Adrenals.

[sandrathecat]

Afternoon everyone. Does anyone know how we can tell when our adrenals are kicking in again? Are there any symptoms? Thank you.

[jinasc]

Why do you ask and please a bit more ie are you on pred, how long and what dosage now and are you PMR Gca or both?

You will now if you have an adrenal crisis and that you do not want at all. Just look it up.

[sandrathecat in reply to jinasc]

Thanks, I will look it up. Am down to 8mg and have been feeling a bit off. I just wondered if the adrenals had anything to do with it. Best wishes.

[Hidden]

Hi, have a look at this thread from earlier today. Info re adrenals.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

[sandrathecat in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Poopadoop.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You are more likely to get symptoms if they aren’t kicking in!

Usual suspects - fatigue, nausea, dizziness etc.

[sandrathecat in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your reply. Am down to 8mg (again!) and have been feeling off colour. Just wondered if it was the adrenals. Best wishes.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Could be. - but could also be steroid withdrawal symptoms or too low a dose.

Trouble - there are too many reasons at this sort of level.

As you know withdrawal symptoms usually only last a few days - the others obviously longer.

I found my Adrenal problem was mainly fatigue - and for no apparent reason! Just came on randomly. But it did last about 9 months!

The only thing you can do really is monitor things for the moment - no point is asking for them to be tested yet - unless you become really ill.

Look up “adrenal insufficiency” online so you are aware of the symptoms.

Fingers crossed they soon spark!

Might be worth looking at this -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[sandrathecat in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks so much. Your advice is always great and always appreciated. Best wishes.

[ncfaaeos in reply to DorsetLady]

Very helpful info. Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is more the LACK of symptoms that tells you things are OK.

If you are wobbling at 8mg - slow down. Longer gaps and smaller steps...

[sandrathecat]

No pains anywhere but just very tired. I could sleep on a clothes line some days. Seeing the rheumy on Monday and having my first bone scan so will see how it all goes. Thanks very much again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sandrathecat]

The fatigue IS a sign your adrenal function might be struggling to keep up. The first approach should be to wait patiently without reducing any further to give them a chance to get up to speed. Try to resist the temptation to go back up - the only thing that wakes them up is being poked by the pred dose being a tad too low.

I assume you mean dexascan? About time!!

[sandrathecat in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I have been on the pred for two years and this is the first scan I have been offered! Thanks for your great advice as always. It has been a comfort to me that I can turn to this forum when I am concerned about my health. Very best wishes.

[SnazzyD]

8mgish and below was quite a complicated struggle with withdrawal and adrenal sluggishness. What was new and what I assumed was adrenal lacking oomph was weak wobblies, emotional instability, just have nothing left in the tank, feeling like I had no substance like is was empty. I also got sluggish bowel, couldn’t get up in the morning, craving salt and carbs (been on very low of both), terrible memory and just not being able to cope. As I’ve got lower, going through a terrible phase about 7.5mg-5mg things have kicked in I think, because these symptoms have receded and are intermittent, especially around reduction time for a month or so. As has been said, it’s the lack of symptoms that is the give away.

[sandrathecat in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for your reply. Gives me hope that things will improve. I am hoping to carry on reducing slowly. Very best wishes.

[SnazzyD in reply to sandrathecat]

All last summer I thought I’d never feel well again and wondered if I was about to get PMR on top of my GCA. Then the clouds started to lift.

[sandrathecat in reply to SnazzyD]

I am so pleased for you as it gives hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel for all of us.

[Sho-Sho]

I have had a really bad year at 7.5mg, been stuck on it for nearly a year, because of massive fatigue and generally feeling unwell, none of the medics are sure whether it's still the effects of GCA or adrenal insufficiency, symptoms so similar. Now trying to taper again, half a mg every 5 weeks with the plan that when I eventually get to 5mg they will test the adrenal function again.

It seems to be a really tough time for the body to adjust to the lower steroid dose when you have started at the higher levels.

Good luck.

[sandrathecat in reply to Sho-Sho]

Thanks Sho-Sho and good luck to you also in reducing. I had got down to 2 at one time and felt well all the time I was reducing and then had a flare with jaw and head pain so back up I went. I am taking it very slowly this time and following advice on this forum as they seem to know more than a lot of GPs!