To read part 2 of How I Healed My Adrenal Insufficiency, click HERE.
Are you someone who sets goals? I personally love setting goals, and my biggest goal for 2016 was something that most of you probably didn’t even realize that I was dealing with. My goal was to heal my body from Adrenal Insufficiency.
I had no idea how I would actually heal my adrenals, especially given the fact that in the beginning of 2016 I was going on five years since my diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency, but I knew that I would, because I would do whatever it would take.
In order to explain how I developed Adrenal Insufficiency, let’s rewind time a bit.
When I was 12 years old, I was told that I had Crohn’s disease, and that my diagnosis came without a cure. It was something that I couldn’t comprehend at the time, nor did I have any idea of the intense struggles that I would face because of this disease. I was given multiple medications that would forever change the course of my life, with one of them being Prednisone. Let’s just say I had a love-hate relationship with this particular medication.
On one hand, Prednisone saved my life multiple times. On the other hand, it flipped my world upside down by causing life altering . The first few days on Prednisone were the absolute greatest. I would always go from barely being able to get out of bed because my Crohn’s symptoms were so severe, and not being able to hold any food down, to feeling like I could run a marathon and eat everything in the entire fridge, all while getting hardly any sleep.
On high doses, Prednisone made me hungrier than I ever thought could be possible. My mom used to joke that feeding me was a full time job, and I would dream of lunch while I ate breakfast. At 12 years old, I would go to the kitchen at midnight to make myself pasta, because hunger consumed my mind.
After several days of taking high doses, the dreadful side effects would start to take over. I had uncontrollable mood swings, became deeply depressed, and the ever so lovely “” appeared. These were just a few of the dozens of side effects that I experienced.
Fast forward to the day of my very last surgery, February 4th, 2011. This was the day that I had my entire large intestine (colon) removed, and the day that my life changed more than I can even put into words. During surgery I was placed on 100mg of Prednisone, which was the highest dose allowed (for me at the time). After surgery, I was tapered off of the medication, as it isn’t meant to be taken long term.
One month after my surgery, I started to feel like I was getting worse again. I could barely hold down more than a sip of a smoothie each day, I had absolutely no energy, and I was feeling extremely depressed. It took me another full month to say anything to my doctor, as I had hoped the symptoms would simply pass.
On April 1st, 2011, I nearly collapsed after walking up the stairs in my house. It was in this moment that I new something was horribly wrong, and so I finally called my doctor. My doctor scheduled me to come in the next morning. After running some tests and not finding the issue, it was with luck…or a divine intervention, as I believe, that a resident doctor happened to take a look at my file. She noticed the pattern of Prednisone use and immediately suspected that I had Adrenal Insufficiency. She was right.
I was diagnosed through what’s called an ACTH stimulation test, which showed that I wasn’t producing any cortisol.
Up until that day, I had barely even heard of the adrenal glands, or what they were responsible for. Now, it would feel as if they controlled my entire life.
I spent the next five days in the hospital and was told that Prednisone had caused my adrenals to stop producing cortisol. I was immediately placed on 40mg of Prednisone, and was told that I would taper off and would most likely be fine in a couple of months. That was the only advice I was given. Not once was diet, stress or lifestyle addressed – all things that I’ve discovered to have a massive impact on my adrenals.
Fast forward five years later, and I was still taking Prednisone to make up for the lack of cortisol that my body was not able to produce. It felt as if Prednisone controlled my life and held me back from my true potential. Each time I attempted to lower my dose, I became extremely ill. It seemed to be an endless cycle of attempting to taper off of the medication. I was now onto my 3rd Endocrinologist, who I still have never met in person.
My doctor told me that he didn’t think that I could get off of Prednisone and that I would most likely live my entire life with Adrenal Insufficiency. This is the exact moment that changed my life forever. The moment that I decided that I would do whatever it took to heal my adrenals.
Over the course of 8 weeks I had completely tapered off of Prednisone, without any outside assistance.
During the time that I was tapering off of the Prednisone, I wrote out exactly what I knew I needed to do. I focused on rest, especially whenever my body was “telling me” that it needed it. I learned to manage stress better than I ever had before. I learned to be smart with my workouts, and never run myself down. I deeply listened to my body and did my best to provide what it needed. I was in it to win it, without letting any excuses get in the way. I maintained a positive mindset, knowing that I could and would heal my adrenals. In fact, I fully believed that they were already healed.
