Jill experienced a PROUD Mommy moment and another confirmation about the 'reason' she was diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency.

Since diagnosis in March of 2011, Jill has worked HARD at having a CARING, COMPASSIONATE medical team that understands the seriousness of ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY and recognizes that Jill's quality of life directly reflects how well the illness is being managed.

A daughter who is being 'watched' for ADDISON'S DISEASE is off to post-secondary education away from home. She is dealing with being 'sick' away from home and made her MOMMA proud. The first diagnosis was STREP THROAT but through her persistence, she was diagnosed with MONO. It was blood work, follow-ups, and dealing with a medical community when she mentioned "I am being followed for ADDISON'S DISEASE" which clearly communicated their lack of knowledge and concern.

Her MOMMA has set high standards for her care and she did an amazing job managing her health away from home.

Jill sees the quality it has already added to her daughter's life and IF she is diagnosed with ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY Jill knows she will be a ROCK STAR JUST LIKE HER MOMMA.

Michellel's journey with ADDISON'S DISEASE started 4 years before she was diagnosed. She led a healthy active lifestyle. Her first symptom was aching joints and a rapid 10 lb weight loss on an already lean body. As time progressed she was overcome with fatigue and being nauseous.

When Michelle lost her beloved CAT it led her down a 'cat'-astrophic path. After days of grieving her loss, Michelle NOW did not have the strength to get out of bed. The emotional stress of the loss who took much for her adrenal glands to manage. Her body was giving up.

A previous health diagnosis led to an alert doctor to test her cortisol and recommend an endocrinologist. She was quickly diagnosed with PRIMARY ADDISON'S DISEASE.

Along the journey, she has been blessed with a family and medical team who take the seriousness of her illness seriously and hold her quality of life as a high priority.

Michelle is now LIVING a full life with Addison's Disease.

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA. https://www.youtube.com/chronicallyfitcanada

If you would like to share your journey on THE PICKLE JAR please go to www.chronicallyfitcanada.com for more information.

DISCLAIMER: The information from THE PICKLE JAR represents the experiences of the host Jill Battle and the individual experiences of each guest.  No information is intended to provide or replace the medical advice of a medical professional.  The host or guests are not liable for any negative consequences from any treatment, action, application or preparation, to any person following the information from the podcast.

Jill is stepping out of her comfort zone in this episode sharing with you personal details of clearing out her backup system. The delicate process of managing a happy pooper and preventing throwing off her electrolyte balance. Her chronic dehydration with her adrenal insufficiency has always given her a 'sluggish' system...complicate that with back injuries, overfeasting at Christmas and side effects of narcotics for pain management...her systems were failing here. But she discovered a new remedy to gently restore a happy pooper.

She also shares insight into the watchful eye they have been keeping on her daughter who is now 19 years old for Addison's Disease. For the last 10 years, her daughter has shown signs of struggling adrenal glands which may be leading her to ADDISON'S DISEASE.

Quality of life with ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY is beyond the medication. Controlling the STRESSORS in your life and supporting your body is a POWERFUL resource we have in writing our stories with ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY.

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA. https://www.youtube.com/chronicallyfitcanada

If you would like to share your journey on THE PICKLE JAR please go to www.chronicallyfitcanada.com for more information.

DISCLAIMER: The information from THE PICKLE JAR represents the experiences of the host Jill Battle and the individual experiences of each guest.  No information is intended to provide or replace the medical advice of a medical professional.  The host or guests are not liable for any negative consequences from any treatment, action, application or preparation, to any person following the information from the podcast.

Michelle's recent diagnosis with SECONDARY ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY (December 2023) as a result of breast cancer treatment led her into a new chapter in her life. This chapter is in a book of years of autoimmune challenges, which Michelle recognizes as a learning process in life.

Her strong, confident and contagious attitude will inspire you to create your POWER TO DO LIST to get back at life. When something is not working for her, Michelle finds a way day by day to overcome it. She has no plans of 'leaving this body' anytime soon and has found a way to appreciate and live life in the moment.

Connecting with Michelle will bring MAGIC into your world and remind you of the POWER you have.

