Re: secondary addisons -- Steroid Warning Network

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Date Posted: 09:18:07 06/25/07 Mon
Author: Karen (Helpful)
Subject: Re: secondary addisons
In reply to: big ma 's message, "secondary addisons" on 22:30:12 06/24/07 Sun

Ma:

Hi this is Karen. I posted about the different approach to weaning. I am very small (4'9") and was put on 24 mgs of Medrol (equals about 30mgs prednisone) last May. I was on that dose until January 2007 when we all decided that my lungs were probably scarred and the steriods were only ruining my body and not helping my lungs. I was able to drop pretty quickly until I got to 8 mgs medrol. Then I got really sick. I don't know if it was a virus or adrenals trying to come back, but whatever it was I was naueated and sick for almost 4 weeks. Finally, it stopped. I waited another couple of weeks and just last Friday dropped to 7mgs. medrol. This time the alternative Doc. that I see gave me Cortef (hydrocortisone) I take 2.5 mg at 7am and 2.5 mg around 2-3pm. He says that's when your adrenals are most active and need support. His plan is to wean me 1 mg every 5-7 days. I know that sounds aggressive, but he thinks I can do it. If I can't that's okay and he has instructed me to just go back to the dose I was on and wait. I started taking the Cortef last Thursday and then dropped 1 mg on Friday. I seem to be doing really well. I am a little tired, but I have no nausea, no hot flashes, no real weakness other than what I already have from taking steriods. We had a good weekend. I have a 3 yr. old so you can imagine what it's like to have breathing problems and a 3 yr. old. I don't feel like my breathing is worse. The last time I weaned I had trouble breathing too. I feel a little wierd, but nothing like when I dropped from 10mgs to 8mgs. I think the Cortef really works. That is what they give people when they have Addison's disease. It is what is used as a replacement for cortisone. The doc. told me that it works differently than prednisone or medrol. It helps the adrenal cortex rather than suppresses it completely. I am sure if you took a lot of Cortef it would suppress the adrenals too, but in small doses it gives you the cortisone you need while weaning from the prednisone. That's the way I understand it. I don't think it is a mainstream kind of thing, so getting a "normal" doc to go along with it might be tough. You can always ask. It just seems to me that your adrenals need some help while you get off your prednisone poison.

I also take tons of supplements. I have been preparing for this wean since Feb. If I can do the 1 mg every 5-7 days then I will be done with this nightmare in 7 or 8 weeks. That will be a miracle. I just keep praying every night that I can get this stuff out of my body.

I am praying for you too! You can do this!

Karen

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Replies:

Re: secondary addisons -- Judy K (Understanding), 13:38:19 06/26/07 Tue

Re: secondary addisons -- Susan, 19:38:37 07/06/07 Fri