Home therapy is very crucial when you have Addison's disease. Take your medications every day as recommended by your doctor. Medications need be consumed at the same time daily when your system would normally need the hormones (generally a lot more in the morning and lesser in the night).
Tell your physician about how you are doing. For instance, if your skin is puffy or if you are gaining large amounts of weight or bruising more extensively or more easily than normal, the dosage of your medications could be too large. In the event you are still fatigued, have no appetite, or are feeling unwell, the dosage of your medications may be a little too low.
Things to Do for Addison’s Disease Patients
Do not restrict salt in the diet. Your system needs to have a specific level of salt. With Addison's disease, your system may lose intolerable amounts of salt. You might have to use extra salt in your meals during humid and warm temperatures or if you are exercising and sweating.
Look for clinical assistance in an emergency. If you have suspicion of severe adrenal crisis, take your emergency medications (like dexamethasone) as directed and try to get medical assistance immediately. An adrenal problem is initiated by a stressful incident, like a severe infection, traumatic event, surgery, or dehydration problems.
Your system is not capable of making enough cortisol for the stressful situation, so if your problems are not addressed properly, you could die from shock brought about by a severe drop in blood pressure. Keep an injection of emergency drug ready in your home, workplace, school, or car.
Find out when and where to use the medications. Have instructions written out, and educate someone else on how to use you the drug in case you cannot administer it yourself.
Dispose of unused syringes of emergency medications each year or if the liquid starts to look cloudy or discolored.
Keep a clinical identification card or wristband (like a medical alert bracelet) which lets people know you are an Addison's Disease patient. The information in these bands assists medical personnel in deciding if they should administer a cortisol injection when you are unconscious, severely hurt, or unable to respond to questions due to severe circumstances.
Vital Signs and Addison’s Disease
Watch your weight regularly, especially when your appetite has been low or if you have been vomiting excessively. Weigh yourself at a similar time of day everyday, wearing a similar amount of attire. Ask your physician if he or she wants to be notified about unexpected amounts of weight loss or frequent vomiting.
Watch your blood pressure. Hypertension (high blood pressure) and swelling may mean that your medications need to be modified. In addition, if you see that you get lightheaded as you to begin to wake up in the morning, your blood pressure could be abnormally low. Sit on the edge of your mattress for a minute before standing. Let your physician know if this issue becomes problematic.
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References:
Dambro MR (2006). "Addison disease." In Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult, p. 14. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Drincic A, and Anderson RJ. (2007). "Adrenal insufficiency." In: R.E. Rakel, and E.T. Bope. “Conn's Current Therapy.” 737–740. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
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