I was diagnosed with Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency a year and 9 mos ago. Last spring, I developed Cushingoid Syndrome from excess exogenous cortisol (from stress dosing during back-to-back infections and severe illness). We did not realize how hyper-sensitive my body was to steroid and standard stress dose guidelines quickly turned me into something unrecognizable. Now, mos later - 4 mos since any stress dosing - despite going back to a level of replacement cortisol so low - (for my needs, as far as eliminating most severe sx) - that I am bordering on adrenal crisis half the time, & the Cushingoid symptoms have barely budged. I am miserable.

Some of the symptoms are really painful to the poin of being debilitating. I have huge purple striae spanning inside length of both legs that is excruciating. I heard they are painless...? Well, mine are not. They feel like skin being ripped off & feels like razor blades going through my leg veins. This is just one of several (now crippling symptoms). They don't seem to improving at all, & I feel like I am going to lose my mind. (Partly because half the symptoms are very consistent with excess cortisol & the other half with too low cortisol. I don't know what to do, but I am just so tired of feeling like this. It is becoming harder and harder not to become very depressed by it all -- (painful, huge purple striae down both legs and under both arms; hyperpigmentation; high BP, despite now 3 BP meds; near daily migraines despite 3 migraine meds; difficulty breathing with minimal exertion; hoarseness and difficulty swallowing; drenched in sweat with little to no movement; inability to regulate body temperature; violent muscle cramps in lower legs and calves; constant sharp achy pain in knees, lower legs, feet, arms, lower back, left hip and abdomen/pelvis; buffalo hump; moon-face/marked facial swelling; skin bruising & splitting open all over legs, and vascular rash all over legs; nausea; vomiting (every other day); diarrhea (every other day approx); dizziness; mental confusion; profound fatigue (coupled with insomnia); 50 lb weight gain in 4-6 mos after stress dosing for better part of 2 mos; blurred vision (especially at night); teeth breaking off w/relatively light pressure/mo warning; profound thirst...just to name a few.

I realize not all of the above symptoms are consistent with Cushingoid-like symptoms - & that is one of my problems. At my present dosage, I am still exhibiting signs of too low cortisol, and still feel like I did before I started replacement medication, while simultaneously struggling with Cushingoid symptoms like the very painful and large purple striae. But if I take any less, I go into crisis. Have any of you had that happen? Help! I don't know what to do. My doctors don't seem to either (smallish town).

Have any of you actually gotten better with the Cushingoid symptoms caused by exogenous cortisol? It has been mos at minimal possible dosage of cortisol replacement, with little to no reversal. I presume it will come down to which replacement med I can tolerate, how & when it's administered and how much (for starters). But I have no idea what that might look like (except maybe an HC pump, from what I have read). One thing is for sure. I cannot keep going on like this. It is horrible. I can't sleep, think straight, and can barely walk some days. Help!