2 traumatic brain injuries (strike for heathcare with first, no ambulance called for 2nd minor one!!!), and one discharged head injury resulting in a concussion before 19 yrs old.
Symptoms of seizures/mood/anger/agitation from 4yrs old.
Symptoms of regular seizures, depression, brain fog and Carpel Tunnel Syndrome from 18 yrs old.
Loads of mental health diagnosis from 19 yrs old (til now 51 yrs old).
Diagnosed with Auto Immune Hypothyroidism at 23 yrs old.
Diagnosed with Post Trauma Brain Syndrome (now Post Concussion syndrome)in 20’s.
Pituitary tumour found in 2020 (posterior lobe), now test after test and 2nd MRI still shows microadenoma.
2022-await 3rd MRI,CRH test,etc as healthcare all about any diagnosis to avoid free healthcare for surgery!
I was diagnosed with empty sella this year – by a neurologist analyzing my migraine headaches. He has ordered a prolactin test which I will have done when I see an endocrinologist in a about a month.
My weight had been pretty stable for years, now I seem to be gaining steadily and my breast are getting huge … I know … but it’s not funny to me because I can’t wear most of my clothes any more.
Also I am having anxiety attacks, my speech and vocabulary seem to be affected, my ankles are swollen. My internist has been attentive to my concerns and has been providing referrals to specialists. I feel as though I am losing my mind, my thinking is not sharp and I feel like crying all the time.
What happened, where is the real me? … and is this Cushing’s or something else?
During the summer of 1999 I was a trim and fit 130 pound woman. I was very athletic and worked out all the time. At that time I had also been taking Tae Kwon Do. I was able to eat anything that I wanted and not gain weight. I wore size 8 pants.
Fast forward to May of 2000. I developed increasing stomach and bowel problems. I had a spastic colon and serious GERD. Along with that came a poof in my belly. Although I was still wearing the same size my stomach started to look “pregnant”. I was referred to a gastroenterologist who began treating my myriad of health issues. He really couldn’t find a reason for all of it but said he could treat it. For awhile I managed okay on the drugs and diet that I was treated with. Everything went in cycles.
During the summer of 2001 my naturally light blonde hair began to change color. It got black and mousy looking at the roots. At the same time it started thinning, the texture was horrible and no longer shiny and baby soft. I developed heat intolerance. I was uncomfortable in 80 degree weather. I also developed strange rashes and red dots on my skin. Later that fall my neck and face started to turn beet red. It stayed that way.
I could no longer fit in my wedding rings and my shoe size went from a size 7 ½ to and 8 1/2. Doctors didn’t find this impressive. My neck went from 13 inches around to 16. I gained 12 pounds in 1 week alone. I started getting real fat in my stomach and armpits, and I could no longer wear normal bras. I also started getting a lot of fat on my upper back. I grew hair in places that women should not grow hair. My face was huge with strange acne outbreaks. I also got acne in weird spots.
At the time I had put on about 20 pounds all in my stomach. When I would try other clothing it wouldn’t work because the next size bigger fit in the waist but the butt and legs were huge. I gave up on real pants and started to wear stretch clothes all the time. At this time I could no longer exercise to my peak performance. I was tired all the time and never felt well and I looked like I was 6 months pregnant. I thought that I was getting old.
January of 2002 my bowel and stomach troubles peaked. I was in and out of the hospital. Although I was following the healthy eating plan and exercising no doctors believed me. My PCP did a TSH test and it came back at 27.48. I was hypothyroid, at that time my estradiol levels were also non-existent. So off I was sent to an Endocrinologist. I was given replacements for both yet nothing improved.
This started an intense year of doctors. I was diagnosed with anything and everything at this point. I was started on the Atkins diet plan. I followed this religiously and walked for up to 2 hours a day and continued to gain weight. By this time I was 165 pounds. Finally realizing that something horrible was wrong with me I started seeking out Endo’s on my own. It led me to one who thought he should do a few 24 UFC’s. One came back high, 2 others came back high normal (33.4 and 33.9 with a range of 2.9-34). They then did serum cortisols which came back below normal. I was frustrated.
