primary or secondary

[spin1968]

Is it important to know if you have a primary or secondary insufficency? And I would like to know why it is important to know.  I understand that once you have started on the hydrocortisone, you can not at this point check the adrenal glands and see if it is a primary or a secondary. It has to be done in the beginning when it is first diagnosed. I believe. I may be wrond I just  need answers

[spin1968]

I was under the care of a Neuroendocrine doctor from Boston. That is after my doctor in my home town didn't really know too much about the pituitary gland.I went to this great clinic that just looks at pituitary and hypothalmus. anyone can go. I got sick in august and I have not been able to clear my lungs of the mucous. Eventhough the xray for the lungs says that everything is clear. I was seeing my GP for about 3 months when she ran out of ideas on how to clear my spitting up mucous. That is when I went to an ENT Doctor. She did give me prednisone and an anitibiotic. It cleared my my sinuses about 97% but there is still some mucous there.I am going for a Cat Scan of my sinuses. I found a new endocrine doctor in my area and I hope he  works out better than the first one.. I still can call the Boston Doctor anytime I need to.
These doctors in Boston really know there business. Check out the site.
http://pituitary.mgh.harvard.edu/    (cut and paste)

[rumpled]

Did you take prednisone for the infection? That would pretty much set things off. It would (or any steroid) would suppress your adrenals and then you would not recover well once the med wore off.

An ENT may not be the best doctor for adrenal issues. My ENT just happens to have a son with severe adrenal issues so he knows all this stuff and is very helpful, but I find that most of them do not know much about the endocrine system.

The pituitary is the size of a pea or somewhat. If you have a report that it has an odd shape, something may be putting pressure on it. Up to 40% of pit tumors do not show up on MRIs anyway (I had my second one hide for 12 years) but that does not mean it is not there. For a time, yes, your other glands can compensate but after a while, the whole system can get off kilter. That is how I got. Doctors who run just a few tests or do not understand how to interpret the tests they have simply just do not get or forget that the pituitary is the master gland and it needs to be right. Issues there should not be ignored.

Get copies of everything. Read. Learn. Go back and get old stuff if you can. TSH is a pituitary test... doctors forget that.

[spin1968]

Thanks for the comments. I have been under care for a year and a half. I have no tumors and no one has mentioned addisons disease to me. I had an upper respritory infection in August and I can't seem to shake it. I am seeing an ear nose and throat doctor to help me figure out what is going on with this body of mine. My adrenal problem came out of the blue with nothing to pin it on.  My pituitary gland has a weid shape that is all I know. I think it was probably that way all of my life and for whatever reason as started to act up.

[rumpled]

The treatment is the same as far as the hydrocortisone, fludrocortisone, and salt. But with adrenal issues, you may also have to take DHEA .

Your doctor can check to see if you have a pituitary tumor as well your ACTH numbers may indicate to some degree if you are primary or secondary.

No matter what, you should be followed up and checked up for all your hormones, pituitary and all to make sure the rest of your hormones stay healthy as the system can go off kilter.

http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/addison/addison.htm

I have no adrenals...