Addison’s Disease

Overview

4 in every 100,000 people have Addison’s Disease.

The first signs can be shown in sodium levels and potassium levels.  This might make the patient urinate more than usual.

Corticosteroids can increase sensitivity to insulin and blood sugar levels might drop.

Addison’s is an autoimmune disease and therefore patients can develop other autoimmune diseases.

Addison’s can be life threatening if not diagnosed properly, or if proper treatment is delayed.  Once the patient is on the right treatment they should be able to lead a normal life.

It is estimated that autoimmune diseases account for 85% of Addison’s Disease cases.

There are two types which are broken down as follows:

Primary Addison’s Disease

Insufficiency occurs as a result of autoimmune disease that attacks the adrenal cortex.

Secondary Addison’s Disease

Occurs when the Pituitary gland is damaged and a lack of ACHT will cause Adrenal Glands to slow down or stop

Common Symptoms

• Skin pigmentation – presenting darkening skin, tongue and gums.  It can be gradual and will mostly be recognised by those closest to the patient.  Also darkening can be present where friction occurs i.e. knees. Elbows.
• Darkening of freckles.
• Low blood sugar.
• Depression / irritability.
• Fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness, getting tired easily.
• Weight loss, lack of appetite.
• Craving salt or salty foods.
• Sickness / diarrhoea.
• Muscle aches, pains and cramps.
• Intolerant to cold.
• Irregular periods.

Tests for Addison’s Disease:

• Blood and urine tests.
• Electrolytes test.
• Kidney functionally.
• ACHT stimulation test.
• X-rays on stomach.
• CT Scan on stomach.
• Insulin induced hypoglycaemia
• Functioning test on the pituitary and checking all other hormones.

Treatments:

Replacing hormones that the adrenal glands produce.  As we are not able to produce corticosteroids and aldosterone these are normal given orally.

Complications:

You can have an adrenal crisis which can send someone in to a coma.

Symptoms of this is from penetrating pains in legs, lower back and stomach, confusion / slurred speech, convulsions, reduced blood glucose levels, low BP.

My Addisons:

I crave salt and have at times eaten salt out of the palm of my hand.  I do crave salty foods.  I suffer from chronic fatigue.  I am sure this disease has interfered with my periods and vice versa.  I do go tanned especially when I am extremely tired.  I can suffer such a fatigue that I need to lay down immediately and sleep, like hitting a brick wall.

My Medications overlap so will cover this after Dercums Disease and Behcet’s Disease.