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Lisa (Lisa), Pituitary Bio

April 29, 2025

MaryO Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, Prolactinoma, Treatments , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I was diagnosed with Cushings in Feb 2011 at the age of 30, after 6 months of inconclusive testing to find out what was going on with me.  Bone marrow biopsy, CT scans, MRI’s, urinalysis, bloodwork, you name it, it was done.  The first symptom I noticed was my left foot swelling (edema) after a workout injury.  The swelling remained long after it should have, and I thought I damaged my lymphatic system.  A trip to the endocrinologist and a CT scan proved that untrue, but he did notice I had an enlarged spleen and a high red blood cell count.  He didn’t seem to think that was a concern, but around that time I also began to experience a constant pain in my right flank.  So I went to a gastroentrologist.  Then a hemotologist, then a cardiologist, etc.  My final diagnosis came after my hemotologist ran a urine sample and noticed a highish level of cortisol.  She sent me back to my endocrinologist.  Before I went, I started a heavy Google search for what high levels of cortisol could mean, and came across Cushing’s.  I knew that was what I had.  I had been diagnosed with a prolactinoma 4 years prior (which I had told every doctor I had seen) and no one made the connection.  I demanded my endo test me.  He didn’t want to, telling me that I hadn’t gained weight and that people who had Cushing’s were really sick.  I demanded, and he gave me a supression pill to take the night before I came in for bloodwork.  He called me with the results a couple of days later, accusing me of not taking the pill.  Of course I took the pill, I said.  He said that the pill hadn’t suppressed my levels as it should have, but he didn’t believe it, and wanted me to then do a 24hr cortisol urinalysis.  I agreed, but also scheduled an appt with a neurosurgeon.  The neurosurgeon had the same hesistation, but also did the 24hr test.  A week later, the tests came back in.  My cortisol levels were 8 times what they should have been.  I definitely had Cushing’s.

I had transsphenoidal surgery a month and a half later.  I spent a week in the hospital that can only be described as hell.  My body crashed hard and every part of me ached.  The next four months proved equally as challenging, my energy being non-existent and my replacement dosage being difficult to keep correct.  But a year and four months later I’m very close to being off the replacement dosage, and feeling back to normal.  Thank goodness for Cedars Sinai pituitary center for their attentiveness and care.

The biggest lesson I learned was to trust yourself.  I did not gain weight when I was sick.  I did begin to develop a moon face and a small tummy, but my weight remained constant.  I was waking up at 3 in the morning every day, my blood pressure spiked, my muscles weakened, I bruised easily, I lost hair on my head, my skin became mottled and thin.  I don’t know if the weight gain would have happened eventually or not, but I truly believe I wouldn’t have stayed alive long enough for that to happen… the change from healthy to sick happened so rapidly in my case that if it kept up I doubt I would have lived much longer that a year or so.  I worry about recurrence every day, and have had numerous visits to the ER since surgery due to adrenal crisis, but at least I know what to do when that happens and can take care immediately.  And as I’m sure most of you would agree, I treasure every healthy day.

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Christina (Christina10), Pituitary Bio

April 29, 2025

MaryO Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, Prolactinoma, Treatments , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Hi everyone, I am Christina and am 22 months post op from transphenodial surgery of my pituatary macronoma. Like so many of the bios I have read on this site I spent years trying to get any doctor to listen to me, because while I insisted something was wrong and I had almost ALL the classic physical manifestations of Chushing’s, after running the basic thyroid panel I was generally dismissed with the advice that I needed to eat less and workout more- advice which infuriated me because as an active duty officer in the Army I was running 3-6 miles a day and going back to the gym after work and down to 1200 calories a day.

I first started to notice a marked physical change in 2005 when I rapidly gained 30lbs in less than 6 months, at the time I was in Law School full time so of course the doctors attributed it to stress even though I was still maintaining my physical activity level as a reserve officer. I also started noticing my once long and full hair thinning and breaking to the point you could really see my scalp and my skin became pale and translucent with constant breakouts. This is also the time when the mood swings and headaches started along with the reoccurring sinus infections and inability to heal from the smallest injury along with black and blue marks all over my body.

Faced with going back to active duty the next year on orders to Korea I basically starved myself and worked out 3 or more hours a day and managed to loose about 25lbs    but I could never get below 160lbs no matter how hard I tried, which baffled me since I started Law School at 130! I begged the doctors every time I went in to run tests but they insisted I was healthy because my blood pressure was always 106/65 and my thyroid tests always came back low but still in normal ranges. Frustrated and defeated I pretty much starved myself and lived on caffiene and supplememts for the next 2 years, trying to avoid the doctors at all costs and doing everyting I could to just make weight when it came time for Army physical fitness tests.

My next run in with the doctor came just before my deployment to Iraq. I had rapidly gained 20lbs back seeminingly overnight and I was now having full blown hotflashes along with headaches so violent they caused my right eye to pulse. After basic blood tests came back relatively normal except for an elevated red blood cell count (which should have been a red flag for the doctor to connect the dots) my doctor informed me she thought I had Hepatitis C and wanted me to go to a Veteran’s weightloss group which consisted of being weighed in in front of a group of 25 cranky old men at the VA!!!!! I had further testing to rule out the Hep C which Iknew I didn’t have since I have never touched an intravenous drug in my life and have always practiced safe sex in my relationships. Of course it came back negitive which should have prompted more testing but once again I was just told to eat less and work out more. The doctor specifically told me I led a sedintary lifestyle because I had an office!!! At this point and after trying the support group for a couple of weeks and being humiliated having to weigh in in front of a room packed with men all over the age of 60, I told the doctor she was basically a moron and that it was impossible that I led a sedintary lifestyle because I ran 6 miles before she even gets up in the morning. Needless to say it was the last time I saw her.

