I have gained weight and I believe it has a lot to do with the medicine. I also have cut soft drinks and changed my eating habits. It is hard to lose weight while on this medicine but I guess with everything keep working on it. It's frustrating to have this disease and then gain weight on top of it all. I understand your situation....

I also gained weight when initially on hydrocortisone, 15 lbs. to be exact. My endo and my regular doctor felt I needed the weight gain because my body was under weight to begin with because of the Addison's. One month ago I had to increase my meds. by 10mg. per day and I didn't gain anymore weight. It seems that everytime I get my weight down 5 lbs. with exercise and an increased healthy diet I go into crisis and end up in the hospital. That happened again last week, so I guess a little weight gain is nothing compared to being in crisis and in the hospital.
If your body needs the increased meds. take them!

Thanks for the replies. I know I have to do what the endo says because I have been feeling bad and ended in the ER a few weeks ago. You are right it is frustrating because we HAVE to take the steroids to live but the weight gain sucks!!!
This disease is not easy to live with. The endo says everything will be normal if you take your meds.,.......to that I say "WHAT A LAUGH."
anyway thanks for giving me your feedback.

Sheri, I agree with your comment "what a laugh." I gained somewhere between 30-40 pounds since the fall and I have been trying to lose it for a couple months now. I know with these meds they make you hungier too. My endo's response to my weight gain and constant hunger is to "eat 1500 calories a day." Well in theory that sounds great. But he isn't dealing with the side effects of the meds. Grrr...frustration... :)

Hi all, I have just started with a personal trainer and doing water arobics. Going into crisis because of exercising scares me. I do have an emergency kit and showed my trainer. But I did not think I might need to use it. What I have found is that my appitite is up and I am not able to process carbs well. This adds to my weight. I am trying the "no white stuff" diet. No sugar, potatoes, rice, pasta, bread. It does help me to mangage my weight better. If i eat something sweet I eat a very small amount and balance it with a protein. I keep Ezekiel bread in the frig. (sprouted whole grain bread) I usually have a slice in the morning with an egg or peanut butter. For lunch I will have a salad made from organic greens, onion, peppers and add a hard boiled egg or chicken breast. At dinner it is a salad, green veggi, and chicken or beef. I treat myself with a sugar free popcycle or weight watchers strawberry frozen yogurt bar. If i snack I try to eat fresh broccoli, califlower, celery and peppers and beans dipped in Greek yogurt mixed with onion soup mix (salty). Try and balance carbs with protein. 1 protein for every 2 carbs. That will help. Let me know how you are doing! Julie

As always I thank you all for your replies. Living with this disease and the medications we have to take is like walking a tight rope!! I do appreciate this site and hearing what others recommend and what they do to cope.
I guess I will try to stay away from the white stuff as much as I can. When I went on cortef 9 years ago and gained weight I ask my doctor for diet pills but he said the problem wasn't my eating habits...which basically had not changed just my body and the meds. I don't know but I am trying to watch what I eat. I have lost most of the weight I gained back then. I just don't want to start gaining again with this new increase of cortef.

I have had Addison's for 16 years. I had gained 50 pounds due to an excellent appetite, a love of cooking and menopause...
I am also wheat intolerant. Switching to non wheat bread and pasta also provided a bump in weight ( ha!).
For the last few months after using MANY different diets, I began eating only meat, poultry, seafood, non starchy vegetables, berries and nuts. I drink water, plain ices tea , coffee and an occasional alcoholic drink. I have lost almost 30#, have more energy. I am able to walk rapidly for long distaces without the knee and hip pain that had dogged me for years.
Admittadly the first week was ugly as apparently my belly did not give up grains and potatoes without a big ache, but is fine now.
I hope your journey with Addison's allows you health and the joy of living your life without great constraints. Good luck to you
I read in the Addison's News that there is a new time relased cortef which will soon be marketed in Europe for Addisonians.....it is time release and does a much better job of mimicing the healthy cortiol output. In studies people felt much better, had lower insulin levels and more energy .....there is hope that it will be available in the US, as it has been given Orphan Drug status.

There is an article in the New York Times today about how carbohydrates... Not calories cause weight gain. "WHAT REALLY MAKES US FAT". You can read it al nyt.com.
As steroids causes problems with insulin response ( over producing) this article is important for everyone with Addison's and weight issues.