Posted by Thomas Repas, DO, FACP, FACE, CDE April 27, 2009 10:45 AM
The above article was posted by Dr. Repas who is also a runner (which has nothing to do with the article). The gal that was diagnosed was fortunate to be seen by someone who did not dismiss her symptoms as depression or psychosomatic.
Dr. Repas also has a blog where he talks about ultrarunning. We are doing the same race in June and I hope to meet him there. An Ultra'thoner's Blog Thoughts and reflections on trail and ultrarunning from the "back of the pack
I'm curious, how many of you were treated for depression despite Addison's symptoms?
I was simply treated for extremely low blood pressure until I was so sick my GP had no choice but to refer me. The physician to whom I was referred happened to have a special interest and told me he suspected Addison's almost immediately. This is the first I'm hearing of anyone being treated for depression instead, though.
ReplyDeleteHey Meg,
ReplyDeleteRight from the get go I was told to take some Prozac and take care of the depression. Perhaps it was because I looked healthy (thin and tan!) and was claiming to be fatigued. The 4th or 5th doctor said the same. I knew there was something much more going on. Hell, if I were depressed, I'd take the $7,000 I spent on doctors, tests and copayments and go to Mexico, buy a new bike and pop some Prozac. It would have been so much easier to be depressed and take care of it than struggle through getting a diagnosis!
I was put on Lexapro and Xanax for depression and anxiety. The antidepressant cleared my thinking a bit. My blood pressure was normal, still is. But I had a dull pain in my abdomen that was taken for nervous anxiety. The "anxiety" never went away, I was cranky as hell and then I started developing skin rashes and nausea. After 6 mos. on Lex I wanted off of it. I thought I was having side effects (I discovered there is a lot of dirty laundry on Lexapro, I was about discover most of it true). My GP tried to ween me off of it as I was having classic Lexapro withdrawal symptoms. After being off of it, some of my symptoms weren't going away and I was getting more and more manifestations. Headaches, virtigo, chronic nausea, blurred vision, fatigue fatigue fatigue. I mentioned to my GP that I had a sister with Hashimoto's. He ordered up comprehensive blood work and found my ACTH was elevated. 6 months, 3 endocrinologists, and umpteen vials of blood later I was on HC.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to be rude or presumptuous but perhaps this is more common in America and other first world countries? Here in South Africa, talking about depression, anxiety and the like are still not commonplace and few people will feel okay about seeing a Psychologist or Psychiatrist. I highly doubt many South African doctors would recommend any anti-depressant medications. In fact, I think they'd be reluctant to do so. Patients might feel offended.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to read about experiences of those in different countries :).
Meg, what an interesting observation! Very interesting that the doctors might be reluctant to recommend antidepressants in other countries!
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting me to think globally.
By the way, I linked your blog to mine, I hope you don't mind. I'm interested in following your journey.
:) Dusty
Michael,
ReplyDeleteYour experience was awful, thanks for sharing it. I thought only women were guided toward antidepressants, I was wrong! I'm so glad you finally found a good doctor that diagnosed you.
:) Dusty
You're my first official follower! Of course I don't mind. If I did I wouldn't be bloging, now would I ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm also just happy to have found some positive Addisonians. Far too many of the groups are depressing and that's not what you need when you're facing a serious life change!
Meg - That's an interesting cultural observation. My father's generation was more stigmatic about psychiatric issues to be sure. There was an interesting book written in the 90's called Prozac Nation that kind of outlines the widespread use of antidepressants in the US.
ReplyDeleteI do think physicians here now may be too hasty in prescribing them. The pharmacutical political lobby is very strong here, and they pretty much wine and dine physicians to use their patented meds. They replace drugs, including antidepressants every couple of years it seems. They earn tremendous profits for a period of time before competitors can sell the same formula. As a result, they sometimes rush new drugs to market replacing perfectly good ones. That is the case with Lexapro. If anyone prescribes it for you, tell them no thanks.
Meg - I'm officially your second follower! I could never come before Dusty. ;>)
ReplyDeleteHehe, thanks MichaelO and welcome to my followers group of 2!
ReplyDeleteI think, perhaps, my parents generation are in the same frame of mind that your parents generation was in. It is just not the done thing to talk about psychological issues, especially not with anyone outside of the family. My own generation is quite a bit different, having been exposed to Oprah and Dr. Phil and the like. But there are still huge cultural differences. Yours might be the Prozac Nation who will happily swollow pills (no offence meant!) but mine is a Nation struggling to get their people to take life-saving ARTs. And there are a whole lot of reasons for this.
I think there is also a fear that Doctors who prescribe anti-depressants might offend their patients. We're a big muddle of culture down here and it's often hard to tell what will be helpful and what will be detrimental to the patient-doctor relationship.
Thanks Meg and Michael! Love your comments and complements!
