Hi, I have AS and was treated first for "general" RA and then for AS over a decade. Recently (4-3 years) I have noticed that not only I gain weight, but my face and mid-body are very "fat" related to the rest of the body. It's almost as if all the fat mass is concentrated around these areas. I have burning skin sensation from time to time and after some googling I found out that the addison's disease is actually may be linked to RA and AS. Did anyone here experience anything like this? Thanks, A.
Hi, ama38049. What'a ur doc got u on? If it's steroids, then what ur seeing-weight gain, ur face possibly looking different, the meds could be causing these changes. I'll have to go look up Addison's, because, although I've he of it, I still don't know exact what it is and what it affects. I just wanted to say "hi" and let u know someone read ur post. I'll be back, once I've gotten an understanding of AD. Till then, :-)
Oh, and I'm a fellow sufferer of AS.
So, in addition to ur.hormone/endocrine issues, ur HLA-B27 positive?
Whst, if any now, are ur symptoms of the Addison's ?
Hi emt929, thank you for you replies. I was never tested for HLA-B29. AS by ct scans and clinical(back pain). TSH was abnormal in the past but is fine for the past years. Not on meds for that. As for sympthoms? Severe pain in joints and muscles, nausea, fatigue, headaches, moon face and weight gain. Plus minus that's all as far as AD is considered. Up to the weight gain, all can be related to RA rather than else. Most RA tests are negative but have some deformations. Severe pain in fingers and joints. Without swelling or redness. Ever. Still categorized as RA over a decade ago based on fingers and elbow deformations... Going to see another specialist in a few weeks. Trying to gather questions to ask.
Hi EMT929, elevated cortisol it is. It's not Addison but Cushing's like Syndrome as it seems. Will see what endocrinologist will say next week... thanks and take care.