
Let’s Talk about COVID-19 and Addison’s Disease
To be perfectly frank, I did not want to write this blog post. A few days ago, I made a joke on Facebook that if I was only going to share one thing about the Coronavirus, it was going to be the suggestion that you should “wash your hands like you just got done slicing jalapenos for a batch of nachos and you need to take your contacts out.” That was going to be my only public statement on this situation. And yet, here I am talking about the virus again, on my blog. This will address my personal thoughts on COVID-19 with Addison’s Disease.

Information Overload
Do you ever wish there was a time that you could just turn off the media? You want the hysteria and the chaos to just BE SILENT. The only thing you desire is to return to your routine without the constant bombardment of “breaking news” and “new emergencies.”
I want to do that with COVID-19, especially because I have Addison’s Disease.
Frankly, I am tired of every single organization sending out their stance on the virus. I realize this is ironic as I am about to release a blog post on my stance on the virus, so in a way, I am adding to the never ending conversation. But this is a necessary conversation.
Conflicting Narratives
There are two conflicting and competing narratives currently with respect to COVID-19.
The first tells the story of chaos and panic. It is clearly the end of the world, and therefore we must go out and buy ALL THE TOILET PAPER (because apparently we shall need it when we all s*** ourselves).

The second story talks about how this is nothing to fear. The media has over-hyped it and all of these precautions are completely unnecessary.
Which statement is true? Or perhaps, it is a mix of both?
But one this is for certain: This is not “just a flu” and you should not treat it similarly. We do not want to repeat Italy’s mistakes.
H1N1 Swine Flu of 2009
With respect to pandemics, I only faintly remember the SARS outbreak of 2003. However, I do vividly remember H1N1 Swine Flu of 2009. It corresponded with my study abroad in South Korea. You know how Israel is forcing all entering to self-quarantine for fourteen days? I had to do that when I traveled to South Korea in 2009. The university touted it as an “extended orientation for international students.” In reality, it was a quarantine of foreigners.

Once the magical number of days had passed, we were allowed to move into our actual dorms and interact with the rest of the university population. Except, I was not allowed to move dorms. You see, I had actually gotten sick towards the end of our waiting period. I was running a fever.
Do I have Swine Flu?
Although my fever wasn’t technically high enough to be officially Swine Flu, they did not want to take any chances given my Addison’s Disease. My body does not always respond to illness in a typical or logical fashion. Often the first sign that I am about to get sick is my irrational emotions. Only after a few days do the “typical” symptoms show up.
I was taken off campus to a downtown makeshift hospital room dedicated specifically to testing for H1N1. I remember my translator Christina walking up to the main hospital entrance and reading the large sign that directed us to a separate building for Swine Flu testing. It was an overwhelming experience for someone who was already feeling ill. You can read more about it here.
A Second Quarantine
While the university was waiting to officially rule out Swine Flu for me, I was required to be quarantined in isolation for another few days. Once a day, Korean women in a mask would come in and check on me, while launching Vitamin C packages across the table. I was allowed to leave if I wore a mask, but I was to stay away from all public places.
Once the test came back negative, I was allowed to move into my actual dorm.

COVID-19 Coronavirus of 2020
This latest outbreak is bringing back all sorts of memories from over a decade ago. I am going to be very transparent with you, my dear Clearly Alive Family: I am struggling.
I am “high risk.”
If I were to catch COVID-19 with my Addison’s Disease, it will not be pretty.
What can I do?
I cannot stop the spread of this virus. And apparently I also cannot turn off the information overload. However, I can try to limit my thoughts and try to not dwell on COVID-19 with Addison’s Disease. I shall be informed, but not panicked. Educated, but not hysterical. Wise, but not outlandish.
I will focus on things that I can control, and release those that I cannot. One of the things I can control is the preparation for self-isolation / quarantine. It is coming, and I am ready.
What can YOU do?
First of all, if you fall into the generally “healthy” category otherwise known as not “high-risk,” please try to stop adding to the noise. But please do not write this off as “just a flu.”
Now the one thing you CAN do is help “flatten the curve.” More and more information is coming out that shows how we can SLOW this by practicing “social distancing:” avoid gathering in large groups to PROTECT the vulnerable, like me. This simulator provides a good visualization of the concept.
This isn’t going to “stop” the virus. And it might seem unnecessary to some. But the point of this is to try to preemptively take off the load from the hospital system. I do not want the US to end up like Italy.
We see what the future can look like, and through YOUR actions, oh “healthy” person, you can influence it and change the trajectory.
This has become even more important as we are learning that people with NO symptoms can and are spreading the virus. To quote Dr. Deborah Birx, the administration’s coronavirus response coordinator, “Until you really understand how many people are asymptomatic and asymptomatically passing the virus on, we think it’s better for the entire American public to know that the risk of serious illness may be low, but they could be potentially spreading the virus to others.”
Can you help “flatten the curve” so that if I do end up in the ER due to my Addison’s Disease, they will have a bed for me?
For my fellow “high-risk” people…
While others are stock piling toilet paper, check all of your medicine. The world is clearly spinning into a panic, so I need you to (calmly) make sure that you have access to your critical medicine. For those with any form of Adrenal Insufficiency, this includes an emergency injection.
Also, it is okay to be scared. Honestly, I am. But I refuse to dwell in that fear and anxiety. Instead, I will take purposeful actions in order to put myself in the best situation possible. This includes self-isolating and social distancing.
In conclusion, I shall leave you with a personal challenge from another blogger: “Monitor both your worries and your words. If you catch yourself leaking out more than a tiny percentage of your personal power on things you cannot personally control, repair that leak. Then find a way to channel that awesomeness to somewhere it will make a difference instead.”
May we all remain Clearly Alive.

