Steve Hofmeyr’s wife diagnosed with Addison’s disease

Steve Hofmeyr posted on Facebook last week that his wife was admitted to hospital for observation but did not give further details. After being discharged from Cintocare Hospital in Pretoria, she shared her Addison’s disease diagnosis on social media.

JANINE’S SOCIAL MEDIA POST

Steve Hofmeyr’s wife, Janine Hofmeyr, shared her diagnosis on social media, saying: “After many tests, I have been diagnosed with Addison’s disease. It’s a very rare autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your adrenal glands to the point where they don’t function anymore. It’s a long recovery process, and I’m taking it one hour at a time. I’m sharing my diagnosis here because I realise how few people know about it. Have you or anyone you know been diagnosed with it, because support networks are scarce”.

She also thanked the staff members and doctors of Cintocare, saying that the took excellent care of her.

WHAT IS ADDISON’S DISEASE?

Addison’s disease is a rare condition. Only one in every 100 000 people has it. A combination of environmental and genetic factors plays a role in the disease.

The other name for this disease is primary adrenal insufficiency. Causes can include infection, damage, and an autoimmune response that prompts the immune system to attack and destroy the adrenal glands, according to the Department of Health, Australia. In this disease, the adrenal glands don’t make enough of a hormone called cortisol, or less often, a related hormone called aldosterone.

Cortisol’s main functions include helping the body respond to stress, maintaining cardiovascular function, and controlling inflammation. While aldosterone helps your kidneys regulate the amount of salt and potassium in your body, according to WebMD.

People with Addison’s disease can lead normal lives provided they take their medication. However, people with Addison’s disease must be constantly aware of the risk of a sudden worsening of symptoms, called an adrenal crisis. This can happen when the levels of cortisol in your body fall significantly. An adrenal crisis is a medical emergency.

President Kennedy had Addison’s Disease. His diagnosis came to light after his assassination, according to WellRx. His sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, also had this disease.

Two other famous people who suffered from Addison’s Disease are the author Jane Austen and the singer and actress Helen Reddy.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The most common symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are:

• chronic, or long-lasting, fatigue
• muscle weakness
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• abdominal pain.

Other symptoms include nausea, joint pain, and hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, and poor concentration.

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