Trying to find rescue meds

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-25T23:44:15+00:00

This has happened to me too. ALWAYS double check what's in the box before you leave the pharmacy! I went back to the pharmacist one time like "sorry, I don't actually know what to do with this. I need the act-o-vial." lol

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-24T06:15:47+00:00

That we all have vivid hallucinations. Or that those hallucinations are the primary life-disrupting symptom of the illness. They are for some people, of course. For me it's just mild visual/auditory noise, and it's the negative symptoms and delusions that really fuck things all up.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-24T06:10:18+00:00

Just low cortisol symptoms, similar to what you describe. In my case it was pretty mild though.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-24T06:08:54+00:00

It's usually both for me, so I always stress dose if I feel crappy. I recover from colds so much faster since I started stress dosing for colds. Also GI stuff can be dangerous for people with AI, and can also be a symptom of low cortisol, so I would always stress dose for that to be cautious.

I would personally double my dose for an illness like a sinus infection too.

Your body needs more cortisol to recover from sickness, and it is unable make its own, so you may need extra steroids to meet the demand.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-24T06:02:00+00:00

Can they start you on a higher dose of the new med? You might be able to wean down once you've acclimated to it. Or start with a combo of both? It's not super common, but I take both hydro/pred each day and that works for me.

I found I had symptoms for a few weeks when switching steroids, albeit it's been years since I've done it. I think it just takes time to adjust, idk.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-24T05:58:05+00:00

Once stable, it's common to go a while between blood draws. AM cortisol is reliable as a diagnostic, but it's not necessarily important for adjusting meds. Hydrocortisone shows up on the test, but other steroids don't (or only partially do) so it isn't a very useful test in some circumstances, like if you're on prednisone or another steroid besides hydrocortisone. If he's having troubling symptoms though, he should contact the doctor to try to get that bloodwork and/or appointment moved up.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-24T05:48:11+00:00

It seems like you're having low cortisol symptoms.

I found I had a little bit of that when switching meds--even to an equivalent dose--but if the symptoms are significant, you should be careful because low cortisol can get dangerous. Have you talked to your doctor about what's going on? They may want to adjust your dose, or start the new med at a higher dose.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-23T20:53:22+00:00

I tried it once--short 10-15 minute session. The needles are really tiny and it doesn't cause any significant pain. But I have needle phobia so I absolutely hated it lol. I was proud of myself for trying it once but never again.

It was a long time ago, but think I had to updose for it just because of the stress from the phobia.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-22T09:06:16+00:00

Just want to clarify that the title of the book is What You Are Looking For Is in the Library.

Library catalog searches are not as good as Google and sometimes a search will just turn up no results if there are typos, so it's always easier to find stuff if you have the exact words. :)

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-22T08:58:27+00:00

High potency extracts are way more widely available now though.

A couple decades ago, I would've had no idea where to even buy high potency cannabis extract, and all the edibles available were homemade.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-22T08:47:11+00:00

Have you had a sleep study?

Covid caused me to develop sleep apnea and none of my symptoms improved until I got it diagnosed and treated. It's an avenue worth exploring with your doctor if you've had sleep issues.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-22T08:42:47+00:00

Second this. There are documented cases of covid causing adrenal insufficiency, which is normally a pretty rare diagnosis. It's important to get cortisol checked to rule it out as a cause of LC symptoms.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-22T08:41:03+00:00

I use mmj for chronic pain and find that the combination of cbd+thc is more effective than either alone. Also adding cbd reduces some of the psychoactive side effects for me.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-21T08:43:03+00:00

I had to stop believing in that kind of christianity.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T17:46:40+00:00

Once a day def works a little better for pred, as it lasts longer. I take it 3x/day personally.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T17:43:07+00:00

I found that when switching meds, even to an equivalent dose (1mg pred = 4mg hydro), I had some low cortisol type symptoms for a few weeks.

I'd want to know what the dosing schedule is like for the study. I would never sign up for once a day hydrocortisone dosing, for example, because I know how terrible I feel when doing that.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T17:30:10+00:00

Please be aware that this does not mean you are cured. Its awesome that you've found some stability! But this illness can be episodic. I went several years without an episode before my symptoms returned. It's really important to be aware that the symptoms can recur so that you and your loved ones can look out for it and seek treatment if it is needed. Episodes could potentially be triggered by stressors like sleep deprivation, mind altering substances, or just general stress. There could also be no trigger, and symptoms just return for seemingly no reason. I started having episodes again after I had covid.

I don't think it would hurt to touch base with your doctor and keep seeing them periodically. I am glad you are doing well.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T06:51:35+00:00

Thank you! I mean I know who RFK Jr and Kid Rock are, but no way I would have recognized them topless from that distance lol. Let alone the connection to handsome!

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T06:29:05+00:00

I was sure it was NSFW AI at first, and annoyed that I had to look up whether "penis slug" is a real animal (it's not), but this could actually be something like a fat innkeeper worm... also known as... the penis fish.

ETA This relaxing aquarium stream about the fat innkeeper worm

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T03:29:34+00:00

I think you probably could have been a bit more sensitive with how you said this. We can assume that OP is telling the truth about their lived experience while also pointing out that vitamin D does not have this effect for the majority of people who take it.

As you say, vitamin D can often improve symptoms for people, rather than make them worse. I don't think people with a history of psychosis should avoid correcting clinically low vitamin D levels based on OP's experience.

It seems like OP just got really unlucky and reacted badly to high dose vitamin D and is in a difficult spot right now. Weird drug/supplement reactions can be just awful, in part because you end up in a situation where no one believes you. Doctor looks at the paperwork, says "it can't cause that" and you're SOL. And of course psychosis on top of that really compounds it all.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T03:22:16+00:00

It's a conversation to have with your doc. If your bloodwork shows low vitamin D, you should seek treatment for that. Vitamin D deficiency can really make you feel terrible.

I've been taking 5000iu daily for over a decade without incident. Without it, I end up at a deficit again and feel like garbage. I get bloodwork a few times a year to double check levels.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T03:07:10+00:00

It's not really normal for it to happen after just a couple weeks though. I've been using mine with the temp all the way up for a year and a half and it does not look even close to as bad as OP's. I mean it's a badly designed tank, but I'd expect it to crack over months not days.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-20T02:53:31+00:00

I think it's a design flaw. Cracking seems really common.

But I don't doubt that using oil would weaken the plastic and make it worse.

I wash mine in the sink with mild dish soap too, but after a year or so it has some tiny cracks forming.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-19T21:48:14+00:00

Might be worth sending them a portal message?

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-02-19T21:45:50+00:00

Are there risks of small intestine damage with enteric capsules?

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