Wow do I feel you!!! I'm 31, was always able to drop weight with no problem, have always struggled in some way or another with my body image with feeling too big when I wasn't really, then BAM!!!! ALL HECK breaks loose and Addison's rears it's ugly head along with Hypothyroidism and a bunch of other stuff. Steriods are introduced...along with Prednisone multiple of times to save my life and there goes my body... it blows up like a huge balloon.
It is sooooo true that the big question is how oh how do I come to accept this huge change in my body that I really deep down disgust and can't find a way to change and then expect someone else to love and accept? Arggg, it is such a hard challenge on top of everything else.
I just want you to know I really really feel what you feel and am dealing with the same thing!!!!

I had one more comment that is funny... I was at my sister's this weekend playing with my niece and nephew (niece is in the picture) and was talking with my 4-year-old nephew. He is the sweetest, kindest, tender-hearted little boy I know. Anyway, we were just talking while we were eating watermellon and discussing how good for us it is and he said, "Yes, and running is good for you too! It helps you get smaller. Auntie Heather needs to run so she can get smaller." :) Hee hee hee hee

(he got this idea because my sister recently purchased a treatmill and her and my brother-in-law have been walking/running on it to get in shape which has been awesome!)

Now, I thought this was HILARIOUS! I had just been talking with my sister about some new recipies that would help me lose some weight and I knew he was listening so he was just carrying on that conversation, but my sister was HORRIFIED!

All in all, the whole thing was really funny, but man do I wish it was that easy. I wish my arthritic joints could go out there and run again. I once was 10th in the state in Cross Country and running was such a joy. Now to walk to the mailbox makes me pass out sometimes. Humph, I should just be thankful that I know what is wrong and I can control it most of the time!!!!!!

Haaha, that's cute...your nephew was just thinking logically...but as a parent, you never know what they'll come out with! ;)
Your niece is adorable, too!
Yeah, it's hard to have such a big change. I don't find my shape disgusting, but just odd or 'alien' to me, and I'm well aware it's not the accepted shape. I'm sure there are those who would see the rest of us, and love the good stuff, but still they may be fewer and farther between. All I know is, if I find him, he'll be a good one!
Yup, I also was very active...a hiker, and climbed all of the Presidential Range Mnt's in New Hampshire, and Mt. Washington twice! Now I moan n groan, trying to plant a flower!! I hear you!! It helps to share, and know we're not the only ones dealing with this.
Hugs

girlies, i feel your pain.

i always joke that i'm going to wear a sign around my neck that says:

i'm not really this fat, i'm just on steroids.

i have a bfa in musical theatre. i had a little bit of weight to lose in high school/college, but i was *super* active, a dancer, and a total city girl, running around ragged like i owned the place. now i hate my staircase. i literally couldn't find my tap shoes right now if you offered me a million dollars - no clue where they are. ha.

i did finally get some good news: apparently my PCOS is one reason i started gaining weight when i did. then the steroids just had a P-A-R-T-Y w/me ... only w/out permission. i now understand why parents don't like it when their teenagers do that. i feel like my body has been invaded by aliens!

i'm a lucky duck, however, in that i'm not only married, but my hubby has no problem w/my issues. he obviously wants me to be happy, but he's been a total sweetheart about it. however, i had already gained some of the PCOS weight before we met, and i'll let you in on a little secret:

it doesn't matter.

i'm not even kidding. my husband is one of the most handsome men i've ever laid eyes on (and it's not a love-goggles kind of thing, people tell me this a lot!). he has no clue, which makes it even cuter to me, but anyways ... before i met him, i would have been a nervous wreck about my looks, if i was saying the right thing, acting the right way, being what i thought *he* wanted me to be. but when our paths crossed, i had this epiphany - i decided that i was just going to be me. completely, 100% me. overweight? i wouldn't shift around and act uncomfortable about it - i carried myself with confidence, like i would if he wasn't around.
annoyed @ something? i spoke up w/my sassy mouth, instead of playing 'sweet little classy princess.' angry? i swore like a trucker, if the whim crossed me. i was just me. i decided that, as great as he seemed, if he didn't like me for me ... ALL of me (lol), then it was his loss - and a big one.

and crazy enough, it was the most drama-free dating EVER. no games, no rules (he called me *every* day, even if i hadn't called him last ... you know, no BS guy games), we had a TON of fun, and there was no fakeness. and in may we celebrated our 6th anniversary!

