Adrenal Insufficiency help - should I push for hydrocortisone?

First the story of how I developed adrenal insufficiency:

After being on entocort and prednisone (NEVER a good idea to be on both @ the same time, stupid mistake by my doctor and me) around May and tapering those off, I developed debilitating fatigue, dizziness, low blood pressure and started having panic attacks whenever I'd step outside of home to go into a public setting. It took 2 months to figure out and I was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency after getting an ACTH stimulation test done in September. Because I was still flaring during this time, my GI put me on 12.5 mg of prednisone to get it under control. Then, after seeing an endo, he recommend slow 3-4 week 2.5 mg tapers so that my adrenals would have a chance to get back to normal. I recently finished my last course of prednisone @ 2.5 mg last week and while I feel better than when I initially started, it is easy to tell my adrenal function has not fully returned. I still can't go out in public alone because my adrenals aren't responding to the stress needed and I am very fatigued during the day.

I'll be seeing my GI soon and I'm wondering if I should push for hydrocortisone to help with the recovery process. I've read up on previous threads regarding this issue and it seems to have helped other people. I'm really worried that my adrenals will never return to normal - maybe it's a long process? It is very difficult to live like this, being stuck at home all day.

I'll try making an appointment soon. He somehow thought that I'd be okay with the 2.5 mg tapers.

I agree that using more steroids like prednisone wouldn't be a good thing. However, I've read that hydrocortisone mimics the body's cortisol and its half-life is shorter than prednisone. Maybe it has some chance of stimulating my adrenals?

As far as licorice - I'm worried that supplements may end up doing more harm than good. I'm okay with taking vitamins and minerals, but herbs haven't been tested rigorously enough to justify using them, although I may change my mind if time doesn't work things out. Amazon seems to have a great selection of licorice root tea, so I may check it out.

Thanks stereofidelic. I'm trying to get things back in order so that I can move on with my life. Dealing with this is far worse than the UC, and I'll do anything to alleviate it. Licorice might be a good start.

I would agree taking the pred and tapering is not a good idea. Although taking something else then tapering off if that will be the key. Your adrenals are confused from the pred they neef a kick start from something else.

I was on Prednisone, entocort, AND hydro-cortisone enema's at the same time as well. My naturopath
told me to take drenamin for adrenal support as I was tapering. It has been awesome, 2 tablets in the am with all my other meds... no fatigue, lots of energy, and Im off pred, enemas, and down to 3mgs every other day of endocort. I am still at the same energy level as I was before I got sick.

*Drenamin by Standard Process

Carlie