Fast forward 18 months later and I am now back from Iraq, (having lost 15lbs from the heat and Army food!) and am starting to notice the weight returning and hot flashes getting worse, to the point I would just start pouring sweat down my head and back. My regular doctor insisted my body was just needed time to re-acclimate back to the climate! Tired of struggling like most Cushing’s sufferers and under constant pressure to be fit for my job I turned to plastic surgery and had lipo and a tummy tuck thinking it would take care of all my problems. Wrong Wrong Wrong! The surgery went well and I was elated with the results, until the tissue around the suture site started to die. (as you know the inability to heal is a classic sign of Cushing’s) So after walking around with a hole (yes an actual hole in my abdomen!!!) for 2 weeks I had to have reconstructive surgery to fix it. About 8 weeks post op from the surgery even though I was literally only drinking 3 protein shakes a day (because I had just spent THOUSANDS of dollars on cosmetic surgery), I was now gaining weight again!!! My surgeon looked at me in contempt for ruining his work until I told him to look at my breasts which had spontaneously grown a cup size since the surgery. Looking back that was actually an Epiphany in my struggle with Cushing’s because he did look, and then he looked harder at the fatty deposits centralized on my neck and trunk and thighs and in a moment I will never forget, said nonchalantly “I think something else is going on hormonally,” and handed me a lab slip!

That lab slip changed my life. When the results came back I knew finally someone was going to believe me, because not only did my new primary care doctor want to see me but she wanted me to have an MRI because the lab results came back with a prolactin level 86.6 and I certainly was not pregnant. 3 days later the doctor called with the results of the MRI and told me I had a brain tumor, but the good kind, and that there were excellent treatments. Needless to say I was less than thrilled with my “good” brain tumor and wanted the thing out of my head and out of my life as soon as possible!!! But at least finally I had an answer and began doing as much research on pituatary macronomas as possible so by the time I went in for the first round of follow up tests I knew more than my doctors.

What followed from my diagnonsis in May 2010 to the present has been the longest 2+ years of my life. I wanted to have surgery ASAP, but because I tested positive for both Prolactin and ACHT/Cortisol the doctors were divided on a treatment plan and made me do 3 months of observation during which I ballooned up to 198lbs!!! I was also suffering daily migranes and mood swings and harrassment at work because now the physical changes could not be hidden. I started to feel trapped in a body that really wasn’t mine.

After surgery I went into complete adrenal failure and was on hydrocortisone for 6+ months. I felt so much calmer after ther surgery even on the steroids, no more mood swings and I immediately started loosing weight with no effort. Although the nausea and daily throwing up probably helped that cause. But everything hurt, and I mean everything, it would hurt my feet to touch the gound and I would get tired easily. In the 7th month, right after a breast reduction to get me close to my pre Cushing’s size and to help with the sever back pain, I weaned of the steroids which brought more challenges and body aches, but with a lot of vitamins and sticking to a healthy lifestyle I managed to go from barely being able to jog a mile right after surgery to finishing my first post op 10K this month in Central Park, NY.

So here I am today 22 months later and extremely cognizant of how far I have come in keeping off the 30lbs I lost after surgery and gaining back so much of my old self, but also frustrated because I am still suffering Cushings like symptoms and the doctors and I are at an impass again becuase they refuse to really look at my symptoms. My headaches have started to come back more intensely and I have noticed a marked increase in mood swings and hot flashes. I have also (despite living with a personal trainer) hit the wall in my struggle to loose the last of my “Cushing’s weight.” Countless hours of research has also yet to produce any information on coping with Cushing’s after surgery, which is why I am so grateful to have finally found this site.

I am hoping by connecting with other Cushing’s patients I can get a few of the answers the doctors don’t seem to have (or at least the ones I have seen anyway)!!! Because I personally am tired of Cushing’s controlling my life!

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Joyce P, Cyclic Cushings

April 29, 2025

MaryO Cyclic, Diabetes, Other Diagnosis , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I was a member here a couple of years ago and told I may have Cyclic Cushings.

I went 2 weeks ago today to LA to see Dr. F and he suppects Cushings and HGH defiency.  I have not started all of my testing yet as insurance has been a problem, but I am going to my Internist tomorrow and see how he will help me.

I will update as I can and apprciate any information.

Contact Joyce

In Memory of Natalie Fay ~ April 21, 2008

April 21, 2025

MaryO Adrenal, Cyclic, In Memory, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, radiation, Treatments , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

in-memory

This is another Golden Oldie.  I’m not sure when it was last written or updated by Natalie but it was updated by me after she died April 21, 2008.

~~

Hi! My name is Natalie, I am 35 years old and I’ve been married for 15 years. I don’t have any children at this time, but we are in the process of adopting. We can hardly wait for our little one to show up on our doorstep. We live down in southern Maryland at this time. I grew up in southern Virginia on a farm. My Dad is still farming; he raises peanuts, corn and soybeans. He has had 2 battles with colon cancer and is still hanging in there. He gives me inspiration. I have my Mom and Grandmother still living home on the farm too and we get there as often as we can. My sister lives near by my parents and has 2 boys. They spend a portion of every summer with us.

