 |  | | Barbara Hunn — Contact Nanaimo BC Support Group |
| | | Just wanted to stress how important it is for all Addisonians to always have a note or letter from their doctor with them at all times, in case of emergency. The note should indicate we have Addison's Disease, how serious it can be, and the type of treatment which should be administered.
In early March, I was admitted to Nanaimo Hospital for relatively minor surgery. With me, I had a letter from a physician from the Victoria, B.C., Hospital, explaining the symptoms and treatment of Addison's. I took extra Cortisone Acetate before, during my stay, and following release. Apparently, the dosage was not high enough for me at the time. I was still stressed from Christmas (horrid flight to Southern U.S., husband ill there with Norwalk Virus, etc, etc.) I ended up going into crisis, and a dandy one it was. An ambulance was called. Luckily, in ER, I was seen quickly by the on-staff physician who called an internist. IV was started immediately, but I went into shock, was rushed to ICU where my husband was told I was losing all my vital signs. Heart problems followed, pneumonia and another infection. Finally, two weeks later, I was released after mega-doses of antibiotics and Solucortef IVs.
A couple of days later, I felt weak, nauseous and dizzy. My husband again called an ambulance, fearing I would go into crisis on the short drive to the hospital. This time, I did not have a copy of the Doctor's letter. The triage nurse, when told her I had Addison's, asked, "What's that?". I waited over 4 hours without treatment, before being seen by a hospital physician. The IV was finally started and I began to feel a bit better.
Moral of the story: I really believe the doctor's letter was vital. It was distributed to us through the Chairperson for Vancouver Island (Victoria) Support Group. (A copy of this letter is attached to this Newsletter as Sample Letter Provided by a BC Specialist to the Vancouver Island Addison’s Disease Support Group.)
| | | Return to List of Personal Experiences... |
| |  |
|
|
|
