Adrenal Insufficiency

Hi, my name is jbocade. I'm here because

#MightyTogether #AdrenalInsufficiency

Hi, my name is EliseCol. I'm here to share and connect

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #AdrenalInsufficiency #cushing 'sSyndrome

It has been close to a year since I was officially diagnosed with Addison’s Disease. I’ve learned a lot about the disease, how it has affected-and will continue to affect-me, and what I need to do to manage life with that knowledge. One thing I have learned is that time is incredibly valuable.

Yesterday I further learned how to apply that in the often mundane activities of being an accountant. I felt empowered holding others accountable for their mistakes and giving them the opportunity to learn. Almost everyone received my various emails and phone calls positively.

It felt good to let things go. It felt better to know I have a good team working with me. #AddisonsDisease #AdrenalInsufficiency

Hi, my name is Decades_of_lyme. I'm here because

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression #LymeDisease #Migraine #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #AdrenalInsufficiency #Dysautonomia

I was wondering if anyone else who has adrenal insufficiency also has osteoarthritis. I was recently diagnosed with Addison’s Disease and have had several orthopedic surgeries prior to that diagnosis (and the obligatory daily steroid replacement therapy). I say that to establish a timeline. Have others experienced severe osteoarthritis in conjunction with adrenal insufficiency? Just wondering if these conditions are possibly related.
#AdrenalInsufficiency

Part 1 of 2 Living with a chronic illness feels like our bodies are holding us to ransom. We get no rewards for our attempts to function like a “normal” person.

We struggle with the everyday things that most people take for granted.

Managing life with a chronic illness(s) is exhausting. We experience multiple layers of fatigue. It’s important to note that fatigue is different from feeling tired.

There are 3 different types of fatigue

Transient fatigue is acute fatigue brought on by extreme sleep restriction or extended hours awake within 1 or 2 days.

Cumulative fatigue is fatigue brought on by repeated mild sleep restriction or extended hours awake across a series of days.

Circadian fatigue refers to the reduced performance during nighttime hours, particularly during an individual’s “window of circadian low” (WOCL) (typically between 2:00 a.m. and 05:59 a.m.).

Fatigue is categorised as either physical or mental.

Common symptoms associated with fatigue can include:

aching muscles

apathy and a lack of motivation

daytime drowsiness

difficulty concentrating or learning new tasks

gastrointestinal problems

headache

irritability

slowed response time

vision problems

The difference between tiredness and fatigue is more substantial than you may first realise. Tiredness is the way we feel when we don’t get enough sleep. Fatigue is a daily lack of energy that can’t be solved through greater sleep alone. Fatigue, therefore, is caused by more than just our sleeping pattern or daily activities.

Most of the time fatigue can be attributed to one or more lifestyle issues, such as poor sleep habits or lack of exercise. Fatigue can be caused by a medicine or linked to depression. Sometimes fatigue is a symptom of an illness that needs treatment.

If you feel you’re suffering from fatigue, which is an overwhelming tiredness that isn’t relieved by rest and sleep, you may have an underlying medical condition. It’s important to consult your GP for advice.

Prepare yourself not be taken seriously. It could take a few appointments and more than one doctor to be heard.

In my case, the first GP dismissed my concerns. I was there about something else. After she dealt with that issue, I told her my concern about my tiredness levels and not feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep. Ignoring me she thrust the prescription slip into my hand. Giving me the “it’s time to leave” look.

I wasn’t at all prepared for her reaction. I left feeling like none of the doctors at the surgery would take my concerns seriously. I decided to see another GP and if they didn’t listen or help me. I would try every doctor at the practice until one of them was willing to act on my symptoms. Luckily for me, the second doctor I saw listened. A diagnosis of Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) took about a year. Once diagnosed I felt momentary relief. Finally, there was medical proof I was unwell. I wasn’t going mad, it wasn’t all in my head. I had a physical problem.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs/

Layers of fatigue – Mille-Feuille of tiredness

This isn’t a medical term ( Miller-Feuille is French, meaning; 1000 sheets or layers) It’s something I created to help healthy people understand fatigue is much more than just tiredness. An early night and a long lie at the weekend simply won’t fix us.

Different layers of fatigue

Layer 1

Fatigue caused by chronic condition(s) Exhaustion that doesn’t let up might be a sign of:

Adrenal insufficiency

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Anemia

Anxiety disorders

Cancer

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic infection or inflammation

Chronic kidney disease

COPD

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Depression (major depressive disorder) or other mood disorders

Diabetes

Fibromyalgia

Grief

Heart disease

Heart failure

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

HIV/AIDS

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Liver disease

Low vitamin D

Lupus

Mononucleosis

Multiple sclerosis

Obesity

Parkinson’s disease

Physical or emotional abuse

Polymyalgia rheumatica

Pregnancy

Rheumatoid arthritis

Sleep apnea

Stress

Traumatic brain injury

Layer 2

Fatigue caused by medication. If you take time to read the patient leaflet inside the box you will find an extensive list of side effects. Fatigue is a common side effect of many drugs. Especially the types chronic illness sufferers take. Additional fatigue is the las

Hi, my name is Sstaves. I'm here because

#MightyTogether #Depression #Anxiety #AdrenalCorticalCarcinoma #AdrenalInsufficiency #AdrenalCancer

Hi, my name is chroniclyMimi. I recently spent a week in the hospital and was diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency and acute renal failure. My blood pressure would drop so low I would pass out when sitting up or standing and at times was even 60s/30s at rest. I live with a slew of debilitating, chronic medical issues that have come to light over the last 13+ years, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, h-EDS, multiple orthopedic surgeries, a h/o uterine cancer, anxiety and depression to name a few. I had to retire with disability at the age of 44 from a 20+ year nursing career and I can tell you with complete certainty that it’s definitely harder to be a full time patient than the health care professionals. I usually consider myself pretty badass and I’ve learned how to adapt and live with my limitations and disabilities (except the motorized bugggy in the grocery store, I refuse to ride on one of those!!) But this most recent diagnosis has me a little concerned and scared, I understand that it is most likely due to the high dose and lengthy tapers of Prednisone I’ve had to take frequently for RA flares, as well as stress being a factor. My initial appointment with the Endocrinologist isn’t until May, so I came back to The Mighty for support from people I trust to help me understand and also guide me through how to adjust to life with this additional chronic condition .
#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression #RheumatoidArthritis #OrthostaticHypotension #ehlers-DanlosSyndrome #DegenerativeDiscDisease #Fibromyalgia #PTSD #addison'sDisease #UterineCancer #BenignParoxysmalPositionalVertigo #ChronicIllness #ChronicKidneyDisease