There is so much to tell, I really don’t know where to start. I had my official diagnosis in Jan. of 1990. But after all of the information I have learned over the years, I fully believe that it could have started as early as childhood. We will never know for sure.

When I graduated from high school in 1983, I was a happy go lucky teenager with a steady boy friend and many friends. My first year of college was great. I had a lot of fun and thought I had made so many new friends. Joe (boyfriend then, now my husband) left for Marine Corps Boot Camp in the spring of 1984. That was hard but I adjusted fine and was glad to see him come home that summer. In the fall when it was time to go back to school I was a different person. I withdrew from my friends and I pretty much kept to myself. After a weekend visit from Joe, I slipped into a deep depression. I stopped going to class and to work. My so-called friends didn’t want anything to do with me. I started having headaches and dizzy spells. I was really scared. No one knew what I was feeling or would even try to understand. I ended up dropping out of school and went back home. I didn’t want a job; I just stayed home and did baby-sitting jobs. My nephew was born in August of 1985 and I took care of him full time until Joe and I was married in June of 1986.

On our wedding day I cried all through the picture taking. I was very happy but cried anyway. We went to the Blue Ridge Mountains for our honeymoon, I got stung by a bee, got a speeding ticket, and we had no air conditioning in our truck. It was truly one to remember. We came back and moved to North Carolina, where Joe was stationed at the time, and I cried for the next 2 weeks. I had never been that far away from home before.

As a child I had a bad case of asthma and now all of a sudden I’m having no problems. Little did I know that my body was treating itself with cortisol. In Jan. of 1987 I had a doctor’s appointment with my Allergist.

I was told then that I had High Blood pressure and to keep check on it. I was also beginning to be very emotional around this time. I would cry over nothing.

I started having migraine headaches while Joe was away on a deployment. My parents came and took me to the ER and because I had not been able to eat for 3 days and I was living in the dark because the sunlight was killing my head. Again I was told that it was High Blood pressure. Joe came home and left again in June for 6 months on the ship. I moved home and didn’t have any problems that summer. I moved back to Carolina in the fall so that I could get our house ready for Joe’s home coming. The real nerve racking part was that Joe’s ship was part of the mine sweeping going on in the Persian Gulf during 1987.

1988 was a pretty good year. Not too many problems except for headaches. But 1989 is a different story. I fell apart this year. In the spring I broke out in this strange rash that wouldn’t go away and I couldn’t find a doctor that could tell me what it was. Not long after that my periods stopped, we were really excited thinking that we were finally going to have a baby, WRONG! I went 3 months without a cycle; I still had the rash, headaches and high blood pressure. You would think that this would have alerted my OB GYN that something was wrong. Joe came home one day and found me doubled over and took me to the ER and we found out that I had kidney stones. Over all this time I am steady gaining weight. The stones passed and then tests were done and everything was fine there. Finally I decided to go to see Dermatology for the rash and was treated for severe acne. On my second visit with them the doctor took a look at my entire medical record and excused himself from the room. A few minutes later he returned with a doctor from Internal medicine, he took one look at me and said that I was the classic Cushing’s case. Then he went on to explain it to me. This was in Nov.1989. The tests began and I had a CT Scan done in Dec of that year that I didn’t get the results from until after Christmas. They showed a tumor on the pituitary and I was told to go to Portsmouth Naval Hospital right away. We took off and headed to Virginia not knowing what to expect. I was admitted the next day and had a week of peeing in a jug and lots of bloodwork. I was sent home with my surgery scheduled for Feb. 1990. Well, being the Navy, my surgeon was called away and my surgery was delayed until March.

I had transphenoidal surgery in March 1990 and they removed what they could but it had invaded the sinus cavity and they couldn’t get it all. I was sent home on hydrocortizone and had 2 episodes where my cortisol levels dropped too low and had to go the ER. Once I was weaned off I was okay and actually felt pretty good. I had monthly 24-hour urine tests run and they began to come back high again. I was put back in the hospital in Portsmouth and all the tests came back normal. I was sent home and a couple of months later they were high again. Again I went to the hospital and sent home normal. What’s going on here? The next time this happened I demanded that something be done. The head of the Endo dept. (I won’t mention any names, but Handiman knows him personally) tried to tell me that I was faking it so that my husband wouldn’t have to go the Desert Storm. I talked on of the interns to schedule me for an appt with the radiation oncologist and they determined that the tumor was still growing and that I needed to have radiation. Joe was scheduled to go to the desert but he was pulled from that duty and assigned to recruiter’s asst. and we moved to Virginia to my parent’s home for 60 days while I underwent 31 days of traditional radiation to the pituitary. I went back to Carolina feeling more at ease that something had been done. The rash went away but I continued to gain weight and still had Blood pressure problem, but was now being treated for it.

I was doing really well and Joe went away again for 6 months in Oct.1991. He was gone that Christmas, which was hard but I handled it ok. When he returned he had orders to go to Atlanta, GA. I was doing well and we packed up and went. I didn’t like the endo I saw there so I continued my 6-month check ups in Portsmouth when went home to visit.

