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Adrenal insufficiency
A year ago I was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency. I have been treated with prednisone for 12 years for polymyalgia rheumatica an autoimmune disease. My adrenal glands had atrophied . I was hospitalized for adrenal crisis. I am also experiencing orthostatic hypotension, My neurologist determined that I have dysautonomia which he is still trying to treat. My G.I. doctor diagnosed me with a motility disorder as well, Then while trying to treat my chronically low blood pressure I had a hemorrhagic stroke. So it’s been a very busy year. currently we are trying to lower my prednisone from 10 mg down to at least 5 mg. It is a struggle with my blood pressure still an issue I am also on .02 mg of fludrocortisone. Nothing has raised my blood pressure. All of a sudden now as I am down to 8 mg of prednisone my blood pressure is fluctuating up to 151/88.
So I am nervous about another stroke. Could the lowering of the prednisone be changing my blood pressure readings? also after three weeks on 8 mg I tried to go to 7 mg and had so much body pain and also so shaky as if I had caffeine, which I never drink. That made me nervous that perhaps I was going to have an adrenal crisis so I am so worried about this prednisone taper and how long it will take. Could I be experiencing withdrawal from lowering the prednisone too quickly? I’ve gone back to the 8 mgs and then will begin alternating 8 and 7.5 and proceed the taper in that way very slowly.
I have so many issues going on at the same time, and so many different doctors and the overlapping symptoms make treatment so difficult. Anybody else going through this insane health circumstances? I am chronically, fatigued, and.completely overwhelmed. I would love to be seen at Mayo Clinic and have doctors that all work together but they don’t take my insurance which is Anthem BCBS Medicare. I feel like I will never get my normal life back again.
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May GOD be with you and your doctors.
@carwreck1993
Thank you so much ❤️✝️❤️
Suzanne. I know it’s been some time since you posted.
I’m at the beginning of this kind of roller coaster.
I’ve had multiple diagnosis auto immune for sometime now I’ve been on high dosage of prednisone (orig 60 mg) over the course of three years successfully taper down to 10 mg but every time I try to taper below 8 mg I seem to go into some level of adrenal insufficiency. I’ve actually heard of doing like three days on 8 mg a day on 7.5, 3 day on eight day on 7.5, 3 days on eight etc..then taper to 2 days between and eventually to 7 then 6.5 etc. I wish you well.
@shoregirljill
Hi there. I have tapered down to 7mgs from 10 by doing the alternating days. You really have to go slow. When I went to 8mgs, I just did 8 each day and my body aches were so severe that is when I knew I had to start with alternating days 8 & 8.5. I did that for 3 weeks and then I was able to do just 8 for about 3 weeks. From there I alternated 8 & 7.5 etc. I’m keeping each change at 3 weeks because I am nervous about the adrenal insufficiency as well as flare ups of PMR. The hope is that my adrenal glands will start functioning again. I have noticed that pain in my body is more apparent as I reduce the prednisone. I’ve been on it so long and it has been I guess controlling my levels of inflammation like a temporary bandaid.
I sure pray that you will have good success with getting off of this medication.