Blog
- Why am I safe with Addison in my country?
In Sweden, everyone pays approx. 33% in tax and the money goes to, among other things, schools, healthcare, infrastructure, care for the elderly and more. This means that the cost is very low when I, as a sick person, seek medical care. An emergency visit costs SEK 400 in Sweden today, and it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a small matter or an emergency with an ambulance. Of course, this creates a security that means I never have to worry about the cost in any case.
Unfortunately, of course, ignorance about Addison’s disease is also great here. Therefore, our association and all other associations in the world are working to make the diagnosis better known. Knowledge must increase so that those with the diagnosis can get the right help and support when they need it. Within emergency care, things MUST get better because those with Addison’s crisis are in a life-threatening condition.
How do you experience healthcare in your country?
/Martin Norrman
- Why can I love life?
In addition to Addison’s disease, I have diabetes, Graves and Asthma. Even so, I can’t stop being grateful to be alive. I think it’s because of the four long days of coma I was in 2003. An undetected Addison’s that was about to cost me my life.
When I lecture, I tell you that I have chronic diagnoses and that you can live your whole life with them. I both get and can live! Everything is relative and I tell you that many others do not have that privilege. My cousin was told he had cancer one Christmas and passed away a year later. Think then children with this or other fatal diagnoses. Therefore, I myself am grateful because human life is relatively short anyway.
Despite the fact that we have to struggle daily with various symptoms, some feel so well in their Addison’s and are not so affected, while others cannot cope with anything.
Something that obviously affects the situation and well-being is how the knowledge is from the care and what help and support you get. It is fundamental to learning and feeling safe. The cost of cortisone also affects. Some cortisone is extremely expensive and others cheaper and usually the more expensive the better. If it is better, the patient gets a higher quality of life and visits care less often. I would argue that the most expensive cortisone will be cheaper in the long run because contact with care is reduced for many with Addison’s.
/Martin Norrman
- Extreme fatigue
Everyone with Addison’s disease sometimes gets too little cortisol in their body. For some reason, the body has become stressed and needed more cortisone. If you have not been prepared or aware of the stress, you can become sickly tired because our cortisol has been used up. This fatigue is so extreme and exhausting that you basically become paralyzed. The energy to do something is not there and can only be lifted by adding extra cortisone.
Being in the situation makes you feel powerless, paralyzed for action and is quite similar to low blood sugar in a diabetic when it comes to stamina.
Feel free to write and tell us about how you experience this exhaustion!
- Exercise and Addison’s disease
First of all, all people are different with different conditions and moods. Having said that, there are also many who feel good about their diagnosis and exercise.
Exercise is a matter of definition and it is up to each person. For myself, that means road cycling and for me it is as important as cortisone and insulin. It’s because I train so much that I know how I should feel when I train. Do I have enough energy, muscle pain, tired?
If I have any of the symptoms, I know for myself that I have too little cortisone. Rest and food are also essential, of course. This week I have cycled 200 km and it is not an extreme distance. If I can get healthy, I assume that I should be able to too. The only thing we don’t have is cortisol and so I adjust it so I have the same energy as a healthy person. I want to show that I can be this active in my training despite the diagnoses.
The main thing is that you still move. If you are swollen, aching or tired, it depends on something. Isn’t it too little cortisol, maybe it’s due to too little rest, the diet, the psyche or the physical? A walk is enough…
At the same time, I want to tell you that our Team is followers who like us, sick or healthy or whoever. We are a team that together makes Addison’s disease better known!
/Martin
- New clothing
It’s amazing how much demand we have for our team wear. Those who order want to help us make Addison’s disease better known and the interest is great and global!
Right now “we” are designing new t-shirts and shorts for both men and women. It will be similar colors but still new. Demand is high so we suspect the clothes will sell out quickly once they are ready.
We are in contact with the company that will make the clothes and everything is correct. We have also received sponsors that enable us to buy in and subsidize the prices a little, the important thing is that the clothes are visible to attract attention.
In the meantime, we also keep our Facebook page and Instagram up and running.
Incidentally, a few more countries are in the process of starting up Team Addison.
We also have our own web designer who takes care of both the website and everything related to orders and the technical aspects. Malin is perfect for the assignment and will develop the Team’s website with many new ideas and changes!
/Martin Norrman
Founder
