good endo appt................: Yesterday, I saw... - PMRGCAuk

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good endo appt................

karools16 profile image
16 Replies

Yesterday, I saw the Endo Consultant. Sadly, not the lovely locum, of last year, but THE man himself. Remember, the one who diagnosed me by LETTER!. Anyway, he was nice. Says I am managing my Addison's Disease well. I asked if I could taper back to 4mg, and he said no lower than 5mg, and to do it s-l-o-w-l-y. I told him I would taper by 0.5mg. He also said I should ring 111 and let them know I am an AD patient, so, in the event of a crisis, I would be a priority call, for the paramedics to come out and give the injection.I asked whether my adrenals would ever recover fully? He said it was difficult, but probably not. I told him I was fine with taking Pred forever. He stressed the inmportance of getting immediate help, if vomiting/diarrhoea. In other cases of being unwell, to double the Pred dose. I have been doing the latter. I am on 7mg Pred. I will start the taper after my abdominal scan, next Monday, and the result. I had a Dexa last week, and will ask GP for result, today, i.o. waiting a month to see him!

The consultant never once said you look well, and a good listener. No hurry to get me out.Said I only need to come once a year, as I am doing well, and know what to do if in crisis.

I told him I didn't have an emergency kit, at home, nor could I face even learning how to self-inject...yes, I know...chicken. He was ok about that, and then mentioned 111.

I told him I had NO FATIGUE, prior to the Synacthen test, after it, and even now. I do not get tired. Simples.He said my baseline was far too low.I said that was the only time I knew I was ill...after the test result.A good appt with a good Endo, who LISTENED!

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16 Replies

Hi Karools

I’m so pleased you got The Man, l think it’s important for a serious condition like this.

I’m aware of letting the ambulance service know of your condition.

Do you wear a Medi Alert Bracelet with your info on it?

Don’t forget to always carry extra tablets with you at all times to be on the safe side.

I think l may have told you my Mum had an Addison’s Crisis but she recovered & went on to daily HC x3 a day. So it’s not an issue if you take care of yourself & have emergency Meds on Standby.

I’ll update you later as to how l get on.

Best Wishes 🌺

Angela x

karools16 profile image
karools16 in reply to

Yes, I wear a bracelet.Seems your Mum was ok on HC? I wasn't.Yes, look forward to hearing about your appt.

in reply tokarools16

Yes, she was fine in HC she’d been on Prednisone for years for her asthma at very high doses.

They kept her on HC but if she had a chest infection/bad asthma they always gave her additional Prednisone for a short period.

Catch you later

Angela x

YEAH!!!!! A "good" Consultant story.... YEAH!!!!!

I'm happy for you!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Result!

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

You seem to have taken a lot of strength from your proper consultation with the Endocrinologist. I am glad about that and your whole coping attitude. It sounds like you have been informed and assertive throughout and have been treated with respect. Good luck with the abdominal scan and the DEXA. Let us know how you get on. X

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Sounds as if you have forgiven him for the rather blunt approach last year! And yes - he sounds good and sensible.

Wonder what he meant by "your baseline was far too low" in relation to your lack of symptoms?

karools16 profile image
karools16 in reply toPMRpro

I decided against giving him a piece of my mind, with regards to THAT letter. It was a warm day, felt good, and a lot of water under the bridge.The baseline level was 85 and peak of 140.4. He said should be more than 150. Those numbers mean 0 to me.At least some parts of me are working well!

Morning Karools

Something I’ve meant to ask you before, why did you have the Synacthen test if you had no fatigue? Were you displaying other symptoms?

Thanks

Mrs N 💅🏼

karools16 profile image
karools16 in reply to

Before my Neuro handed me over to my GP, when I was at 3mg Pred, he arranged synacthen test. I remember when he was treating me, he had said I would need this test when on a lower dose. I was very well at the time. That's why the result was such a shock.

in reply tokarools16

Ah, l can see that it would be! A very thorough a guy by the sound of him! x

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to

It is recommended in various places. And an endo told jinasc that it was something that SHOULD be done for anyone who had been on long term steroids as it is a simple test that would avoid some nasty surprises.

NZShez profile image
NZShez

I have had sub optimal results on 2 synacthen tests. My consultant has decided not to carry out any further tests as the treatment would be the same as I am already on. I have gone back to 5mg Pred after struggling with night time pain on 2.5. Phew, feeling a lot better. I am planning to go back To 4mg after a week to see how things go. I think the treatment depends on what country you are in. I am in New Zealand.

I was told this week that due to my age I do not have PMR but Polymyalgic syndrome. I am 60 and diagnosed at the age of 57. This quite amused me!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toNZShez

Pardon??????? "Due to my age" - you are nicely in the age group for PMR: over 50!

NZShez profile image
NZShez in reply toPMRpro

I know! Apparently too young to have PMR as in New Zealand the age range seems to be over 65. I still have the same treatment and same access to Rheumatologist

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toNZShez

For goodness sake - PMR is the same whatever continent it appears in. And the INTERNATIONAL groups agree on over 50...

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