Hello out there. I was wondering, is there anyone out there who has had Addison's for many years and having any problems with dark pigmentation?

Hi my name is Kelly and live with addison's for 32 years. I find that I tend to have a darker pigmentation than anyone else in my family. I would love to talk to you more .Feel free to email me any time.

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Keep smiling...kelly

Hi Kelly. I would email you but your email wasn't in your profile. I'm generally darker than my famil as well but I have two areas, my forehead and the back of my neck that have dark patches of brown skin on them which are quite recent. I'm doubling my cortisone to see if that helps. I emailed my endo about it and she didn't answer and I found out yesterday that she was leaving today on a month holiday so I'll have to take matters into my own hands.

Hi you two. Pigmentation should not be an issue if your Addison's is properly treated. Hormone replacement therapy, a dosage of Cortisone Acetate, is usually the common route, I believe. I've had Addison's for 22 years now. I've also been on either Cortisone Acetate or Hydrocortisone that whole time. I was very dark (evenly) when I was diagnosed. I had an Adrenal Crisis. But my skin tone since then has seemed almost normal. I may be a little darker than my siblings, and I do still notice a little more darkness around my knuckles, but other than that my skin tone seems fine. I take 20mg am and 10mg pm of Hydrocortisone currently. I also used to take Florinef for most of the years, but my new Endo doc just this past year said I don't need it. I also have other endo problems--Hypothyroidism and Diabetes IDDM. B. Hooker hooker@skydiver.com

Well, I do know that I should not be pigmented when successfully treated for my Addison's. That is why I am so concerned about it and and when my endo didn't get back to me and went away on holidays, I decided to double my dexamethasone. So far, it's been doubled for over a week and my pigmentation has gotten lighter. Hopefully it goes away in the near future.

What is Dexamethasone? Is it a Steroid? Maybe one question you should ask your Endo doc is "Why aren't I on Cortisone Acetate or Hydrocortisone?". Also, Sweethart31, I mostly wanted to reply to tell you that you should not take such a risk as doubling your medicine on your own. I know you said your Endo doc is on holiday, but you're playing with fire. You should get yourself a new Endo. How 'bout just going to see a General Practitioner doctor and then getting a referal to a new Endo doctor? God Bless. WoodRunner hooker@skydiver.com

Well hello all. I've had Addison's since 1984. I have been on hydrocortisone, prednisone and cortisone acetate. My ACTH levels have been constitantly too high , hence my endo put me on dexamethasone which is not such a common steriod by the sounds of it.
My pigmentation which I told you all about has been decreasing since I doubled my cortisone over two weeks ago. I am certainly not playing with fire, I know how to look after myself very well, thank you.
Take care.

Hi, Kelly:

I have a message that you replyed to my posting (looking for someone my on age). However, I cannot find your reply but I did find you here. I had wanted you to have my email address but they apparently don't allow that. Not sure why that is but.....Anyway, it says here that you have been living with Addison's for 32 years so I'm assuming you're not a kid : ) I would appreciate hearing more about your experiences with this disease and how you are coping and what your activities are. My daughter is in the process of being diagnosed also but I'm sure that's what is going on with her from listening to her symptoms (the same as mine). I'm heartsick that she is having these problems so young but I know I've suffered from it most of my life also (even tho not diagnosed). Anyway, would like to hear more from you and thanks. CAZZ

Wood Runner:

Are you not concerned at all about bone demineralization side effects from the hydrocortisone? Causing spontaneous bone fractures.....also, do any of you have stomach problems which is a common side effect of taking hydrocortisone?

CAZZ