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.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I took the elevator

You've read it right! I took the elevator. It's something I try to avoid doing whenever possible.

Here's the situation. About 3 weeks or so ago I had my thyroid meds lowered, concurrently, I had a small groin pull. I seem to have developed tendinitis in my hip from a combination of aggravating the pull (kicked stuff HARD with the bad leg twice) and, I think, from lowering the thyroid meds. Tendons in my thumbs became painful during that time as well. Hypothyroid symptoms went nuts. I got my thyroid meds raised and the tendons in the hands and most hypo symptoms are decreasing.

The hip is not so good. Hurts pretty badly. I went to the doctor who referred me to PT. The Physical Therapist's office is on the second floor. I went up 2 stairs and then turned around and went up the elevator. Me using an elevator is a definite indication of the degree of pain I'm in!

The doc prescribed 20 mg pred for three days, 10 mg pred for three days and 800 mg of Ibuprofen. Here's the Addison's thing. She had no idea how or if I should take my hydrocortisone in addition to the pred burst. I highly doubt there's been any research on the subject. I'm nervous about this 20 mg of pred, it's equivalent to 80 mg of hydrocortisone. I will not waste the extra energy that's going to happen from this amount of steroid!! I'm already shaky and sweaty from it. I don't think I've ever had too much steroid before because this feels really weird. I hope I don't get super fat and mean from the pred, that's generally been the case when I've taken it before.

Anyhow, this is too much writing and probably boring to read. I have continued the streak (against my better judgement and the judgement of my husband but completely in agreement with the OCD part of me). It didn't feel good so I brought a cocktail along to the treadmill, some Ibuprofen on board and got it done.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dusty,
I'm so sorry - what a pain to have to go through this. I hope the pred works - it's only a few days - you'll get through it. I highly doubt you'll need HC during this time - you'll have way more than enough steroid in your system to cover AI!

Feel better soon!

ashley

PuddleThumper said...

Please be careful with that hip Dusty. :-)

Linda said...

Dusty, you won't get fat from three days worth of prednisone. I gained belly girth only when I was on it, but very little weight. I never lost it, though (sadness). Also, a PT can be invaluable with different exercises. Share....My hips are my weak spot, also. Don't forget about water running! Also, do you wear orthodics? Another thought is a chiropractor if the PT doesn't work. I am thinking of you!

Pip said...

Your question about whether to incorporate your daily steriod into the physio's extra dose is something I've often wondered myself.

Back home, by the way. Very tired and still not anywhere near normal. I'll post to my blog tomorrow. The nurses didn't advise my Endo I was in hospital until the fourth day, after I kept insisting. I didn't think my normal dose of Hydrocortisone was enough so kept a secret stash in my handbag and took extra when they weren't looking.

The Endo did three blood draws which identified that my normal dose wasn't enough, so I'm back on a higher dose again. Phew ...

Colleen said...

Dusty...please STOP the streak! Take it from me...you have a lesson to learn from your elevator rides. I know there is somehting to be learned on elevators. We'll talk this week about why I call my Blog elevator rides.

In the meanwhile, trust me to let the healing GET DONE.

xox,

cw