Erella's hospital visit

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Erella Ganon

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Jan 9, 2011, 3:04:37 PM1/9/11

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I had my adrenal glands removed a few months ago and things were working rather well without them.

I had successfully weaned from the drugs I was taking when I was first discharged. My adrenals were overproducing cortisol the stress hormone. My body was addicted to this amount of the hormone. When I was discharged, I was given 100 mg of cortisol to take per day. I weaned from 100 to 40 per day. A few days ago, I decided to start on 35mg.

I guess I was hit with a virus around then. Most likely when I was visiting my mom's nursing home, I suspect.

My body would normally pump more stress hormone to work on the virus but I am new to this task and did a crummy job. I think that I used to do a fair amount of denial when I was sick in the past. "Oh, I am fine.." and eventually I would be. This kind of delusion is no longer workable for me.

My body was having a conversation with my mind and my mind was being a kind of petulant teenager, ignoring all the important signals.

But the time I took notice, I was in a full on crisis and went to hospital.

It was a pretty good experience.

I learn the importance of Facebook, for one thing.

Ami, Robin and Renee have been super helpful, reminding me how crucially it is that these signals are respected and followed up on.

These people are experienced, actually more knowledgeable than many of the health professionals I deal with and gave me excellent, caring advice.

My sister, Monique kept people up to date as to what was going on with me. It was hard, she's never sick but was whacked by some virus too. It was funny. I learned of her illness because Robin (who I've only gotten to know on Facebook) told me that my sister, who lives a couple blocks away is suffering from some kind of virus because she read it on her wall! They have shared this link http://www.addisons.org.uk/info/manual/adshgguidelines.pdf as good information to learn.

I am proud of being able to wean to 40mg of the cortisol and was not willing to take the 100mg emergency dose until it was almost too late.

I went to the hospital and though the emergency waiting area was full, I was in a private room and bed within about 5 minutes of getting there. I had no idea that my salt cravings a couple days ago were important clues to the medical staff that I was in serious need of care. As soon as I said that it expedited everything.

The important thing is that I learned a lot. I am sure my education will continue as I manage to do what the adrenals used to. Your adrenals are kind of like project managers delegating what has to be done in an emergency situation. When this illness came forth, it became the boss of my organs and bodily functions. I needed to provide an emergency dose of the cortisol. Since I no longer had the adrenaline or stress hormone to tell me to get on it, I am glad to have my internet friends to remind me of what I had to do.

I got an injection of the stress dose and a reminder of what I have to do in the future.

My good endocrinologist really hadn't expressed this to me sufficiently.

It is possible that I wasn't listening.

Celeste had been babysitting and came with my friend Naomi to cheer me up there when she was done.

We giggled a lot in the middle of the night. The hospital put me in a quarantined room, everyone wore masks.

Celeste defaced hers creatively. It was hard to take her seriously if I had to look at her face. The imp!

All is well.

Emergency is over.

I am exhausted. My voice is still very hoarse but I am comfortably at home resting.

Sending you love.

Thank you.

erella