Giulia's Story: Broadcasting Far and Wide

Giulia Bould is best known to the public as a sports presenter for BBC Radio Merseyside, covering all sports, especially football, with a focus on Premier League clubs Everton and Liverpool. Giulia was diagnosed with Addison's disease in 2016, after a year and a half of being unwell.

Now recovered from this turbulent time, she lives a full life with Addison’s. So what is her secret? How much extra cortisol is needed for interviewing football legend Jürgen Klopp? Philippa from the ADSHG meets Giulia to find out more (hint, it involves Pepperoni, Star Wars and always being prepared!) 

Make sure to read to the end of Giulia's brilliant blog to watch her interviews with BBC North West Tonight and BBC Radio Merseyside, where she speaks about Addison’s disease.

I (Philippa) met Giulia over Zoom, just after she had returned from covering the FA Cup Final in London, before she heads off to France for the Champions League Final. Covering sport for radio is certainly a busy job! She’s friendly and welcoming and immediately from speaking with her, her diagnostic journey is one many of us can all relate to.

Life pre-diagnosis

“I hadn’t been right for a good few years, I knew in my gut there was something not right. But every time I went to the GP I was told “there’s nothing wrong with you, you’re absolutely fine”. One of the last times before I was eventually diagnosed, I kept saying: “when I’m walking I feel like everything is spinning and I’m going to hit the deck” and I was told: “oh we all get that, its called working and being a Mum”, and all that kind of stuff. So I genuinely for a while just assumed I was a weak person.

“But then I came home from work one day very unwell and I was vomiting. I was very tanned, very tanned which at the time I put down to a recent holiday in Portugal. But this sickness went on for a couple of days, so I went back to the GP. They took my blood pressure and it was not registering so they said: “oh I think there is a fault with it” and just sent me home with vertigo tablets. Of course I ended up being in a horrendous way at home.”

After finding herself on her living room floor one day, not remembering how long she’d been there or how she had got there, she went back to the GP, now wanting to mention how she had an even darker tan. This was definitely not due to sunshine as she had spent a week in bed with the curtains shut. But Giulia collapsed on the way into the GP's and had to be carried in by a kind passerby. This time, fortunately, she saw a new GP who said: “I’ve never seen this before, but I think it's something called Addison’s disease.” An ambulance was called and Giulia was admitted to the hospital. 

Giulia says: “After being pumped full of the steroids and everything else they pump you full of I just remember thinking, I can final breathe again, I feel like I can properly get my breath” - an experience her body had been struggling with for far too long. 

How did you feel after being diagnosed?

“Partly shocked, but I was also relieved to know it wasn’t in my head. Although I was told: “you can never forget to take your tablets because you’ll die, we can’t cure it and you’ll have to adapt your lifestyle” - that didn’t bother me because I just remember thinking “I’ve not gone round the twist!”

Before diagnosis, Giulia tells me how she started to shut herself off from life because she’d been ill for such a long time, so she explains the diagnosis: “felt a bit freeing in a weird way.”

She goes on to explain: “But then after a while the mental side kicked in more and I did then think oh my god I just nearly died. So it felt very dramatic. Even when I was in the hospital, it was odd because none of the healthcare professionals had heard of it." 

I had lots of consultants doing bloods and things because they were saying they wanted to learn and meet someone with Addison’s. At one point I had lots of students lining up and I felt like J Lo because everyone wanted to talk to me!

Giulia showed great resilience when coming to terms with the physical and mental effects of a new diagnosis having been so unwell. She came out of hospital on her son’s 7th birthday which she told me she was adamant about.

“I still felt quite angry that it had got to that point, especially as at the end when the GP sent me home again, it could have ended so differently. I wasn’t angry that I had Addison’s, things happen and I always know that there is someone far worse, but I was angry with the medical profession. I felt I couldn’t trust them and I hated going to appointments. Now I’m very fortunate that my Endocrinologist is incredibly understanding. One of his first comments was that I should join the ADSHG for support as well as for information so I went home and printed off all the ADSHG publications!”