In the summer of 1994, I started having problems with my left eye and thought it was allergies. I went to the eye doctor and after examining me he sent me to a Neuro Ophthalmologist who ordered a MRI and guess what The Tumor’s back! It was pressing on the optic nerve causing what they called a third nerve palsy. I was treated with medication until Jan 1995, hoping that the tumor would shrink but it got worse. I began to have double vision and my left eye closed completely. In the spring of 95 I again underwent Transphenoidal surgery at Emory University under  Dr. Oyesiku. He was great. I also had a great endo there, Dr. Lewis Blevins (he is at Vanderbilt in Tenn. Now). They still could not retract the entire tumor so I went back in August of that year and had Sterotactic Radiation Surgery. That was a one time radiation and it was a real experience. I had a metal Halo drilled into my head and I had CT scans and MRIs done with it one to determine the exact location of the tumor, then I was placed in a chair that spun in very slow circles while the radiation was being done. When I arrived back in my room they couldn’t find the key to take the halo off, so I had to wear it for another 2 hours until they found it.

It has now been almost 6 years since the last radiation and my current MRIs show some shrinkage of the tumor. I am currently battling high cortisol levels again but I think if we can find the right dosage of medicine it will level off. I am currently taking meds for: thyroid, high blood pressure, estrogen, diabetes, medication to control cortisol, allergy medication and every 3 months I take hormones to make me have a menstrual cycle. But over all I am doing OK.

My husband is out of the Marine Corps now and we live in Maryland. We are in the process of Adopting. We are really excited about this and can hardly wait to get our little one. My husband and Family have been so supportive of me through all of these years and I don’t know what I would have done without them and my close friends.

I feel like I have made many friends here also. This site has been a great help to me and I hope that my story can help someone else.

Take Care everyone!

Natalie

~~

MaryO Note: Natalie had a BLA in March, 2008. She died April 21, 2008.
In Memoriam

Natalie Fay

Monday, April 21, 2008

Natalie Fay (Natalie65), died April 21, 2008. She was only 42 and had recently had a BLA. I first met Natalie at a local lunch in November of 2001 and have seen her several times
since then.

Natalie started the original “Dammit Dolls” that circulated around the country until people refused to pass them along anymore.

Some recent past posts.

February 10, 2008

going to UVA I am going for my first visit with Dr. Hanks at
UVA on the 20th. I will also see Dr. Vance that day. I haven’t seen her before
either. I am planning on having bilateral adrenal surgery in March. I am a
little nervous about this, but it is going to be a positive thing I hope. I
would love to hear from anyone who has had this done so that I will have an idea
of what to expect. after surgery.

Thanks! Natalie

March 18, 2008

surgery update Hey everyone!

I’m back! It has been a
very slow week and I’m just satrting to feel like moving around again. I had BLA
on the 10th and came home on friday. My parents have taken my boys (3 & 6)
home to Va. I have missed them so much this week, but I think it was the right
thing to do. I don’t know how I would have done it without them. I am still very
sore and tired at times, but I’m coming along. Sorry this has taken so long to
get out to you guys, I thought things were taken care of but I was wrong. Oh
Well! I’m doing good and I’ll keep in touch. Thanks for all of your thoughts and
prayers.

Natalie

Message Board Signature:

pit surgery 1990
traditional 30 days
radiation 1990
pit surgery 1995
sterotactic radiation surgery 1995
2004
still have remaining tumor
cortisol levels still off balance
BLA March 10,
2008

Tributes and Memories on the message boards…

Our first local DC area Cushie lunch November 17, 2001 with Linda, Jayne, me and Natalie – all in Cushe Colors [Photographer: Robin]

Our first local DC area Cushie lunch November 17, 2001 with Jayne, Linda, Natalie, MaryO and Dianne [Photographer: Robin]

Our first local DC area Cushie lunch November 17, 2001 with Jayne, Linda, Natalie, MaryO and Dianne [Photographer: TomO]

Our second local DC area Cushie lunch February 9, 2002 all the families [Photographer: Robin]

Our second local DC area Cushie lunch February 9, 2002 with Jayne, Marcia, Heather, Natalie and MaryO [Photographer: Robin]

Our second local DC area Cushie lunch February 9, 2002 with Jayne, Marcia, Heather, Natalie and MaryO [Photographer: Robin]

Our second local DC area Cushie lunch February 9, 2002 with Jayne, Marcia, Heather, Natalie and MaryO. LynneInVa made the roses for us from candles. [Photographer: Robin]

Our next local DC area Cushie lunch May 4, 2002 with lots of us! [Photographer: Robin]

Our next local DC area Cushie lunch May 4, 2002 with lots of us! [Photographer: Robin]

Our next local DC area Cushie lunch May 4, 2002 with lots of us! [Photographer: Robin]

Our next local DC area Cushie lunch May 4, 2002 with lots of us! [Photographer: Robin]

Our next local DC area Cushie lunch May 4, 2002 with Pat, MaryO, Ruth, Natalie, Susan, Jayne [Photographer: TomO]

Our next local DC area Cushie lunch May 4, 2002 with Pat, MaryO, Ruth, Natalie, Susan, Jayne [Photographer: Robin]

Our next local DC area Cushie lunch May 4, 2002 with Joe, Jed and Catherine [Photographer: Robin]

Our three families: Tom and MaryO, Natalie and Joe, Robin and Jayne…and kids [Photographer: a waitress]

Our three families: Tom and MaryO, Natalie and Joe, Robin and Jayne…and kids [Photographer: a waitress]

TomO being silly, stealing Catherine’s nose. [Photographer: Robin]

http://www.wrightfuneralhome.org/index.cfm

Natalie Grissom Fay
(June 11, 1965 – April 21, 2008)


