9 Days Post Adrenalectomy

[Guest guest]

Just got home from my post-op visit with the surgeon. The first thing he did was had me my Pathology Report. The final diagnosis was a left adrenal cortical adenoma and malignancy was not identified. My left adrenal gland weighed 12 grams and measured 7.5 x 3 x 1.5 cm. The outer surface was inked blue. (???) The nodular area measured 0.7 x 0.6 cm, extended to the inked outer surface and had a solid tan-orange appearance.

My BP was down to 120/68 yesterday morning but it was 145/70 last night and 133/72 this morning. It has been decreasing from about 150/85 right after I got out of the hospital. I was on two BP meds, but am only taking 0.5 mg. amlodopine now.

Before I left the hospital last Wednesday, my K was 3.3, so they gave me 40 MEQ IV and I had not had any K supplements since then. I was taking 175 MEQ of Klor Con Eff. before the surgery My K was 4.2 on Saturday. I will have a BMP and my cortisol checked on Monday and see both my endo and nephro on Wednesday next week.

I have been walking every day a little further - up to a little over a mile. My pain and swelling have been declining every day, except the pain was worse yesterday - maybe because I tried to wear jeans for a half hour and I still have some swelling. I stopped taking Vicodin on Saturday and occaisionally take Tylenol or Ibuprofen for abdominal discomfort.

I felt much more clear-headed the day after surgery and have felt that way every day since then. It has been raining here for the last week, so maybe my brain is saturated.

I am still working on tracking and reducing salt in my diet, although I think I am close to the 1500 limit suggested. I am reading a book called Finding Sanctuary, which has inspired to set aside meditation time. The posts here on nutrition and medications are inspiring. Once everything settles in a month or two, I hope to go off the omeprazole and next year see what happens if I go off Cymbalta. I roughed out my story and an outline for discussion purposes for the book on PA (Not So Essential Hypertension), which I hope to post soon, in addition to my AVS story and Adrenalectomy story. As you can see, now I am feeling a little better, I am back to my list making...

msmith - Great questions about adrenalectomy. Wish I had thought to ask some of them. I will post some of my experience and thoughts when I get back from a 1:45 PM appt.

I have a lot of gratitude for this group. Thanks, again, everyone.

~ Lucy Sage

58 yr. old female/5'5"/135 lb/6.7 mm left adrenal mass/AVS 8-22-11 showed lateralization in left adrenal gland/Left Adrenalectomy 9/19/11

Conditions: PA, Hypokalemia, HTN (BP ranges from 118/73 to 165/81), migraine, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, rhinitis, PND, chronic gastritis, mild neutropenia, hypogammaglobulimenia, skin cancer (all types) & hemorrhage in right retina.

Symptoms: fatigue, nausea, tingling, weakness, nocturia, brain fog anxiety & depression.

Medications: 5 mg Amlodopine, 30 mg Cymbalta, 81 mg aspirin, 10 mg loratadine, 20 mg omeprazole, 0.1% protopic, 1.04 g fiber caps, 1200 mg calcium w/ magnesium & D, 800 I.U. vitamin D, multivitamin, 1000 mg vitamin C, 1000 mcg Biotin, 1000 mg fish oil.

Diet: no sugar, limited gluten (1 serving/week) due to gluten intolerance, high veggie and fruit, limited carbs (2-4 servings/ day) and protein (8-12 oz/day), low fat (3-6 servings/day) no alcohol, limited salt & no nicotine. Walk dog 2.5 miles/day.