On Saturday, August 13, 2016, I took my final dose of Prednisone. This was the final medication that I released from my life. I cannot tell you the feelings of joy I have that this no longer holds me back. My adrenals are BY FAR the healthiest and happiest that they’ve ever been, and I am beyond grateful.
Healing my adrenals taught me to take care of myself like I never had before, and I believe that this will prevent me from becoming sick again in the future. While having Adrenal Insufficiency was one of the most challenging times that I have experienced, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Healing my Adrenal Insufficiency completely also healed my relationship with Prednisone. I have nothing but love for the lessons that this medication has taught me. It has humbled me and shown me another side of life, which I may not have seen otherwise.
While I was in the hospital, just after being diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency, I entered the deepest and darkest depression, and I wasn’t sure how I would move forward, but I did. I made one small step at a time, and then bigger and bigger steps, which have led me to where I am today. For so long it was so incredibly painful to look back on that time, but now I look back and smile and even laugh.
Throughout my life, I have been told over and over what others think that I can and cannot do. I have had all of the odds stacked against me, and yet, I have proven otherwise to each and every one of them.
Getting my health back was the hardest yet most rewarding thing that I have ever done. It didn’t come in the form of a pill or magic quick fix. It came with thinking outside of the box, not listening to others limiting beliefs, and learning to trust my own body again.
We all face challenges and struggles, in one-way or another. Your struggles do not need to define you, and someone else’s limiting beliefs do not need to become your own. While we don’t always have a choice in what happens to us, we do have a choice in how we respond.
This is amazing, Kristen! I cannot imagine how you must feel. I too have adrenal insufficiency caused my a tumor destroying my pituitary gland. After my surgery to have the tumor removed in February 2015, I was started on a very high dose of hydrocortisone. The side effects followed – moon face is the worst! I have since tapered off greatly and am down to taking 15mg per day, which is much lower than what my endocrinologist ever thought I could do. Most of the side effects are gone, and yes, my face looks normal again. I greatly attribute this to diet and nutrition, but know that I can still make improvements. I am completing the January Whole30 in an effort to do just that. I have also been told that I will be on this medication for the rest of my life, and that may be true since my situation is a bit of a different. However through doing exactly what you have described in this post, I am hoping to get my dosage as low as possible. Congratulations on such an amazing achievement. You are so strong and such an inspiration! This post has helped renew my spirit and provided me with even more motivation. Thank you so much!
Your comment gave me chills, Julie. 15mg is awesome! The lowest I was able to get to before my final taper was 20mg, and I definitely understand how big of a difference 5mg is. Wishing you the absolute best, I just love your attitude about everything! <3
Okay so I’m on 10mg. Of hydrocortisone and 0.5 fludricort. I too have been told I cant heal my adrenal glands. I tell my body I literally SPEAK to it that it is healthy and strong and healed. I believe in the power to heal ourselves through the power of Jesus Christ. Its actually Biblical. And my Endocrinologist started me out on 20mg. Of hydrocortisone and went down to 15mg and 0.1 of fludricort. I’m now on 10mg and .5 mg of fludricort. I’m planning on juicing when I get my disability that is coming soon and just found out about grapefruit juice and licorice not sure but pretty sure it’s the black not red licorice..
🤮 but I’ll choke it down. My endocrinologist did a test on me for genetics and its pretty high but I too want to get to a healthier lifestyle at least and I’m planning on juicing when I am able to. Thanks for this encouraging post this disease is crippling to a person’s life. My husband divorced me as I was unable to help him work etc and was pretty much useless got fat on hydrocortisone etc. I am heavier than I’ve ever been and connot seem to break 180 but with juicing I think I’ll be able to and a treadmill but have to wait on my disability as I can’t work..no one will keep me as I can’t keep up with their workload demands. Thanks for this post! I try to beat depression and this helped!
Sending you so much love Sherry! Thank you for sharing + I hope things are going well! 😘
By more accident than design, I avoided accepting prednisone as medication for the onset of myalgia rheumatic which threatened to destroy my life and health.
