Symptoms of auto-immune Addison's disease and an Addisonian crisis
What are the symptoms of auto-immune Addison's disease?
In many cases the symptoms develop gradually
As the level of cortisol gradually falls you may develop one or more of the following.
- General weakness and becoming easily tired.
- Darkened areas of skin ('pigmentation'). These mainly occur on: sun-exposed areas of skin; the arm-pits; the nipples; the creases of the hands; inside the mouth; recent (rather than old) scars; pressure points such as the elbows. The cause of this is probably due to the change in hormones which can affect the pigment cells in the skin.
- Blood pressure is low and falls further when you stand which can make you dizzy.
- Being off your food and weight loss.
- Feeling sick and vomiting from time to time.
- Abdominal pains which may come and go.
- Diarrhoea or constipation which may come and go.
- Cramps and pains in muscles.
- Craving for salt, or salty foods and drinks.
- Menstrual periods in women may become irregular, or stop.
The symptoms can be vague at first. For example, you may feel tired and 'not right', but it is difficult to say why. Also, most of the symptoms can be caused by other problems, and Addison's disease is rare. So, the condition may not be recognised for weeks or months after symptoms first begin.
Acute (sudden) symptoms develop in some cases - an Addisonian crisis
If the level of cortisol quickly falls very low you can become very ill in a short time. This is called an 'Addisonian crisis'. In this situation symptoms include: severe vomiting and diarrhoea, pains in the back and abdomen, dehydration, low blood pressure, and collapse. You may become severely ill and may die if the cause of the symptoms is not diagnosed and treated quickly.
An Addisonian crisis may suddenly develop after a period of less severe symptoms (described above). The 'crisis' is often triggered by another illness such as an infection, or a stress such as a surgical operation. During these times your body needs extra cortisol. But, if you have Addison's disease you cannot make extra cortisol, and you may then quickly develop these crisis symptoms. In some cases an Addisonian crisis develops without having had any previous symptoms.
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