Low cortisol

[Myusername2015]

Hi all; I’ve been in hospital now for 9 days originally with pneumonia; infection markers over 150. I’m well enough now to go home other than the anomaly that my cortisol level has been low on 3 blood tests. I’ve read up on Addisons and I don’t seem to fit the profile. Any other idea ?

Have you been on steroids? They can suppress the adrenal system.

ds he “secondary cortisol insufficiency caused by steroid use”

Yes!!! I’ve been on them all week here. The doctor didn’t even mention that as a possible reason.

I was found to produce almost zero cortisol after a spell in hospital after pneumonia (unrelated- it was just that I kept getting sicker). They eventually found, via an MRI that there was something wrong with my pituitary gland. I now take replacement steroids, and will do for life. It is pretty rare though. My cortisol readings are too low to be accurately measured.

I didn’t realise how ill I had been feeling until I started taking hydrocortisone and felt like I had the energy of someone 20 years younger.

Have you seen an endocrinologist?