Jachut wrote: In fact, I think I have developed an anxiety disorder over the fear of being tired! I worry ahead of time about how I"m going to feel.
Jachut wrote: the worst thing about it is the moods - I get cranky and teary exactly like a small child and I just cant take pleasure in anything.
Nik Colon wrote:Jachut wrote: In fact, I think I have developed an anxiety disorder over the fear of being tired! I worry ahead of time about how I"m going to feel.
I can understand that. I was and still am that way, with the added bathroom issues on top of it now.
MissMolly wrote:Anyone who has had glucocorticosteroids (dexamethasone) as part of their pre-med IV infusions and is experiencing unrelenting fatigue should ask their MD to have a blood test to measure their baseline cortisol.
Use of dexamethasone (or prednisone or hydrocortisone) can cause suppression of the pituitary gland's communication with the adrenal glands = secondary adrenal insufficiency. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is not something on the radar of most MDs but should be for anyone who has been on long-term or high-dose glucocortisocsteroids.
Symptoms of secondary adrenal insufficiency: unrelenting fatigue (not relieved by rest); generalized muscle/joint pain; low blood pressure; nausea, low appetite; generalized malaise, feeling like an ongoing case of the flu.
A baseline am cortisol (before 8 am) will given an indication if further testing is warranted. A baseline cortisol lower than 5 ug/dl would be suspect for secondary adrenal insufficiency. An ACTH stimulation test would be the next step to define a diagnosis.
Adrenal insufficiency is a serious condition, not to be taken lightly. I, myself, have primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease). It is no picnic to have low serum cortisol.
- Karen -
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