October 24, 2014
MaryO
Undiagnosed
blood type, survey, UCSF, undiagnosed
Hi there, my name is Britt. I am 20. I am going in for testing with the UCSF clinic in one month!
I am scared and excited because I have had Cushing’s symptoms for 4 years now and NEED to find out what is wrong with me. I actually found this webpage looking for answers AND I had an idea after reading an article about doing a survey on Cushing’s and Blood Type. It’s self-reported of course but I’d appreciate it if anyone would take it, whether or not you’ve been diagnosed!
Thanks and wish me luck! 🙂
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2CND967
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 23, 2014
MaryO
Familial Cushing's, Male, Undiagnosed
24-hour urinary free cortisol, acne, anxiety, blurry vision, cortisol, Dexamethasone, dexamethasone suppression test, dizziness, endo, fatigue, male, Moon face, nausea, painful joints, reflux, respiratory, serum cortisol, skin, spine, steroids, stomach, straie, stress, Stretch marks, tachycardia, trauma, tremors, UFC, weak limbs, weight
My name is Don. I am 35and I am a career firefighter with 14 years on the job.
10 years ago I was injured badly at a fire and almost immediately noticed a change. My skin began peeling off and I began gaining weight.
I knew about cortisol and its effect on the body because my mother passed away from Cushings at 46 after years of taking steroids for respiratory problems. My doctors dismissed my issues as stress following the trauma. My accident happened in March and by July, I had gained 80lbs. I was constantly fatigued and developed acne all over my body.
A year or so later, I began having stomach issues. Nausea and Reflux were with me everyday.  I continued to have high serum cortisol throughout the past 10 years but each time, it suppressed to just below the 1.8 threshold with dexamethasone so my doctors just dismissed it as stress.
In 2012, the dizziness and blurry vision began. My spine is weak and my joints hurt constantly. My legs are so skinny and weak, they shake when I stand and my heart races from any exertion. I managed to continue working until a year ago when I accepted that I was putting myself and others at risk.
For the past year I have been paying guys to work for me in order to keep my job and insurance. I worked hard for this career and promotions and I will not give it up without a diagnosis and confirmation that I can no longer do the job.
I have a new Endo now and she ordered a Urinary Cortisol. It came back 4X higher than the upper limit. She is convinced I have Cushings and it isnt just stress. I have the following symptoms. Weight gain of over 100lbs, Long purple stretch marks on my flank, side, and groin, Blurry vision, tachycardia, weak limbs, tremors, anxiety, puffy face, dizziness, stomach issues.
I am hoping after 10years of suffering, I may finally have my answer and that I can begin getting my life back. I have a wife and 3 year old that really count on me and all I have been doing is letting them down. Our lives are on hold because we do not know what the future will bring.
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 23, 2014
MaryO
Adrenal, Adrenal Surgery, Treatments
Adrenal, emotional symptoms, Israel, mental, physical, psychological difficulties, tumor
Hello, my name is Inbar & I’m from Israel.
First of all I want to apologize my poor English, It’s only what I have learned through high school. Second I’m thrilled & exited finding other people who are facing the Cushing syndrome difficulties, fears & symptoms.
In my small country I wasn’t able to find any other forum I could share with.
Since the Cushing disease is more common, there is an association for those who have it. After speaking to one of there representatives I was disappointed to find out that the physical, mental, emotional and psychological difficulties are not the same & unfortunately they could not help me in any way.
I had a 5 cm tumor on my left adrenal which was removed 8 mounts ago.
I have carried this illness for at least 5 years facing all of the symptoms.
Since January I’m seeing a psychiatrist & taking all kinds psychiatric pills.
Yesterday I started seeing also a psychologist & came out very disappointed, since my problem is chemistry, psychological treatment won’t help.
I would be thankful for any self experience from any one. Â I’m very close to having a breakdown.
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 22, 2014
MaryO
Steroid-Induced
allergies, Asthma, breathing difficulties, Buffalo hump, endocrinologist, exhaustion, exogenous Cushing's, hives, Mayo Clinic, Moon face, steroids, striae, Vitamin D Deficiency
I have suffered from severe asthma and environmental allergies since I was a young child. They used steroids as a way to help me breathe and stop hives.
As I got older, things just got worse. More steroids, more allergy medications, etc.
Two years ago I started losing energy, lacking the urge to eat, having daily headaches, gaining weight even with exercise and sleeping a lot. I thought it was stress as I was finishing my doctoral degree. My regular doctor tried everything.
Finally, she sent me to Mayo in Minnesota and they diagnosed me with exogenous Cushing’s. I had the buffalo hump, striae and moon face. They did not give me any medications but told me to stop taking steroids. Also, they found that my Vitamin D was a 9 so they loaded my Vitamin D. I slowly started to feel better for the first six months. I now seem to be going back downhill. I am exhausted all the time. I have no idea where to turn. I am starting here and also looking for a local endocrinologist, otherwise I may return to Mayo.
