Addisons Disease

[parkie]

My daughter, in her mid-thirties, has just been diagnosed with the above.
She has been told the condition, which is very rare, can be 'managed' with medication.
Does anyone have experience of this condition and could give any tips apart from the usual medical ones she is bound to be given please?

[Eve]

I have a close family member with it, got very serious before he was dignosed and he was very seriously ill with it. I guess it depends on severity, whether it is primary or secondary etc... I'm sure Sqad will be much more informed.

I'd say a health warning bracelet is a must so that if she is ever in an accident or anything like that it is clear to any health professionals so that they can treat accordingly.

Being able to recognise signs of a crisis as early as possible too and have a back up to help eg emergency injection (I think) and people around her who know what to look for and what to do - I guess like for people who have conditions like diabetes/epilepsy.

Again, these kind of things may be OTT as I'm generalising and on the more severe side and don't want to seem over dramatic!

You could find some support groups she could join? Get more advice and support from them?

There is a group here:

http://www.addisons.org.uk/

[parkie]

Many thanks Jenna. I'll pass the info on. Sorry so late with reply. Went to sleep in front of tv. Going to bed now!!!!

[Sqad]

No I haven't got Addison's Disease and I am not an Endocrinologist.

Google it and I also refer to the post of Jenna above, but i would like to make the following additional comments.

50 years ago, the commonest cause was Tuberculosis but this has been rapidly overtaken by an auto-immune cause ( the body reacting against a part of the adrenal gland)

Replacement therapy is life saving and must be maintained throughout life in this quite rare condition.

It was named after after a Geordie boy who became a consultant at Guys Hospital at the turn of the 19th century. His big mate at Guy's was another physician called Bright who described a disease of the kidney known as Bright's Disease and together were known as the two bright boys of Guys...;-)
He was a shy, irascible doctor who did not suffer fools gladly and experienced bouts of depression which resulted in him committing suicide.

That is my lot on the subject.

[parkie]

Thanks Sqad. You're a mine of information. Very helpful.

[fabsec54]

My 18 year old nephew was diagnosed with primary AD last October and has adjusted remarkably well to taking his medication, especially knowing he will have to be on them for the rest of his life. He had to double up on his meds during his uni interviews and A level exams in case he got stressed, but all went very smoothly.

He was admitted to hospital and found to have a very low sodium level, they were on the verge of admitting him to ITU when they found out what it was and when his sodium started rising again.

Apparently only 8 in 1 million people have it. Some famous people who suffered from AD include JFK and apparently Osama Bin Laden!!!