Avoid Dehydration! It sneaks up on you.

[tonekat]

I have Addison's Disease and Hypothyroidism. So I thought I was low on cortisone when I was driving home from a hotel in my hometown in NYS the day after xmas.

I was only about 20 minutes into the trip when my hands became numb. My arms followed. I pulled over and took a few low-dose dexamethasone tablets.

Later, on a parkway, my numbness expanded to my chest. Then my face. I knew I wouldn't be able to drive much longer, so I found someplace with a parking lot, and called 911. An ambulance responded, I sat in the vehicle why they took my BP and oxygen levels, we discussed my conditions.

I had gotten up that morning in a hot hotel room, and taken enough water to swallow my meds, and had a breakfast sandwich with coffee.

I declined a trip to a local hospital, wanting to get home to my cats who were alone for 24 hours. They suggested I walk over to the store and get a bottle of water. That did the trick. I was able to drive home with no problems after that.

People with a hypothyroid condition tend to be more susceptible than others to this. I'll be keeping a bottle of water in my car on future trips.