 |  | | Susan Thomas — Calgary, AB |
| | | I was diagnosed at the very last minute in 1973 and have lived for 35 years now a relatively normal life. But what is normal anymore?
People who know that I have Addison's forget and sometimes I forget too. I rarely tell friends and new acquaintances but when I do, they almost fall over when they realize how active I am in life and that I am healthier than the average person.
It wasn't easy at the beginning and after being ill with this insidious disease for two years, the deterioration of my body wasn't an indication of my condition until I was bedridden for 2 months. On a Friday evening I was diagnosed in Calgary Foothills hospital by a doctor working overtime. If he hadn't been there, I would have had a heart attack on the weekend and not survived. After a day of medication, there was no tying me down and I haven't looked back since.
It took 10 years for me to adjust to medication doses and the severe trauma of the disease brought on extreme migrane headaches and hairloss. So what? My specialist at the time worked from the Children's Hospital in Calgary and I saw first hand the suffering and how debilitating cancer was for young patients but they always had a smile on their hopeful little faces.
I used to have relapses every few years and had to be hospitalized but the last one was 25 years ago. During that time, I had the opportunity to meet the doctor that attended the Kennedy family who also has a history of this condition.
At the time of diagnosis, I was informed what a rare condition that I had. I was told that I would probably die having children but I could live a normal life span otherwise. I didn't have children and in my experience since have been attended to by several specialists (I have outlived one) that have apologized for the now different outlook on this disease.
In my first stages of diagnosis, I was photographed and entered into the medical journals and was invited to speak at the University of Calgary to medical students.
I had a sister two years younger than myself who mysteriously passed away at age 6 and after I was diagnosed was determined to probably have adrenal insufficiency as well. I have an older brother who seems to suffer from too much adrenaline and even had to be sent to the Mayo clinic for diagnosis several years ago. I have a younger brother and sister who show no symptoms of this condition.
I have lived with the outlook that whatever happens, happens and have not once wondered why this has happened to me. In the end, it makes me a stronger person.
I would love to chat longer, but adventure awaits.
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