LONG: Newbie! Time to switch from Isocort?!

[Guest guest]

Hi! This is long, so bare with me.

I'll try to give as much information as possible. I had major health

concerns. After doing extensive research online (and with the help of

stopthethyroidmadness.com) andwith a family history of VERY low

thyroid, I concluded that I either had low thyroid and/or adrenal

problems. See, I always had the symptoms, but ever since January,

they just got WORSE! By the summer, I could MAYBE go to the grocery

store, but I was so fuzzy-headed I couldn't focus on anything (and

probably shouldn't have been driving anyhow!). So when it got REALLY

bad, I had to get some medication. To do that I had to get a blood

test. The doctor I went to told me I didn't need to test my adrenals,

so I only tested my thyroid. Well, it didn't show up as being " out of

the range. " Even though I PERFECTLY fit the symptoms for low adrenals

and thyroid, I was simply asked if I wanted to do more tests. After a

$400 test that didn't help, I declined. So I did more research. I

found that my primary problem was probably adrenal! I started taking

adrenal supplements (without cortisol) and had a small thyroid dump

after the first pill! They didn't help very much at all, so I ended up

trying Isocort after ordering it on the internet. It helped!

As I slowly started increasing my dose, I started to get better!

However, it was a VERY slow process! 20 mgs. wasn't enough, so I

decided to take more (very carefully though!) I closely monitored my

temperature, and any change in how I was feeling, but I didn't have

any negative symptoms, and if anything it helped even more! By now, I

am taking 35 mgs. and I don't think it is helping enough. I don't

have enough energy improvement, can't do very much, and it doesn't

help that I am under continuous waves of stress. The pills don't work

enough during those times, and my health backslides. I haven't gone

to the doctor because I am not working and do not have insurance, so

any money comes out of pocket. But I am annoyed at having to REST all

day, and if it is a good day, I can leave the house for a little bit.

It has taken me about 4 months to be able to have a LITTLE energy

and be able to do some errands (maybe!), but I have to take TONS of

Isocort to do that, and stress makes me backslide. I have to take it

often as well, because it doesn't last very long, and isn't very potent.

Now, I realize that Isocort isn't the strongest type of Cortisol, and

people who have a long-term, more severe adrenal deficiency may need

something stronger(such as Cortef or Hydrocortone, or even Medrol). I

think it is now time to go to a different doctor, to switch to

something that works for me better. I've used Isocort and increased

it as much as I could, but it isn't strong enough, or just isn't the

right medication for me.

So what now? Input? Ideas? Where do I go from here? (I have my

thyroid labs if it will help!)

Thanks for all your help!