Adrenal gland enlargement

[Numberone1]

Following a CT scan for something totally different, it has been found I have enlargement of both adrenal glands. Does anyone know what this means? Cushings?

Many thanks because Im panicking now

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[Hidden]

Sometimes you can get adenomas on the adrenal glands which could be the cause of the enlargement. People quite often have them without any issue, however they should run some tests to make sure that are not excreting excess hormones

[Numberone1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi. Looking back at my posts I still haven't heard from an endocrinologist. I am due to have heart surgery to replace the aortic valve but my surgeon now wants me to have a consult with an endocrinologist first. This is ridiculous that I still haven't heard anything although Im appreciative of COVID delays etc. I arranged my own private cortisol test which was a 9am one and it came back the very top of the range. Does anyone know what that seems to indicate? 3 years ago when I was suspicious but nobody did anything about it, I did a 24 hour urine test through medichecks and their result came back saying to speak to my GP because I might have Cushings disease. Now that ive had a scan and it can see enlarged adrenals, still I have heard nothing. Should I be pushing? Should I stop worrying?

Any help welcome.

[Hidden in reply to Numberone1]

Yes you should definitely should be pushing! What was your cortisol result? Cushing's syndrome is a serious condition & can impact your heart surgery. Cushing's syndrome refers to it when the issues is with the adrenal glands while Cushing's disease refers to a tumour in the pituitary gland. Happy to help in any way as I've had Cushing's & run a FB group for people with Cushing's.

[Numberone1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I think im on your Facebook group. My cardiac nurse is meant to be pushing for an endo but that was 2 weeks ago! I emailed her yesterday trying to find out what is happening.

I seem to have read that Cushings syndrome is when it is caused by steroid medication etc and I don't take that. Only T3 for my thyroid. Plus a betablocker and diuretic which Ive taken for years. I had a PET scan and nothing was mentioned about the pituitary but I know it can be quite small and missed.

Sometimes I wonder if the heart valve problem is from this in the first place. The cortisol result was 620 and that was the very top. My gp called but not about that and when she read it out to me I said, thats very high. She said it is on the high side but didn't seem bothered about it and that is as far as I got three years ago. Before lockdown and I was told the PET scan showed both adrenals were enlarged, I went to see my GP to query it and he seemed not bothered either by saying often adrenal glands are enlarged. He knows Im quite a stressy person so he probably thought thats why they're enlarged!

The thing is, im a stressy person and then let it drop because for over 5 years I have queried unacceptable increase in weight, distended stomach and such immense sweating that I drip. I don't have other symptoms though, like round face or stretch marks. High anxiety and depression over the years though.

Interestingly, after my second daughter, I kept producing milk for a couple of years and I got scared by that but it eventually stopped, I had another child and there was no sign of it again. However, I now know the pituitary can cause that. Ive also had a head injury that damanged an optic nerve and I know that is near the pituitary too. It was after that I put on alot of weight and my foot size went from a 5 to a 9!

Sorry this is a bit long. Im just so fed up with it all.

[Hidden in reply to Numberone1]

The fact that you have enlargement of your adrenal glands indicate that there may be an issue with them, Cushing's syndrome can be caused by long term but it can also be caused by adrenal tumours, it' certainly needs checking. Also as you produced milk for a long time following the birth of your child also needs further investigation as that can be due to a pituitary tumour. A head injury can also cause issues with the pituitary gland, plus the fact that your feet size went up also raises red flags for me too! That could be an issues with too much growth hormone. You don't have to have all the symptoms of Cushing's to have it but you have certainly got a lot of Endocrine issues which need a full investigation before you go ahead with cardiac surgery.

[Numberone1 in reply to Hidden]

Yes these are all the things Ive read and realised I suffer with. My second daughter who I had longer term milk production with is 30 now!

Annoying isnt it that all those issues are what I have raised with my GP and been dismissed with other reasons and of course I know that can be the case too but after turning up with all of them one by one you'd think they'd click.

Anyway, as I said some of these things are quite long term and I seem to have got over some of them ie panic attacks and depression/anxiety. Can it burn itself out?

So far as cardiac surgery it was meant to be done in June and obviously was put off as still not critical. But I worry its very close to needing done. Even from the CT scan it showed enlarged adrenals and nobody pursued it. It is me that did so.

[Hidden in reply to Numberone1]

If it is a tumour causing it then no it won't burn itself out