It was November by now and I was getting no where fast. At this point I had seen 11 different doctors. The last of which told me that there was no way I was eating healthy and not losing. He even suggested that my fresh sliced berry snack was making me fat. By now I’ developed high blood pressure and high blood sugars. My fasting blood glucose came in at 170.
By this time I was so exhausted and developed such horrid bone pain that I could not even exercise anymore. I remember waking up late one morning and crying. I went downstairs and told my hubby I was sure my back was breaking. It was horrible. I weighed 196 pounds and looked 9 months pregnant with triplets.
I came home and looked the tests up on the internet. I started reading everything that I could find. I knew then that I had Cushing’s. I found the Cushing’s help site. The trouble was that some tests were normal and some were abnormal. Finally in January of 2003 I went to see Dr. Friedman after another patient emailed me. Dr. Friedman tested my 17-Hydroxysteroids and 17- Ketosteroids which came back elevated. He also did some additional salivary cortisols testing. He finally figured out that I not only had Cyclic Cushing’s but also Acromegaly.
After many more tests and some MRI’s my tumors were found. I had pituitary surgery to remove them. I was devastated that I was not cured from the Cushing’s. After much consulting I decided to proceed with a Bilateral Adrenalectomy to cure it once and for all. I am recovering slowly but surely.
I’m a 33 year old female. I have 3 young boys ages 8, 5 & 2.
About 1 year ago I started suffering from chronic fatigue to the point of crying halfway thru my work day not knowing how I was going to make it thru the rest of the day. I went to my primary physician who stated I might need to have my thryroid rechecked. I was previously diagnosed with hypothryroid but on a real low dose of Levothryroxine. He ran some blood work and the test came back normal but with deficiencies in my B-12 & Viamin D. He suggested I try a multivitamin. I went out and splurged on the best vitamins I could find but they were of no help.
I returned after experiencing palpitations and dizziness. I was then diagnosed with Vertigo and given meds that only made me more sleepy so I stoped taking them. I noticed I was gaining weight even though at this time I was running 3 miles 4X/wk and loging in my meals.
My PCP thought I was suffering from depression because I cried at one of my appointments out of frustration because I just waned to make it thru a day without feeling tiered. He suggested I take a sleep study test to check for insomnia. The test came back cleared saying other than fallling asleep faster than usual patients nothing else was wrong.
I was referred to a cardiologist becasue I was also feeling extremely cold and had a difficult time performing the same tasks I was able to do wihtout any problems months earlier. I kept insisting I had a lot of the syptoms I had previous to start on meds for my hypothyroidism but because the blood work came back normal they said they could not change my meds.
I read somewhere about secondoray hypothyroidsm and requested a referal to an endocronologists. My PCP felt there was no reason as everything came back normal but I pleaded until he gave in and authorized my referral.
I went to see my endocronologist for the first time and for some reason after telling her what I was experiencing she told me my issues could range from anemia to Multiple Sclerois but she also wanted to check for something extremely rare…..did not give me a name. She requested blood work and sent me home with 3 cottong swabs she wanted me to saturate between 11 pm – 12 am, stick them in the fridge and return to their lab as soon as I was done. I did this and she called me stating the tests came back abnormal and she wanted me to do another tests. She was very vague about providing me with information other than assuring me that what she was testing me for was extremely rare and it was probably false results. She told me not too panic and just go about life as usual.
I came home with a 24 hour urine collection container and another round of saliva tests. I got a call from her nurse stating everything was normal. I insisted I wanted a f/u visit with the Dr. At the time of my visit she stated she was happy I had insisted on another appointment because the saliva test came back abnormal, but only on one of the swabs.