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Courtland, Virginia– Natalie Grissom Fay, 42, passed away April 21, 2008 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown, Md. She was born in Petersburg, Va, a daughter of Edward Scott and Nan Lucy Grissom and was a 1983 graduate of Southampton High School. Natalie actively supported several Cushing Support Groups, and was a member of the Patuxent Presbyterian Church. Surviving in addition to her parents is her husband, Joseph P. Fay; two sons, Joseph Edward (Jed) Fay and Nathan Lee Fay all of Hollywood, Md.; one sister, Annette G. Stephenson of Courtland, Va.; two nephews, Scott and Vance Stephenson; and her father-in-law, Edward K. Fay and wife, Sunee, of Deltona, Fl. The funeral will be conducted at 2 pm Friday at Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Edmund Ellis officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 pm Thursday at the home of Edward and Nan Grissom, 16046 Wakefield Road, Courtland, and suggest that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cushings Help, c/o Mary O’Connor, 4094 Majestic Lane, #328, Fairfax, Va. 22033.

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

April 20, 2025

MaryO Adrenal Insufficiency, Cancer, Golden Oldies, growth hormone, Growth Hormone Deficiency, MaryO, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, Success Stories, Treatments, Update , , , , , , , Leave a comment

invisible

 

I’ve been thinking about this since the article I posted on doctors not understanding what it was like for a post-op Cushing’s disease patient – ME!  I’m updating this for Cushings Awareness Month 2025.

I originally posted this on Facebook way back in 2010.

Edits from November 21, 2015 are in blue italic
Edits from September 25, 2023 are in red italic
Edits from February 29, 2024 are in green italic
Edits from April 2025 are in purple italic

November 21, 2010 at 6:31pm

I really liked Jessica’s list, so I decided to make one of my own.  I was looking in my blog for what I wrote already about Psalm 116 and found out that I already did a very similar list in September 2009.  Talk about bad memory!

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illnesses I live with are: Cushing’s Disease and kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). I also have secondary adrenal insufficiency as well as a growth hormone deficiency. I had pituitary surgery on November 3, 1987 and had my kidney cancer (kidney and adrenal gland) removed May 9, 2006.  Having my adrenal gland removed acerbates my post-op pituitary issues. My one remaining adrenal gland doesn’t work well and I cannot replace my deficient growth hormone because I had cancer.

November 21, 2015:  I haven’t added anything much to this list – HOORAY!  OTOH, nothing has gone away, either.  

A couple days/nights a month, I have unexplained, random itching.  It could be on my foot, then jump to my stomach, then anywhere. It keeps me awake at night and is very annoying.  I originally had this in menopause and I’m very annoyed that it has come back.

I mentioned this to my endo last year because of the possibility of “hormone withdrawal” and he said I should probably talk to my PCP about this, and that it could be “serious”.  I haven’t yet because I don’t like the possibility of tracking down some other dread, unknown disease.  According to that great doctor, Wikipedia: 

Causes of formication include normal states such as onset of menopause (i.e. hormone withdrawal). Other causes are medical conditions such as pesticide exposure, mercury poisoning, diabetic neuropathy, skin cancer, syphilis, Lyme disease or herpes zoster (shingles). Formication can also be a result of stimulant intoxication (e.g. methamphetamines, cocaine) or alcohol withdrawal in alcoholics (i.e. delirium tremens), and is often accompanied by visual hallucinations of insects.

Also, I’ve been having terrible swelling, and pain in my left ring finger.  I will see my PCP about that on Wednesday after having this for about 8 months or so.  I looked up the possibilities on Dr. Google and there are too many to contemplate.  I hope it’s not arthritis.  I already know I can’t take meds for that.

September 25, 2023 – I’m able to take growth hormone injections – Omnitrope – again but I don’t see it making any difference.

In March of 2023 I had a total left knee replacement after many steroid injections and one series of hyaluronic acid.  I documented all that in another of my blogs. I am expecting to do the right knee possibly in the fall of 2024 but I’m putting it off as long as possible.

February 3, 2025 I had a total right knee replacement.  It was “easier than the left but I developed an allergy to something which is yet unknown and I had a terrible itch rash for about a month.

2. I was diagnosed with Cushing’s in the year: 1985; adrenal insufficiency in 1999; GH deficiency in 2004 and kidney cancer in 2006.

November 21, 2015:  Somehow, I forgot that I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the early 1980’s and took NSAIDs for about 30 years.  Those are another kidney cancer no-no.

In April of 2021 I had a Mohs Surgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma.  A description and photos are available here: https://maryomedical.com/2021/05/09/the-mohs-nose/

 

3. But I had Cushing’s symptoms since: 1983 for sure.  Looking back, I can trace some other symptoms to the 1970s.

 

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Sleeping so much.  When I say I have to sleep, that’s it, no matter where I am, no matter what I’m doing.  From the cancer – not being able to take my arthritis meds.

 

5. Most people assume: I am completely healthy.  I had surgery, so everything is fine.  I am, however, lazy.

 

6. The hardest part about mornings are: getting up.  I could sleep until at least noon if I didn’t have an alarm AND something specific to do.  It’s also hard to get my joints so they work.  Sometimes I have a hard time standing.  I have a footed cane beside the bed to help me get up.

November 21, 2015:  I seem to be getting up earlier.  I have an issue with a joint on my ring finger, left hand.  It often throbs at night and wakes me up.

