Hi Mary,  Sorry for the delay but my computer has been acting up lately with Spy Ware.

We had my son’s DNA done and they can tell you what type he has.   Certain types are more severe than others.

In addition, and the best way of all in my oppinion,  is through experience .   When my sone would get sick he would go down in 20 minutes or less.   He doesn’t get sick all that much now because we decided to bite the bullet and expose him to the germs of the out side world.  This strengthened his immune system and he is the one who is sick the least in this family.  I have an auto immune disease and am trying all sorts of thyroid support meds and vitamins to help keep up with him.

It’s funny you ask that question Mary.  When we first came to this board I really began to think that we were doing something wrong.   My son seemed to have more serious sweating problems which would send him into an adrenal crisis and I would read about others whose children play football or sports all day in the sun.  My son went out in a boat for a casual fun day and we never saw him sweating because the breeze would dry it off.  When we were the furthest out that we were going, he went into a crisis and I spent the entire ride back listening to his heart and taking his pulse. 

I realized at that time that each child is different (as evidenced by the pure fact the there doesn’t seem to be any one child who is the same age, same weight, same activity level and is on the same exact dosage) and that only by experience could it be shown what may or may not send him or her into a crisis.  I used to feel so sad when I would read that some children were playing football and soccer and all the greate sports that I love to watch and that all his friends are in.  We tried putting him in football and he crashed on the first day due to loss of fluids even though we gave him plenty.

We now have him in Karate, Boy Scouts, religion and basketball.  I think that’s enough for now.  I guess it will be my daughter who is the outdoor enthusiast.  I am her coach in softball and girl scouts.  She is in basket ball as well.

So, the simple answer is his DNA showed that the type of CAH he was is very severe and he is an extreme salt waster.  The second  point is 9 years of experience that showed us the limits of what he can and can’t do.  Also, when he was born, the Drs. at Yale told us that this was a very difficult case to control and we would have our hands full as we go through life.

We have since found his threshold and as long as we don’t push it, he can have a very normal life.  It’s just a matter of knowing what your child can and can’t do.