This time I came prepared with a list of symptoms and my own depression screening test (I’m a social worker and knew my some of my symptoms were similar to those of people suffering from depression), she took copies but again told me not to worry. Well the more she told me not to worry the more worried I became and started researching Cushing’s the extrme rare disorder she had been telling me not to worry about.
My husband came across a website called Cushing’s with a Moxie, when I started reading the blog I started to cry I felt like finally someone understood me. I still don’t have an answer by my Endocronologist but in my head I think I’ve figured it out and as silly as it sounds I’m wishing this is it, finally an answer to my symptoms.
Hello everyone, My name is Kristina and i am 21 years old.I am so happy that i found this site because there are so little information about Cushing’s, especially real people stories. If not internet or tv i still wouldn’t know what is happening with me for a quite long time.
Hm i don’t know where to start, as a kid i always was very thin, and everything started changing when i was 11 or 12 years old i started to gain more and more weight, and after few years was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, i took medicine and lost my weight , but when i was 15 everything started changing again but much worse, i was always hyperactive, happy, enthusiastic, always got best grades and ect… i was always depressed, always asleep, feeling dizzy, everyday felt exhaustion, i even started missing schoool , didn’t even went where because i didn’t had energy to get up from bed and get dressed, and also with +66lbs i really didn’t wanted to show my face anywhere. And everyday everything get worse and worse, because of all this lack of energy and motivation i quit law studies, and then other studies, i don;t have energy to do simple house chores, my muscles always hurts, my head everyday hurts, i can’t sleep, i still get on weight every week almost, i have 800 kcal diet, and do some exercises, and weight still puts on… my hair is so ugly, my skin is very dry i got eczema that my skin doctor can’t cure, i broke my kneecap with very light impact i have many many other problems, and when i saw this on house md and mystery diagnosis i started my reseach on internet and library, i took very hard road that my endro would write prescriptions for all blood tests and MRT and now i am waiting for results and am very be anxious and have still many many questions.
I know that all cases are different but maybe someone could share, if after treatment or surgery, how hard is to loose weight, and not feel tired all the time? what to expect?
After 2 failed pit surgeries and a CSF leak repair,
BLA on Sept. 11, 2008 w/Dr. Fraker at UPenn
Gamma knife radiation at UPenn Oct. 2009
Now disabled and homebound. No pit, no adrenals and radiation damage to my hypothalamus.
My cure is God’s will, and I still have hope and faith!
During her too-short life, she provided help and support to other Cushies.
Hi y’all! I will try to make this short, but there is a lot to say.
I stumbled across this board after a google search last night. Yesterday, I finally saw a real endocrinologist. I am 39 years old. I weigh 362. I was diagnosed by a reproductive endocrinologist with PCOS at age 30, but all of my symptoms started at age 22.
At age 22, I was an avid runner, healthy at 140-145 pounds and 5’7″. I got a knee injury and stopped running right around the time that my periods just….stopped. And by stopped, I mean completely disappeared after mostly regular periods since age 12. I was tested by the student health clinic at UGA, and referred to an obgyn for lap exploration for endometriosis, which was ruled out. I remember that they ran some bloodwork and ultimately came back with this frustrating response: We don’t know what it is, but it’s probably stress-related because your cortisol is elevated.
Soon thereafter, I gained 80 pounds in about 6 months, and another 30 the next six months. Suddenly, in one year, I was 110 pounds heavier than my original weight of 140. I recall my mom and sister talking about how fast I was gaining weight. At the time, I blamed myself: I wasn’t eating right, I’d had to stop running due to the knee injury and my metabolism must have been “used” to the running; I was going through some family problems, so it must be that I’m eating for emotional reasons related to depression. You name the self-blame category, and I tried them all on for size.
