rob f

December 19th, 2014 at 6:31 PM ^

Great news!!  Can't wait for your full return, Ace, hoping it's soon enough so that you're back to full strength and get in on the "Hello" posts that are sure to be written soon!

BlueCube

December 18th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^

I was wondering too. I assumed he was feeling somewhat better when he posted today. I hope Ace keeps us posted. Surely a message there to not give up. Everyone expects instant answers now but here is a proof that it sometimes takes too much time but at least solutions can be found.

True Blue in CO

December 18th, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^

Some serious reporting to come in the next few weeks with at least a coaching decision.  Recruiting and BBall need him as well. Hoping for a PodCast but only if both Brian and Ace are healthy.  Brian has sounded sick and exhausted on some of his guest spots on other podcasts.

hazardc

December 19th, 2014 at 1:10 AM ^

Shit's scary man, went through open heart at 18 and a few other crazy surgeries since. Even when something minor happens, i get really stressed out even over the decision to go to the hospital when I know i should.

 

Nice to see it's something easily treatable and you'll be feeling better quickly, sir! 

 

Really glad to not be reading some horrible prognosis after clicking on this!!!!!

CodeBlue82

December 19th, 2014 at 7:25 AM ^

Ace stated it was primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's Disease) and probably autoimmune. He would be seeing a rheumatologist. 

Hydrocortisone, which is used therapeutically to replace cortisol, may also suppress immune reactions, but I am unaware of any report that it has caused autoimmunity. Hydrocortisone and related steroid hormones cause secondary adrenal insufficiency by negative feedback on the pituitary gland. Cells in the anterior pituitary produce the hormone ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal. 

Ace

December 19th, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^

...in the Arizona preview last week. People are still misinterpreting some of that, so I'll try to clarify.

I want to make it abundantly clear that I don't have a diagnosis; Seth read my Twitter post, got that wrong, and didn't talk to me before posting that. I tested positive for adrenal insufficiency and have begun treatment on hydrocortisone, and my initial response has been positive, but I still don't know whether it's primary or secondary—my endocrinologist actually suggested in my follow-up appointment Wednesday morning that it's likely secondary. I'm still awaiting test results on that, as well as biopsy results from my colonoscopy/endoscopy, and there's still almost certainly a need to see a rheumatologist to figure out what's driving the gland issues.

I'm back right now in a limited capacity. My weight has improved, though over the last couple days it's fluctuated a bit; I'm hanging down around 120 pounds today. There's been significant progress and I'm generally feeling better, but I'm still not planning to cover games in person this month—those are a huge stress on me physically and I can't afford to take many steps back right now.

Overall, things are moving very much in the right direction, but there's still a long way to go. The good news is I've worked through these issues while being un- or mis-diagnosed for nearly four years; I know how to push through while being physically limited, which I'll most likely have to do since the timetable for returning to normalcy after a decade of untreated adrenal insufficiency can—and likely will—span months. My hope is to be feeling normal by the summer barring a diagnosis that would change that outlook.

azian6er

December 19th, 2014 at 11:13 AM ^

Ace, I tweeted at you a while back explaining that I may have AI as well.

Have you experienced headaches at the back of your head at all? Does your condition seem to get worse when eating certain food items?

I have been struggling to get a diagnosis as well - and I am coming to realize that my AI is likely secondary as well - but it is a result of too much fluid in the brain (external communicating hydrocephaly) which compresses the pituitary which in turn affects adrenal hormones.

Just for shits and giggles, take a look MCAD/MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) online and see if some of those symptoms match up. I have found that using antihistamines has literally saved my life.

Hope you get better!

Ace

December 19th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^

...and the only way I got a proper diagnosis was by seeing several of them. I'd strongly recommend against trying to diagnose yourself online. With my symptoms, I was told via WebMD or various forums (including this one) that I could have anything from Crohn's to lupus to histamine intolerance to... you name it, really. I don't think one person got it right.

If you're having those issues, give your primary care physician as much information as you can possibly assemble about your symptoms and push him/her to get you to as many specialists as seem appropriate. That's the best advice I can give; it's how I approached the issue this time around and it seems to be working.

azian6er

December 19th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^

With adrenal insufficiency there is a total lack of stress hormone cortisol, thus your body is running on adrenaline 24/7 as opposed to cortisol - which makes even the slightest inconveniences seem like Fight or Flight. Shitty, shitty disease.

Needless to say, as others have mentioned, the coaching search is stressful enough for a normal person let alone a person who lacks the physiological ability to manage that stress.

I am dealing with AI as well as it relates to Mast cell activation syndrome - and it sucks a big fat ..... .... Donkey dong.