Immunity and Adrenal Insufficiency

[Firefly234]

I was just wondering if anyone else with adrenal insufficiency gets sick a lot? Since being diagnosed in June, I've had 3 colds/bronchitis. Is this normal or am I just going through some bad luck?

Thanks!

[kevieb]

i got a second conflicting diagnosis from an endo, first said secondary AI and put me on HC second said it was not SAI and weaned me off of HC.   i know that i hardly ever used to get sick, but as i was being pulled of HC i have gotten sick a couple of times--and it has been worse than what i used to get and lasted longer.      i tend to believe thw first diagnosis, since the testing ws done right and i had recently lost a whole lot of weight for no apparent reason.  i have felt like crap since i have been off my HC.

[rumpled]

I have never taken glandulars - but in general, if you feel pain, perhaps that is a warning?

[ill13632]

by the way Rumpled, if after taking glandulars you feel a sharp pain in your left chest/ribs area is that bad?  

[ill13632]

you must insist on getting antibiotics and find a doctor who will give them to you- I kept on getting sick (I have low cortisol 2.4mg) and ended up in the ER with a bad infection
try echinacea it's supposed to help

[deneen115]

yes, I get sicker than the ususal person and have to be especially careful with my lungs, bronchitis goes into phenumonia real quick lately even with the higher doses of hydrocortosone and all.

[Kadge]

I feel your pain, I catch just about everything that goes around, and I am still waiting for a diagnosis on what is wrong with me? When I am ill, even the common cold seems to be so much worse than everyone else, it just takes it right out of me ;(

[rumpled]

Steroids would not help your adrenals at all, just shut them down. As well, if you search, steroids - corticosteroids, are immuno-suppressive. So that natropath shut down your adrenals and your immune system. I have no adrenals - I get sick often  but I know to take more steroids when I get sick to help my body. I only take a replacement dose though.

If you take steroids long term and shut down your adrenals, you risk never waking them up - and it is going to be hard and painful to wake them up. You now may become adrenal insufficient due to the suppression. I hope you can wake up your adrenals - take it very slow and careful - and your endo can help you. It is dangerous.

[rumorct]

At the time I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease( auto-immune hypothyroid), I was also diagnosed with adrennal fatigue. My endo immediaetly put me on thyroid medicine and a low dose of steroid for the adrenal.  He explained that it would give my adrenal system time to recover(to rest). I did this for 2 years. Before this I was sick all the time.  No matter what was going around I got it and then when I had it I got the severe version or it would take me twice as long to get over i compared to everyone else.  It has been a couple of years and I do not get sick as much, am able to dodge the sickness (sometimes) even if my kids are sick.  I am still taking thyroid meds everyday and of course vitamins that are prescribed by my natropath.  The steroid therapy I guess is somewhat controversal according to another Endo that I spoke to about it, so I'm not sure if all Endo's would agree that this will help your immune system.  I'm pretty sure that it helped mine.  Good luck.

[rumpled]

I would say in my experience, yes. I get sick a lot and I know others like me, also get sick more than usual.
I try to take vitamins and avoid crowds - but my hubby brings it home from work - he does not get sick - I do! Or he will get over it in a day - I will take a week.