Giulia chose to change GP surgeries and her new GP was brilliant, learning about the rare condition from Giulia and with the ADSHG publications. This is a difficult move that many of us will have been through. “I don’t think I’m ever fully over it. The Addison's being missed. Being ignored. But I’ve worked out better ways, I’ve had some hypnotherapy because I would get so stressed about appointments but now I feel like I can articulate myself a lot better at appointments because I’m a lot calmer.” 

Join for support

Publications

Educating GPs

Recovery

When recovered, Giulia got into action, telling me she had cleared a kitchen cupboard for her medication, using Tupperware boxes so she could easily see and access it.

She tells me she has a plastic folder full of print-outs of the ADSHG publications and guidelines. “Having it there, even though hopefully I’ll never need it, gives me confidence. Being confident in yourself in knowing how to deal with it and being confident in your family or friends, knowing they know what to do."

Physically Giulia had lost a lot of weight and was off work for about 3 months. She also had to adjust to the energy pacing side of Addison’s which can impact those around us as well as ourselves. She explains: “It’s hard for other people - that’s been a big learning curve. If I have to say: “no I don’t think I’m up to that” people can feel quite put out, but it’s not because I don’t like you or don’t want to spend time with you. I think if you’re well and you don’t take tablets every day, people aren’t going to understand. I describe it as only having so many blocks, I have to assign each block to something and if I don’t have a block left over, I can’t do it.”

Giulia’s block explanation is brilliant and represents the Spoon Theory as an explanation for managing energy pacing. She has a great support system around her, with her Mum also being an ADSHG postal member so she too keeps up to speed with what life with Addison’s feels like and the latest medical news.

Surgery and building back confidence

18 months after Giulia’s diagnosis, she was back in the hospital for an operation. Understandably, she was worried, but she told me the hospital was brilliant, explaining that they didn’t know about the condition, so they wanted to discuss the ADSHG guidance with her. At the pre-operation appointment, Giulia gave them the ADSHG surgical guidelines, and she also met her anaesthetist so they could talk it through.

This gave me so much confidence that everyone then knew what they were doing. I remember after the operation when I came round, the first thing I said was: “are my steroids still going in!?!" It felt so different to the other ways doctors had treated me, which is why I’ve started talking about Addison’s publicly because I want to raise awareness.

Opening up

Her loved ones and work colleagues were very supportive and all knew from the start where her steroid card and injection kit were in her purse. So having Addison’s was never a secret, but opening up to the general public is a different ball game (no pun intended!)

Very honestly, Giulia shares: “I speak on air and people know about my life, as much as you choose to tell them. But I go to the football clubs and interview players and managers and I didn’t want to be any different. As a woman in sport, it can be hard to fit in, and I think initially I didn’t want to be a woman in sport with a disability as well – I don’t know what it was really.” She tells me it was one particular tweet from the ADSHG X/Twitter account that made her decide she was ready to share that she had Addison’s. She recalls: “I thought, you know what, this is nothing to be ashamed of and I’m not ashamed of it. So I put it out there hoping it might mean a doctor or nurse sees it, or someone else with Addison’s who isn’t as confident with it or feels overwhelmed, and just so people in general know what it is!”

Giulia aka @GiuliaBould tweeted:

“Many people don't know I have Addison's disease. It means my adrenal glands no longer work. It's very rare & incurable. I say "I'm kept alive artificially" thanks to a mix of steroids several times a day. But when we become ill/stressed it can be fatal.”

People immediately got in contact with Giulia showing their support. “Afterwards, listeners contacted me saying all these years they had listened to me and they would never know. I think as people with Addison’s we all get quite good at hiding being sick. So maybe it’s all about making being sick look different. You never know what is going on with people. It doesn’t mean it has to stop you doing things, you just have to do it in a different way.” 

Giulia and I agree that dealing with an illness on top of daily life is no weakness; we believe it makes you stronger. You get through the day, taking into account so many more factors and adapting to them, often without anyone else knowing. This takes great strength and is something every person with Addison’s should be proud of.

Managing a long-term health condition

So I ask what her secret is: how does she manage and balance a demanding life and a serious disease?