2023-2024, I seem to be waking up about 1 or so.  I guess because my 2-3 hour naps, my body is treating bedtime as just another nap.

2024-2025. I’m waking up about 3 and doing some online work, then napping for about 30 minutes to an hour until my alarm goes off at 9

7. My favorite medical TV show is: House.  I started watching it because an episode about Cushing’s was loosely based on a Cushie I know.

November 21, 2015:  House doesn’t seem to be on anymore so I no longer have a favorite medical TV show.

 

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Wow, so many. My iPhone is the main one with a few others very close.

November 21, 2015:  iPad now.

 

9. The hardest part about nights are: Staying asleep.  I’m always tired but I often have to get up to go the the bathroom.  Then, I often have trouble getting back to sleep.

November 21, 2015:  Dreams, some scary, some that just play like endless loops until I get up.  I still get up for the bathroom, too. Pain, sometimes that itching. 

 

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins: Not much.  I only take Cortef and lisinopril/HCTZ.  I used to take a lot of other meds but, due to having only one kidney, I can’t take much of anything, including vitamin C, aspirin and NSAIDs.  I pray I don’t get headaches anymore!

November 21, 2015:  Nowadays, it’s only the Cortef.
If absolutely necessary, I take Alavert for allergies and Benadryl if I’m in an itchy pattern; Tylenol for headaches.  

Because of the cancer, I can’t take Growth Hormone any more.

September 25, 2023 – I’m able to take growth hormone injections – Omnitrope – again but I don’t see it making any difference.

 

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: have to clear anything I take or do with my kidney cancer surgeon so it’s easier to just not take anything.

 

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: What I have.  While I wish people would understand better, I don’t want anyone to feel pity or single me out.

 

13. Regarding working and career: I’ve been fortunate – I’ve been a piano teacher forever and I can control my hours to get in naps when I need them.  I could not work a 40-hour job.

November 21, 2015:  I still teach piano, although it’s hard to play now due to that joint issue.  I also am webmaster for my church, for my husband’s company and the Cushing’s sites.  I also inherited my friend’s menopause site when she died.  So, there’s a lot of stuff to do, but I can still work naps in.  I still could not work a normal work day.

September 25, 2023 – I still teach piano, am the Director of Communications for my church and keep the Cushing’s sites going – sort of.  I still take a lot of naps.

 

14. People would be surprised to know: that I have trouble dealing with so many things.

 

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: that I can’t be the Energizer Bunny any more.  No project days where lots of stuff gets done.

 

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: start a website and support group to help others.

 

17. The commercials about my illness: NONE!

 

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: I miss Sweet Adelines.  I loved the singing, the dressing up in sequins and false eyelashes to sing before huge crowds.  Almost like being on Broadway.  I also miss playing violin in a local orchestra.

January 2024, I bought a silent e-violin so I can start practicing again without bothering my 100-year-old mom. In March I joined a balalaika orchestra!

In 2025 I’m sill playing with the balalaika orchestra

19. It was really hard to have to give up:my arthritis meds.

 

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Naps, sleeping.

 

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I cannot even imagine.  I could join a gym again, although for only one day it wouldn’t do much.  I could commit to doing something in the afternoons without napping before.  I could get some of my house tidied up…

 

22. My illness has taught me: a lot about hormones, glands, medical terms and… HTML.  I almost think I could have gone to med school if I’d had the stamina.

 

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: “Oh, my friend’s dog (or cat/horse/ferret) had that [Cushing’s].  The vet just gave the dog some pills and she was fine.  GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

24. But I love it when people: listen to me when I try to tell them a bit about Cushing’s, even if it is a dumbed-down version.

February 15-16, 2024 I had the opportunity to be in both Fair Oaks Emergency Room and the hospital in Fairfax, VA.

Whenever a nurse/medical tech mentioned steroids, I asked what they knew about Cushing’s. One asked if it was a medication. DUH!

Needless to say, none were very Cushing’s-savvy. So, I gave them all the abbreviated version of my Cushie Story.

I think (and hope!) that they will all remember the day that they met a real live Cushing’s patient.. 

My left knee surgey was supposed to be in early January 2025 but it was snowed out.  Because it was rescheduled for more than a month later, I had to redo some testing.  I was amazed that the doctor in the walk-in clinic knew about Cushing’s although she’d never met a real one in the wild.  I spent a lot of time talking to her.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:

Psalms 116:

“1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;he heard my cry for mercy.

 

2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

 

3 The cords of death entangled me,the anguish of the grave came upon me;I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

 

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:”O LORD, save me!”

 

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;our God is full of compassion.

 

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;when I was in great need, he saved me….”

 

After I was finished with the long diagnostic process, surgery and several post-op visits to NIH, I was asked to give the scripture reading at my church. The man who did the sermon that week was the survivor of a horrific accident where he and his family were hit by a van while waiting at an airport.

 

I thought I had written down the verse carefully. I practiced and practiced, I don’t like speaking in front of a crowd but I said I would. When I got to church, the verse was different. Maybe I wrote it down wrong, maybe someone changed it. Whatever. When I read this Psalm aloud, I just started crying, it so spoke to me and my situation.

 

Another reading I love is:The Best Day Of My Life by Gregory M Lousignont

 

“Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I’m going to celebrate!

 

Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

 

I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

 

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I’ll make someone smile. I’ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don’t even know.

 

Today, I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I’ll tell a child how special he is, and I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.

 

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me.

 

I’ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

 

And tonight, before I go to bed, I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

 

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!”

