doctor wants me to start cortef

Hi everyone
I have hashimotos thyroiditis, which I am treating with armour thyroid. I have just received a bunch of test results back and the adrenal stim test shows that I am not producing enough cortisol. I also have low estrogen. My doctor wants me to start on a very low dose of cortisol 4 x day. I do think I might need to do this, but at the same time I am worried that I am going to start myself on a merry-go-round of glandulars and hormone supplements that will make me permanantly dependent on these things. The doctor said that if I take the cortef then my adrenal will be able to heal itself and I will be able to go off of the cortef eventually, although it will take time. Is this actually true? Has anyone taken cortef and gone off of it succesfully? How long did it take? I am going to supplement some estrogen as well...
Thanks

[enzymelover]

  You probably know thyroid hormones and adrenal hormones need to be in balance with each other. Short term low dose Cortef should not cause a problem.
Vitamin C, B5 and Tyrosine are essential for proper adrenal function. Be sure you're getting enough of these.

[Liz118]

Thanks enzymelover
Do you take cortef?  If so, how have you done on it? Do you have adrenal fatigue?

[enzymelover]

  My 13 year old son is on Cortef, for secondary adrenal insufficiency (due to a pituitary tumor\cyst.
When he first started it, the endo made the mistake of putting him on Levothyroxine only, one week earlier. In other words, one week after starting Levo, he passed out on the kitchen floor (just for a few seconds) from adrenal insufficiency (because of hormone suppression from the tumor), and was quickly put on Cortef too.

He was not well for several months afterward (severe nausea, racing heart, hypothermia and hypoglycemic-like symptoms), but his endo said his symptoms were unusual, and not caused by the Cortef, but more likely effects of the tumor.

He  takes 15mgs. daily now, more if he feels he needs it, but I recently learned from someone here on medhelp that 20mgs. daily is enough to suppress your adrenals, (something the endo didn't bother to mention), so unless he has a fever, or an extremely stressful event (like 3 weeks ago when his guinea pig died),  I try to keep him at 12 - 15mgs. daily.

He was doing OK for quite a while, but he's been on it for two years now, and he's having symptoms which may be due to potassium and magnesium depletion, which happens with high dose long term corticosteroids. He's a very picky eater, and won't cooperate anymore with vitamin\mineral therapies. (oh the joys of teenagers). I'm handling it for now with transdermal creams; everything from zinc and B vitamins to amino acids and, I just ordered a tryptophan cream, to try and help him fall asleep at night (a test his nutritionist ordered last year indicated he was low in tryp.) He's had insomnia since his last MRI 9 months ago.

But anyway, I would give the Cortef a try and see how you do. Start slow, (something they did not do with my son),  maybe 2.5mgs. twice daily. Your doctor will advise depending on your specific condition.

[Liz118]

Sounds like you are a very caring and responsible parent!
How did you find out that your son had the pituitary cyst?
I agree that I am going to break the cortef pills and start really low. I am still nervous about doing this but the tests show my cortisol is pretty low and I can't seem to tolerate glanular extracts or dhea.
Thanks for the help

[Calzone]

I have Hashi .. I have been on 60mg. armour for the last couple of week (started originally with 30) .. now my doctor just put me on Cortef @ 5mg up to twice a day.   It should help with the adrenal function working in sinc with the tyroid .. it will make you a bit hyper until your body adjust ... with the cortef .. the body is finally getting the full dose effect of the armour .. hope this helps