Adrenal Insufficiency Support Group

What the heck is WRONG with me?! I am SO VERY touchy this week that even the teensiest frustration sets me off. I can't remember ever feeling this way (I mean, I tend to be cranky, but not like this!), so I know something is really off, just don't know what! But wow, I have been working at home by myself and literally screaming at the computer when it's slow, or at my phone when it's slow. Out loud. Really loud. A lot. As in complete meltdowns, and I have to walk away or I feel my heart start racing. Yesterday, my son was home with pink eye so I needed the doctor to call me back with a script. It seemed like every turn was a roadblock, it took me an entire morning between sitting at home and waiting at the pharmacy (don't get me started...) to get the script filled. I almost had a panic attack at the pharmacy from the built-up frustration. Since my son was home, I didn't want to scream in his presence, so went outside for an hour and puttered with my garden to calm down.

I'm on my period.....could that do it? The timing is about right. I've never felt like this before, but I did have that incredible stressor two weeks ago (the colonoscopy prep) so maybe my body's off? I don't even know how to fix it but I need to. Every. Little. Thing. is setting me off. And thinking about it makes my head spin (er, literally not figuratively) and I start hyperventilating (or the other way around).

The only AI symptom I've had recently is the periodic postural hypotension. I'm not tired, not cold. So maybe it's not AI (tho the last time I got the ACTH stim, I felt SO calm in the face of aggravation that it was very noticeable).

ANY thoughts? Holy cow, this is awful. I'm even biting my dh's head off when he's trying so hard to be sensitive. I'm like "Leave me alone!" Er, not good.

Hmmmm - I've been crying all week - wouldn't we make a duo! Are your steroids too high?

I get that way sometimes, especially when I have been sick for awhile. I get so tired of being tired! I just lose my sense of humor...and when I quit being able to laugh at everything, it goes downhill fast.

My first thought was the same - are the steroids off?

I hope you feel better soon. You have had a rough couple of weeks. That colonoscopy stuff was enough to put me in a bad mood for about three years!

I have been super cranky the past few days too! Ugh, I'm getting on my own nerves. No patience at all! I just started HC one week ago. It seems like a really low dose. I'm feeling a little better but not much. I was expecting to feel good right away, ha! Is that normal in the beginning of treatment? What happened for you guys when you started your meds?

It took awhile for everything to really get straightened out. When I didn't show dramatic improvement, my endocrinologist ran a bunch more tests. I ended up on fludrocortisone (Florinef) for low blood pressure/low aldosterone, and I was found to have an extremely low vitamin D level. The low D level is common, so I would highly recommend getting that checked. It can cause aches/pains, extreme fatigue, depression, etc. In other words, it causes a lot of the same symptoms as cortisol lows, so getting that number up within range is crucial when trying to determine the correct maintenance dose of steroids.

In the end, he still ended up having to increase my steroid dose, but he fought it tooth and nail. I never really understood why, but that was just the way it was.

Interesting about the low level of Vit D. A couple years ago when I was found to have severe osteoporosis, I was put on a very high prescription dose of Vit D, along with a switch from taking Fosamax to injectable Forteo to build up the bones. I started getting AI symptoms about a year ago, along with severe back pain. After lab tests to measure Vit D indicated improvement, I was brought down to just taking 2000 units of Vit D a day, from over the counter. I am told that is sufficient to keep the blood levels satisfactory.

Quest Diagnostics remarks for my labwork:

Measuring Vit D:

Vit D, 25-OH, Total = 30ng/ML (range 30-100)

Vit D, 25-OH, D3 = 30 <-- this represents normal production plus diet and supplements

Vit D, 25-OH, D2 = <4 <-- this represents diet and supplements.

Thereapy is based on Total 25-OH. Vit D deficiency is when <20, Vit D insufficientcy is when it is between 20 and 30.

My initial vit D level was 8. I have read that many people are still not functioning at peak until they hit mid-range at least on the "normal" scale...so somewhere around 60-70. I doubt I would be happy to sit at 30, especially if I still had symptoms of fatigue and joint pain...even if other conditions exist to cause those symptoms, until vit D level is brought up, there is no way to know which problem causes what symptom.

I would push to take higher levels of vit D until my level hit 60's if possible. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Cynthia

Thanks. I just finished my bottle of the D-2000, and so am headed to the drugstore this weekend to get more. I'll look around for the higher amounts and give it a go. You're right - it can't hurt.

Footprints, sorry for what you (and your family) are going through. It sounds like it migth be connected with some anxiety...? If that is the case, it sounds like gardening may be your ticket. I like yoga and quiet walks. However, I have found that the combo of 5-htp and GABA and some other stuff that I'm taking has been really helpful. It's called Neurolink. I always had bouts of anxiety before, during and after my period and this has virtually eliminated them. I sleep better, too. I hope you are feeling calmer soon. Hang in there.

Thanks. I think it was/is a combo of physiology and the fact that there are frustrating things in my life right now. My computer browser started being really slow last week, even to the point of crashing frequently; hence, the screaming. A bit over the top in reactivity, but who wouldn't be ticked off. So the dh says he can add more memory, wants me to try a new browser (I *hate* updating; I'm content with "old school" but dh says it's part of my problem...hrmph). But Nymph, I think I need to try adding in some dietary aids, so thank you! I don't think it's too much cortef since I'm now down to 10mg from 15mg.