could this be adrenal insufficiecy?

[shell0726]

Hello,  
I have been fighting some type of medical mystery for about two months.  I took prednisone for about 5 years in my 20's for ulcerative colitis- which I now have a j-pouch for.  Two times in November I took methylprednisolone for root canals .They were 5 day packs, starting out with24 mg and decreasing until the 5th day.   One pack I didn't finish because I became sick.  I took the first day and two pills on the second day.Constipation and head ache. Yes, I know idiot  After stopping-.  My symptoms have been extreme lethargy, muscle weakness and cramping, joint pain.  Extremely low blood pressure that falls upon standing.   Example: woke up BP 100/61 pulse 92 lying down.  Stood up BP 81/62 pulse 117.  I have had digestive issues- nausea- diarrhea.  I have lost 10 pounds since Dec. 4th.  I have also had some nerve pain . I have also had depression in waves.  I had low potassium, low vitamin D, low calcium.  In the beginning- (during constipation part).  I don't know what it is now.  I have seen a neurologist, a gastroenterologist and primary.  My adrenal function has not been tested. (I had a similiar illness 3 years ago that they never totally figured out what it was.It started with an intestinal illness.  During this time I did take three days of prednisone. They said I was having some type of autonomic dysfunction) I am calling my primary tommorow to get my cortisol and ACTH tested.  I just can't go on like this any more.  Shelley

[peggy64]

You can order a saliva test online, which is supposedly the most accurate test. Just make sure you overnight the specimen.

[evo123]

You definately need your adrenals tested.  Ask to be seen by an endocrinologist.  There are other conditions though that also need ruling out.

Please take a look in the Dysautonomia (autonomic dysfunction) forum here and see if you can relate to anything.  You mention a heartrate increase on standing.  Are the numbers above taken immediately after standing?  What happens if you continue to stand, does it increase further?  If it does have a read about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and see if this sounds familiar.