She laughs: “I’m very strict and structured on tablets, helped by alarms on my phone. I have tablets EVERYWHERE! And when I go away, my colleagues also carry some of my tablets too in case I lose my bag!” Having had coeliac disease since the age of 13 and also having had an overactive thyroid which was eventually removed, Giulia is used to balancing medical conditions.

But I struggle with the brain fog, I don’t like that, and I know it’s a sign I need another dose. When I interviewed (Liverpool F.C. Manager) Jürgen Klopp face-to-face in the training ground, I knew that would be a stressful thing for me to do and I wanted it to be right and I’d done lots of prep, so I double dosed. However when I have a quiet day at home and am not doing much, I keep my dose low. It all balances out, and it’s having the confidence to do it.

She monitors her sleep and if she feels jittery she knows this is a good indicator for her that the cortisol is not being ‘used up’ by the activity of her day. If someone has a stomach bug or a cold, she is open with them about needing to keep her distance so she doesn’t catch it and her colleagues, family and friends completely respect that. However still frustrated with her brain fog she spoke about this with her consultant and is now prescribed DHEA which she says: “It takes the edge off it. I’m lucky that my consultant listens to me and finds Addison’s fascinating and is willing to try things and learn himself.”

Giulia’s other tips include power naps! “I love a power nap! Or even just a rest. I know it’s not for everyone, but if I have half an hour, I’ll lie down and that rest allows me to do everything else, so it works for me. I see on social media people talking about lower back pain, headaches, joint pain and I thought I was the only one! When I have a bad day and I just don’t want to get out of bed, it’s like phew that’s not just me!”

She’s also found that she has a greater impact from noise now: “I find sensory input draining - lots of noise, things to look at. Maybe it’s because I work in the radio so have headphones on all day or I’m at a football ground – but this impact of having Addison’s was a surprise for me. So I don’t watch as much telly anymore. When I went to Disneyland in America I contacted them before to tell them about my Addison’s and they were amazing. They gave us virtual queuing so I didn’t have to stand as much and it made the experience so much better and manageable.”

“We’ve all got to do things, life happens, stuff happens, so you’ve just got to do what makes you feel good.”

How do you prepare for potentially being under the care of the hospital systems in the countries you’re visiting or staying in?


Giulia always takes with her all the information needed to show at airport security for her kit (e.g., Dr’s note, etc.). This is part of the folder she carries, which she has prepared from the ADSHG website, including the adrenal crisis guidelines in the language of the location she’s travelling to. She also has two sets of her medication, one for her hand luggage and another for her checked luggage.

“It feels like a lot to prepare but it really isn’t. Now I’ve done it, it’s all ready to go and it’s only making sure I have right the language in there. So I grab my folder and off I go!” 

Travel Tips

What would your advice be to the newly diagnosed Giulia?

"Don’t panic! Take your time to get back on your feet. Look at what works for you and it’s trial and error. Take a sleep if you need it. I pencil in days where I can have a day to myself so I can recharge. You will work out what works for you, we’re all slightly different. Read through all the stories from the ADSHG. I remember being home from hospital and would read little bits on the website and then come back to it so I didn’t feel too overwhelmed. I accept that some days I will feel awful, but other days I will feel fine. Oh and be organised!”

If having Addison’s has given you something worthwhile, what would it be?

Laughing, she jokes: “Being allowed to get back into bed when I want!”

It’s made me understand my body and I trust my instincts a lot more because I knew something was wrong. I do trust my body even though obviously it’s not right as I have Addison’s, but I listen to it so I know when I’m low on cortisol and how much I need. It’s like a sixth sense knowing how much more cortisol I need.

What is your greatest wish for the Addison’s community?

Number one is: “Curing us all!” But Giulia goes on to say: “I know it’s never going to be mainstream, but I think being talked about more within the medical profession - assume it’s Addison’s and then rule it out. It’s rare but that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent. It should be much higher on the tick list. Much more awareness in the medical profession is what I want for us.”

