weaned off Medrol, how to take it from here?

[AnnaS69]

I was put on Medrol (4 mg daily) in March 2012, after my doctor diagnosed me with adrenal fatigue. Blood drawn at around 2 pm showed free cortisol levels of 2.2 (ref 5-10).  Cortisol levels in 24h urine 30 (ref 20-100; should be at least 50 according to doctor). Aldosterone levels normal, but estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels suboptimal.

Unfortunately, no saliva testing as my doctor does not believe in it.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 2001 and was on thyroxine (200 mcg) until last year when my doctor put me on NDT.

When I was diagnosed with prediabetes a few months ago, and prescribed Metformin, 500 mgx3, I decided to try to wean off Medrol (as it is known to raise blood sugar levels and lead to an increased need for insulin in diabetics). It was not easy, to put it mildly, but I have been off it completely for about three weeks now. I am now taking Dr. Wilson's Adrenal Rebuilder.

I am feeling OK, although I have some bad days, but not bad enough to force me to go back on Medrol. But I feel slightly more tired, increased need for sleep, less able to handle stress.

I felt good on Medrol but, looking back, I cannot really say that it did much for my adrenals. They did not seem to heal, because if they had, would I not feel better once I'm off them? My usual dose of NDT, 5.5 grains, also has the same effect as sugar pills on me now, and I can feel myself getting more and more hypo by the day. So far, it's tolerable, but I worry that I am going in the wrong direction.

I asked my doctor about HC instead of Medrol, but was told that HC is not recommended in patients who retain fluid.

Would you say this is a normal reaction to steroid weaning?

I'd appreciate any input on this.

[AnnaS69]

Thank you, Barb.

These are my latest thyroid labs, on 5 grains of Armour (24h after latest dose):

TSH <0.01 (0.2-4.0)
FT3 2.9 (ref 1.8-3.8)
FT4 1.1 (ref 0.7-1.5)
anti-TPO<6 (<6; +6800 at the time of diagnosis in 2001)
anti-thyroglobuline 37 (<16; never measured at time of diagnosis)

Just for comparison, my labs on 200 mcg of thyroxine (early 2012):

TSH 0.05 (0.2-4.0)
FT3 2.7 (ref 1.8-3.8)
FT4 1.5 (0.7-1.5)
anti-TPO 8 (<6)
anti-thyroglobuline 44 (<16)

I have not done as great as expected on NDT, and I wonder if that is because I am taking Armour, or if NDT puts more strain on my adrenals, causing more T3 to pool? Even if I have labs 24 hours after latest dose, shouldn't my FT3 levels be closer to the upper normal limit?

I am also a bit surprised that my FT4 levels dropped from 1.5 on 200 mcg of thyroxine, to 1.1 on 5 grains of Armour, which contains 190 mcg of T4, so just a 10 mcg difference.

My doctor wants me on adrenal support for the rest of my life, but I have never been tested for Addison's disease (which is the only reason for life-long steroid treatment, as far as I know), but if it turns out that I need further treatment, I'd prefer HC rather than Medrol. I have done a lot of research, but I have not found any indication that Medrol should be used to treat adrenal fatigue. It is not mentioned in the package leaflet either.

Wilson's Adrenal Rebuilder contains porcine adrenal extract plus a lot of vitamins and minerals important for optimal adrenal function (vit C, vits B, etc).

I understand that many with adrenal fatigue only need to take prescription drugs for a few months. I took Medrol for over a year.

Some say that, once you take less than 4 mg of Medrol (or 20 mg of HC) daily, you are suppressing more than you are supplementing, so that you'd better wean off it quickly?