empty sella chronic fatigue

[dangbrewer]

Hi , In Mar. 2000 I had a spinal fusion , I was under for 91/2 hours. When I awoke I was vary sick.Flu like symptoms. I have been that way for 8 1/2 years now. I had 2 MRI on my brain ,they said i had a partially empty sella, an aquired event tipically of no clinical significants. I have been told I have chronic fatigue by Harbor View Medical Center Chronic Fatigue Clinic in Seattle Wa. I have since aquired  clinical deppression as a result of the extreme fatigue. My question is if it's posibile my illness stems from my empty sella?   I had never felt the way do now until Ihad the surgry. I have had all the tests they could possibly think of ,all the antidepressants they make. For 8 1/2 years I've felt like I have the flu .  /?????????????????????  Thanks  Dan

[Deb61]

I am so sorry that this has happened to you!  From what I've read in the articles, it looks like that if you have hormone insuffiency caused from lack of pituitary hormone that it can cause other endocrine glands not to function well--and if that's the case, it well make you feel miserable.  I bet you're going to need to hormone replacement.  Besides a neurologist, I would recommend seeing a good endocrinologist.

See the following articles:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/emptysella/emptysella.htm

http://www.thamburaj.com/empty_sella.htm

[julia111]

Hi.  I'm sorry that I don't know anything about an empty sella, but I wanted to share some of my experiences that may be of help.

I was diagnosed w/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by John's Hopkins 15 years ago and w/ Fibromyalgia by Mayo Clinic 12 years ago.

Fatigue and Cog Fog have been my primary issues all these years and I also know the "feeling of having the flu" well. One of the first signs that I have been overdoing it has always been a sore throat, an achiness that's unrelenting and the need to crawl into bed and rest.

I have been under the care of my PCP as well as a Rhuematologist and Neurologist.  Together we have come up with a treatment that has made a significant improvement in the quality of my life.  I have only been on it for a few months and I try to be optimistic that I will continue to feel better.

I take Amitriptyline 20 mg at night to get good REM sleep - and I take Provigil 200 mg every morning for fatigue.   Once I started taking the Provigil I instantly had a lot more energy and I realized that I really didn't have any depression (I was frustrated and saddened by the fact that I was always too tired to do things I wanted or to get things done.)  

One other thought, because it is often linked to Chronic Fatigue - is to get tested for Gluten Intolerance - - - - I recently found out I am sensitive to gluten and my flu like symptoms have ceased on the GF diet (sinus infections, sore throats and achiness.)

Best wishes, Julia