Adrenal Insufficiency Support Group

So how is everyone's immune system? I have been told repeatedly over the past few years that my immune system was trashed. We thought part of it was that I stayed home, or just worked part-time, and wasn't exposed to as much, so I caught everything that came around. We also thought I was just kind of a weenie!

Now that I'm on prednisone all the time, I can't figure out if I'm more likely to get sick or less. It supresses the immune system, which would make me think less, but it warns you that you could be more susceptible to illness. Plus, I'm sure AI itself has some effect...

Outside of that, I'm just curious how everyone does now compared to pre-diagnosis. I think I'm coming down with a cold, but I haven't completely gotten it yet, so I'm not sure it's going to happen. That would be a first!

I've put off starting my vitamins for a few more days, because my stomach problems have revved up. I have to take Flinstones anyway, because the rest of them make me sick.

So, how is your immunity now compared to before?

Hi Cynthia

Now this opens a can of worms... Your body needs at least a minimal level of cortisol to have an immune reaction, then needs a little more to provide a anti-inflammatory response for too much of a reaction and a little bit more to help provide the energy to do what it has to do to fight disease...

Generally speaking if you are on the right dose you'll be less likely to be sick. If you adjust dose properly you'll be more likely to overcome it quickly. The level of Pred that you are on for AI treatment should match pretty close to the normal body need and therefore cant be seen as suppressing the immune system. It is in fact a curve with an optimum point. Too less or too more both impact the immune system. The trick is knowing how much!

I now "repair" faster than I did pre DX but keep in mind that I was not zero cortisol, just low. I am now at a greater risk of not immune reacting given that I am living in a higher risk environment than before. This took me by surprise recently.

I have a pet theory about Pred tapering that goes something like, "The start dose for Pred may be high enough to suppress immune repair action but as it falls and with the diurnal cycle bought on by dosage patterns the blood level of cortisol will at some time be optimal for the immune system to do its work. In other words the peak may occur some days after you start the course". Like I said, a theory!

Bob

I agree with Bob. I get sick much less often and get better faster than I used to. Used to be, a cold would put me out of commission and inevitably ramp up to larger infections (ie bronchitis, sinusitis, etc.). Probably because of the inflammatory response, which was uncontrolled because of the cortisol deficiency. Now, if I get a bug like sinusitis I seem to bounce back faster.

Also, I don't believe the same dampening of immune system happens when you're on hormone replacement, that occurs when you have supplemental corticosteroids for other conditions like arthritis, etc. Which is why we aren't supposed to get as much of the moon-face, weight gain, etc., kind of symptoms - if we keep our replacement dose as close to the edge as possible of what we need we shouldn't have excess to drag us down...hope I'm making sense here.

Had to take extra today myself. Working all day on the book I'm writing for the state, and about 2:00 my eyes got so blurry I couldn't see! I'm starting to believe that working for hours on a computer is a profound stress for my body...big problem for a writer/researcher...yikes!

Deb

My son has PAI, once his meds were adjusted correctly he has been sick much LESS!!! It has been a major difference for him. Also, if we stress dose when we feel he has something coming on...he seems to not get sick or recover more quickly!

Lora-Joy