Desley Rolph, Associate Director
Desley was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency in 2015, the cause being ACTH suppression due to taking frequent and high dose steroids for asthma treatment.
While essential to treat asthma, unfortunately steroids can cause suppression of hormones both in the hypothalamus and pituitary resulting in adrenal atrophy and eventually loss of cortisol production. Some patients are able to recover from a slow wean from steroids which can kick start the production of these hormones, however the disease process was too far gone to enable Desley to recover function by the time she was diagnosed.
Desley also advocates the use of a pump for treatment. She has been using an insulin pump which delivers hydrcortisone (instead of insulin), since 2016, due to her being a rapid metaboliser of oral hydrocortisone, which was proven through tests. This meant that oral medication wasn’t lasting long enough in her body, therefore resulting in very little cortisol replacement, still leaving her very unwell for most parts of the day.
She is interested in advocacy for other adrenal insufficient people, particularly in raising awareness around the problem of how taking steroids for other disease can cause adrenal suppression, which can result in permanent adrenal insufficiency. She was a founding member of AIC, and through researching credible medical documents, has written several documents and tips to help AI people understand their disease in layman’s terms.
Desley’s other interests are in art which had seen her complete a Masters degree. The artwork shown on this website are taken from her many paintings and drawings.