Increase symptoms of PMS for women; period are heavy and then stop, or almost stopped on the 4th day, only to start flow again on the 5th or 6th day. * Pain in the upper back or neck with no apparent reasons . * Feels better when stress is relieved, such as on a vacation. * Difficulties in getting up in the morning * Lightheaded

Question: HElP can I stop prednisone can i get adrenal crisis? Help me please I started prednisone for a sinus infection and I took 4 pills for 3 days and then 3 pills for 2 days, I couldn't continue taking them because of rapid heartbeat/very short of breath, even walking made me short of breath its horrible! anyway I took 19 pills in total, but on the 5th day i was unable to continue since i feel so sick on them, my doc insists i continue but i stopped them yesterday, my question is can i get adrenal crisis if i stop them suddenly because the side effects are just too much for me, i am so scared please let me know thanks

Answer: If you were going to get an adrenal crisis, it would have already happened. Your dose should have been too low. I have no adrenals. When I go into crisis, it is rather fast, and I get a severe headache, vomiting, confusion, etc. If you had had a large dose, or if you went cushingoid on the small dose, then perhaps you would have had to worry, but you should be fine. But yeah, the side effects bite.

Question: I have Sheehans Syndrome does any one out there have this, if so have you ever been in Adrenal Crisis?

Answer: The pituitary gland normally produces hormones that stimulate breast milk production, growth, reproductive functions, the thyroid, and the adrenal glands. A lack of these hormones results in a variety of symptoms related to all of these areas. The treatment for pituitary insufficiency is lifelong hormone substitute medication, including estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement. Thyroid and adrenal hormones also must be taken. This condition can be life-threatening if not treated because of the lack of thyroid and adrenal hormones, which allow the body to react to stress or infections. I add a link that discusses treatments for this condition. http://www.mayoclinic.com /health/sheehans-syndrome/ DS00889/DSECTION=7 In cases when more detail about a condition is required, you would be advised to consult your doctor or gaenocologist Hope this helps matador

Question: Adrenal Tumor...Surgery question? Anyone that has had an adrenal tumor, any kind, where they had to remove your whole adrenal gland. what is the surgery like? what is recovery time like? did y ou have to be on medications? how long till the other gland takes over for the lost one? and did it fix the problems you were having that requrired it to be removed? I have one on my right adrenal gland, its not a Pheo although i have a ton of symptoms of a Pheo. It makes too much aldosterone, and possibly other hormones. I Have probably had it for a long time as i have had high blood pressure dince i was about 19-20. ( plus a slwe of other physical complaints)But recently as it started increasing more they started doing tests, found this. shotly afte r i had a hypertensive crisis. BP got to 232/123. so now i take drugs for the BP ( same two i took before) i am also on a potassium supplement ( about a year now) and recently a postassium sparing dueretic that also blocks the aldosterone production. any advice would be appreciate I have been to a doctor. i dont ge tto go to my pre-op appt. for another week 1/2 and i am just nervous and looking for answers sooner. from people with experience with this. I have also had numerous blood tests and a 24 hour urine, and they say it cant be a pheo....although all my symptoms ( ALL ) are pheo symptoms...maybe they are wrong, or maybe the type i have just causes the same issues. who knows. but they are most likely doing it laproscopically!

Answer: Make SURE you are seeing a surgeon who is going to do this laparoscopically. You should not have to have an open surgery for a functional adrenal mass unless it is huge. It sounds like a pheo to me, so make sure they draw all the metanephrines to be sure before they operate.

Question: Can high blood pressure ever result from LOW blood sodium? I have problems keeping enough sodium in my blood, and have to take salt supplements ever since an adrenal failure a few years ago. Even with a very high salt intake, (about 3 times what is usually recommended), my blood sodium is still usually a little below normal. It has never been higher than 139, and is usually 120-130. After 14 hospitalizations for low sodium in the past few years, I have gotten pretty good at balancing my own electrolytes with diet, supplements, and Smart Water or gatorade. My question is, even with the low sodium, I have recently developed high blood pressure. The only other time it was high was right before the adrenal crisis, when I was given water pills, and ended up having adrenal failure. Anyone else ever had this?

Answer: Maybe its your body or are u on some type of medication. Different types of blood pressure meds or other meds will deplete your sodium level. In the past i had the same problem but it was my potassium. I found out that it was my b.p. medication taking my potassium out my body but the doctors nor the pharmacy didn't believe crap i was saying so when I stop the medication my potassium got back on track. The only thing i can tell u just keep drinking Gatorade and do what ever u do so it want drop.

Question: I have questions about Cortisol. Please Help!? What effects of Cortisol am I missing? I know there are some, especially around the brain. Can somebody please help me? Thank you so much! Nervous System  cataracts  mood swings  psychological problems such as depression Cardiovascular System  high blood pressure Digestive System  increased appetite and weight gain  stomach ulcers Endocrine System  adrenal suppression and crisis  diabetes Skin, Hair, Nails, and Fat  deposits of fat in chest, face, upper back, and stomach  black and blue marks  slowed healing of wounds  acne  thinning of the skin  increased sweating Musculoskeletal System  osteoporosis  muscle weakness Reproductive System? Urinary System? Immune System  increased susceptibility to infection  Immunosupression Metabolism  water and salt retention leading to swelling and edema (a form of swelling)

Answer: wow- what a complete list! i found this for you- http://www.youramazingbrain.org/braincha… scroll to the middle of the page for the specific answers about cortisol.

Question: prednisone for crohn's disease? I know someone who has taken prednisone for 37 years and is now experiencing symptoms (cataracts, osteoporosis). He says that he will go into Addison's Crisis if he cuts the prednisone back too much because the adrenals have "shut down". Does anyone know how to deal with this kind of problem? he's currently on 8mg

Answer: Not something that should be dealt with here. Addisonian Crisis is no joke. So I don't understand your Crohn's question. You or your friend has Crohn's?