Thank you for providing this platform.

I am a patient with adrenal insufficiency, initially diagnosed in 1979 in Germany, where cortisol levels were already showing irregular patterns. In 2007, after relocating to the United States, I was re-evaluated and diagnosed with a cortisol level of 1.0 µg/dL following an ACTH stimulation test. I was subsequently placed on a maintenance dose of 5 mg Prednisone.

After returning to Germany in 2019, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, I underwent another ACTH stimulation test in 2021. This led to a change in treatment, switching from Prednisolone to Hydrocortisone.

Since this adjustment, I’ve experienced new and fluctuating symptoms. Most notably, I now show elevated morning cortisol levels (up to 18.5 µg/dL), followed by profound fatigue approximately three hours after waking.

I’m wondering whether variations in the timing or method of Hydrocortisone administration could be contributing to these symptoms. Additionally, after receiving the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in mid-2021, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). Could these autoimmune conditions also be playing a role?

Further thyroid testing has shown multiple dark nodules, and both T3 and T4 levels are elevated.

I would be grateful for any insights, shared experiences, or guidance from others who may have faced similar situations.

Kindly,
SWA