Is it possible to have Addisons Disease without the hyperpigmentation?

Question

If you have every other symptom, including the hormonal test results and low cortisol levels, hyponatremia, and muscle weakness, could a person have addisons? 

I have had years of health problems, many a result of a pituitary tumor treatment that led to what is diagnosed as hemi-dystonia, along with depression, long periods of hospitalization (up to one month at a time) with adrenal failure and hyponatremia. Then it takes months to build back up to being my baseline healthy. I wouldn't have ever thought of this, but my sister just had a dog diagnosed with addisons, and she said its almost exactly like what has been happening with me on and off over the past twenty years. 

One more detail...when I have prednisone treatments for ear infections, my whole body feels better, stronger, and my mind is clearer. It is also the treatment I have had following the adrenal failure.

? · Accepted Answer

The basics: the adrenal glands (above the kidneys) produce cortisol. The pituitary gland (under your brain) produces a hormone called ACTH, which stimulates the adrenals to produce cortisol. Addison's disease is a very specific condition - it is when the adrenals are attacked by the immune system and they stop producing cortisol. The pituitary then pumps out lots of ACTH to try and drive the adrenals which have stopped responding. The pigmentation that is SOMETIMES seen in Addison's disease is a side effect of having very high ACTH. 

I think you are describing a different problem: if you've had a pituitary tumour then it's possible the pituitary is no longer producing enough ACTH. So the adrenals think they don't have to do any work and produce less cortisol. This is not Addison's disease and it's not adrenal failure (since the adrenals are not diseased) - it's hypopituitarism (underactive pituitary). If you have a history of a pituitary tumour and have had documented low cortisol and low sodium, then I am absolutely baffled as to why you are not permanently on steroids (hydrocortisone). This could potentially be very dangerous - change your doctor / see an endocrinologist!!

? · Answer

Addisons Disease Hyperpigmentation

Anonymous · Answer

1

Judith · Answer

I was wondering that too. My husband has most of the other symptoms.

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Is it possible to have Addisons Disease without the hyperpigmentation?

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