Julie's Story

By:  Julie  Thursday 26th November, 2002 (revised Sunday, 13. May 2003)

It is now twelve years since my first endocrine condition – hypothyroidism – was identified, and five years since my diagnosis with Addison’s disease.  Over those five years, I have experienced other health complications and at times have had to struggle to deal with the events life has thrown at me.

Despite the problems I have encountered, many aspects of my life provide real enjoyment.  Primarily, my daughters are a source of joy to me and they, together with my husband, are my best friends.  All of my family have provided enormous support and I am fortunate in having caring parents and a sister close by, who all help me when I am in need. 

I have gained tremendous satisfaction from obtaining an upper second degree with honours through the Open University in 2000, after six years’ study.  I am now working on a MA through the University of East London.  Since obtaining my degree, I have also been providing tutoring children in English, which I find extremely rewarding, especially as I feel that I am doing something helpful. 

The health complications I have experienced include a hysterectomy two years after my Addison’s diagnosis, at the age of 41 as a result of autoimmune ovarian atrophy and painful, enlarged fibroids.  Obviously, this resulted in a premature menopause, which placed me at risk of osteoporosis.  Taking steroids increases the risk of osteoporosis, so I have to take HRT.  My own consequent lack of hormone production, particularly of male androgens, have also had an impact on my personal life and leaves me with particularly fragile and tender skin. 

In the same year I also underwent surgery – a bilateral arthroscopy – on my knees.  The findings from this were that both knees joints are severely worn. I was told that they were what could be expected in an elderly person.  It was also suggested that steroid use could be partly responsible, although after only two years of steroid treatment this is debatable.  Therefore, in the longer term, knee replacements are the only option for me; apparently I am still too young for this.

At the time of the arthroscopy, I presented a letter from my endocrinologist, an eminent professor at one of the London teaching hospitals, detailing my hydrocortisone requirements.  This was to be intramuscular injections of hydrocortisone, every four hours, for 48 hours.  I made sure that the anaesthetist understood these instructions. 

However, the anaesthetist chose to ignore my endocrinologist’s instructions.  He gave me oral hydrocortisone, for only 24 hours, despite the fact that I experienced constant sickness. Frustratingly, the anaesthetist ignored my protests, even though intramuscular administration results in faster absorption, with less danger of reduction through vomiting. I recovered, but my recovery may have been quicker had the anaesthetist followed the endocrinologist’s advice.  Later, on hearing about this dismissal of his advice, my endocrinologist was so angry that he wrote to complain to the consultant in charge.

For some time after these experiences I was anxious and depressed.  I lost two stone in weight and felt constantly tired and in pain.  I received counselling, which, eventually, helped me enormously.

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