Whatever the reason, I stopped avoiding mirrors and cameras. The person looking back at me was a stranger, and acquaintances had stopped recognizing me. A bank refused to cash my security deposit refund check from my landlord when I graduated because I no longer looked like my student ID or my driver’s license. I was pulled over for speeding while driving my dad’s Mercedes graduation weekend, and the cop who pulled me over almost arrested me for presenting a false ID. These are some really painful memories, and I wonder if anyone here can relate to the pain of losing your physical identity to the point that you are a stranger to yourself and others?
Speaking of size, from age 24 to 26 I remained around 250, had very irregular periods occuring only a few times a year (some induced), developed cystic acne in weird places, like my chest, shoulders, buttocks (yikes!), found dark, angry purple stretch marks across my abdomen (some of which I thought were so severe that my insides were going to come out through them) which I blamed on the weight gain, the appearance of a pronounced buffalo hump (which actually started at age 22 at the beginning of the weight gain), dark black hairs on my fair Scottish chin (and I’m talking I now have to shave twice daily), a slight darkening of the skin around my neck and a heavy darkening of the skin in my groin area, tiny skin tags on my neck. I was feeling truly lovely by graduation from law school and my wedding to my wonderful DH.
At age 26, I ballooned again, this time up to 280-300, where I stayed until age 32, when I went up to 326. The pretty girl who used to get cat calls when she ran was no more. She had been buried under a mountain of masculined flesh. I still had a pretty, albeit very round, face, though. And I consoled myself that I still have lovely long blonde hair — that is, until it started falling out, breaking off, feeling like straw.
At age 30, I read about PCOS on the internet and referred myself to a reproductive endocrinologist, who confirmed insulin resistance after a glucose tolerance test. I do not know what else he tested for — I believe my testosterone was high. He prescribed Metformin, but after not having great success on it after 5-6 months, I quit taking it, and seeing him. Dumb move.
Two years later, at age 32, I weighed 326. In desperation, I went on Phentermine for 3 months and lost 80 pounds the wrong way, basically starving. I was back down to 240-250, where I remained from age 33-35. After the weight loss, I got my period a few times, and started thinking about trying to have a baby. Many ultrasounds per month over a few months revealed that I just wasn’t ovulating. I decided to put off starting the family when the doctor started talking about IVF, etc. It just seemed risky to me — my body, after all, felt SICK all the time, and I couldn’t imagine carrying a baby and it winding up to be healthy.
At age 35, I ballooned again, this time significantly — from 240 to 320 in the space of 6 months. Another 45 pounds added by age 37, so that’s 125 pounds in two year. I’ve remained between 345-365 for the last two years, depending on how closely I was following my nutritionist’s recommended 1600 calorie per day diet….which was not all the time.
Which takes me to last year. I went for a physical because I wasn’t feeling well, kept getting sick, had a lot of fatigue, weird sweating where my hair would get totally drenched for no reason. At this point, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, hypothyroism (which has now been modified to Hashimoto’s thyroidis), high cholesterol (although this was present at age 30 when I got the PCOS diagnosis). I went back to my repro-endo, and resolved to make myself stay on Metformin this time. All last year was a series of monthly blood work and attempts to lose weight with an eye toward trying to get pregnant this year. By the end of the year, I was successful in taking off only 20 pounds, and my repro-endo (always with an eye toward fertility and not health), really pushed me to give up on losing weight at that moment and to start taking Clomid. Or else, he said. The words that broke my heart: this may be your last chance.
So, skip forward to January 2006. My ovaries are blown out and they are clear — no blockages. I get cleared to start fertility treatments. My husband undergoes his own embarrassing tests. I think we have an agenda here, but my mind was chewing on serious concerns that I was simply too unhealthy to be considering trying this. That, and I felt it would be a futile effort.
By the way, more than a year on the Metformin with no real changes to anything. Why doesn’t my body respond to it like other people with PCOS?