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 22, 2014
MaryO
Adrenal Surgery, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, radiation, Recurrence, Success Stories, Treatments
ACTH, adrenals, bilateral adrenalectomy, BLA, cushing's, DDVAP, diabetes insipidus, gamma knife, optic nerve, pituitary, radiation, steroids, surgery, tumor
I suffered from Cushings when I was 9 years old. I had pituitary surgery, bilateral adrenalectomy (back in 1988 when it was not laparoscopic), then 2 more pituitary surgeries as my tumor grew and regrew too close to the optic nerve. My last pituitary surgery was followed by Gamma Knife Radiation. That was when I was 19. Thankfully, since then, my ACTH levels have been normal, so there is no evidence of regrowth of pituitary tumor. I just turned 36.
The good news is that despite needing repeated pituitary surgery, I recovered well from the Cushings once my adrenals were removed and I was on daily replacement steroids. I have gone on to have a fairly normal life, including 4 children with no help needed in conceiving. I guess the doctors consider this basically a miracle considering my irregular cycles and all the pituitary surgery. I did end up with diabetes insipidus from the last pituitary surgery, which is probably the most uncomfortable (and expensive) lingering problem. It can be very uncomfortable at times, particularly when pregnant is is difficult to get the right dose of DDAVP.
Not sure what prompted me to look online for others with Cushings Disease/post adrenalectomy, but I have never in my life met anyone else with my condition and my endocrinologist says she has only one other patient with adrenal problems, but that person still at least has 1. Of course doctors can’t tell you who their other patients are anyway. Obviously when I was actually suffering from Cushings there was no Internet. I guess it would just be interesting to compare notes about living without adrenal glands. Since I was so young when it happened it is all I’ve known and I’m thankful for how basically normal my life is. I see too that I can encourage people that although I do take 3 medications multiple times daily, I basically have a normal life, including 4 normal, healthy children ages 9, 7, 5, and 2.
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 14, 2014
MaryO
Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, Success Stories, Treatments
IPSS, pituitary, surgery, tumor
Hi everyone! I’m 41 yrs old, I live in Mississippi with my hubby & our precious 14 yr old daughter.
I have suffered with so many health problems since I was around 16 yrs old.
I was just diagnosed with Cushing’s in Sept. 2013, I found out it was from a pituitary tumor in Nov. 2013. I had an IPSS in April 2014 and surgery to removed pit tumor June 13, 2014.
Contact Tina here.
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 13, 2014
MaryO
Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, Success Stories, Treatments
central obesity, cortisol, Dr. Ed Oldfield, fibrocystic breasts, heart palpitations, MRI, pituitary, progesterone, saliva, supraclavicle pads, tumor, UVa
I am 55 years old and my symptoms began long ago I believe. I have had my tumor out and have not had any recurrance since 2009 when I had it out but unfortunately am still a little paranoid (to the extent that I will spend $100 on a saliva test once or twice a year) when I have any symptoms.
1998 out of the blue started having heart palpatations at night ( endocrinologist still insists that was not part of it but it stopped when my tumor was removed!!!(So far have yet to find an endocrinologist that I love…very narrow minded and refuse to admit how little they really know about Cushings).
2003 started Natural Progesterone cream due to fibrocystic breasts and low libido & just general breast cancer prevention. No MD ever had a problem with that.
2005 – 1st saliva test just personal curiosity about hormone levels.
2006 started feeling lump in my throat when swallowing so went to ENT —found nothing out of the ordinary (with 20/20 hindsight suspect it was the supraclavicular swelling starting internally.
2007 upper GI just to be sure nothing in my throat per ENT referral–found nothing.
2007 starting to show supraclavicular fat pads 2 MDs & 2 surgeons seen for those & none of them picked up on the Cushings from that. Also had complained to my OBGYN @ the sensation of my uterus dropping out of my vagina — he saw no physical reason for this sensation but with cental obesity getting slowly worse (155 compared to my normal 135 lbs) i suspect there was downward pressure esp when walking & standing for long periods of time.
Finally in 2008 one of my MD patients suggested Cushings & BINGO everybody suddenly saw the light. Abdominal CTs showed no adrenal problems MRI showed 5mm microadenoma (well circumscribed) .
My brother in law is a neuro-surgeon & in our area if you ever have anything weird going on you go to Duke but he said in this particular area you want UVA (a “Pituitary Center of Excellence”). Dr. Ed Oldfield took out my tumor & so far so good. I had to supplement cortisal at first but within 6 months I was off it & my body was making its own. I feel that I was very lucky. They say that the majority of MDs go thru their entire career without seeing a case of Cushings (OR knowing that’s what they are looking at). I would definately recommend not just letting any Joe-Blow neurosurgeon do your surgery – the more they have done the more likely the success.
I’m sorry this IS an update of my just submitted bio & I don’t know what my URL link is.  But I do feel that the 4 time cortisol saliva test was how mine was diagnosed because my morning cortisol which is all the MDs ever wanted to take was never off the charts IT WAS MY PM CORTISOL that gave it away. Then total urinary cortisol measurement. Sorry but I thought this was an important addition. Yayy saliva testing!!!