Darlene
Thanks Amber, I too have Addison’s. I wasn’t aware that meant I am at high risk for this “virus”. I am aware of this now and I believe it’s good to know! This way I’ll be taking better care of myself.
Your blog is inspiring I appreciate you taking the time to write it.
With a hug, Darlene
Amber Nicole
May you remain safe and sane during this strange chapter in the world right now.
~ Amber
Liz
Thank you for taking the time to write this article. I also have Addison’s Disease as well as Diabetes and Hypothyroidism. Im beyond high risk and Im scared. Media doesn’t help with my fear, I try the best I can to protect myself but on top of everything Im also an essential worker. I was reading another article last night and it put me at ease. It said that 71% of people hospitalized with at least one underlying condition, were not sick enough to be in intensive care. This gave me some relief. We will most likely need to be hospitalized but it might not be life or death. There is hope, I feel that is all we have right now. Hope we can survive this virus and carry our experiences on to the world. Stay safe 🙂
Amber Nicole
Hi Liz,
May we all remain Clearly Alive. Also, I highly encourage you to create your “sanctuary.” My sanctuary help keeps my anxiety in check. I explain more about it in this blog post: https://clearlyaliveart.com/2020/03/three-tips-to-help-keep-calm-during-a-pandemic/
~ Amber
Michelle J
Hello y’all! Amber I came across your blog late last night one of those you think you took the morning meds instead of night meds! I would love to share my story with all of you.
In 2009 I had my son at the age of 5 days shy my 41st Bday. My daughter 16 1/2 months later. They all say just get off infertility drugs and it will happen. Well it did just much later in life and marriage #2 to a USAF dad. He retired at 20yrs and we moved to Tacoma WA due to a civi job in 2012. Well it all got crazy then. I dropped weight from about 105 to near 90#. Could not eat anything but plain white rice and soup. Finally after numerous drs (both on base and off base drs), my pulmonologist is the one who tested me and figured out I had Addisons/Adrenal I suffice by. That was months after being so sick and I just felt as if I was gonna die. My son had just turned 4 the day I got a diagnosis finally. My level for one was .4. Yes .4. At zero you are dead. I got started immediately on Hydrocortisone and eventually was taking about 25mg broken up twice in a day. Started to finally feel better and be a stay at home to my very little kids. Things were ok. I am alive, I should have died the weekend of my sons 4th bday but I didn’t. I was managing all the typical symptoms you get from adverse reactions. Hair loss sleep patterns disrupted teen like acne lol, many GI issues weight gain but back to what was normal. Ordered multiple ER bands w instructions should I go down and medics new what to do. Well following summer my HTN was out of control. I went to what I thought was a really good internist who always had coordinations with all my other drs, endocrine, pulmonary, spine and so on. In July she changed my meds for HTN to HCTZ. It started controlling better, but I started getting very sick. Months went by and she thought allergy to meds, but too high dose. What she failed in is giving a diuretic laced HTN meds to an Addisons patient. To make it short, I had both feet and about up to my torso on my way to heaven. Mass diarrhea months hallucinations so very ill. I called my husband and told him some crazy stuff like letting kids drink out of the milk job on top of my bed found empty bottle of grown up Advil empty and thought my daughter took them it was horrific hallucinations. He came home regular time that day and found me laying on floor kids just playing around me I was barely breathing and slipping into unconsciousness. He called 911 and I was taken to hospital for suspected Addisons crisis. By the time I had gotten there it was really bad. Because of the HCTZ given to an Addisons patient, my sodium level plummeted to 117. People start slipping into comas and eventually die from the sodium level critical. It should be 135 and above. I spent near 5 days in CCU. Finally released immediately taken off HCTZ and on Verapamil for HTN. I had hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and severe form of Addisons Crisis. Second time now a year apart. By Gods pure love and not letting me die again so I could raise my little kids I am still here now in 2020 and will be 52 this Oct. I never had an issue with weight gain and I started getting typical moon face and out on about 35 pounds I water weight summer 2018. I did my best try wean myself with endocrinologist instructions and was able get down from 25mg to 7.5mg and lost about 25 pounds water retention from steroids for Addisons. I started feeling terribly sick nausea Gi all kinds of stuff. I started going back up in my meds to 10mg and that is somewhat doable but not perfect with side effects. I still can say regardless of all these things I have overcome. Ex husband who didn’t want to stick around because I got so sick and now a host of new medical problems and small kids he decided untruthful had a girlfriend for about 6 months back in 2015-2016 till I found out by mistake cleaning his iPad from coffee stains. So yes, it’s been a wild rollercoaster from multiple near deaths raising two small which are now big kids by myself. Sometimes you can say third sucks having Addisons but you know what, you are lucky to still be here. You are a very rare person to have this disease. Consider your self a brilliant diamond and ruby and emeralds in a crowd of semi precious stones. Yes you need a new wardrobe, yes you will get many other problems thin bones (I tripped over a rock last year and fell severely fractured left wrist and had major reconstruction on it). You may have really restricted diets like I do because the steroid keep you going gives you a multitude of other problems. But you can do it. Believe in yourself. Take your meds and then even if you become puffy and fluffy. I think about my story and never really thought I would see my kids grow as old as they are now 10 and 9. Also most people can’t see the inside of you medically what’s wrong. Many look at you like nothings wrong with you! But stay true to yourself. Be good and kind to yourself. If you can sleep in a day or two during the week due it because you are all out of gas and running on fumes because the med you take to keep you alive has tapped out till mid morning when you refill it day after day. Just remember you can do this! Thank you for reading these few chapters of my story. Hugs and be well y’all. Keep wearing the masks hand sanitizer and washing those hands during Corona 2020! MJ