Interview with Sheryl (sherylr), August 7, 2008

Sheryl Listen as Mary O'Connor (MaryO) hosted an interview with Sheryl. Robin Smith (staticnrg) cohosted.

Sheryl (sherylr) talked about what it's been like living with Addison's after a BLA - for over 30 years.

Sheryl writes in part:

"I was diagnosed with Cushings Syndrome of the adrenal glands in September, 1973. I underwent a bi-lateral adrenalectomy in January, 1974, 30 years ago.

"I'm sure some things have changed since then; I was in the hospital for 3 weeks post-op. I had all of the symptoms listed on this site. I originally was in the ER for what turned out to be a kidney stone. While there the doctors noticed a few oddities. For me the symptoms had been coming along so gradual that no one really noticed. The kidney stone was one result of Cushings. From the ER I was sent for many tests. MRI was not available then, and a test was done by threading a catheter into the groin area artery and shooting dye into it in order for the doc. to see the tumor(s). I tried to find it interesting and it was except every time they pushed more dye into me it was painful and eventually passed out.

"By that time I had entered the hospital knowing surgery would happen and that was the final test to make sure exactly where the tumors were. The surgeon told me afterwards that each adrenal had a huge tumor-benign-fortunately-each one the size of a grapefruit. The surgical incisions were made in my back, one on each side of the spine, in a sort of half moon shape. They are quite large because the tumors were so large. The replacement therapies required are hydro-cortisone and florinef. Because everyone is different you may have a different dose than I do. It took quite some time for my body to really become adjusted to the replacements. At least 5 years for me. I would hope for you newcomers that medical progress has considerably lessened that time!

Read Sheryl's bio
Listen to Archived Interview from August 7, 2008

Keywords: Addison's, adenoma, adrenal, adrenal insufficiency, anger, anxiety attacks, bilateral adrenalectomy, BLA, blood pressure, calcium, cortef, cortisol, cortisone, Cushing's, endocrinologist, energy, ER, florinef, grief, hair, heat stroke, joint pain, kidney stone, meds, memory, moonface, MRI, pain, PCOS, pregnant, sodium, steroids, stress, surgery, symptoms, testing, tumor, UFC, urologist, weight