Instead I searched for the reasons that stiffness and pain that gripped my pelvic girdle and shoulders were totally restricting and destroying everything that my fitness and years of looking after myself had given me in terms of an exciting and active life.
Finding a book by Audrey Pearson about her battle to withdraw from prescribed prednisone and the effect it had on her adrenal glands was the first bit of luck I had.
The second bit of good fortune was discovering your blog and its guidance regarding maintaining one’s adrenal health.
I never went down the prednisone route and instead I am in the process of self-healing myself with your guidance and wisdom. It is still a battle I am fighting but I am winning and I thank you with all my heart.
That is amazing Michael! 👏 Thank you so much for sharing!
Sis, tears of joy! I love you so much, and am so inspired by your journey and outlook on life! You are incredible!
Love you sooo much sis!! Thank you!!
I remember talking with you about this way back!!! I knew you told me you were okay with it, but that you believed one day you’d get off it! And knowing you, I knew you would too!!!!! So happy for you!!!!!!
I remember that too!! Thank you for your constant support, Deanna! xoxo
Thanks for sharing, Kristen, but I felt like you really didn’t describe in depth how you ACTUALLY healed your adrenals, just sort of discussed your story overall. I’d love a post on all the specifics you did to heal your adrenals, as I’m dealing with the same problem due to Lyme disease. Thanks!
Hi! This paragraph that I wrote best sums up exactly what I did –
“During the time that I was tapering off of the Prednisone, I wrote out exactly what I knew I needed to do. I focused on rest, especially whenever my body was “telling me” that it needed it. I learned to manage stress better than I ever had before. I learned to be smart with my workouts, and never run myself down. I deeply listened to my body and did my best to provide what it needed. I was in it to win it, without letting any excuses get in the way. I maintained a positive mindset, knowing that I could and would heal my adrenals. In fact, I fully believed that they were already healed.”
We’re all different, but what finally worked for me was completely changing my mindset and my beliefs. It was a very intuitive process where I learned to listen to my body like never before. Prednisone/Hydrocortisone was a huge mind game for me, as I was so used to it making me either feel normal, or feel terrible. Once I let go of the idea that it had any control over me, and truly believed with everything that I had that my adrenals were healed – that is when they healed for good. In the years prior, I tried strict rules for adrenal healing, and everything supplement that I thought may work, but in the end, all of that only left me more stressed – which is exactly what I was trying to avoid. I wasn’t super strict with anything (bedtime, workouts, etc), instead, I was kinder and more forgiving to myself than I ever was before. Again, I’m not saying that my way is the right way to healing, I’m only sharing my experience.
The only supplement I did take while I tapered off Hydrocortisone was Ashwaganda, as I did feel that it helped at the time. I hope this helps to explain things better, and I’m sure I will write another post to continue the adrenal conversation. Wishing you the very best! <3
Hi Kristen,
I was wondering, if your taking anything for strengthening your bones, after all that medicine you were taking, or just diet and exercise? Crohn’s for 39 years,now diagnosed with Osteoporosis.
Thanks,
Cindy
Okberryman
Hi Cindy! I don’t take anything to strengthen my bones, although I do have my labs checked every so often (maybe once a year or so) by a functional medicine practitioner. My body has thankfully fully recovered from the harsh medications that I was on, and I have no doubt that diet, exercise and lifestyle have been my lifesavers. I would highly recommend seeking out a functional practitioner in your area, if you’re able to! You can find info on how to find a practitioner in your area in this post – https://livinglovingpaleo.com/2016/02/08/healing-101/
Wishing you the very best! <3
Even though I don’t share your health issues (I have Lyme) it’s your story I first found 2 years ago that had me switch from a vegetarian diet to a Paleo diet. My life has gotten so mug better. You and your husband are truly inspiring on so many levels. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for your comment, Jaymie! I’m so happy to hear that you’re doing so much better!
