Lethargic to me feels like I’m a clock that is winding down or someone has put weights on my arms, legs and can’t move them even if I wanted to. I get white as chalk with a grayish pallor. Also, I’ll sweat and my skin will feel clammy.

A big danger is lying down when you are sick, falling asleep only to awake choking on your own vomit because you don’t have the strength to turn your face to the side. This happened to me and it was shear will (or GOD)  that helped me to turn my head just a bit to the side to clear the vomit that had backed up in my throat. It is all very surreal and that’s how I know it’s an adrenal crisis vs. being just a little sick.

Hearing some words don’t register at first and others not at all. I’ll recognize my name but say something like EKG and it doesn’t connect. Seeing just seems to fade in and out. Also, I can’t find the strength to put together words to help me. It takes all the will you have to blurt out anything. I would describe it as crawling inside your own body as it slowly shuts down. 

None of this is a common occurrence and it takes a series of physical stressful events. I’ve had some of the above things happen and at other times all of the above things. You never really know but I’ll usually notice that one of the first things is an all over feeling of being dizzy.

I am sometimes hesitant to write because I don’t want to freak anyone out. I’ve never been scared by any of this but what is scary is going to an ER and they are ambivalent toward you. ADRENAL INSUFFICENCY magical words to me because then I feel safe that I’m going to get help.

Aimee