After getting a hold of another endo, another doc AND getting drug info from the Target pharmacy, I called and said the only way I was going to do this test was to have it done in a hospital setting. He agreed.

I think that I am going to track down an endo that has dealt with Addison's somewhere around here too, so maybe I can get some better answers.

Yesterday they had me stop the Prednisone for the test tonight and I am already feeling cruddy. I even almost passed out in my bathroom this morning!!

I am taking all the info I have with me to the hospital to discuss prior to doing this test...Funny, on the info I got from Target (and they bTW had NEVER heard of the medication) on the 1st page 5 TIMES it said that this test should only be done in a hospital setting if adrenal insuffiency is suspected.

So, keep your fingers crossed that the testing goes well without ANY problems. I will let you know unless something goes wrong - which it won't!

~Lisa

I'm glad to hear they are doing the test in the hospital. If you begin to feel worse today, don't forget to increase your salt and fluids. The extra salt may help to keep your BP up enough for you not to get too lightheaded.

Good for you for making sure this gets done in the hospital. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Yea! How brave of you to stand up to your doctor on this one. It took courage and it was definitely the right choice. I am so happy that you will be supervised for this test. It can be a very accurate way to get more information when it is performed correctly (in the hospital!).

Take care of yourself while off the prednisone. And when you feel up to it, let us know how things went and what your results were. I want to know you're okay!
Sadie

mngirl, I just found this info on the test you will be having. I hope it is helpful to you.


The overnight metyrapone test:

OBJECT: This test is an alternative to the insulin test mentioned above and has basically the same objective which is to determine if the pituitary is making ACTH in response to a stimulus. Metyrapone is a drug that blocks the last step of the synthesis of cortisol in the adrenal gland.

THE TEST: The patient is given 30 mg/kg(body weight) at midnight without food. Blood is drawn at 8 AM ad the levels of cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol are measured.

NORMAL RESULTS: A normal individual will show morning plasma cortisol levels below 10 ug/dL (276 nmol/L) and 11-deoxycortisol levels at 7-22 ug/dL (0.2 to 0.6 umol/L).

DISEASED PATIENT: A patient with HPA axis impairment will not show increased levels of 11-deoxycortisol. NOTE: This test can drive a patient into adrenal crisis!!!

REASON FOR ABNORMALITY: same as above, no ACTH production

That is EXACTLY why I asked for it to be done in a hospital. I have to say that I am getting a little nervous about the whole thing.

One of my other docs does think that there is some adrenal issues, because I have 2 other problems that are not going away that should have already be resolved.

One: I hit my head last July and am still dealing with it. While on the prednisone it was getting better, they took me off and I ended up right back to the beginning in pain level. Now I have been having a very hard time getting any better. Dr. says I am back to square one at this point.

Two: I had a surgery last April, a cubital tunnel decompression. The numbness and tingling is gone in my hand, but now the pain in the elbow has spread and is not getting ANY better. I wear a Lidocaine patch 24 hours a day to reduce the pain. Even wind blowing against it hurts. My doc for this said I should not be having this problem AT ALL.

I can't imagine what else could be going on that is not allowing my body to heal itself. I ended up in the hospital for 3 days in August because I got severly sick, not even the flu. I couldn't drink, severe dehydration, stomach pains, all over ache, significant pain in my head (this was a week after I hit my head BTW and 2 CT scans showed everything was fine). Since then I really have not been the same. I can barely stay awake, my energy level is nonexisitent, walking up stairs makes me VERY winded. And many more things like that - too many to list here.

I hope this all works out. But I will be completely back to square one if this test comes out "normal".

Thanks for all the info.

Lisa