What Are The Symptoms of Sheehan’s Syndrome?

 

what are the symptoms of sheehan's syndrome

What Are The Symptoms of Sheehan’s Syndrome?

The clinical symptoms of Sheehan Syndrome are highly variable and depend on the areas of the pituitary gland that has died (necrosis).

Patients that have a smaller proportion of the pituitary tissue damaged may not develop symptoms until weeks or even years after the childbirth. 



There appear to be two forms of Sheehan Syndrome; a chronic form and an acute form.

The appearance of the type of Sheehan’s Syndrome form depends on the amount of damage to the gland’s cells.

In chronic form of Sheehan Syndrome cases, the volume of damage to the pituitary is much less and symptoms may not appear for months or years after delivery.

The acute form of Sheehan Syndrome reflects considerable damage so that symptoms become apparent soon after delivery.

In both types of Sheehan’s Syndrome the chronic and acute forms, there may be signs of diabetes insidious (DI).

Symptoms of diabetes insidious (DI)

  • Abnormal thirst for water
  • Increase urine output
  • A high volume of output of urine

 

Symptoms of Sheehan’s Syndrome

  • A frequent symptom of Sheehan’s Syndrome is associated with failure of lactation after a woman gives birth 

Other Sheehan Syndrome Symptoms Can Include:

  • Lost of menstruation
  • Sexual interest (libido) is diminishes
  • Pubic hair does not grow back
  • The hair in the armpits (axilla) slowly disappears
  • Breasts and genitalia atrophy (diminish in size). However, for some women, menstrual periods do recur and subsequent pregnancies have been reported. 


  • The characteristics of hypothyroidism usually develop gradually.
  • A dry, waxy type of swelling (myxedema) may take years or decades to become apparent.
  • Patients with severe ACTH deficiency have symptoms associated with fatigue, chronic hypotension with fainting and the ability to respond to stress.



Sheehan’s Syndrome can be a difficult diagnosis because many of the symptoms are similar to other diseases ailments

When a woman has Sheehan’s Syndrome she may have one or many of the symptoms listed below:

  • Fatigue
  • Slow mental function
  • Salt cravings 
  • Extreme weight gain (Caused by Hypothyroidism)
  • Extreme weight loss
  • Infertility
  • Lack of libido
  • Abdominal pain
  • Lack of appetite
  • Low blood pressure
  • Dizziness and fainting
  • Difficulty or inability to breast-feed (breast milk never “comes in”)
  • Difficulty staying warm
  • Insomnia 
  • Lack of menstrual bleeding
  • Loss of pubic hairs and axillary hairs

Below is a list subjectively list between the Chronic Form of Sheehan’s Syndrome and Acute Form of Sheehan’s Syndrome:

Acute Sheehan’s Syndrome Symptoms

  • Failure to lactate
  • Hypotension
  • Tachycardia
  • Hypoglycemia

Chronic Sheehan’s Syndrome Symptoms 

  • Failure to lactate
  • Loss of axillary/pubic hair
  • Oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea
  • Loss of libido
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hypoadrenal

 

You can read more about Sheehan’s Syndrome and HypoGal at www.HypoGal.com 
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Click on the following link to read my story with Sheehan’s Syndrome

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