To AR 1281a

[ShannieK]

Hi, I'm sorry that it has taken me awhile to notice your question posted below, so am posting a new response so you are sure to see it.  You asked how my doctor came to the diagnoses of Primary adrenal insufficiency.  To be quite honest and until I understand it better, I'd have to say i'm not sure.  It is my understanding that someone can have an adrenal malfunction, without actually having Addisons disease.  People can have an underproduction of their adrenal hormones, but it's not until 90% of the Adrenal cortex is destroyed, that you actually get the diagnoses of Addisons.  This is what I think, I could be wrong.  I do go to the dr. later today to get some results on my antibody testing and see what's going on, I think I will write some questions down for her, so i'm sure to cover all basis, and I want to make sure I really do understand all of this Oh ya, if it's any help my ACTH reading was extremely high, I guess, and my cortisol level was real low. She explained this to me as my Pituitary gland is overproducing the ACTH, because it is noticing that my adrenal gland is not responding, so it secretes more thinking that the adrenal gland will than function properly, but it doesn't.  She said that shows that it is my adrenal gland that is acting up, which she said is the primary adrenal insufficiency, she said if it was my Pituitary gland acting up, my blood results would show a different outcome and that would be known as secondary adrenal insufficency, cause the pituitary is involved. I know it is all very confusing, hope you start feeling better too!!!!!! Shannon

[ar1281a]

Thanks Shannon, yes this is all very confusing!

I thought that primary adrenal insufficiency is only related to Addison's d. and to be able to dx Addison's, the antobodies need to be present.

Thanks for your answer and hope to hear soon about your test results