About the Author

Coco

Since diagnosis

4 years and 4 months

As-needed since

2 years and 11 months

I was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, with suspected isolated ACTH deficiency, and started taking hydrocortisone (Cortef) in June 2022. Even with 20 mg a day, I still didn’t feel well. After reading papers and medical articles from Japan and other countries, I tried to improve my daily life in ways that would put less stress on my HPA axis. My cortisol level, which had been 44 nmol/L, eventually returned to the normal range, and in November 2023, about a year and a half after I started treatment, I was able to switch to taking it only when needed.

What became important for me was not relying only on extra or higher doses of Cortef, but also learning about the effects of CYP and CBG and trying to avoid as much stress and risk as I could. A lot of what helped me adjust and recover came from Dr. Vaidya’s review (2025), Professor Hindmarsh’s textbook (2024), and Dr. Husebye’s review (2021). You can find the full list of references here.

It has been 9 years and 9 months since I started having unexplained symptoms, 4 years and 4 months since I was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, and 2 years and 11 months since I switched to taking Cortef only when needed. Overall, I’ve been doing well and living a pretty healthy life.

If you have thoughts, comments, or questions, please feel free to send a message.

HistoryMain course