Have Solu-Cortef on hand.
Inject before going to the ER or calling 911.
If your doctor won't prescribe 100 mL of Solu-Cortef, ask him what the hell he thinks you will do with it that's nefarious. Shoot up for fun? Yeah, everyone wants to get fat and irritated. Not. Basically, he thinks you're an idiot or he's a freaking idiot and knows nothing about adrenal insufficiency. Print out the abstract below or better yet, get a copy of the paper in its entirety, and give it to him and ask for a prescription.
If you don't have a prescription, email this to his office today and ask for one.
Adrenal crisis in treated Addison’s disease: a predictable but under-managed event
Katherine White and Wiebke Arlt1
Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group, PO Box 1083, Guildford GU1 9HX and 1School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK (Correspondence should be addressed to K White; Email: kgwhite@addisons.org.uk)
Abstract
Context: Adrenal crisis is a life-threatening event that occurs regularly in Addison’s patients receiving standard replacement therapy. Patient reports suggest that it is an underestimated and undermanaged event.
Objective: To assess the frequency of adrenal crisis in diagnosed patients and to understand the factors contributing to the risks of adrenal crisis.
Design: We conducted a postal survey of Addison’s patients in four countries, UK (nZ485), Canada
(nZ148), Australia (nZ123) and New Zealand (nZ85) in 2003, asking about patients’ experiences of
adrenal crisis and their demographic characteristics. In 2006, a shorter follow-up survey was
conducted in the UK (nZ261).
Method: The frequency and causes of adrenal crisis were compared across both surveys. Demographic data from the 2003 survey were analysed to establish the main variables associated with an elevated risk of crisis.
Results: Around 8% of diagnosed cases can be expected to need hospital treatment for adrenal crisis
annually. Exposure to gastric infection is the single most important factor predicting the likelihood of
adrenal crisis. Concomitant diabetes and/or asthma increase the frequency of adrenal crises reported
by patients.
Conclusion: The endocrinologist has a responsibility to ensure that Addison’s patients have adequate
access to life-saving emergency injection materials and repeated, practical training sessions in how to
use them,while the general practitioner plays a vital role as in arranging prompt emergency admissions.
European Journal of Endocrinology 162 115–120
Even better, get a prescription for 8 mg Zofran ODT so that you can avoid nausea and the inability to swallow pills orally. If your doctor won't prescribe a few of these to someone for whom vomiting can be life threatening (depleting sodium, putting potassium over range and then giving you a heart attack) he's really, really dumb or really, really hates you. In either case, find a doctor who wants you to live. This statement is right from the abstract above "Exposure to gastric infection is the single most important factor predicting the likelihood of adrenal crisis."
Review
GET PRESCRIPTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING:
- 100 mL Solu-Cortef Acto-Vial
- Needles (depends upon your state)
- 8 mg Zofran ODT. Make sure it's ODT!