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Cushing's, adrenal surgery, high cortisol day after?

Posted , 4 users are following.

jen78653
jen78653

My mom just had a right adrenalectomy to remove 8 cm tumor. She has been diagnosed with Cushing's. Day after cortisol dropped from original reading of 31 to 28. Endocrinologist is concerned. Doing 24 hour urine test today. Waiting for pathology results on tumor. Has anyone else had a slow decline in cortisol with adrenal tumor removal? Thanks.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • sharon89160
    sharon89160 jen78653

    Posted

    Last March I had my left adrenal gland removed because of a cortisol producing tumor.  My right adrenal gland wasn’t producing any cortisol, so I went from cushings to adrenal insufficiency over night. I was put on 30 mg of hydrocortisone and now I am taking 25 mg a day in three doses. How it was explained to me was because the tumor had been producing cortisol my right adrenal gland stopped working, or went to sleep, after the biopsy the cortex was half the size it should have been. And today I am still waiting for it to wake up.
    • jen78653
      jen78653 sharon89160

      Posted

      Thanks for sharing! What happened to you is exactly what we thought would happen to my mom, but unfortunately her cortisol after the removal if her right gland is still HIGH. It did drop the day after surgery but only from 31 to 28. We thought the drop would be sudden and in a large amount. I have read about a delayed reaction. Has anyone had a slow drop in cortisol after surgery?
    • irene64333
      irene64333 sharon89160

      Posted

      Hello, can you please tell me if cushing is gone after your surgery? Thank you 
    • sharon89160
      sharon89160 irene64333

      Posted

      Yes my cushing’s is gone, I am being weaned off of hydrocortisone now post surgery March 2107 my right adrenal gland is waking up.  The plan is a 15week wean, I have nine weeks to go. Fingers crossed.
  • rachel_36939
    rachel_36939 jen78653

    Posted

    Hi, I’m not a doctor but I just had a benign 15cm tumour removed from my left adrenal gland. All I know is my endocrine doctor said it can take a few weeks for the one remaining adrenal to kick back into action.  
  • rachel_36939
    rachel_36939 jen78653

    Posted

    Hi, I’m not a doctor but I just had a benign 15cm tumour removed from my left adrenal gland. All I know is my endocrine doctor said it can take a few weeks for the one remaining adrenal to kick back into action.  
    • jen78653
      jen78653 rachel_36939

      Posted

      Thank you! Actually my mom's has come down. It took three days and she is now in normal range. Good luck to you!

    • jen78653
      jen78653 rachel_36939

      Posted

      Hi Rachel,

      Fast forward almost a month, and my mother is not doing well.  She has had numerous issues with afib and her blood pressure dropping to passing out 85/40.  She still has no appetite and is very weak after her adrenal removal.  How are you doing?  What types of symptoms do you have?  

      We just asked to have her cortisol checked again as I am worried that she is showing signs of a deficiency.  She did show a normal range, but i wonder if the one adrenal gland that is left is not able to keep up.

      Can anyone help?

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