Blog changes

Thanks to everyone who followed Training Because I Can! over the last nine years. This blog started with Addison's Disease, hypothyroidism and a crazy idea of doing an Ironman distance triathlon. My life has changed and so has this blog. I am using this blog strictly for Addison's Support topics from here on out. I hope to continue providing people with hints for living life well with adrenal insufficiency.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Important Addison's Links

Monday, September 17, 2007

Migraines and Addison's disease

Here's where I'm going to put some commentary. This will be boring if you're not affected by a chronic, debilitating condition. Heck, it might be boring if you are...

I've had migraines since my 13th birthday, over 25 years of migraines. They have been very inconsistent. I never know when I'm going to get one and they are ALWAYS debilitating for hours or days. Sometimes I get one and it goes away and sometimes I get several for days in a row. There are many symptoms in the days leading up to it. Sometimes I get the symptoms and a migraine, sometimes I get the symptoms and no migraine. When I do get the actual migraine, it's always preceded by an "aura" where I can't see and I get really, really stupid. If I don't do something about it (take a pill), I will get a headache like no other and I will vomit. The nausea and vomiting are the toughest part of having Addison's and migraines. With Addison's, vomiting can be dangerous because we have to have cortisone to live. If one can't keep the cortisone down, it can be life threatening. With nausea, it can be difficult to take the cortisone as well because cortisone can be hard on the stomach, upsetting it more. It's a vicious cycle!

Anyway...the migraines are debilitating. I spent 2 days the week after the 50 completely unable to do more than lay on the couch. I went to the ER for nausea and then, later in the week, to the doctor's office for nausea meds, pain killers (first time requesting them in 25 years!) and a head CT with contrast. I spent one day down last week with a migraine too.

Migraines suck. If you have any hints or suggestions, please make a comment OR email me at contact@addisonssuport.com. I'm currently trying to go gluten free and chocolate free but I don't have high hopes for any success. The most frustrating thing about these suckers is that they are so unpredictable and unexpected. I hate being slowed down, I'm slow enough as it is!