Tessa update

Tessa · Post by **Tessa** » Mon May 05, 2008 12:00 pm

Hi my dear friends,

I know that you always care for me, so I wanted to share this with you.

I was having a shower and washed my hair on Sunday morning, when my dizziness worsened, started having chest pressure and feeling of tachycardia... Because I cannot keep standing for too low (or my blood pressure gets lower and my hr increases), I knew that something was going wrong... But even worse when I started feeling pre-syncope symptoms.
I checked my blood pressure: it was about 83-46 and my heart rate 128

I tried to keep calm, but dressed quickly and went to the living room where my husband was. I sat down and took my dose of Hidrocortisone trying to prevent the crisis...
Brain fog started. Even drinking water was too much (shortness of breath). I knew that I had to lay down, but refused to move as I was scared of fainting...

I took extra-doses for the rest of the afternoon-night... But was not feeling much better.

Then this morning, things were not so bad, but not improving.
We finally went to the my GP´s office at the local Hospital. He checked my blood pressure.Still about 80-60
Too low he said.

He wrote a statement for the ER.

I got IV saline solution and 125 mg. of a Corticoid...

I am feeling better now... But I do not want to use all the energy I got from it.

Just wanted to pop in to tell you.
I am having an app. with the Endo on Wednesday. Looking forward to getting the right treatment.

I have been close to another adrenal crisis...

Love,
TESsa

mini · Post by **mini** » Mon May 05, 2008 12:33 pm

Hi Tessa

Aww sorry to hear your not feeling so good, certainly hope things get better soon, keep us updated after your appointment. In the meantime sending this .... :tigerpoobearhug:

Post by **tex** » Mon May 05, 2008 1:01 pm

Hi Tessa,

I'm very sorry to hear you were feeling so badly, and I'm glad that you're feeling better now. I have high hopes that your Endo will be able to find a solution.

Love,
Wayne

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Mon May 05, 2008 2:05 pm

Please get well soon. Love Oma

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Mon May 05, 2008 2:14 pm

Tessa,
My!! What a scare!!
Glad that you are feeling better and I'm sure your appointment with the Endo can't come soon enough for you..
Thinking of you and sending positive ((((((VIBES)))))) for improved health.......

Love
Dee~~~~~

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Mon May 05, 2008 3:03 pm

That was a frightening episode. Glad you're feeling somewhat better. At least you knew what to do. Hope you'll be stabilized soon.
:bigbighug:

sunny · Post by **sunny** » Mon May 05, 2008 3:27 pm

Tessa, may I add my good wishes also...i know how scary it can be when your heart is racing along like that....may your doctors get this figured out quickly!!!

mle_ii · Post by **mle_ii** » Mon May 05, 2008 5:09 pm

One thing that I've always wondered was if my blood volume was low. I have low blood pressure as well, and sometimes my heart seems to race when standing up, but not too often. I remember almost falling over, feeling dizzy and almost blacking out (really, saw may vision narrow, things started to turn black and saw stars, but I snapped out of it).

Can blood volume be measured? And if so how?

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon May 05, 2008 5:11 pm

Me too, Tessa!! Everything that has already been said, I feel also. Good Luck and I'll be thinking of you.

Love, Shirley

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon May 05, 2008 7:41 pm

Oh Tessa,

I was so hoping that things had improved. What a scary experience. I'm glad that Gabriel was at home at the time. At least the Endo appointment is only 2 days away. Keeping all of my fingers and toes crossed for a definitive diagnosis so that appropriate treatmtent can occur. You have been suffering for far too long now.

Please feel better SOON, my dear friend.

Love

Polly

JJ · Post by JJ » Tue May 06, 2008 10:08 am

Hugs Tessa....that must have been very scary! Please know I'm thinking of you....hugs...JJ

:bigbighug:

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Wed May 07, 2008 7:10 am

Hi Tessa!
Thinking of You today and hope your appointment with the Endo doctor goes well...
To better health...

Love
Dee~~~~

Tessa · Post by **Tessa** » Thu May 08, 2008 12:26 pm

My dear friends
:bigbighug:

mini, Tex, Oma, Dee, Kathy, Sunny, Mle_ii, Shirley, Polly, JJ

Thanks for your support and nice words.

I have been feeling so frustrated and hopeless without Internet! Looking forward to share the information with you but unable to connect.
My Internet connection had problems since we had the chat on Saturday (some of you know) and I finally lost Internet and the land line...

But here I am. went to the doctor yesterday and...

The good news
Dx Confirmed: hipoaldosteronism.
Low aldosterone levels = Adrenal Insufficiency.

The doubt.
Treatment:
Not sure about the efectiveness as the doctor has decided to stop the hidrocortisone and only try Florinef...

The bad news.
In my opinion (and according to other people who know a lot about adrenal insuffiency) my cortisol level is low too and my ACTH stim test did not double... This means that it is very likely that I will need Hidrocortisone and that Florinef will not be enough...

the new treatment.

Well, as I have to wean off hidrocortisone (and I´ve just started) while I am taking Florinef... We will see what happens... though I am a little worried (could have a crisis again?)

The doctor told us that he is available if needed (but of course, only during working hours)...

I am not satisfied with all this...
Will keep you updated,
Thanks for your help,
Your suggestions and comments are welcome,
Love
Tessa

Post by **tex** » Thu May 08, 2008 2:09 pm

Hi Tessa,

Thank you for the update. If the Florinef alone does not control your symptoms, maybe the doctor is planning to add the hidrocortisone back in, (or maybe something else), if needed.

At least now you have an official diagnosis that appears to be correct, and at least your doctor is now willing to be available to help whenever you need him, during working hours. While not perfect, at least progress is being made in the right direction.

Good luck with the treatment.

Love,
Wayne

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Thu May 08, 2008 2:19 pm

Tessa, sure hope the new medicine will help. I don't blame you for being nervous, but hopefully you will start to improve soon.

Please take care.......and let us know how it's going.

Love, Shirley