Addison's Disease Support Group

Lacy,
Welcome! It is always nice to find someplace that has people that understand what you are going through. It helps to just have others to talk to. Sorry you have Addison's, but you are very lucky if you made it 15 years without a crisis. I had 2 crises before I ever got diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency.
It is hard to say what might be causing you to have more difficulty now. Perhaps you had some adrenal function before and it has now shut off completely? Perhaps it is related to the hormonal changes of aging. All the endocrine systems are linked and none work without the others working, so if your ovaries have stopped producing estrogen it could be the root of the problem. You might look into checking your estrogen levels and see if supplementation might be an idea for you. The docs are not liking to do it these days due to increased cancer risks, but for some people, it is appropriate.
As for the stresses you mentioned - there are some doctors that think psychological stress does not trigger an increased cortisol need for us, but they are dead wrong. ANY stress can require us to need more steroid. Your mom's death, the loss of a job - these are huge stressors and I would not be surprised at all if you had trouble with your cortisol levels during those times. I think we all have different needs for different stresses and you just have to listen to your body. If it is telling you it needs more, take more. I know I get super exhausted and nauseous when I need more. If I exercise even a little, I bottom out. Its crazy. And cortisol is so basic to so many functions of our body. I have gone half crazy trying to figure out how much to take and when.
I hope you get evened out ok. Talk with your doctor about checking other hormone levels - estrogen, thyroid especially. Maybe your thyroid is off. Best of luck

Vanyel

Thank you for your reply! I read the reply with tears in my eyes...you are the first person with whom I have ever talked to who understands what in the hell we are going through. It just made me cry...not necessarily in a bad way, mind you.

You are probably right...we do think that I had some function, so I guess we can surmise that it has stopped all together at this point. That would answer a lot of questions.

Oh my Lord, it is good to hear from someone who has been there! Thank you!

HI
iAM RAISEING MY TWO GRANDSONS AND THE BABY HE IS 4 YRS OLD AND HE HAS ADDISONS, HE HAS ALOT OF UPS AND DOWNS HE HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FIVE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR,HE ALSO HAS RUSSELL SILVER SYNDROM SO THE TWO TOGATHER ARENT GOOD CAN SOME ONE PLEASE TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS i WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT HIM I REALLY NEED ANSWERS

wow, a little one with Addison's. That must be rough. It is so hard for them to understand everything. I have never heard of Russel Silver disease, I am sorry I am no help in that area.

it has been really hard with the baby with addisons, Russell silver is were they are unable to grow, he is 25 pounds very small little boy. any advice on the addisons would help I dont fully understand it
thanks Tina

lacy i just read you comment about stress and feeling so sick from it. i also read the reply from Vanyel - i totally agree with him. he always has good advice from all i have read here on this site. when i am under alot of stress i get so nauseous and fatigued. i don't care what dr's. or anyone else says you never know what is going to bring you down. until i found this site i thought i was just whiney or crazy but i feel so much better about my disease and myself to know that others go through the same things as i do.

Hi Connie, I agree with all said. I've for 20 odd yrs had many hospitalizations for syptoms of a crisis. Dehydrated from nause/ vomiting. Couldn't awake from anesthesia after a surgery, so was given a list to use in the future. Later found it was because of the adrenal's not working. But like you, mine seemed to maybe function, then didn't.
I had many stresses. And after each, a couple times I was admitted to the hosp with food poisoning, given fluids etc, etc. never felt well on discharge. Took forver to bounce back.
With in the last sev yrs, I had lost my home in a fire.Was admitted to hosp with depression, and flu. I always had the flu according to my Dr. Ohh how frustrating. Had taken care of my Father at my home, the first time I was diagnosed with Ad. ( long story and in my 1st post ) But had increased the meds, and had been in process of changing ins. But anyway, got through that evening ( christmas day) Had gotten some anger from siblings that had asked how long I thought he had. They both lived on the west coast. Try to explain you have no clue, but they were coming the next day, so didn't see him. After making the arrangements the next day, during the night I have no idea, and actually can't remember what happened, but my husb saw me on the kitchen floor trying to get to the bathroom. he was on his way hunting when I told him I was so sick. Put me on the couch, said he'd be back at lunchtime. I remember my Mom trying to get pills down my throat, she'd said she crushed them, but I kept throwing up. I'd wet myself, they tryed to get me into the bathroom to clean me up. Then I woke in the hospital ER briefly. B/P was 60 over 30 I remember waking and seeing the monitor. Days went by. Missed his services completely. I couldn't get out of that bed. That was the worse crisis that I remember. but had been that ill many times.
Went thru a divorce, had a hyster, lost a niece that was 5 mnths preg that had cancer. Worked as much as I was able, the fatigue did me in, but had to push myself. A pt broke bones and wrist in my rt hand. had 3 surg and had the main joint at base of thumb removed. Got somewhat of a settlement, and was coaxed to moving in with a son and his fam, he'd had a fall and back injury. Ipaid all their bills up to date, they were losing their home. Only because of my g-children. They needed new appliances, etc. my d-in-lawtold me to leave. I'd just been to the Dr and was told I had pneumonia, and go home and get bed rest, with a breathing treatment machine. It was the flu, but had been under a lot of stress there also days before, no wks before I left. She didn't speak. Itwas very stressful. They'd been having problems. Always financial, and she'd keep his checks and never had to help me pay their bills. She'd left and come back, and that's why they were in that situation. I moved into an empty apt a friend of my sister had. No furn, a sleeping bag, my meds breathing machine. They's said at the DR that the hospital was filled, and they'd find a place even in the hallway till a room became available. That's why I'd gone home. After all that happened, I was so ill most of the time. And was the brginning of my decline and getting worse and never better. Of course I never had energy to begin with, but the Dr says you're depressed. From all that had been happening, who am I to argaue. I was so sick at that point, I just gave up complaing abt it to her. From then I had to give upmy home and moved to a complex where I am now. But also very stressful.
I don't mean to air my dirty laundry. BUT.... you can't tell me that mental stresses don't play a major role in this disease, or diseases. I joked that I don't do well with stress. but actually it was true. I always felt as though I was getting the flu or a gi bug. Took awhile to get it, and forever to recover from it. Then my Mom bless her heart would say it's just you, no one has the flu that often. I knewthat. but I'd always ask if there was something going around.
So, I'm convinced it has a role. At least in my case I've seen the pattern over the yrs. I had sinus surg in May I think. Right after that, I've not bounced back to the feeling better that I had after starting Hydro. It's gonna be a long journey trying to get treated as I should. But this time 'm going to pursue it till I find some answers. my life'spassed me by for much to long. I just want to feel somewhat normal. And I envy people that can do pretty much anything. I have good intentions, but awake to find I don't feel any better. Good Luck to You!

Oh wow, I am going through the same thing. I am 38 and I have 2.5 daughter. I have had severe pain with clotty bleeding menstrauation problems. I just saw a really good OBGYN who was voted best OBGYN in USA for 2008. She told me that poorly controlled Addison's can push you into menopause early - she thinks that is happening to me and she is referring me to an a better Endo who she says is really good. My advice, go to the OBGYN and tell them what's going on and ask them to help you, my OBGYN is running my Cortisol tests herself on me. The bleeding problems with my period were so painful and she said Addison's is playing a large role in my feminine problems. Let's be friends.

And the bleeding problems pushed me into a crisis and triggered it, i forgot to mention that. Let's chat!