ReplyDeleteI was "diagnosed" with chronic fatigue syndrome and told to live with it. I was given an antidepressant and have been on and off of them for the past 21 years. Literally, I diagnosed my own Addison's and argued with my doctor as I lay dying in a hospital bed. He didn't believe me, ordered some tests to pacify me, and saved my life. My husband witnessed the event and tells the story to every medical person that he meets. Intense salt cravings, dark tan, weakness, nausea, fainting...weight loss...If a lay person can read the symptoms and make a diagnosis, why can't doctors with high IQ's and years of medical training? I understand that Addison's is rare but I was able to diagnosis the illness. I am the same person experimenting with DHEA. I trust my own intelligence, lack of medical training, and this website more than I do the doctors in Louisiana. I don't mean to sound bitter. I am thrilled to be alive and am grateful for modern medicine. None of us would be alive without modern medicine.
ReplyDeleteI was given lots of anti anxiety meds because my symptom was very high heart rate due to the dehydration. They kept thinking I was anxious. So I'd take their dumb pill and lie there with a high heart rate and be sleeping off the med. I even had one doc who did this choking type thing on me.... he pressed on my jugular till I felt like I was going to pass out then he let go... he said it sometimes works to slow the heart rate. That was weird. My husband thought I was crazy and was about to leave me when a doc at the er did the ACTH stim test and found the AD. It's hard to find a doc who will think outside the typical. It always irritates me when a doc says "Well it's extremely rare" Rare yes but not that rare!!!
ReplyDeleteShelley
Anonymous - " I trust my own intelligence, lack of medical training, and this website more than I do the doctors in Louisiana. I don't mean to sound bitter. I am thrilled to be alive and am grateful for modern medicine. None of us would be alive without modern medicine."
ReplyDeleteI agree with you totally and whole heartedly. It's amazing how doctors can behave and get away with it from diagnosis to maintenance.
I also diagnosed myself.
:) Dusty
I agree Shelley, Addison's is rare but not so rare. I think there are a lot of people who are able to limp along with half a life and a lot of will power and no diagnosis. They are labeled hypochondriacs. They probably have failing adrenals or pit but not completely failed.
ReplyDeleteIt's so frustrating, I wish I could make a difference in the endocrine world!
:) Dusty
Dusty, you ARE making a difference! The information you post has helped me and others tremendously. Not to mention the inspiration you bring by demonstrating we're not relegated to the sofa or the sick room. I've never been motivated to run anything longer than a 100 yard dash, let alone 50 miles. But I know I don't have to accept having my activities limited. It may take time to find the right balance of life style and medicine. But I'm willing to be patient and hopeful seeing people like you find a way to do more than I even care to do! So thank you!
ReplyDeleteShelley,
ReplyDeleteDamn! The doctor induced a near stroke! That sounds like water-boarding to me! My wife was at her wits end with me until they suggested Addison's. Then the summary of symptoms began to fit the puzzle and we both had some hope of finding normalcy again. And I am one of the lucky ones! I didn't get water-boarded.
One more thought while I'm singing your praises, Dusty. Because this is a rare disease, it would be so easy for any of us to feel like we are going through this alone. I can't imagine going through this without the internet. And I'm sure there are some Addisonian's who are. But your site has provided me some of the best information out there. And this is by far the most positive place for discussion. There are a few forums out there that are downright depressing to be honest. You tell it like it is without wallowing in your predicament. Who has time to feel sorry for themselves when you have the rest of your life to live with it? And more importantly, TO LIVE!
ReplyDeleteMichael, thank you so much for the complements. I really appreciate them!
ReplyDeleteI am hoping one day to raise awareness of Addison's disease with doctors too. I won't be doing it right now but sometime in the future.
I'm glad to be able to inspire people. Believe it or not, running is not my passion. It's a default sport that I can do almost anytime, anywhere. Regardless, I hope people with Addison's will find their passion and go for it no matter what their passion is. We can do it (whatever "it" is!)!
Your insight into living life with Addison's is excellent. I think that's why I don't mind taking meds 4 - 6 times a day like some do, I'm too busy with life to let it bother me much!
Thank you so much for your comments, I love your point of view!
Michael,
ReplyDeleteYeah that thing he did with my neck was pretty damn scary... and it did nothing to slow my heart rate. Now why would he think of that BEFORE he thought to test for addisons? Seems stupid and crazy to me. It was like coming out of a long dark tunnel when they gave me HC. I felt alive again instead of mostly dead. Waterboarding.... that made me smile!
Shelley
Dusty, I agree with Michael. Thank you so very much for all your time and effort. I really, really appreciate it and you.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, thank you! You guys are so nice!! I really appreciate it!
ReplyDelete:) Dusty
To add to what Michael said. Yes, most of the websites I orginally found were full to the brim of individuals wallowing in self pity and it's so easy to fall into that trap. Being so young, and having been through quite a heap before even starting to experience the symptoms for Addisons, I was already fairly depressed. It took me ages, and a bit of sheer determination and support from others to get through that time. Those forums never helped me, and in fact, I'd argue that they kept me down, showing me that other Addisonians have almost lost the will to live and are only surviving.
ReplyDeleteNow I know better, and I wouldn't give up my experiences for the world because I am who I am today because of that. I just hope that those who are lost find sites like yours, Dusty, that can inspire.