Follow Michelle and learn more about her amazing story on her YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@ARefinedMe

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA. https://www.youtube.com/chronicallyfitcanada

If you would like to share your journey on THE PICKLE JAR please go to www.chronicallyfitcanada.com for more information.

DISCLAIMER: The information from THE PICKLE JAR represents the experiences of the host Jill Battle and the individual experiences of each guest.  No information is intended to provide or replace the medical advice of a medical professional.  The host or guests are not liable for any negative consequences from any treatment, action, application or preparation, to any person following the information from the podcast.

Adrenal crisis is a SERIOUS MEDICAL EMERGENCY and a reality for everyone living with ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY.

Hey there friends...it was a recent episode where I shared with you some HARD things in life and living with CHRONIC ILLNESS is HARD.

I have learned to adapt over the years and am ALWAYS trying to find ways to make my HARD less HARD.

Trying to maneuver my way through the murky unknown waters of illness and the challenges I face daily.

EVERYTHING I do has a direct impact on my cortisol levels and the functioning of my body.

There is no avoiding LOW cortisol when you are trying to live a 'normal' life with adrenal insufficiency but I try HARD to make my HARD less HARD.

It takes time.

It takes patience.

It takes unconditional love.

I am going to share with you some TOP HOLIDAY GIFTS to give someone living with a chronic illness to help make their HARD less HARD!

PLUS I will share with you the GREATEST gift you can give them, that won't cost you a thing!

My "normal" is HARD... every day.

My HARD days are crippling.

My HARDEST days are paralyzing.

Together we can make the HARD less HARD!

You check out these gifts and more by clicking the link below:

https://www.chronicallyfitcanada.com/pages/online_store/productguide

WATCH ON YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/chronicallyfitcanada

https://www.chronicallyfitcanada.com/

WOW...this is exciting....one of my clients shared with me some exciting details about a book by JAMES PATTERSON "ESCAPE". You must listen to find out WHY I am so excited. SPOILER ALERT but I give you a chance to stop listening before I share ALL the details.

This is exciting news for EVERY living with ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY!

WATCH ON YOUTUBE and subscribe "CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA"

Let's chat about the HARD things in life.

Living with a chronic illness is HARD especially one that is RARE, MISUNDERSTOOD and not properly treated.

My first husband died tragically on June 16, 2000.

He was 26. I was 24. Married 9 months 5 days. 8 weeks pregnant.

Our families found out I was pregnant when he died.

It was Father's Day weekend in 2000.

HARD....is having your doorbell ring and being told your husband is dead.

HARD... is giving birth alone and scared.

HARD...is the intense soul-ripping pain of grief.

The other night I had a funeral visitation for a sweet 95-year-old beam of light.

She was like a grandmother to my first husband.

Visitation was at the funeral home where my first husband’s funeral was.

I could see him. Feel him. Remember him. The crowd. The sounds. The chaos. My flower skirt and blue top. THE DANCE is playing by Garth Brooks. The colour of the sky. His cowboy hat is on the casket. The last goodbye. Watching his friends carry is casket. The ride to the cemetery. The pain of walking away and leaving him there.

OUR son was with me. He looks like his dad. People shared memories of his Dad with him. It broke me in pieces knowing they never met. I shared with him moments I remember from the funeral.

I fought and survived. I know that I can overcome any obstacle in front of me.

Losing him was hard. Returning to the funeral home was hard.

But it reminded me of my blessings.

What you do is your choice.

I had no choice 23 years ago in death.

And then I had a choice 23 years ago in death.

I had no choice 13 years ago in illness.

And then I had a choice 13 years ago in illness.

I continue to fight. Anything you want in life is worth fighting for.

In his death, he taught me how to fight.

I continue to fight.

DEATH is hard. CHRONIC ILLNESS is hard.

Taking care of YOU.....makes the HARD less HARD.

Growing old is a blessing. Second chances are a blessing.

I chose to fight.

I chose to fight.

In his death, he gave me life.

YOU ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

But you have a choice!

I KNOW HARD but I am a fighter and so are you!