Reidster
Contributor
Good evening divers.
My wife and I have been certified divers since 2006. We usually take two dive trips per year.
In March of 2023, my wife (49 years old) was diagnosed with Addison's Disease. Some background information. She is very active - has run several marathons over the years & completed an Ironman in 2010. She is also a fitness instructor with Lifetime Fitness, a company with many clubs across the country.
In mid-March, I had to call EMS & she was transported to the ER via ambulance. Bloodwork revealed very low sodium levels- a very dangerous condition. After 2 nights in the ICU & another 2 nights on a general floor, and several tests later, the cause of the low sodium levels was adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's Disease. She now must take medication to replace the hormones cortisol & aldosterone her adrenal glands are no longer producing. Those two hormones not only control the sodium & potassium in the blood but play an important role in stressful situations.
We are looking to dive again in a couple of months, but she is quite nervous concerning the strenuous activity scuba diving can be. Her doctor has said that she should be able to resume to normal activities, but he is not a diver. She has slowly resumed teaching fitness classes, but scuba diving has many other variables to consider such as the heat, surface conditions, etc. that can quickly create a stressful situation.
Wondering if there are any divers out there who also have Addison's Disease and can offer how they manage the stress of diving. Thank you to anyone who can offer any insight with their experiences.
My wife and I have been certified divers since 2006. We usually take two dive trips per year.
In March of 2023, my wife (49 years old) was diagnosed with Addison's Disease. Some background information. She is very active - has run several marathons over the years & completed an Ironman in 2010. She is also a fitness instructor with Lifetime Fitness, a company with many clubs across the country.
In mid-March, I had to call EMS & she was transported to the ER via ambulance. Bloodwork revealed very low sodium levels- a very dangerous condition. After 2 nights in the ICU & another 2 nights on a general floor, and several tests later, the cause of the low sodium levels was adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's Disease. She now must take medication to replace the hormones cortisol & aldosterone her adrenal glands are no longer producing. Those two hormones not only control the sodium & potassium in the blood but play an important role in stressful situations.
We are looking to dive again in a couple of months, but she is quite nervous concerning the strenuous activity scuba diving can be. Her doctor has said that she should be able to resume to normal activities, but he is not a diver. She has slowly resumed teaching fitness classes, but scuba diving has many other variables to consider such as the heat, surface conditions, etc. that can quickly create a stressful situation.
Wondering if there are any divers out there who also have Addison's Disease and can offer how they manage the stress of diving. Thank you to anyone who can offer any insight with their experiences.
