I'm an M.D. Adrenals are such a confused area. After all, we know autoimmune disease is the cause of most cases of Addison's disease (adrenal failure) in this country, and that there is a somewhat higher risk if you have another autoimmune disease like thyroid disease. Still, true Addison's disease is rare.
It seems likely, of course, that just as in thyroid disease, there would be subclinical cases of Addison's in which there are adrenal antibodies, and decreased adrenal function, without full-blown Addison's disease - and current mainstream medical practice doesn't really address identifying those people, as anti-adrenal antibody tests aren't widely used and normal ranges for cortisol and DHEA levels are wide. Saliva tests are widely touted by alternative practitioners but considered by many to be inaccurate.
It is known that low thyroid can result in decreased adrenal function, which improves upon replacement of thyroid hormone. Perhaps for some people that improvement takes a while?
I admit to being uncomfortable with the current fad that "if you're tired, it must be your adrenals" - but at the same time, it is clear from the bbs that many people find relief of their symptoms with treatment. Are these subclinical cases of Addison's? Or some other process that just improves with increased cortisol, just like using prednisone for arthritis?
And of course, there is a theoretical worry about people who don't need steroids taking them and suppressing their adrenal glands, and then not being able to make enough adrenal steroids if they stop their supplements. This is what can happen when people take Prednisone chronically. Alternative practitioners claim it won't happen with the low doses people use to supplement for adrenal fatigue, but I'd sure like to see a study on it. To be safe, I think anyone taking it should taper off slowly if they go off it.
I'm curious, which symptoms of your were relieved when you started taking the Isocort?
