You would whine too if it happened to youuuuuu! No, not really. But it made for an intro that invoked a smile, even if a small one, right? My busy week has left me wondering, unsure, and stuck in a health loop that I'm not sure will end easily. Wow. Like THAT doesn't sound familiar.
Life being what it is we just need to get things off our chest or deal with the consequences of, well, holding it all in until we lose it. Right? Right. I suppose many people have their own way of dealing with or working through things life tosses their way, but for me.. I have many outlets. Blogging, however is the one remaining on my list that I can actually use at the moment. So be it.
I already talked about the elevated ferritin, so I'll leave that one be for the moment. I saw an Endocrinologist yesterday who believes I have (((( wait for it )))) Adrenal Fatigue caused by (((wait for it again! )))... long-term use of Prednisone. I knoooooooooow! *Putting on my best shocked face* Basically what this means is that the prednisone put my adrenals to sleep and I have absolutely nothing to help me with ANY kind of stress. I've been stressed for YEARS; Chronic, nearly 24/7 unbelievable stress, both emotional AND physical. Then, I have to do a 12 day Pred Pac last year, then 3 months THIS year. The thinking is that, because I went into Cushings Syndrome, my adrenals shut down. And this is what happens when you develop Cushings.
I have almost every single symptom, and my Endo doc recognized what it is. It can't be confirmed without blood work, and I got that today. And tomorrow, because of the Pred, because of the Cushings, because of the possible adrenal fatigue.. I have to have glucose testing to see if my pancreas is damaged and I'm edging, or IN, the throes of diabetes. My serum glucose is not showing overt diabetes, but that doesn't tell the entire story. Type II diabetes is one of the more common side effects. Nifty, huh? *sigh*
The other appointment I had today was with my bone doc. Got the MRI results back, and as suspected, I have a torn rotator cuff. Surgery, because my arm is UNBELIEVABLY painful when I move, is the only option for me. Day surgery, they'll repair the tear, file bone spurs, and send me home with pain meds and a few restrictions for a while. There are two problems with proceeding right away with surgery is the fact that I have been on Prednisone and it was 'long-term.' The other problem is the possible adrenal fatigue. You can't add additional stress to the body when it basically lacks any defense. Suppressed adrenals are VERY bad news, and in this case it would mean my body couldn't handle the physical stress of surgery, even minor surgery. Getting upset at someone will shut you down completely when your adrenals are "asleep."
I can't go into all the details about adrenal fatigue because, literally, it would take a research paper to explain what it is in detail as well as the processes involved. It's progressive if it isn't addressed and quickly. People can be heading down that road for years and not even know it, and if you're on that road already... prednisone will push you right over the edge. And it will.. WRECK. YOUR. LIFE.
So where I am right now in this is simple: Wait for blood test results to see IF what I'm dealing with actually IS adrenal fatigue, and go from there.
Not much else I can do.
Guess I'm done for now... arms too tired to type much longer.
Oh... hope you like the song I left for you guys....
