I need help, advise & possible need to know if I am the only person feeling this way. I feel like my body has been on a roller coaster. I have been very sick for about 3 years and don't want to go that far back, but in January of this year after taking an ACTH Stim test only, I was diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency due to pituitary dysfunction. When the ACTH Stim test was performed I feel my body had not had time to have other medications completely out of my system, such as Enbrel, which I had only been off of for 2 months. So after getting these results that I now have AI new endocrinologist told me I would have to be on Hydrocortisone for the rest of my life. End of story, no explanation or education, and I was sent on my way to start HC 25mg per day (of course at different dosing time intervals). I was so lost with all that had happened it seemed to make sense so I didn't ask any questions as I normally would have and began HC Therapy. I was past the point of frustration & exhaustion at this point, so I just went with the program. Now I decided to quit being in denial after my new AI diagnosis and began to seek answers and trying to find out if this is really "the rest of my life" type of thing. I talked with local nutrition experts, fitness & health professionals, who knew so much about this. So, needless to say I decided to see a different endocrinologist for a second opinion. The new endo doc wants to repeat all the testing and said it is his gut feeling that I do not have AI because when the last test was performed my body was in too much stress to get an accurate result. As of right now, I am completely off of the Hydrocortisone and did wean off as instructed. Within the last 2 weeks I have been so swollen all over my body, in extreme pain, and had gotten to the point where I couldn't dress myself or even walk without so much pain that I was in tears. I saw my primary care dr this past Monday and he sent me for stat labs - here is what he found - my uric acid levels were extremely high, my potassium levels very low, and my triglycerides were 832. All of these tests were normal last year before starting HC. So, I am now being treated for overall-body gout because of the uric acid levels, I have been given high-dose Lasix with Potassium to take with it, and of course pain meds when I need them. I am finding that no matter what I do taking the Lasix or not, I am not able to get rid of the water in my system. I am actually drinking more water to cleanse my system and even after taking the Lasix I only go to the bathroom a few times. I seem to be better with the pain in my legs, feet and knees being on the Gout med for the past 5 days, but my hands/arms are extremely swollen, numb and extremely painful in the morning and certain parts of the day. I didn't mean to be so long winded here, but I have no idea what is going on. I thought after almost a week of being completely off the HC and taking meds to treat the uric acids levels in my system, I would be feeling better. I want so badly to take a high dose of Prednisone because I know it would help me feel like a million dollars, but my new endocrinologist said absolutely no steroids for the next 8 weeks, even if I feel like I am dying. Has this ever happened to anyone else? I am so depressed and really would like to have support and guidance. I am to the point that no matter what the drs tell me, I will never take HC again.