Bilateral Adrenalectomy Treatment in India

Aadya Johnson, a 32-year-old high school...

Aadya Johnson, a 32-year-old high school biology teacher and avid rock climber, had been struggling for over a year. Her once-stable weight ballooned, she developed a round, red face, severe acne, and a pronounced hump on her upper back. Uncontrollable high blood pressure emerged despite medication. The final straw was a spontaneous rib fracture from weakened bones. After extensive testing by her endocrinologist, she was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome caused by bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, both adrenal glands were overproducing cortisol. Her urologist, Dr. Chen, explained that a bilateral adrenalectomy was the definitive treatment to remove the source of the excess hormones. The robotic-assisted surgery went smoothly, but the immediate aftermath was challenging. Aadya now requires lifelong steroid replacement therapy (hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone) to survive, a fact that initially terrified her. Emotionally, she felt a profound loss of her former robust health and independence, grieving the spontaneity of her active life. However, over six months, her Cushing's symptoms reversed. Her body composition normalized, her blood pressure stabilized, and her energy slowly returned. While managing her medication is a daily responsibility, she feels liberated from the debilitating disease. She has returned to teaching and modified climbing, with a deep empathy for patients with chronic conditions and a renewed appreciation for her resilience.