Re: 9 Days Post Adrenalectomy

[Guest guest]

Hi Lucy Good to hear you are progressing so well. That's really good news

about your potassium!

Funny thing, way back before I had my first AVS, someone here warned me I'd want

something other than jeans to wear afterward so I bought some baggy tie-waist

pants. Didn't need them post-AVS but I suspect they'll get some wear

post-adrenalectomy.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts re: my questions. Thanks for continuing

to check in over here!

>

>

> 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.

>