Surgery on Gallbladder/autoammune problems

[Tadt]

My adrial grand does not work correcly, supposed to take steriods everyday.  I don't do this as they make me sick.  I deal with the symptoms. Problem ~ I have to have surgery, I know that I could go into an Adrial storm. Would the staff watch me well enough to catch this if I said nothing to the doctors?  Long story behind this, but the outcome is I haven't found a doctor that will listen when I tell them I can't take steriods.  Can my stomach problems be linked to this disorder?  Have ulcers, hernia, and my gallbladder is not right.  Haven't been able to eat much since Nov 27,  Accute onset of pain, vomiting, nausia, runs, pain went around my side to my shoulder. Couldn't take a deep breath for weeks.  Had all tests, Hyda, Endo, Blood, Xray, no Hpylore.  Autoammune disease runs rampid through my family ~ grew up near a chemical plant.  Graves, Sarcodosis, MS, are a few. Have 6 sister all but one have thyroid problems.  I am Female, 48, in good physical shape.

Really need advice on how to handle this.  Really very scared of anyone injecting me or putting any kind of steriod into my body, I will suffer for months!

[Tadt]

I will talk to the surgen about this so he is aware.  Thank you for your advice, I knew that I should just didn't want to.  I tried to talk to the doctor that was taking care of me for this problem and asked him for a different treatment.  He said there was nothing else, when I told him I couldn't take the steriods he basically told me he wouldn't treat me anymore ~ that was last spring.  Since then I have had issues with weight loss, joint pain (swelling and redness), headaches, dry skin, depression, concentration, but none of this is new for the most part.  The depression is but I have taken care of it with councling and meds ~ finally after the last of the steriod I feel better mentally, but my body is suffering.  I would rather have happy attitude and be happy even if I hurt physically.  Some days are much better then others, so I take it one day at a time. Now my stomach is going to get better and this will help.  Thanks again.  

[geminigirl1963]

To be quite honest, if you don't tell your surgeon/doctors that you have this adrenal problem and don't take your steroids as prescribed, you're playing russian roulette with your life.  While pre-op blood work could possibly show that you're not taking your meds - presuming that you've even told the surgeon that you have the adrenal problem and they check your adrenal levels -- the stress of the surgery could definitely send you into an adrenal storm.  If the staff is not aware of your problem and you not taking your meds, the chances of them "watching" for a problem to occur are pretty slim.  It's not their job to "babysit"  for a "watch and wait" situation.  Even if you and they did recognize the symptoms of an adrenal storm, you could be in serious trouble before they are able to reach a doctor to administer the appropriate medications/treatments.

I completely understand about the steroids making you sick - believe me, I've been on steroids a LOT during my life and quite often at doses double what the "normal, recommended" dose was.  So I do understand what you're saying.  For most people, steroids make them want to eat non stop - whenever I have to be on them, I feel so sick that the last thing I want to do is eat.  However, you're really putting your life in jeopardy by not notifying your doctor of what is going on.  You could also very well be putting your life in jeopardy by simply not taking your steroids as you're prescribed.

I suggest you sit down and have a heart to heart with your doctor - make sure he knows all about your adrenal situation and about you not taking your meds and WHY you're not taking them.  There could possibly be somethign else they could give you, either a change in the type of steroid you're taking, or something to take WITH the steroid to help it avoid making you so sick.

Best of luck.