Wiggs,
If you mean to say that Palumbo might be suffering from Addison's Disease (Adrenal insufficiency), then yes, that is a real condition.
Typical symptoms include:
Muscle weakness and fatigue
Weight loss and decreased appetite
Darkening of your skin (hyperpigmentation)
Low blood pressure, even fainting
Salt craving
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting
Muscle or joint pains
Irritability
Depression
Body hair loss or sexual dysfunction in women
The adrenal glands have two parts to their structure. The medulla (at the very center of the gland) produces chemicals like epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are necessary for activation of adrenergic receptors like Alpha1, Alpha2, Beta1, Beta2 & Dopamine receptors (receptors which are crucial to the fight or flight response). The other structural part of the adrenal glands is the outer covering, which is known as the cortex. The cortex produces glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and male sex hormones (These hormones individually control everything from inflammation, energy consumption, blood pressure, electrolyte balance and sexual development).
Damage to the pituitary gland can cause Adrenal Insufficiency. Maybe Palumbo caused some damage to his hypothalamic-pituitary-dysfunction, which in turn has allowed for him to develop Adrenal Insufficiency. It's hard to say.
There are tests to check for Adrenal Insufficiency.
Blood test. Measuring your blood levels of sodium, potassium, cortisol and ACTH gives your doctor an initial indication of whether adrenal insufficiency may be causing your signs and symptoms. A blood test can also measure antibodies associated with autoimmune Addison's disease.
ACTH stimulation test. This test involves measuring the level of cortisol in your blood before and after an injection of synthetic ACTH. ACTH signals your adrenal glands to produce cortisol. If your adrenal glands are damaged, the ACTH stimulation test shows that your output of cortisol in response to synthetic ACTH is limited or nonexistent.
Insulin-induced hypoglycemia test. Occasionally, doctors suggest this test if pituitary disease is a possible cause of adrenal insufficiency (secondary adrenal insufficiency). The test involves checking your blood sugar (blood glucose) and cortisol levels at various intervals after an injection of insulin. In healthy people, glucose levels fall and cortisol levels increase.
Imaging tests. Your doctor may have you undergo a computerized tomography (CT) scan of your abdomen to check the size of your adrenal glands and look for other abnormalities that may give insight to the cause of the adrenal insufficiency. Your doctor may also suggest a MRI scan of your pituitary gland if testing indicates you might have secondary adrenal insufficiency.
If any of you are interested in a little more reading behind the subject, feel free to check out The Mayo Clinic's resources at this link:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/addisons-disease/basics/definition/con-20021340I'm sure Palumbo has it all covered.
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P.S. If you meant to say that Adrenal Fatigue on its own is a medical condition, then that would not be true, as the actual medical diagnosis does not exist.