i hope i don't sound like an idiot - i obviously don't mean to say that this is the only reason we're together ... we obviously clicked and fell in love, la la la ... but i truly believe that had i not been my total self, we wouldn't have lasted long enough to find out that we were truly meant to be.

it's easier said then done - but if you can do it, you'll be amazed at how differently things might play out than you would expect. try to concentrate on the things you LOVE about yourself, and how any man would be LUCKY to have you ... you'll literally start to love more and more about the rest of you, too.

don't get me wrong - i'm not thrilled with this bullshit steroid figure.
BUT ... we're still GOEGEOUS effing BABES, and these tummies and round cheeks are our WAR WOUNDS. no one knows what we go through, the energy we lack, the pain we feel, how difficult any tiny task can be ... they take these things for granted, just like we used to. but we cannot take ourSELVES for granted ... we are too FABULOUS.

now go find those men, i command you!

xo, misa

ps:

judith, i mis-read your post @ first and thought you said that you were 6',1''. i was like, 'wow, WHERE does she SHOP?' then i caught that it was not in fact your height. lol!

Oh my goodness, Misababy, if I had a printer, I would print the last part, especially, of your post, and hang it on the wall!! Wow! I am woman! HAAA!!!
What a great attitude...and I think it's true, that when you project confidence and being comfortable with yourself, it catches on with others. I must remember that!
Funny, I've thought of making a tee shirt saying the same thing, about the fat being from steroids!! War wounds, huh? I like that! Yeah! Every woman should see your post...I think most of us have some insecurities with body image.
Thanks so much....and it sounds like you have a wonderful husband....a keeper! =)

I have found that reading the series "The #1 LAdies Detective Agency" with the "traditionally built" heroine, Mama Ramatswe, has been a great relief.
I weigh 60# more than when I was FINALLY diagnosed... I am 5'9" was 131# almost dead, bp of 70/62 etc etc. So the extra weight is what it is... I have my life back ( albeit in a slightly different mode) and enjoy my family and friends....
As far as clothes, I have found that Christopher and Banks has clothing that fits . In addition, elastic waists , long tops in linen or cotton dress up or down well and are comfy .
What a trip this disease is! Not only do you have to manage your steroids and electrolytes... you have to develop a new fashion sense!
I am blessed with a wonderful man... throughout the last 15 years... who is accepting and loving..........good Luck!

thanks, judith!

and i never even though to have a t-shirt made ... *so* much easier than a sign - and more comfortable, too!

cam - where do you find that line of clothing? i'll have to google it. thanks for the tip! you're completely right - new disease, new fashion sense; who knew? if advertisers were *really* on their game, they'd have larger sized clothing advertised in every endocrinologist's office in the country, lol!

no one can stop us, though -

give me addison's, give me an ass -
I WILL STILL DRESS FABULOUSLY!

xo, misa

Hi all,

I'm new to this page, but I just wanted to tell everyone that I'm loving the positive energy, and the fact that there are other people that have Addison's. I've tried to find support groups in my area to no avail, so thanks for the motivation.

P.S. Misababy, I love the quote at the end of your message. I'm gonna print it out as a mantra.

I completely agree with all the posts on weight gain!!! I have always been able to eat whatever and whenever I wanted. Now I have put on 21 lbs. and cannot rid myself of it. The meds and illness really wreak havoc on one's body. It really, plainly said, sucks!!! I feel like I am always telling people, this is not really me, I used to be thin! I am always apologizing for my fatness and I am embarrassed about my weight. Wish a new med could be researched so that we could all benefit and feel better about ourselves. It's bad enough we have this illness, then to put up with the extra pounds is even worse. I will add, thank God we are alive and can be here to be with our families and friends. I really do thank God everyday that I am alive. Good :Luck to All. Christine

We are all (sorta) FAT! But ALIVE! I have gained 40 lbs since being on the steroids. I hate that my face is bloated, and covered in spots. I am pretty good at hiding the weight gain, but I don't like my bloated face. And since I have had Addison's for 5+ years I now have the skin on my face starting to change color. I am getting large brown/reddish spots all over my face. I am going to see a dermatologist to hopefully get them lasered off. Did you know that Jane Austen died of Addison's? That's when I realized that all the spots on my face were Addison related. I read it in a book about Jane Austen. I am hoping the dermatologist will give me a mini face lift, I have so much discoloration she will have to do my whole face! lol. Oh well, not much we can do about the weight. I am happy to be able to have my good days. And my husband doesn't complain about my weight either. So I feel lucky.