Contact Cathy Leigh, DDS here.
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 12, 2014
MaryO
Male, Other Diagnosis, Thyroid, Undiagnosed
24-hour urinary free cortisol, cortisol, Levothryroxine, male, testosterone, thyroid, UFC, undiagnosed
Hello, I am a 24 year old male who has been feeling out of wack for 4 years now.
I have been going to numerous different doctors to figure out what is going on. It all started with the indication of low thyroid, then noticed low testosterone. I was on levothyroxine for about 2 years. I recently went off all medication, and just had my labs done and i have all normal levels.
Everything i get done is contradictory to my last lab test. I have had positive 24hr cortisol urine results but nothing high enough to diagnose.
Sorry if this is a confussing post 🙂
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 12, 2014
MaryO
Male, Undiagnosed
24-hour urinary free cortisol, Acanthosis Nigricans, ACTH, Buffalo hump, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, cortisol, headache, male, memory, mouth sores, pain, puberty, skin, sleep, slow healing, Stretch marks, UFC, undiagnosed
My son is almost 16 years old and so sick he hardly gets out of bed anymore. Although no Dr.s believes me I do believe he has Cushings and the Dr.s can not give me any other idea’s of what is wrong with him only that he needs to lose weight and exercise more. My son is so tired of hearing this that at his last appointment with a specialist at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia he left in tears and wants to know why no one is helping him. He is to the point where he doesn’t even want to go to the Dr.s anymore, he thinks it’s pointless. He has only had one 24hr Urine test which came back normal and an cortisol & ACTH test taken at 5pm and these were also within range. I am going to guess maybe things started at the age of 9 or 10 and progressively gotten worse.
His symptoms are as follows and the explained away answers from the Dr.s –
1. Headaches all day everyday – sometimes severe, sometimes just there and no amount of advil seems to take it away completely – Dr.s probably puberty and since he is a big kid take up to 4-advil every 4 hours.
2. Buffalo Hump – we brought him to the Dr. about 2-3yrs ago for this odd hump on the back of his neck – Dr.s it’s just a fat deposit – he just deposits fat in odd places
3. Red to purple stretch marks that fade and get brighter but never go away completely – they appear in masses on his sides, back, shoulders and stomach – Dr.s response although his stretch marks are quite impressive they are typical of what you would see in cushings they are not purple enough or wide enough.
4. Severe pain in back and knee (sometimes elbows) – he can’t even take a simple trip to the stores as it is to much for him to walk around – his is 15yrs old and is now asking me to get him a cane to help him get around. Dr.s response to the pain – must be growing pains (my son is 6’1″ and I was just told he is pretty much done growing)
5. He does not sleep at night, says can’t fall to sleep no matter how hard he tries and when he finally does fall asleep in the morning early hours he will sleep most of the day, then wake up still feeling tired. He told me it’s like his mind sleeps but his body doesn’t feel rested at all. Dr.s said he needs to stop video games and t.v. to hours before bed – these types of things stimulate the mind thats why he can’t sleep.
When the Dr.s were told the rest, they really didn’t say anything at all – below are the rest of his symptoms:
6. He is starving at night – he says he has to eat he is so hungry
7. Having a hard time remembering things and getting progressively worse
8. Losing his grip – he can barely right his name – when I ask him to squeeze my hand it hardly even hurts me now and he says when he tries to squeeze hard he gets this odd sensation up his arm and it feels really off .
9. Has a hard time sitting for an extended amount of time – this has caused him to miss the last 6 weeks of school – his says the pain in his back and sides are just to much to handle when trying to sit.
10. He has had numerous skin aliments, mouth sores
11. Always thirsty
12. Acanthosis Nigricans – back of neck, under arms, elbows
13. never a sick child until recently – strep throat, mono (which I was first told he didn’t have), normal colds now last for weeks with him where he never even got colds before.
14. slow healing of cuts and he scars horribly
I am sure there are other things but these are the first to come to the top of my head. His biggest complaint is the memory loss, lack of sleep and pain. I am scared for my son and do not understand how this is acceptable for anyone let alone a 15yr old. I am watching him get worse and watching his precious teenage years just pass right by him.
Contact Denise here.
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
October 11, 2014
MaryO
Adrenal, Adrenal Surgery, Treatments
Adrenal, adrenal surgery, cortisol, pain
My niece has had Cushing’s for 8 yrs prior to diagnois. She had her one tumor ridden adrenal gland removed 3 months ago. The remaining adrena gland had shrunk and is non-functioning. We are trying to understand the after affects of the adrenal gland removal and how long it will take for her body to adjust from a 300+ cortisol level to a controlable level so she can be pain free. She is in constant pain and the pain meds are not doing working.
Looking forward to hearing other people’s experience with an adrenal gland removal.
See you on th board!
Lil
HOME | Contents | Adrenal Crisis! | Abbreviations | Glossary | Forums | Donate | Bios | Add Your Bio
Like this:
Like Loading...
Older Entries
Recent Comments