Then late March, I started experiencing extreme fatigue. And I’m not talking about the kind where you need to take a nap on a Sunday afternoon to gear up for the week ahead (which I’d always considered a nice indulgence, but not a necessity). I’m talking debilitating, life-altering fatigue. It didn’t start out right away to be debilitating — or maybe I just made the usual excuses as I always do relating to my health: I’m still getting over that flu/cold from last month. I just got a promotion at work (though I note a greatly reduced stress and caseload now that I am a managing attorney. My weight is causing it. Whatever.
I let it go on for a full two months before I started to really worry, or admit to myself that my quality life had taken a serious downward turn. You see, despite my weight and my scary appearance, I have always been the “director” type. By that I mean that last year, I worked with two other women to direct 100 volunteers to start a summer camp for inner city kids, and I had enough energy to run this ambitious new project and to film, produce and edit a 30 minute documentary on it by the end of the summer.
In contrast, I had to take a backseat this year. I basically sat in a chair and answered the questions of volunteers, made a few phone calls here and there, and was simply a “presence” in case something major went wrong. Such a major change from the year before, where I was running the whole show 14 hours a day and loving it.
But I am getting ahead of myself. (Is anyone still reading this? I must be narcissitic to think so….yet, I wonder if anyone else has gone through a similar progression….)
Back to May. After two months of this fatigue, I change to a new primary care physician and get a whole workup: blood, urine, thyroid ultrasound, cardiac stress test, liver ultrasound when my enzymes, which had been slightly elevated, were found to have doubled since January. Appointments with a gastroenterologist, and FINALLY….a REAL endocrinologist. Ruled out any serious liver problems (and my levels, surprisingly, dropped back to the slightly elevated level in a space of 3 weeks and no treatment).
Yesterday, I heard a word I’d only heard spoken once before in my life: Cushings. Way back when I was 22 and had started gaining weight so rapidly, I had a boyfriend who worked the graveyard shift at the local hospital. He spent the better part of a non-eventful week of nights pouring over medical books in the library. He excitedly showed me the pages he’d photocopied, which had sketches of a woman with a very rounded face (like mine), striae on her stomach (like mine), abdomenal obesity (like mine) and a pronounced buffalo hump. Although my former boyfriend was just a college student working his way through his music degree by earing some money moonlighting as a hospital security guard, he was the first one to note all of these tell-tale signs.
When I got my diagnosis of PCOS, I remember discounting his amateur diagnosis, and I never thought of it again.
Until yesterday, when my new endo asked me if anyone had ever tested my cortisol or if I’d ever done a 24 hour urine test. I said no, and he started writing out the referral form along with like 15-20 different blood tests. And although we’d started our appointment with him telling me he agreed with my repro-endo’s encouragement to go ahead and try to get pregnant if I can, by the end of the visit, he was telling me not everyone is meant to be a parent, there is always adoption, etc. The only thing that happened during the appointment was that I gave him my basic history of weight gain, described the fatigue, and let him examine my striae, buffalo hump and legs (which were hidden under a long straight skirt). The question about the urine screen and corisol came after this physical exam, during which he was taking lots of notes.
Then the word, which was not spoken directly to me but to his nurse practioner as I was making my two-week appointment in the reception area outside the examining room: “She looks classic Cushings. I’ll be interested to get those results.”
Cushings. Cushings. No– that’s not me. I’m not that weird-shaped, hairy, mannish-looking, round-faced, hump-backed creature my boyfriend had shown me a picture of 16 years earlier. I have PCOS, right? It’s just my fault. I don’t eat right. If I’d just eat better, I wouldn’t be 2.5 times my weight in college. Right?
I quickly came home and did an internet search. Within an hour, I was sitting in front of the computer, reading some bios here and BAWLING, just crying some body-wracking sobs as I looked at the pictures of the people on this board. Here, here (!!!!) is an entire community who has the same, wrenchingly painful picture-proven physical progression that I went through. The same symptoms and signs. Words of encouragement — of….hope. I didn’t feel scared to read about the possibility of a pituitary tumor — last year, I had a brain MRI of the optic nerve because of sudden vision irregularities, headaches and shooting eye pain. The MRI showed nothing, but then again, the image was not that great because I had to go into the lower-resolution open MRI due to my size.
