Richard:

I have an 18 year old daughter, Rachel,  with SW-CAH, and we, like many others, almost lost her at 4 days old due to adrenal shock.   However, once her diagnoses was made, and medications were administered, her recovery was fast.  

I would have to say that the most important thing we have learned is to administer the medications as consistant as possible.   Same time every day.  Our endocrinologist taught us early on to increase Rachel’s meds if she showed any signs of becoming ill (i.e, nausea, diarreah, fever).   We found if we did increase her meds before the vomiting started, most of the time she would start feeling better before she felt worse.   Of course you need to discuss this with your endocrinologist, becuase if you increase the meds for any length of time, you must taper your child off slowly until you get back to the normal dosage.   

If by chance, the vomiting started without notice, and meds had not yet been increased, I would immediately give Rachel an emergency injection rather than hope the next dosage of oral medication would stay down.   Once Rachel learned how fast the injections made her feel better compared to waiting for the oral medication to kick in, she would some times ask for an injection instead of increasing her oral meds.  Rachel has never had to be admitted to the hospital for any length of time, however, she has made a few trips to the emergency room for IV meds and released the same day.     Fortunately, she has never had a seizure.

Rachel was involved in many different sports from the age of 5 through high school.  She played basketball, softball, soccer, and powderpuff football  (girls-flag football).  And through all that, only 1 broken foot.    She is a fun, loving, young lady, with a great sense of humor (at least when the hormones are level), and pretty much does everything everyone else does.     

Of course we never want our children to suffer from anything, but the more you learn the more relaxed you will become.    It’s the not knowing that is scary.  I find sharing experiences  can sometimes be more beneficial than some of the literature I have read. 

My email address is soup61@aol.com if you or your wife would like to talk or have any additional questions. 

Thank you for serving Our Country!!   We are very proud of all the Troops, and really really do appreciate the sacrifices made by all!!!!   Our prayers are with you!  God Bless!

Cherri