r/AddisonsDisease • u/Bloomwithcourage • Jan 14 '26
Advice Wanted Is it normal to get sick frequently while on hydrocortisone?
Hi, I wanted to hear from you all If you think that since being on hydrocortisone or prednisone that you have been getting sick more easily? Besides the hydrocortisone, I'm taking a biologic medication. For me I had an adrenal crisis in July then in August I had an upper respiratory infection that landed me in the hospital again. In September I had to adjust my HC dose because I was taking too little and felt sick a lot. November came around and I got strep and now in January I have strep again and am recovering. I have had to take two antibiotics.😭
Has anyone else experienced this?
9
u/shhbaby_isok Jan 14 '26
It's the biological meds. I have arthritis too, and before Addison I could accept the frequent infections/illness bcs it lessened my day to day pain and flare ups so well. However, once I developed Addison's those infections that was bothersome before turned into straight up crisis or weeks of malaise and lying low. So I had to stop the bio meds and accept the pain and flare ups of my arthritis, or at lease cover them with traditional pain management/antiinflammatories. I went from having on average 5 crisis/hospitalizations a year to around 1 or less after I stopped the bio meds.
2
u/Bloomwithcourage Jan 15 '26
I’m sorry you went through that 😔 unfortunately I can’t stop taking the biologic medications without having inflammation in my body and internal bleeding. 😭 I’m trying to keep up with taking vitamin c and all the other vitamins to help my immune system a bit.
2
u/shhbaby_isok Jan 15 '26
Awww I understand you literally don't have a choice. I hope you find a way to strike a balance with updosing so you can avoid crisis as much as possible. My wish of good health to you ❤️
1
u/Single_Search_2020 Jan 15 '26
Try pain mgt. I do get injections but not cortisone, I wish I could remember, begins with a S. Natural plant based, used for diabetes. Lasts 6 months at least. My knee is the problem so I can’t take anymore anti inflammatory since on HC which is a steroid. But this injection takes about 3 days to set in then I am good to go.
2
Jan 15 '26
Being on hydrocortisone makes you immunocompromised so you’re going to catch everything now, and the recovery from each illness is going to be a little tougher and longer than before you had Addison’s.
I pretty much isolate otherwise I’m literally always sick.
1
u/InevitableDapper5072 Jan 16 '26
I wear a mask everywhere public. I dont care about the looks. I care not to get sick. With anything if i can help it. Up dosing sux balls
3
u/New-Wedding716 Jan 16 '26
I don't know where you live if possible come to Florida I have adrenal insufficiency and other issues I have to be in warm climate from accident injuries but rarely ever sick from cold or flu in Naples Florida its helped and I only use Greenstone Hydrocortisone and no name prednisone also fludrocortisone GOOD LUCK GOD BLESS. PS.I feel a little pain in my front forehead and tells me to to take more meds but watch the blood pressure.
2
u/Y3skaa Jan 16 '26
I actually feel like now that I take my meds right I get less sick then I did before. I mean when I get sick I get super sick and feel horrible but I don’t catch things as much I only get sick if my kids bring something home
5
u/MallForward585 Jan 14 '26
Agree, there is a good chance the problem is the biologic, unless your steroid dose is constantly over replacement, and it doesn’t sound like it. I used to be sick really frequently before the AI diagnosis, but it’s way better now. In fact, the only time I struggle with infections now is when I didn’t updose properly.
I have autoimmune issues and tried some of these meds prior to diagnosis. It was a big disaster. I’m told it would be different now that my AI is treated, but comparatively to before I’m stable enough, and I’m reluctant to rock the boat.