Hi ellsac

Thanks for the answers. Like you I'm taking a maintenance dose which tends to be on the low side. I was told by one endo that the hydro acts simultaneously as replacement cortisol and as an analgesic. Something to do with the way it works at a cellular level.

Interesting you mention OCD - this is something I never had prior to my original AD crisis and diagnosis but has been noticeable since. Have mentioned it to the endo's but they weren't interested. Just something else to live with.

Glad to hear you're filling you life with lots of interesting challenges - all the best for next year. Like you I'm juggling health and life and trying not to sweat the small stuff. I'll look forward to your occasional posts to hear how you're doing. Take care.

Oh interesting. The endos I have seen all insist that the hydro doesn't act in that manner, and that it acts almost purely as cortisol only as if the adrenal glands were producing it. That is interesting, though.

The OCD thing-that seems to be genetic in my family. My brother has it, my sister has anxiety, and my mother deals with it as well. I have had issues with it as long as I can remember-but it worsened with the Lyme disease as a child, and it kicked into high gear with my Addison's diagnosis. I do well at keeping it controlled for the most part-but it is certainly another challenge.

Its hard not sweating the small stuff, and sometimes I feel pretty confident that I put too much on my plate (just got promoted at work as well-yikes haha)...but I don't know. I've always been this way, and I'm not sure how to turn that side of myself off. I am sure I could eventually get my body in trouble with it, but for now I seem to be doing ok.

If you (or anyone else) ever wants to PM, always feel free to.