Re: Success Story

Hi Paulette, Wow, 20 years is a long time. A 30% recovery is a step in the right direction. It's great that you know more about AF now and how to possibly reverse it.

Do you walk every day? It sounds like after you rest for a few minutes, you're able to keep walking right? Do you feel hypoglycemic or anxious when you are tired? I try to walk every day... I've heard that very light excersize can increase cortisol, and it helps ease any anxiety and possible panic attacks for me. I always do feel better after walking a bit. I can usually walk without resting, unless I have a hypoglycemic crash. In that case, just resting and sitting won't cut it for me... I have to immediately eat and be away from all sound and noise, safe at my own place, sitting down. For this reason, I don't walk further than a 15 minute walk from where I live, in case I suddenly get hypoglycemic. I haven't gone 15 minutes further from home for the last 2 months. If I want to walk for 45 minutes or so, I just make wider circles around the area where I live, so I can always quickly get back home. I don't drive (I live in a large city where most people take public transportation), and I don't trust myself getting on a train or bus... I've had too many panic attacks on the train, so I'm house bound.

I'm on hydrocortisone also. I'm on about 12 mg. a day, split up so that I take 5mg, 2.5, 25, 2.5. I used to stress dose, but I don't anymore. Not even sure I understand the stress dosing. I used to mistakenly think I needed more HC because I was going into an adrenal crisis several times a day, every day. This had me taking upwards of 35 mg. HC with no relief. Ended up in the hospital for 3 days and the doctors told me perhaps I wasn't having adrenal crisis every day... perhaps I was having panic attacks. Eventually, I learned I was just having hypoglycemia related panic attacks... so now I try to eat more often and I take passion flower or valerian to calm me down.

As far as getting on disability... it sounds nearly impossible. I would need to first be able to physically leave my house and get to the lawyer's office, and that would be a feat in itself. I am starting to get numb hands and arms with the anxiety of even getting on a train and speaking to someone. I literally melt under stress and I think getting paperwork and proof together would stress me out too much. I don't think I could get a case going on anxiety and Depression because even though I saw a psychiatrist, I can't take the ssri he prescribed me b/c I know the symptoms this med causes will further tax my adrenals and make me sicker. Hah, hah, maybe I do have a case here.. I'm too anxious and panicky to get on a train or bus to get to work, too anxious to be around people, but my body will fall apart if I take meds for panic. Hmmm. Anyone? Tweet