 

When I’m feeling down, depressed or low, reading this and “my” Psalm can help me more than anything else.

 

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Learn everything you can about your disease.  You know more about your body than anyone else.  If your doctor tells you something that you know to be wrong about *you* – get another doctor!  Don’t waste your life getting good care for yourself.

 

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how intolerant other people can be and the discrimination that I have run into, such as not being included in some activity just because my physical limitations would make it inconvenient for them to deal with accommodating me.

 

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: trying to understand that I wasn’t just fat and lazy, I really had medical issues going on.

 

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I like people to know that just because someone looks healthy, they may not be.  There are lots of people out there with invisible illnesses who need understanding, compassion and, possibly, help.

 

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: like you’re really interested.

 

The 2009 version was pretty close!

Thanks for being interested enough to read this!

Surviving Cushing’s Disease: A Young Man’s Journey

April 18, 2025

MaryO book, Male, Pituitary , , , , Leave a comment

 

This narrative nonfiction novel chronicles my son’s twenty-year journey to get his Cushing’s disease diagnosed—a journey that took far too long.

Throughout the book, I highlight opportunities for testing that could have been done according to endocrinologist guidelines.

The core message is clear: early diagnosis is crucial for people to live vibrant lives.

Read Surviving Cushing’s Disease: A Young Man’s Journey.

From the back cover: Dean’s health deteriorated slowly because of a tiny intruder in his brain. For years, the little beast caused subtle damage by sending harmful messages throughout his body. Salvation came on a winter morning when surgeons removed the culprit. Surgery corrected the problem, but the real battle is the long, grueling fight against the disease’s lingering effects.

Dean continues to fight for the quality of his life as his smile radiates the scars of his surviving spirit.

Join a Doctor of Pharmacy as he retrospectively reviews his son’s long and challenging journey to obtain a diagnosis of Gushing’s disease. This compelling narrative is framed against the backdrop of clinical guidelines developed by leading endocrinologists from the United States and the United Kingdom.

In Memory of Diane, April 2008

April 18, 2025

MaryO Addison's Disease, Adrenal, Adrenal Insufficiency, In Memory , Leave a comment

in-memory

My name is Amy and my very best friend just passed away from an adrenal crisis. Diane was unaware that she had any adrenal issue.

She seemed to have gotten sick on Sat. and was passed away by the morning. After 45 days of an autopsy, it was determined that her adrenal glands were “wasted” and she had an adrenal crisis and died.

I am looking for a better understanding of what this is all about.

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In Memory of Stacy Ollenberger ~ November 4, 2015

April 16, 2025

MaryO Adrenal, Adrenal Insufficiency, Adrenal Surgery, In Memory, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, radiation, Treatments , , , , , , 7 Comments

stacy-o-memory

 

Stacy’s sister posted on Facebook:
This is my beautiful sister Stacy she was diagnosed with cushings disease in 2005 at the age of 19 she had two pituitary surgeries radiation and finally an adrenalectomy we watched her suffer struggle and fight this disease for ten years there were countless Dr visits and pills she had to take daily until she passed away in her home on November 4 2015 at the age of 30 we miss her so much she has left a hole in our hearts but we will continue to bring awareness to this horrible disease hoping we can save someone’s life…

…Thank you so much for sharing this I think she struggled with the stigma of the disease she was doing so much better but she passed suddenly of adrenal crisis we were shocked we truly believed that she had this beat I know this group was so special to her she even added me to it I think to help me understand what she was going through you are all incredible amazing people to have the strength to battle through this everyday.

From Stacy’s blog:

Monday, April 27, 2009

Ambers Paper

My friend Amber is currently in school (taking Journalism I believe). She started reading my blog and had to write a paper for one of her classes, she asked me if it would be okay for her to write one about Cushing’s Disease and use my blog and/or me for information. I agreed. Amber found out quickly how hard it is to find useful information about Cushing’s Disease in Humans. Alot of sites are geared towards dogs and horses. She agree with the rest of us that it is retarded that there isn’t more information so that people could at least become more informed about this disease. Anyways this is a copy of what she submitted:

Living with Cushing’s disease
By, Amber Yake

When Stacy Ollenberger was 19 years old she began gaining weight at a rapid pace regardless of her healthy lifestyle, when she went to the doctor she was called a liar and told she was just getting fat.

“I saw six doctors before I was diagnosed,” Ollenberger said. “Doctors told me it was just weight gain and I had to change my diet and exercise.”

After seeing five doctors in two different cities, she finally saw a doctor who realized something was wrong with her. He suspected she had Cushing’s disease and referred her to a specialist in Edmonton.

“Finally I saw another doctor and he knew something was wrong. He didn’t know what so he did a bunch of tests and found out that I had extremely high cortisol levels,” Ollenberger said. “He had seen Cushing’s once before and suspected that is what I had but wasn’t a specialist so he referred me to Edmonton.”

According to Ollenberger, an excessive secretion of ACTH, which is produced by a pituitary tumour, causes Cushing’s disease. The ACTH then triggers your adrenal glands to produce excess amounts of cortisol. Symptoms include upper body obesity, round full face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning of arms and legs among other things.

Ollenberger showed all of these symptoms, however; since Cushing’s disease is so rare, none of the doctors she saw thought that is what she had.

“The specialists in Edmonton did not want to see me because they said Cushing’s disease is rare and they said that there was no way I had it,” she said. “They had all my blood work and stuff, my cortisol was more than 6 times higher than that of a “normal” person, and they told us that the tests were wrong and needed to be redone.”

