sleepless in Ontario - recently diagnosed reply - Addison's Disease Message Board

Teeny · 07-19-2001, 07:34 AM

Hi! I was also diagnosed with Addison's recently (a month ago) and I feel exactly the same way. Sleeplessness, wired and then extreme fatigue. I didn't sleep for 3 days. Count them - three! I found that when I decreased my hydrocortisone to 5mg-7.5mg in the afternoon, and I take it earlier in the pm (4:30pm), I don't feel the extreme fatigue at 5 and I sleep better (instead I feel it at about 9, but it goes away in about 1/2 hr). I'm still sleepless sometimes, but I'm getting better. The world is an interesting place at 4am.
I went for a long bike ride yesterday and I'm beginning to feel better and better every day. I'm just starting the florinef and I don't know how much to take. The endocrinologist I went to was a real idiot, who'd never seen an Addisonian and WAY over-prescribed everything she could, including thyroid medicine I don't yet need. Tisk, tisk. Needless to say, I'll be switching doctors soon. My health is now up to me. My body will tell me how I'm feeling and short of a "crisis", doctors be damned if you'll pump me full of chemicals because you're ignorant of the correct dosages!
I'd love to hear your stories about your recovery and so forth.

Lyndell · 08-04-2001, 05:54 PM

I've had Addison's for 9 years. I take hydrocortisone, 20 mg. in the morning and 10 mg. with dinner. My endocrinologist says I don't need florinef, just eat salt if I feel like I need it. I have found that in the last several months (I am also going through perimenopause), the 10 mg. does not seem to hold me over until breakfast (7:30am). I am real sluggish and tired in the morning and it takes me until noon to really feel very good. Any thoughts on Addison's and menopause?

As far as sleeping, when I first diagnosed with Addison's I didn't sleep that well, but it got better. I also do not take my medication too close to bedtime.

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by Lyndell (edited 08-04-2001).]