Hi Blue,

Personally, I don't think the hydro hides anything for me. I'm only taking enough to cover what my body should be making, so there shouldn't be too much surplus-and my blood work reflects this as my doctor regularly tests my ACTH, and my body still produces it. If I were on too much steroid, it would be unreadable (which happened in the past, so we dropped the dose down). I actually think I am on too low of a dose at times, but for the reasons you stated, I keep it low to avoid side effects. I am frequently achy, with achy bones, probably due to having just under what I need-and this goes for morning and night for me sometimes morning is worse than night due to stiffness. I am pretty sure I am developing arthritis at the ripe old age of 35 haha for extra fun. So I am trying to do some muscle strengthening exercises around my joints. Of course-finding energy for it is like tapping an empty keg but I'm making some progress.

I am very fortunate, and I don't have too many really painful flares. I had one a couple of months ago for a few weeks, and the about 3 months before that, and the worst flare was back last January. I haven't taken pain medication. I have take klonopin, however, in small doses. Never daily. It's a benzo med (like Xanax) and it helps me relax. That in and of itself can help a flare for me.

There are still days when things are hard, because yes, telling one symptom from another is really challenging-so when not sure what is wrong, I'll often opt for trying to get some extra rest haha.

I know my attendance on the forum is kind of spotty. I also have OCD for extra fun, so I help out at an anxiety forum because even though I will always have anxiety-therapy put me into recovery with that for the most part.

We also just bought a house a few months ago, and just adopted a shelter dog 3 weeks ago. We are going to try for a baby in a year. I guess I'm stubborn and won't let my crazy body slow my life down more than I'm willing to accept...but who knows what the future holds. How are you hanging in?

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.