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I continued
feeling ill for several months, and believed that surgery
would never be an option for me in the future due to that
near-death experience.
Instead of
using some of my hip bone for the spinal repair I was given
cow bone. I think this was when they realised that I had
osteoporosis. Then the bone scans were started and I still
have them on a regular basis. For a while I had HRT patches,
but I stopped them and now take Fosamax to build up my bone
strength. I take 10mg hydrocortisone in the morning plus
150 mcg fludrocortisone , 5mg at noon, and 5mg at tea time.
I have been well on this dosage for quite some time.
By the time I
went in for the spinal surgery, my mum had terminal cancer
and only weeks to live. Mum and dad lived over 100 miles
away and prior to this surgery I was no longer able to drive
a car. Pat took me down to see them; my mum loved him
immediately. Three months later, in January 1994, mum died.
She was aged 65. Pat was there for me all through.
In 1995 I
went with my dad to Italy, and from there we were going on a
cruise which would end with a passage through the Corinth
Canal. Dad had been a Royal Navy signalman, and had been
past both ends if the canal, but never through it. This,
however, was not to be. Four days into the holiday at the
side of Lake Como, dad collapsed with a brain haemorrhage
and smashed his head and neck on the stone curb. I spent
four days sleeping next to his bed in intensive care, and
then he was stabilised. A few days later we returned home.
Dad’s
recovery just didn't happen, and I soon began to realise
that he had dementia. In 1996 he had deteriorated so much he
had to go into a specialist home for his own safety. Pat and
I visited him regularly, and in the early days dad came to
stay with us.
But
eventually in March 2000 my dad died. By this time I
realised that I couldn't imagine life without Pat, and we
decided to get married. We went to the registry office to
see what was needed, and what dates were available. The very
first date that was offered was 15th June 2000. This was my
mum and dad’s wedding anniversary, so we got married on that
date.
Then in 2001
I had my gall bladder removed under keyhole surgery, without
any major problems. There was a large stone that filled the
gall bladder with another stone in the bile duct, which they
had to leave there. The steroid cover for the surgery this
time was much better than it had been for the spinal
surgery. But back on the ward it was difficult to get the
staff to understand that I needed to have my steroid tablets
at the right time each day.
Eventually,
after a couple of really late ward rounds, they gave me all
my medication back so that I could take it at the correct
time. I got home feeling really well, which made a nice
change.
My latest
adventure has been to break a leg, which I have written
about separately (Falling
off a ladder). This needed surgery to plate the leg
break and pin my ankle. In the past doctors and consultants
have generally been regarded as God by the patient. Like
many other people I know, I would never have dreamed of
telling a doctor what to do. But after the near-death
experience of my neurosurgery, I was determined not to go
through that again. I also had the benefit of the
information on the ADSHG website.
When the
anaesthetist came to see me, I insisted that he, like the
rest of the staff, read both the sick rules from the
Owner’s Manual and the
ADSHG emergency letter. He had heard of Addison’s but
not the finer points. I also requested that he speak to my
endocrinologist. This time the experience was so very
different. I was given 100mg hydrocortisone intravenously
every six hours and IV fluids continually until two days
after surgery. The steroid reduction was completed before I
was sent home, and I haven't looked back. I saw my
endocrinologist six weeks after I had the surgery and she
was delighted with how well I looked.
I have filled
my time with a variety of different things throughout
retirement, as my body allowed. Voluntary driving, work in a
charity shop. My favourite one was a music group to help
stimulate pre-school children who had some kind of special
needs. It was a very bittersweet and humbling experience.
Once again,
things happened. Patrick was diagnosed with prostate cancer
last year. A couple of spells in hospital, then radiotherapy
in January this year. After the first check-ups were clear,
he has now been given another appointment in 6 months.
So now things
have settled down again. I read, use the computer a lot, and
am learning Spanish. Friends and family regularly visit, so
the house is rarely empty. As yet I haven't been blessed
with grandchildren - but it's still not too late.
I am
currently receiving treatment for osteoporosis,
osteoarthritis, polymyalgia, and a broken leg. I also have
a left sided body weakness from the spinal surgery, which
means that I have to use crutches. But I still do as much
as possible, and am travelling to Chile in January with a
friend for three weeks. I have travelled to Asia, Africa, a
lot of places in Europe, and Iceland.
To all those
who have just recently been diagnosed, whatever your ages,
there is plenty of life to be lived after an Addison’s
diagnosis.
Jackie
(Surname
withheld in accordance with the ADSHG publishing code of
conduct)
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