Uneven face tanning and blue tongue

I was diagnosed with addison's disease, anemia, and hypothyroidism about 18 months ago. I have been taking cortef 20mcg, vitamin B12 500 mcg, and Synthroid 100 mcg every day since then. over the past 8-9 months my face has gotten significantly darkened with very uneven tanning (my face has become very dark compared to my neck and other body parts). My tongue has also become dark blue in the middle and on the sides. Is this a common side effects of the treatment or I need to do something.  

[rumpled]

The skin darkening is from high ACTH - that is from the disease. It usually means that you are not being treated effectively. The first 15 molecules of ACTH are the same as melanin so it creates dark skin and spots.

How are you taking your cortef? Have the doctors discussed florinef at all? Are you taking enough salt?

I have not heard of a blue tongue at all though - blue anything means lack of 0xygen - which may go along with the anemia. Is yours from low RBC or low iron?

[rumpled]

The skin darkening is from high ACTH - that is from the disease. It usually means that you are not being treated effectively. The first 15 molecules of ACTH are the same as melanin so it creates dark skin and spots.

How are you taking your cortef? Have the doctors discussed florinef at all? Are you taking enough salt?

I have not heard of a blue tongue at all though - blue anything means lack of 0xygen - which may go along with the anemia. Is yours from low RBC or low iron?

[sonny_01]

Thanks for the answer. I am  taking cortef by mouth. I will discuss florinef with my doctor on the next visit.
My anemia is from low RBC? Does the blue tongue also mean that I am not being treated effectively by synthroid. Thanks.

[rumpled]

I have been hypothyroid for years and  years, and never ever once have I had a blue tongue even when my meds were not right and sometimes it does take time to get them right. Blue nails and lips usually mean low oxygen - again, never heard of blue tongue.

Anemia can be different - I get low iron.

As for cortef - what I meant was what time do you take it, and how do you divide the doses. Sorry I was not clear. It is important to imitate a normal body as much as one can by taking the bulk of one's dose early in the day, and then a small amount not too late in the afternoon so as not to interfere with sleep. Taking it incorrectly can make the body have an incorrect diurnal rhythm which can interfere with rest, healing, bone growth, etc.