I am so happy to hear how you did this on your own. I’ve been trying to do similar wth my body in relation to my chronic migraines and IBS for years. Just curious, how did you find out you had adrenal insufficiency? I’ve thought I had this for years but can’t really get anyone to help
Hi Beth! Adrenal Insufficiency happens to be one for the few adrenal conditions that conventional medicine will recognize, so they were able to test me for it. Basically, they do an 8am blood draw, when your cortisol should be at it’s highest. My cortisol was at zero, which is how I was diagnosed. I know many people with adrenal fatigue, which is when you may be producing small amounts of cortisol, but not enough to fully function. Unfortunately adrenal fatigue isn’t typically recognized by conventional medicine, so if you think that may be the case for you, I would highly recommend finding a functional practitioner in your area. They would be able to test your cortisol output over a 24 hour period. This post I wrote includes a website for finding a practitioner locally – https://livinglovingpaleo.com/2016/02/08/healing-101/
I hope that helps and that you feel better soon! <3
I am so happy I stumbled on this blog. I have had Chrons Disease since I was 13. And girl,can I relate! im
Excited to look into some of your recipes and lifestyle choices. If you don’t mind me asking, you don’t even have to take autoimmune suppressors any longer? I’m always trying to talk my dr into letting me stop. And it is so unfortunate that they don’t have a nutriaionalist sitting in with the gastro drs. I feel like I’ve learned more about the disease than some of the drs I’ve had. Look forward to hopefully trying to go Grain free and see if it helps! Thanks for the share sister chronie xoxo
Hi Jenna! Thanks so much for your comment! I no longer take any medications at all, so no immunosuppressants either. Some people do continue to take medications, along with making diet changes – we’re all so unique and have different needs. For me, it also came down to the fact that my body and my immune system could no longer tolerate the medications. I totally hear you with feeling like you know more about the disease yourself, not that I think most doctors mean any harm at all. 😉 Wishing you the very best and a very healthy year ahead! <3
I developed exogenous Cushing’s from Prednisone. I was told to go on the Ketogenic diet. Thoughts?
Hi Danielle! I truly believe that everyone is different, so I really don’t know if keto would work for you or not. For me personally, I found that I didn’t feel very well unless included a good amount of healthy carbs (also including white rice) in my diet. I experimented quite a bit to find what works for me, and although it can take some time, it’s definitely worth finding what makes you feel your best. Hope that helps and wishing you the very best with healing! <3
I can relate to all of this. I had my colon removed a year ago after 12 years of struggling with colitis. I now have a j pouch but my adrenals are shot from years of stress and prednisone. I am currently working on restoring them.
Hi I just came across you’re blog and it really struck a cord with me. I’m in a similar situation with the steroids and the gut problems. If I read your story right, you took prednisone for 5 years? Was it every day and what dose were you on?
Didn’t you get a lot of nasty side effects like high blood suger?
You wrote “On Saturday, August 13, 2016, I took my final dose of Prednisone” do you remember the dosage?
I’m on a lower dose and having a hard time tapering cause my guts feeled inflamed again. Did a change of diet make a huge difference?
Sorry for all the questions but I’m trying to regain my health back.
Hi Paul! I believe I was on 7.5 mg Hydrocortisone, and my final dose was 1mg, although it’s been years since I’ve taken it, so I’m not 100% sure. I do remember that after taking it for 5 1/2 years, I tapered off during an 8 week period. Diet made a MASSIVE difference, and I don’t think that I could have fully healed my adrenals without changing my diet first – as food can add stress to our bodies as well. I hope this helps and I’m wishing you the very best with your own healing!
Congraluations on your health. Reading through your journey is really inspiring.
Reading up on adrenal insufficiency it’s amazing that you recovered. Did you take any tests to confirm your adrenals were working properly?
I hope to one day be as healthy as you. I’m changing my diet right now and hopefully it will help me.
Thanks, Paul! It’s a journey finding what works, but it’s definitely worth it. My functional practitioner uses the Dutch Test to test my adrenals – I highly recommend checking it out!
Hi Kristen,
great information, and also great to hear from someone who is happy to fight back.
I have been initially diagnosed with Addison’s disease, I am 60 years old and this event in May 21, followed the passing of my father, last November 2020; creating a big depressive period for me, and a complication with severe carpal tunnel syndrome: so I am not sure just how relative my story is with yours’s.
I do not know a lot on this subject of the adrenal glands ,and it doesn’t seem my doctor does either as he seems to be convinced that the treating Endo doctor is correct in stating that I will need cortisone supplements for the rest of my life!!(which is documented as being an average rate to live to 64years!!)
