Pituitary Specialist appointment

So today I had my appointment with my pituitary specialist at UVA, Dr. Mary Vance. She's a very sweet and kind older doctor and she really spent time with me. She looked over my medical history and my past MRI and told me that she could say with confidence that I do not have Addison's Disease which can cause GI issues. She really believes many of my stomach issues has to do solely with GI and my gastoperesis. She explained that since earlier this year, I received cortisone shots for my painful shoulder back in Feb/April there could be a possibility that some of the cortisone leaked out of the bone.into the bloodstream. She explains that this causes the pituitary glad to temporarily "shut down" thus not producing cortisol. So when blood tests were run while I was sick in the hospital, the hormone ACTH will show as low and give a reading of low cortisol levels (which leads to Addison's disease or adrenal insufficiency). Now, she's not completely ruling out adrenal insufficiency and took a bunch of blood work today to see what the levels are now. She does say with confidence that by how my pituitary gland looks on the MRI, she really does not feel that I have Addison's Disease. She also is checking my thyroid levels to ensure they are remaining stable despite the fact that my thyroid level had not been normal for the past 4 years (yet not abnormal enough for any kind of treatment). The main reason that I went to see the pituitary specialist was that the GI doctors were concerned with my cortisol levels and GI pain and nausea is one of the signs of Addison's Disease. Lab work was drawn today and results should be in by the next 2 weeks. She said she will call me earlier if something totally abnormal would show up on the lab.

The next step is my small bowel follow through next week (Thursday at UVA). The GI doctors just wants to see if my intestines are working well and moving food properly. This is a test usually done once a diagnosis of gastroperesis has been identified. One Aug 20th, I will have another referral and doctor's appointment to the ENT Specialist, who concentrates on inner ears. MRI shows mass of my tumors (neurofibrimotosis) near my ear and one theory the doctors and making is that the tumor is pressing against my ear canal, causing a mild form of vertigo which can also cause dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and pain in the GI. I spoke to my GI doctor last week and expressed to him how I have been feeling and asked him what would be the next course of treatment if none of these referrals comes back with answers. His only response was to try to find a cocktail of medications to treat gastroperesis and perhaps even see if there is other underlying causes of my stomach issues. All I can say is that with all these doctor's visits and lab work, tests, etc, I'm SO VERY THANKFUL that my insurance issues has resolved! Praise God!

I know I keep saying this but I have my good and bad days. I never know how I feel until I wake up and bad days are rough on me because mostly I just want to rest. I continue to struggle but always find my peace in God, in prayer, in encouragement from friends, etc.
I'm back in Physical Therapy so that also takes a lot of energy out of me. Shoulder is healing nicely and I'm completely off the sling; I return to see my orthopedic on Aug 11th; I am taking the "extra good meds" at night to give me a good night's rest free of pain (both for stomach and shoulder).

Thanks again for all your love and prayers and support. I will continue to update you as I find time or as I hear more from the doctor.