Ollenberger was finally seen by specialists in Edmonton, AB and has since had two brain surgeries in attempts to remove the tumour on her pituitary gland increase. She feels angry at the medical system for not diagnosing her symptoms sooner.

“If I were diagnosed sooner the symptoms of my disease probably would not have gotten so bad and I probably would not have had to go through everything that I have had to—two surgeries, radiation and now I have to get my adrenal glands removed,” she said.

“I mean my family doctor made me feel like I was just a fat slob who didn’t eat right or exercise. He had been my doctor for years, and for me to gain so much weight so fast he should have known something was medically wrong.”

The doctors were unable to completely remove Ollenberger’s tumour. It’s not shrinking or growing. It is not an option to remove more of the tumour so her next option is to get her adrenal glands removed.

According to Ollenberger, this will make her body not be able to produce any more cortisol. Because you need cortisol to survive, after her surgery she will have to start medication to replace the cortisol that her body needs to survive.

“I will be on medication for the rest of my life,” she said.

Ollenberger is also working with her cousin to create a Cushing’s Awareness day in Canada. She wants to educate people so no one has to experience the things she has.

“It only takes one person to educate many and that is what I would like to do, bring awareness to this disease so others do not have to go through what I had to” she said.

 
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Pituitary: We Thought Dad Would Be Alright But We Were Wrong

April 5, 2025

MaryO In Memory, Male, News Items, Pituitary, radiation, Recurrence, Treatments , , , , , Leave a comment

The pituitary gland

A loving dad with ‘boundless energy and positivity’ died unexpectedly of a rare condition. Dave Whitfield was 59 when he died in December 2023.

His son Archie, 23, explained that his dad had been diagnosed with several brain tumours throughout his life but they had always been treatable by doctors. This changed in early 2023 however.

Another brain tumour led to Dave being diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome, a rare condition caused by excessive cortisol in the body. Often this overproduction is due to a benign tumour in the pituitary or adrenal glands.

Cortisol helps the body cope with stressful situations, as well as reducing swelling and fighting off infections. Cushing’s syndrome is also much more common in women than in men.

Because of this, Archie and the wider family were taken aback about what happened to Dave. Speaking to the ECHO, Archie said: “Dad had brain tumours come and go over the last 15, 20 years.

“He was always able to either get the tumour operated on or have radiotherapy to have them removed. However, a couple years ago, a tumour came back, causing Cushing’s syndrome.

“As we’d obviously experienced him having brain tumours in the past, it was a case again of thinking, ‘ah it’s alright, he’s had them before, overcome them and life has carried on as normal.’

“This time with Cushing’s though, it affected him a lot more. Life was getting more and more difficult for him. They weren’t able to operate on the tumour due to the scar tissue. It was much harder to remove, so there was just a slow deterioration in his condition.”

Dave’s death was a massive loss to Archie and everyone who knew him. Archie said: “Dad had a boundless amount of energy and positivity. He was a very positive man.

“He would make everyone in the room feel like the most important person there. As a dad, he was an endless source of advice and support. He worked as a teacher. He loved getting the best out of his students and seeing the best in people generally.”

Football was a shared passion between Dave and Archie, who are both from Thirsk in North Yorkshire. Dave was a huge Arsenal fan which he passed to his son, who played for York City at youth level.

After his dad died, Archie started to think about doing something related to this passion in his dad’s memory. He said: “I’m a big believer in the fact that football unites more than it divides.

“Of course it has its divisions because it’s a massive game and people feel so passionate about their football clubs, but you go to a bar anywhere, and if you find two people interested in football, they’re gonna chat about it and in a friendly manner.

“After dad passed, I thought, I’d love to do something in his memory and spread the word about his life and his condition. I thought about running the length of the country from Land’s End to John O’Groats but it didn’t have that personal aspect.”

Archie then had the idea of an epic 800-mile run between all 20 Premier League football stadiums. He started his challenge yesterday at St James’ Park in Newcastle on April 2 and will finish at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on April 26.

Archie will reach Merseyside this weekend on Sunday April 6 to run past Anfield and Goodison Park. The following day, he will stop off at the headquarters of the Brain Charity on Norton Street in Liverpool city centre.

Archie will be raising money for the organisation during his run, which specialises in supporting people with neurological conditions. Archie said: “I think there’ll be some good support when I get into Liverpool.

“There’s obviously a rivalry between Arsenal and Liverpool and we’ve got many friends who are Liverpool fans. I have lots of memories of watching both Liverpool and Everton games with my dad over the years.

“We didn’t know about The Brain Charity while dad was still alive. But one thing we found with dad was that we were lucky and had such a big support network of friends and family.

“With him being so popular, so many people helped us out. So many people with these brain conditions don’t have that support network.

“That’s something The Brain Charity helps massively with. It’s been amazing to visit them and see the work they do. That was the main factor in us going with them.”

The Brain Charity’s CEO Pippa Sargent said: “Archie’s challenge is an incredible tribute to his dad, and we are so grateful for his support. Losing a loved one to a brain condition is devastating, and the money he is raising will help The Brain Charity support more families facing similar challenges. We’ll be behind him every step of the way.”

You can find out more about Archie’s challenge via his website. More information about The Brain Charity is available here.

Adapted from https://uk.news.yahoo.com/thought-dad-alright-were-wrong-030000141.html?