Addison's disease

[gsun]

I stopped taking Abiraterone three months ago to have a vacation. Was on it for six years. I tapered of the prednisone. I became very fatigued. Could hardly do anything in the morning and then limited things in the afternoon. then I thought of my low cortisol level (due to the abi) a couple years ago. My doc said to up the pred to 10mg/day. that did the trick. I started back on the pred a few days ago and feel much better. I had a talk with a hematologist and he said I had Addison's disease. this is a very serious condition. I was on abi for so long, my adrenals have stopped producing cortisol. I will be on pred the rest of my life.

If any of you have a problem like this, don't ignore it and think it will get better on its own.

One question I forgot to ask was are the adrenals incapable of producing testosterone as well? I will ask to be sure. EDIT: I asked and the testosterone is not affected by Addison's.

One more wonderful thing. I have elevated AST. Like 188. He says I have a virus in the liver and it will clear up in three to six months on its own. This can also cause fatigue. Oh joy! Lose , lose. At least he says, in his opinion, I don't have mets there. Will bring that up with my MO.

[skiingfiend]

Sorry to hear all this. Hang in there.

[gsun in reply to skiingfiend]

Sorry to hear about your issue as well. I feel pretty good now.

[Scout4answers]

Sorry to hear this, the unintended consequences of the use of drugs for cancer.

[garyjp9]

Hi gsun, the same thing happened to me, and I was only on Abi + Pred for 2.5 years. I'm now on hydrocortisone (rather than prednisone) to provide the cortisol. I have not yet given up hope that one day my adrenals will wake up and I'll be able to get off the steroid. Good luck to the both of us. I always preach to men who are stopping the Abi +Pred protocol to be sure and taper off the pred SLOWLY. It amazes me that some men will cut it off abruptly and still get away with it.

[gsun in reply to garyjp9]

What is your treatment now?

[garyjp9 in reply to gsun]

After finishing RALP, RT, ADT and ABI + Pred, I am currently undetectable and holding my breath with each blood test. Because of the adrenal issue, I have to take hydrocortisone 15mg daily. How about you? FYI, it was recommended to me that I get a medical alert bracelet advising of "adrenal insufficiency." Haven't done it yet, though.

[gsun in reply to garyjp9]

I take 10 mg. I was advised to get a bracelet or just carry a card, which is what I am going to do. Along with my pacemaker card.

[garyjp9 in reply to gsun]

You are back on prednisone, right?

[gsun in reply to garyjp9]

yes

[akaipop3ps]

Sorry to hear that, I stopped prednisone (5mg) daily after on it for 18 months with not a lot of side effects.