Low Cortisol or Addison's Disease

 I'm just curious if anyone else has had problems with a low cortisol level post op?  I was diagnosed with Addison's Disease, it's where the adrenal glands do not function properly.   My cortisol level drops which causes my blood pressure to go dangerously low.  I get dizzy and sometimes pass out.   Now I know of someone who has been diagnosed post op and curious if this is common.

Thanks,
Stephanie E

 Hi Stephanie,

I really hope you check this forum again!

My fiance had lap band surgery in 2005. He lost about 100 lbs. In late 2006, he started getting sick. His symptoms were: chronic pain in back and neck, major fatigue, excessive sweating, double vision. He was diagnosed in 2008 (yes it took two years) as being hypothyroid, fibromyalgia and low testosterone. We then took him to the Fibro & Fatigue Clinic in Dallas, TX and, in addition, they diagnosed him with adrenal insufficiency and said he was undernourished. Other than that, they didn't do much except want to sell us a bunch of their herbal and vitamin products (which are not cheap). 

A couple years go by with not much improvement, everyday was a struggle. We kept up our search and still went from doctor to doctor. We ended up in an endo's office last summer, in 2010, and I happened to mention "adrenal insufficieny" in front of the endo. His eyes got big and they immediately began testing him for Addison's disease. A few weeks later he received his first prescription for Cortef. He has kept the same endo for the past year. Overall he has made a lot of improvement in the past year. thank goodness!!!

However, I began to wonder if the lap band surgery or the lap band itself could have something to do with this. So I did a search on Google and that is how I found your post. I don't know if these two things are related. Of course, if you go ask a doctor they will probably say no. We have not had very many good experiences with doctors in the past few years!!

I haven't found much else concerning the lap band and Addison's. BTW, he ended up gaining almost all of his weight back. He had the band loosened all the way as he was so sick. I am thinking the band caused him to be undernourished (or most likely he was eating crappy) and that intensified his illness. I doubt it would cause Addison's....but I don't know.

He is thinking about having his band tightened again soon since he is getting better. I am a bit worried about that, but I know if we stay on top of what he eats he will be fine (at least I hope so). It has to be better and more healthy than being overweight!

Stephanie, I also was diagnosed with Addison's Disease about 6 months after I had a Gastric Bypass. I started feeling bad about 2 months after the surgery, then had 2 Addisonian crisis and almost died before I got the proper diagnosis. I don't know if it was brought on directly from the surgery, or as a result of the weight loss itself. The surgeon that did my bypass said I was the only patient he had ever had to be diagnosed with Addison's. I read on the internet that  some patients with anorexia were getting Addison's, so I suspect it is just from the weight loss. I have to take more Cortef, Vitamin D, potassium, and other meds than most people because of the gastric bypass. It was really hard to find the proper dosages. I have a feeling there are others with Addison's post-op that just have not been diagnosed yet. My main problem was finding an endocrinologist that was actually experienced in treating Addison's disease. After I found one, it made a lot of difference. Thanks, B.L.

I was diagnoised with Central Adrenal Insufficiency 4 months after the Gastric RNY. I have been trying to tell them that I don't feel good etc.. and they weren't listening to me. I have to go into an adrenal crisis for someone to finally say O hey she's not faking. I think it is from the surgery as do my primary and my endo works with the hospital so she's not going to say anything bad about them. If you guys want to talk to me or learn more there's support groups.. Go to facebook and search Adrenal Insufficiency United.. Mine is Adrenal Insufficiency Massachusetts

I hab gastric bypass 6 years ago. I was diagnosed with secundary adreanl insuficiency in sepember  2010.

On the internet i find this:

Pantothenic acid (vitamin b5) deficiency results in adrenal insufficiency, which is characterized by fatigue, headache, sleep disturbances, nausea, and abdominal discomfort (Tarasov et al. 1985; Smith et al. 1996; Murray et al. 1997).

There are  many people with this problems:

1. - Lynda
http://denturesanewsmile.ning.com/forum/topics/new-here-please-help-me-make
2. CatyLazo
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/gastric-bypass-surgery-discussions/general-support/3200675-diagnoised-with-secondary-adrenal-insuffiency
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4354436/Low-Cortisol-or-Addisons-Disease/
3. teri72193
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/addison-disease-discussions/introductions-personal-stories/237071-addisons-disease
4. Icraft40219  Lisa in KY
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/adrenal_fatigue.html
5. angelabud
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/adrenal-insufficiency-discussions/general-support/2375288-abnormal-vaginal-bleeding-sai
6. Stephanie E
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4354436/Low-Cortisol-or-Addisons-Disease/
7. kariered
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4354436/Low-Cortisol-or-Addisons-Disease/
8. Casey1
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4354436/Low-Cortisol-or-Addisons-Disease/
9. and I. My names is Ellis a my email is: [email protected]

Thanks,

Ellis

My daughter had gastric bypass 6 years ago, she has been very sickly for 3 years.She has been to many docs since the surgery,but know one belived her that her blood pressure goes to 72/40 at night. I took the machines to docs with her ,but they always say machine is not working or something. Doctors seem to have a problem listening sometimes.Greenville brung in doc who told me that her bp can not do what I said it was doing.My daughter has know life she hardly gets up to take meds and does not drive anymore because she is dizzy all the time,her cadiologist finally gave her florinel to bring up blood pressure and he did not take any blood work first,is that normal?The meds scare me, but she is willing to try it even thought we still do not have answers......My niece had the surgery and went through some rough times before she died. I have seen alot of bad things come from the whole gastric bypass.I just hope this medicine he gave my daughter works.I do belive all of her problems,weather it be addison or something else came from that surgery,she may have been heavy but she had her own life..

 

Janie-lee My suggestion would be for your daughter to see an endocrinologist and have an ACTH stimulation test done. If she does have adrenal insufficiency she could go into crisis and die. Your body makes cortisol to regulate things like adrenaline and keep our bodies healthy and if we are not producing the correct amount of cortisol our bodies can go into shock and die. I am 13 years post surgery and have just recently been diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency. My treatment is lifelong steroids (hydrocortisone). I was also told by my endocrinologist that if i have an accident or even et a bad case of the flu my medication will need to be adjusted so that my body can handle the stress or it can go into shock and die. I do not want to scare you but it is best she finds out soon so she can begin treatment. I was ill for 11 years but always told different things were wrong and my hematologist treating me for a different gastric bypass related problem stumbled across my cortisol level being extremely low. He thought maybe it was a fluke but sent me to an endocrinologist to be sure. My endocrinologist did several tests before deciding to medicate me because the gastric bypass and steroids are not a great mix, but it is worth the risk since the alternative could be death. I hope this post helps you and I hope your daughter gets some relief soon.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I am 3 years out from a ds aand was just diagnosed with addisons after being admitted to the hospital over the weekend.  please share more info.  is this surgery related do you think?  I just started hormone replacement.  how long till it starts working?!  did you gain a lot of weight? ugh I've gained like 25 pounds in 2 weeks.  any answers or post diagnosis info would be really appreciated!

Yes Stephanie I also have had gastric bypass and got diagnosed with Addison's Disease in December of 2017. I want to start a Facebook group for we that have suffered this horrible incurable illness that may be linked to the surgery itsself.