Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor: when to get help
Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Seek urgent or emergency care for:
Repeated vomiting or diarrhea that prevents you keeping steroid medicine down
Fainting, confusion, extreme weakness, or severe dizziness
Severe abdominal pain with vomiting or very low blood pressure
Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood
One-sided leg swelling or pain
Signs of a serious infection, especially while cortisol is uncontrolled
If you take replacement glucocorticoids, follow your personal sick-day and emergency injection plan.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
After treatment, contact your care team promptly for increasing dizziness, nausea, unusual weakness, poor appetite, or possible signs that cortisol replacement is too low.
Report new hormone-related changes or persistent abdominal or back pain.
An adrenal crisis should not wait for a routine appointment.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Arrange a medical appointment for progressive changes such as easy bruising, wide purple stretch marks, worsening muscle weakness, unexplained fractures, or difficult-to-control blood pressure or diabetes.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.