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Warning-sign checks

Sheehan syndrome: 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. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Follow your emergency steroid plan if you have one.

    Call emergency services for possible adrenal crisis, especially with:

    • Severe weakness, fainting, or collapse
    • Confusion, unusual drowsiness, or seizure
    • Repeated vomiting with inability to take steroid medicine
    • Very low blood pressure or signs of shock
    • Severe illness with rapidly worsening symptoms

    Use an emergency steroid injection as instructed, but do not delay emergency care.

    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. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent medical advice if you take cortisol replacement and develop vomiting or diarrhoea that prevents you from keeping medicine down.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine medical review if you have a history of severe childbirth bleeding and later develop persistent fatigue, low blood pressure, absent periods, difficulty producing breast milk, reduced body hair, or unexplained low sodium or low blood sugar.

    These symptoms have several possible causes and need proper assessment rather than self-diagnosis.

    Routine blood tests and treatment reviews should continue even when you feel well.

The article also says

If you have diagnosed Sheehan syndrome, contact your usual care team when symptoms change, medicines are repeatedly missed, or you are planning pregnancy, surgery, or prolonged travel.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Sheehan syndrome. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.