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Adrenal surgery and tumour removal post surgery pain?

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rachel_36939
rachel_36939

hi I've just had major abdominal surgery to remove a 15 cm benign tumour from my adrenal gland. They took it out successful plus my left adrenal.  I've been recovering well and am 3 weeks post surgery. However in the last week I've started to feel a real heavy dragging feeling (more towards the end of the day) in the area where the tumour would have been. Does anyone know if this is just normal feeling and just takes time or if this is something to worry about? 

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  • Kazzangnu
    Kazzangnu rachel_36939

    Posted

    I recently (October) had my left adrenal gland removed due to over production of cortisol caused by a tumour which turned out to be benign. The surgery was performed by keyhole which consisted of 3 separate incisions. I was off work for 7 weeks and after recovering from the initial discomfort felt fine for about 4 weeks. However, I have recently started experiencing side effects, Nausea, terrible sweats, fatigue, my BP has dropped and I have recently been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. I have never had problems with blood sugar levels. I had a synacthen test last week to see if my other adrenal gland had woken up. I saw the consultant today and she gave me the bad news that my other adrenal gland is still not producing cortisol and has suggested increasing my hydrocortisone dose. I am now wondering if surgery was worth it, the side effects of not producing enough cortisol (due to sleeping adrenal gland) are worse than those I experienced when my other adrenal was producing too much cortisol, plus I now have the extra worry of trying to reduce my HBA1c with diet and exercise. 
    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939 Kazzangnu

      Posted

      I’m sorry to hear this. My other adrenal seems to be working fine thank god. How annoying for you. Are you seeing an endocrine doctor?
    • beth51164
      beth51164 Kazzangnu

      Posted

      How big was your tumor? Curious what your symptoms were? Thanks 
    • Kazzangnu
      Kazzangnu beth51164

      Posted

      Tumour was 6cm. Symptoms were weight gain, difficulty breathing, anxiety, hypertension (admitted to hospital twice with hypertensive crisis), chronic fatigue. Removal of adrenal gland seems to have resolved hypertension, and anxiety but still suffering with chronic fatigue
  • Kazzangnu
    Kazzangnu rachel_36939

    Posted

    Hi Rachel, yes I am seeing an endocrinologist. Having a repeat cortisol blood test in 6 weeks time and a further one 6 weeks after that before they decide whether to go ahead with another synacthen test. The fatigue is unbearable, not a usual tiredness but my whole body and mind is tired, limbs feel like lead and an effort to find energy to do anything
  • linda78248
    linda78248 rachel_36939

    Posted

    Rachel.....can you share what your symptoms were before you discovered the tumor?  
    • rachel_36939
      rachel_36939 linda78248

      Posted

      Hi No symptoms really that jumped out I didn’t have any Cushing or anything. I would say I was tired and I had quite bad ibs bloating and my stomach always felt full. Obviously that was the 15 cm melon sized tumour! X
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