One usually knows if they need florinef by testing sodium and potassium, or renin and aldosterone. Do you crave salt, have a lot of crisis issues? Then florinef would be a good idea... Do you have low blood pressure?
I hope that helps.
Olivia
Is your adrenal suppression permanent from steroid use?
I'm having trouble tapering off steroids due to adrenal suppression and wondering if its permanent. My main issue is tachycardia with standing or stress. I am just on hydrocortisone as everyone assumes its secondary but I wonder if I need florinef.
Hey Olivia- I would agree with them... If you've only been on meds for a couple of months you are still probably going through the process of regulating and dosing the amount of replacement steroids. Also you should give your body some time to recover- mine took at least three months. I had Tachycardia too and mine is almost completely gone except during "episodes" so keep the hope!! I am new to this too so if you'd like to talk.... :))
Are you also taking florinef with your steroids? Do you also supplement yourself with enough salt? Remember that Addison's (AI) is at its very essence a salt-wasting syndrome where you need to have enough salt to keep you healthy as a crisis is caused by not enough sodium in the body and a rise in potassium due to that drop in potassium. Some will drop in both.
I would make sure that you get enough salt and the florinef keeps the salt in you. The salt will bring your heart rate down. Find salt tabs so that your diet will not be effected. Also, during the summer, keep them with you as you sweat, you may need more salt.
I would think
1)under treated with cortico steroids
or
2)associated mineralo corticoid deficiency
please check it out with your Endo.
Rgds