A decade of adrenal insufficiency. Thanks Addison's Disease!

The last 10 years have gone so damned fast.  Faster than the first 30 some.  Being diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency has made all the difference in my life.  I am so thankful to be diagnosed with AI.  My health is the best it has ever been.  I'm no longer always cold and/or sick.  I've dreamed big and far surpassed all of the athletic goals I once thought impossible.  I was given many years where I was able to keep up with my son as opposed to making the poor kid cook for himself at the age of 5.  I started my own online community for people with AI and it's turned out to be so wonderful for me, full of friendship, love support and information.

Despite the struggles of AI, it has been a wonderful thing for me.  It's provided me with a life that I never knew I could live.  I've made friends all around the world.  Many of them, I will know for the rest of my life.  AI has also given me the opportunity to learn about the body and how it works, about pharmaceutical companies, medical studies and hell, I've been sent to Trinidad because of this disease.  I'm healthier now overall than I ever was growing up.  What a gift!

Thanks to everyone who has become my friend because of this disease.  Thanks to friends without AI and my husband for listening to me rant about the injustices of the medical systems around the world and here in the US.

Adrenal Insufficiency has provided me with an opportunity to discover where my passion lies (empowerment, medicine, advocacy) and has given me chances to see different sides of this disease and where I fit into it.  I know some form of advocacy, aside from the forum, is where I'm going with this disease.

Thanks to all for being a part of my life with AI!

Dusty

How to handle and Addison's emergency

This post assumes you already have an emergency injection kit at your disposal.

• Know your "low" cortisol symptoms, know what they are well ahead of time!
• If you feel like you are faint or about to vomit, GIVE YOURSELF AN INJECTION
• Make sure you take spare HC and meds with you, hospitals are not known for giving HC on time if you have to stay overnight.  They will wait until rounds to give you your morning HC which could lead to unnecessary low blood sugar and low cortisol symptoms.  Take your own HC as needed
• Call 911 or get a ride to the ER 
• Be sure to take your NADF emergency protocol so the ER knows what to do (most have absolutely no clue, really)
• Insist on IV fluids, antinausea meds and get more Solu-Cortef if needed

Notice what I'm saying here, you must inject before going to the emergency room.

Why?

You must inject prior to going to the ER because the delay between the call to 911 and when you finally see a doctor could be too long.  The vast majority of ambulances in the US are unable to carry Solu-Cortef.  They are unable to inject you even if you have it laying on your chest with directions.  Because an Addison's crisis is so little known and so little understood, the gravity of your situation will most likely go unnoticed.  YOU CAN DIE.

What happens if I give myself an injection unnecessarily?

Most likely, if you're thinking you need an injection, you need it.  It won't be unnecessary.  If you really don't need it and you're doing it for fun, you will end up out one injection kit, with temporary high blood sugar and you'll probably feel irritable.  If you do it all the time, inject when not needed, you will probably end up with type 2 diabetes and needing a hip or shoulder replacement.  You'd have to have a really stupid doctor to prescribe so many injection kits and not look at the cause of your needing injections all the time (whether it's mental or physical).

To shoot or not to shoot?

If at all possible, take your HC orally.  There's NO REASON to inject yourself before a dental procedure or stressful trip to the bank.  If you break a bone and don't feel nauseous (or whatever), TAKE YOUR HC ORALLY.  Frequently injecting HC can lead to hip and shoulder join necrosis.

Bottom line:  Inject on the way to the ER or as you're waiting for the ambulance.