Hi, I'm Lynsey, an interiors and still life stylist working on commercial photoshoots, interiors magazines and TV. I was diagnosed with Addison’s Disease in August 2019, and I wanted to work on a personal project about the pickle addiction and salt cravings which come along with the condition, but also to raise awareness of it.
These images show how I view pickled food, based on a typical sickly sweet afternoon tea. At first glance the images appear to be cakes, deserts and very sweet things but in fact it is all made with pickles! I wanted to look at my relationship with salty foods and pickles and how these cravings can compare with people with a sweet tooth.
Lynsey's images are produced to help raise awareness for Addison’s disease.
Here’s my salty story
In May 2019, I had my first suspected near-crisis on holiday in Corfu. The day before, the headaches and nausea started, and by the morning of the flight, I was vomiting and feeling weak. This continued throughout the whole journey and for a few days into the holiday. I eventually saw a local doctor who gave me a steroid injection (my Endo nurse has told me that this could have saved my life!). I assumed it was just a tummy bug.
When I started to feel better and could eat, all I wanted was salty food! The first thing I managed to keep down was salt and vinegar Pringles. At the time, I was in absolute heaven licking the flavoured powder off the crisps! For the next few days, I happily ate feta and olives (I was lucky to be in Corfu), and they just hit a spot I didn’t even know why at the time!
At the end of July 2019, the crazy heatwave we had sent me into near-crisis number two. I tried in vain to keep hydrated through my three days of vomiting, but nothing worked. I made a doctor’s appointment and almost had to cancel it as I could barely get out of bed. The GP couldn’t do a blood pressure reading as it was so low and immediately called an ambulance to hospital for IV fluids. I ended up staying overnight and was given 4 litres of fluids.
It was only after follow-up blood tests that my clever GP spotted something was still wrong with my bloods and told me she was going to test me for Addison’s.
I immediately went online and read as much as I could about the disease, and everything seemed to suddenly make so much sense - all these (so I thought) unconnected symptoms that I’d been having for so long all fit into place! One of my light bulb moments was reading about, amongst other symptoms, the salt cravings.
For the last 2 years, it had been an ongoing joke amongst my family and friends how much I loved pickles (especially salty gherkins in brine and hot pickled peppers). I’ve also had vitiligo for over 10 years, so to read that it can be linked to other autoimmune diseases also made me realise that I must have Addison’s, and I was correct."
As a busy interiors and still life stylist, how do you manage work and Addison’s?
I am very lucky that my Addison’s is very manageable and I live a mostly ‘normal’ life with my replacement dose. I rarely have to updose, and I know my symptoms well in case I ever need to. At work, when on very busy photoshoots or long filming days, I sometimes will take a cheeky little extra 5mg of hydrocortisone as a preventative or if I start to feel like I’m flagging. Also, on hot days, I’ll updose my hydrocortisone and have a Dioralyte or add salt to a cold drink.
I go to the gym regularly to do different classes and I take a 5mg updose and extra fludrocortisone before my classes if I ever feel a little tired beforehand and this works a treat. And I always add a teaspoon of salt to my water bottle which I drink during the classes.
What would your advice be to the newly diagnosed Lynsey?
To listen to her body and that the fatigue feeling she might get is usually a low cortisol symptom. Also,to make sure she gets enough sleep and stays super hydrated on hot days.
Nobody makes salted or pickled food look more appealing than you! But what is your favourite snack?
Feta cheese, Polish pickles in brine, pickled turnips (the bright pink ones), olives (and the juice) and spicy pickled peppers!
We ask Lynsey our most asked "Addison's Admin" questions
How do you remember to take your tablets?
I take my first dose when I wake up along with my vitamins and other meds. I have a reminder alarm on my phone for the rest of the day.
How do you carry your injection kit?
I ordered two bright red pouches with all my details on to store my injection kit in. One is always in my handbag, and the other is in my car. I keep spare hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone in them both, along with some Dioralyte and salt sachets.
What type of medical alert identification do you have?
I have a rubber alert bracelet which I never, ever take off. I also have a seatbelt alert in case I’m ever in a car accident.
Thank you Lynsey for sharing your story and fantastic photo shoot with our charity and community!
You can find out more about Lynsey from her Instagram: @_lynsey_fox_ and @sheradondublinphoto, as well as her website