“Also the after care. It was pretty much indicated to me, take your tablets and you’ll be back to normal. And I struggled with that because I didn’t take the tablets and return to the person I was. But you learn to adapt to all the other things with it. But that’s scary at first.”

How do you carry your injection kit? #ShareYourKit

“I got a pouch/box off Amazon and it’s in my bag and always comes with me. Everyone knows it’s there and they know to pull out the ADSHG steroid emergency card if I’m unwell and that it has the instructions on it.”

“I’ve only had one adrenal crisis since diagnosis due to having a stomach bug. I was really surprised by how quick I went down, my god I went down fast. And that still really worries me so that’s why I’m strict with everything. I know that might upset some people, but just be strict with being prepared and then everything else takes care of itself.”

How do you spend your free time?

“With my 13-year-old son! A lot of time it’s driving him to football, cricket and all that kind of stuff! Me and my son love going to the cinema, we love all the Marvel films and we’re massive Star Wars fans. Disney+ is Addison’s diseases best friend because if you’re having a bad day, there’s always something on Disney+! My son understands, he’s very sweet and knows all about it."

“My job is also very sociable; I like football and I get to go to football which is very lucky. I like going for a meal with friends, sometimes I deliberately go for lunch with friends instead of an evening meal – the last thing I want is a meal at 8pm! I love to spend time walking with my dog and I also own too many face lotions and face masks!”

Of course we had to ask, what is your favourite salty snack?!

“Pepperonis! When I was undiagnosed, I would go and buy the family packs and eat the whole lot! Even though they stink (!) I love them. If I’m having a bad day I’ll always have them as I’m not into crisps. It’s purely medicinal! I now buy the mini ones and keep them in a little box in the fridge. I might go quite a few weeks and I haven’t eaten one because I’m fine but if my levels dip and I can’t get them quite right then it’s salt. I just need salt!”

“When I was undiagnosed, I used to get (and I’ve tried it since and I can’t stand it, so it shows how much salt I needed) the Baxter’s Chicken Broth tins and add a handful of rock salt, and I still couldn’t taste the salt. I now always put extra salt on everything I eat.”

 

Giulia is usually the one asking the questions, so it was a real privilege to turn the tables and interview her! Thank you Giulia, for speaking so openly about your personal experience with Addison’s. You can watch Giulia speak more about Addison's with the BBC in the clips below from our social media.

BBC's North West Tonight

As part of BBC North West Tonight's focus on living with invisible conditions, Giulia shared more about Addison's, the impact of being rare on treatment and research, and being prepared for emergencies due to limited medical awareness of the time-critical treatment required. Giulia gives our small but mighty charity a shout-out, showing the hospital folder from our online shop!

The hospital folder includes vital information on adrenal crisis, surgical guidelines and more - so you're prepared when it matters most. Our leaflets are also free to download. As she says, "The more we can shout about it and talk about it, the better!" So please join us and watch and share Giulia's clip - click the social media platform to be taken to the post: Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads and Bluesky.

Giulia speaking on Addison's Disease Day 2023

Watch Giulia's interview below, from BBC Radio Merseyside, for Addison's Disease Day (29 May) 2023. Giulia speaks about her diagnosis, how she paces her energies to balance her busy job, what being an expert patient means to her and taking part in our ADSHG Addison’s Disease Day Twitter chat. Please join us and watch and share Giulia's clip - click the social media platform to be taken to the post: Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram.

Hear more from Giulia

Giulia Bould is best known to the public as a sports presenter for BBC Radio Merseyside, covering a wide range of sports, with a particular focus on football, including Premier League clubs Everton and Liverpool. She’s passionate about supporting women in sport and actively backs the Her Game Too organisation, which aims to combat sexism in football.

She is Mum to one amazing 13-year-old boy and a dog-mum to Jackapoo, Po!

Follow Giulia on X/Twitter and listen to her on BBC Merseyside Sport Fridays 6pm.

We’re so thankful to the talented, high-profile supporters who have chosen to share their experiences with our charity. Their commitment to raising awareness helps us reach even more people, while showing how they balance demanding careers with the realities of their health.

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