I am totally with you on the psychological side of fighting back and beating or adjusting to injury and illness. At 20years I had my first of 3 lower back operations , injuries from work as a Policeman in UK. They retired me at 28years,with the news I would wheelchair-bound by 40!! I lost my fitness, job, fiance, and house all in a 4 month period. I bounced around had a few hospitalisations for pain and walking issues, but kept coming back out to a life of painkillers or alcohol. After the initial feelings of frustration etc. two years of drinking, I one day thought-“No”, I won’t accept this anymore and started to plan a life. I was lucky to meet my wife from Australia and we decided that would be a good place to start, so we did.
Unfortunately I continued with lots of back pain issues , I was determined to keep working and try and make a life for my two children. At 47years though after many chiropractic, and other treatments I had to have a cervical rebuild in my neck at C7; but with the same attitude like you I thought – no not yet, I will adjust, I did until 52years when a series of 2 accidents a car drove into the back of my car, and a year later I had a fall at a pert-time job and at 54years retired .
My wife by this time had attained a Uni degree at 48years and secured a reasonable job, so with my modest Police injury pension and her income we were doing okay.
I spent the next 4 years as a home parent, and then decided to get as fit as possible and loss weight I was 102kgs,18 kg overweight, I was down to 83kgs in 12 months and regularly walking 5ks. 5 nights a week as well as aqua exercising, to put less stress on my damaged joints. I felt good and even had started using a regular gym and was considering trying to run which I had not done for 35 years or so. I had good success with a manufactured cartilage replacement called “Synvisc” and it was affordable.
So things were very good: then “Covid”(which took my father last November) I adjusted put on a few kgs, and was getting on with changes okay; until November. Now this Adrenal gland problem Addison’s!! I guess with my medical history of many injuries and other illnesses and use of painkillers and alcohol it doesn’t look that good. But I still want to fight back, and I will as hard as ever.
So you see why I really liked reading your story so far; we only get one chance, there is no benefit on just giving in. Sorry if my note was too long, but I think you should know that people like us ,can fight back!!!
I just know need to get more info. on just how to deal with this Addison’s disorder. So far I have only found one article on a person who beat it; unfortunately he was 20 years younger than I and had no real health complications. But, I have experience on my side, like I told my doctor, “I have been fighting ill health issues for 40years,do you think I am going to stop now?”
I appreciate you are much younger than I ,but you seem to approach an ill health issue in a similar manner; and I applaud you. Keep your optimism, I am a natural realist ,but when came to having a life I have a different thought: I approach with the glass half full!! I there may be more bumps on the road for you then I hope you fight back as hard as you have so far.
My Best Regards
Jeff Crowe
Jeff, thank you so much for sharing your story 🙏🏼 What an incredible fighter you are! I am happy you came across this blog post + our content. While everyone’s journey is unique + special, we always recommend looking for and working with a functional medicine doctor to get to the root cause. You can search for one in your area here: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/. Sending you so much love! 💕
Firstly congratulations on your achievements, brought a tear to my eyes. You made a choice to make a change and succeeded and so uplifting to know there’s other people that don’t take a supposingly ‘incurable condition’ as that it will be forever and take the bull by the horns and ‘cure it’.
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis with its debilitating and painful symptoms I was prescribed prednisolone for 1+ years and after weaning down on them the symptoms would reoccur. This happened many times which led the consultant to prescribe azathioprone (an immune-suppressant).
I was not willing to accept that quality of life and began researching how to reverse the condition, which I successfully did with natural remedies, diet change, completely back to basics and belief like yourself that I was healing and it’d all be ok.
For 10 + years I have been cured and ulcerative colitis no more. I cured the so called ‘incurable’ illness.
Problem is it was replaced by symptoms of thirst, urinating frequently, tiredness, weight loss, dizziness and months battling to get the appropriate tests and convincing doctors that it wasn’t anxiety, I was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes.
To this day I always believe it was the prednisolone that has caused this. I feel I have exhausted every avenue to take control of my blood sugar readings, always AM at breakfast time sugars are high and seem to double from the reading I have taken before bed.
I feel it may be adrenal related. I was researching and stumbled against your story.
So proud of your achievements. Well done sweetie. So inspiring, so true! Thank you for sharing your story.