I have no idea whether I have Cushing’s Syndrome or not, but these are my first steps in my journey of finding out. After living my entire adult life with an array of progressive, untreatable, brushed-off symptoms (and years of self-blame for depression, obesity, becoming so unattractive), there was a major “click” as I read this site, and a sense of relief that maybe, just maybe, what I have has a name, I’m not crazy/fat/ugly/lazy, the PCOS diagnosis, which has gotten me nowhere is incorrect, and I might have something TREATABLE.
So, without going so far as to say I hope for a diagnosis, I am hopeful for some definitive answers. If my urine tests are inconclusive (and my doctor only ordered one and no serum cortisol tests), I am going to fly out to L.A. and see Dr. Friedman for a full work up.
And, I’ll keep you posted.
Thank you for posting your stories, which have encouraged me to advocate for myself in a manner and direction, which this time, may be fruitful.
Be well, my new friends,
Kate
p.s. I will post some pictures this week after I scan some of the “after” one….I try to avoid the camera at all costs. I’m sure you understand just what I’m talking about, and for that, I am truly grateful.
I’m not really sure where to start! I’m 22, and work full time (10-12 hour shifts) as a porter in the operating department of a city centre hospital- so i’m very very active, constantly walking/lifting/carrying on a daily basis.
I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue when i was 13 after a bout of severe flu/repeated shingles infections, and never really recovered, but i was gradually well enough to live a more or less normal teenage life. I have never struggled with my weight (a constant 9 stone at 5 foot 5), until a year ago, when i suddenly started suffering from extreme weight gain (7 stone in 10 months), fatigue, acne, mood swings, hair loss where there should be hair/hair growth where there shouldn’t be, stria, irregular periods (and when they arrive they’re incredibly heavy, buffalo hump, heat intolerance and all manner of horrible symptoms.
I’ve been diagnosed after tests and ultrasounds with PCOS and hypothyroidism, and am currently being treated with 75mg thyroxine (to be increased), and am due to start on metformin.
There’s been very little improvement in how i feel, and after a pretty horrible meeting with the endo, in which all she really did was call me fat, tell me to stop the late night trips to mcdonalds (I’M VEGAN! mcdonalds is pretty much the antichrist to us!) and refer me to the dietician. i felt really let down and all i could do was try to hold the tears in until i got back to the car.
she didn’t seem to realise that for a 22 year old woman to be feeling more like a 90 year old, is a pretty horrific experience. but i digress…
i’m due to be tested for cushings in a few days time with the low dose dexamethasone, and i know this is awful to say, but i’d jump for joy knowing what’s going on with my body at last.
although i know i have pcos and an underactive thyroid, i just know that there’s something else going on with me, and unfortunately my consultant just won’t listen to me.
my social life has disapeared, i just feel too goddam ill, not to mention my incredibly unsupportive boss, who seems to want to make my life a living hell because i’ve had to take a lot of time off work- she even screamed at me until i cried when i collapsed at work one day. i’ve actually taken to hiding in the toilets in the afternoon to have a nap, and to regroup, just so i can get through the day. never mind that i’m a 22 year old who has gained 7 stone in under a year- it’s hard to feel great about myself!!!
anyway, hopefully one day i’ll find out what’s wrong with me
this was me last year:
and this is me now:
quite a difference huh?! and apologie for the poor fashion sense!
anyway, wish me luck, and and my best wishes for everyone going through diagnoses/treatment for any health issues, we’ll get there in the end 🙂
I’ve been struggling with a lot of health issues for a really long time now, and so far I have been diagnosed with multiple different things only to have the next doctor say the previous one was wrong. None of them have yet to be able to explain why I am physically in pain over stupidly simple things like doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc.
