Re: Off topic- Sheehans Syndrome - TREATMENT

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Treatment

Treatment for Sheehan's syndrome is lifelong hormone replacement therapy.

Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following medications:

* Corticosteroids. These drugs, such as hydrocortisone or prednisone,

replace the adrenal hormones that aren't being produced because of an

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency. You take them by mouth.

* Levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, others). This medication boosts

deficient thyroid hormone levels caused by low or deficient

thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) production.

* Estrogen. This may include estrogen alone in women who have had

their uterus removed (hysterectomy) or a combination of estrogen and

progesterone

in women who still have a uterus. Estrogen replacement can be administered

with either pills or patches.

If you've become infertile, preparations containing luteinizing hormone (LH)

and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), also called gonadotropins, can be

administered by injection to stimulate ovulation.

A doctor who specializes in endocrine disorders (endocrinologist) may test

your blood regularly to make sure you're getting adequate — but not excessive

—

amounts of these hormones.

If you become seriously ill or experience major physical stress, your doctor

will advise you to adjust your dosage of corticosteroids. During these times,

your body would ordinarily produce extra cortisol — a stress hormone. The

same kind of dosage fine-tuning may be necessary when you have the flu,

experience diarrhea or vomiting, or have surgery or dental procedures.

Adjustments

in dosage may also be necessary during pregnancy or with marked weight gain or

weight loss.

Helen Trimble

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