I will keep on finding my cure and won’t give up until I do. 😀 xxx
Thank you so much for sharing Joanne! I am always happy to share my journey in hopes that it will help others in any small way 💕 We all have our own, unique journeys … but it’s important to remember, we’re not alone! You’ve got this! 👊🏼 Sending you so much love!
Hi Kristen, your story in very inspiring. Recently, I was given 20 mg of Prednisone for bronchitis. I took it for five days. After the 5th day, I started having mood swings, decrease appetite, depression, anxiety attacks and insomnia. I hate this feeling because it stops me from living a normal day to day life. I don’t know where to start to heal myself until I read your story and your incredible journey. I hope to heal myself and get back to a normal life. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you so much for sharing and your kind words Jayia! 😘 Sending you all my love as you go through your healing journey 💗
Heck yeah! I too was on incredibly high doses of prednisone when I was 11 because of Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia, 270 Mg’s a day for 6 months, I also ate EVERYTHING in site. My family would order a large pizza just for me while they had their own. I had a 6 month long taper. I don’t quite remember the psychological or physical effects from the taper, as I was also going through puberty. But while on the prednisone I remember the HORRIBLE acne, weight gain, severe anger and anxiety about my appearance. Shortly after I was diagnosed with Chronic ITP. They didn’t use steroidal treatment to fix this, however, they instead used “Win-Roh” treatments, Ivig, several things until ultimately they removed my spleen and my platelets stabilized. Within a year of the surgery I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, and by that time I had done enough learning about my body through gym workouts, studying supplements and the medicine I was putting in my body to know what prednisone would do. On and off different medicines constantly to deal with colitis flare symptoms and bloody bowels. Azathioprine was the drug that stabilized me through high school, despite my partying. I was a walking oxymoron, I knew so much about health and wellness and would hit the gym during the week and by the weekend, and even some week days, was partying hard with friends, gut my colitis symptoms stayed in check for the most part. I had periods of remission, always without the help of medicine, followed by periods of medication dependence. The last 6 months I’ve been dependent on prednisone to keep me in check, and now I’ve arrived at the 20mg dose until my remicade finally gets approved (insurance has become such a joke along with doctors) it has taken over 2 months despite already have had my first 2 loading doses back in November. Thankfully I was approved eligible for Medicaid and will have everything paid for. My life changed for the better because of this last 6 month flare. I was so hard headed, wouldn’t ask for help, EXPECTED people to know that i needed help, would rotate doctors because I didnt have insurance so I could get my prednisone just in order to keep going, fighting, trying to work because of bills and whatever life had to throw at me. Colitis has always tried to tell me something, and that was to slow down, ask for help, rely and connect with others. Although im still somewhat dependent on prednisone and stuck at 20mg right now and experiencing some annoying withdrawal symptoms, and even a reversion back to more diarrhea, stomach pain, moodyness, I’ve become more self aware and am dedicated to getting back into remission, medication free. 6 of the 15 years of my colitis life I have been in remission, and both 3 year stints were without medicine. I know I can do this, and your story has given me so much hope and so much inspiration that I AM GOING TO DO THIS, I love your story, and loved how similar to mine it was. Thank you for sharing!
I have been warning everyone about taking prednisone long term. I trusted my allergy doctor that kept renewing my prescription year after year. It was only after the compression fracture of my lumbar spine that I realized that taking that steroid long term causes osteoporosis which will lead to compression fractures. And it gets better…my adrenal system hasn’t returned to normal after 6 months of weaning from 20 mg to 2 mg a day. I think that problem has to do with my age. 77 years. Before the fracture I was galloping my horse on the beach. I now feel my life is over..at least the good part…lol. when it’s an effort to walk 10 feet the fun times are definitely over. Doctors should warn us about using prednisone long term.
What an amazing story, Kristen! I had to take prednisone due to the side effects of immunotherapy taken to fight cancer which were joint pain like arthritis. My rheumatologist put me on prednisone and Hydroxycholoriquine and has me tapering down to get off prednisone. I am really hoping it will work and then I will work to get off the Hydroxycholoriquine. I am trying to help my adrenals by exercising and eating similar to a keto diet. Reading your story helps motivate me to keep positive and working hard at it knowing there will be pain and that hopefully I can push through it.