I recently got tested for Cushing’s because my current doctor thought that might be it, and I was certain I did as well based on how much it sounded like me. However, my 24 hour urine test came back normal. So now I’m back to where I started, with no answers and losing hope that I’ll ever find out what’s wrong with me.
I have previously been diagnosed with the following:
ADHD – 2005
Insulin Resistence – 2005 (later told that was incorrect)
Depression – 2005 (though it started long before then)
Migraines – 2010 (they started when I was in high school, though, so roughly 2001)
Hypothyroidism – 2010 (I was laster told my thyroid looked fine, though I’m on Synthroid)
PCOS – 2011
Fibrocystic Breasts – 2012 (No tests were done, and I’m fairly certain this is incorrect)
Vitamin D Deficiency – 2012
Vitamin B-12 Deficiency – 2012 (probably caused by spironalactone since it apparently causes that)
Both the PCOS and Fibrocystic Breasts diagnoses were made without the presence of cysts, though my ovaries are enlarged.
My symptoms have included:
Headaches
Migraines
Irregular Periods
Severe Menstrual Cramps
Severe Acne
Oily Skin
Heavy Periods
Fatigue
Difficulty falling asleep (I average about 3 hours per night)
Difficulty staying asleep
Weight Gain (started when I was doing 30 minutes of cardio + 30 minutes of weights every day plus watched everything I ate. I still to crossfit several times a week and watch what I eat)
Hair Growth (upper lip, stomach, neck, chin)
Nipple Discharge
Skin discoloration (neck, under arms, under breasts, elbows, inner thighs)
High Blood Pressure
Fast Heart Rate
Constant Phlegm in my throat (has been there for years and never gets better/only gets worse when I get the flu)
Hoarse by the end of the day/night
Deepened Voice
Difficulty Concentrating
Forgetful
Large Pink Stretch Marks on waist
Lack of period (started about a year ago)
Back pain from doing simple things (has progressively gotten worse/included my hips, neck, and left shoulder)
Nosebleeds for seemingly no reason (most often in the bath tub/shower, sometimes just happens while driving, walking, doing nothing that should cause them)
Depression
Loss of appetite (I usually force myself to eat light meals at work just in case I end up hungry at some stupid time like 4:00 PM)
Nausea (literally almost every day)
Diarrhea (usually after eating)
Often Stressed Out
Irritability
Buffalo Hump
Round face (I actually have pictures of me when I weighed less than in previous ones, but my face was horrible round in the ones where I weighed less)
More than anything, I care about getting the back pain, migraines, and sleep issues fixed because that’s what affects my life the most. One thing I noticed with the exercise is I’ve been able to build muscle in my legs and arms, but there’s been no change to my stomach, and I have dropped no weight/inches off of any of my body (since I know muscle will add pounds). I have been to numerous doctors, including several Endocrinologists, one internest, a rheumatologist, a breast specialist, and several gynocologists to get things fixed. All of my symptoms have progressively gotten worse over the years, and I’m just worried with the amount of pain I’m end that I’m one day not even going to be able to walk. I’m at peace that whatever it is could eventually kill me, but I at least want to know why it’s happening before it does.
So far the only lab work I’ve gotten that showed anything was my Vitamin D and B-12 levels were low, and my Testosterone was high. My doctor said this would not cause the back pain, though. I just don’t understand how I can have all of these issues at 28 years old to constantly be told there’s nothing wrong with me to cause the back pain. I have had no trauma that would have caused it (like a wreck or something), so I know this isn’t normal.
If anyone has any suggestions on any other tests I can do/possible causes, I would be extremely grateful.
March 2009
I was diagnosed in 1995 with hypothyroidism, after the birth of my son vie C section. This was my third Cesarean section. I knew I was gaining too much weight during pregnancy but no one would listen to me. I’ve had hypo for fourteen years now, with ongoing difficulties and no weight loss.
I became suspicious when I couldn’t get my thyroid disease under control and started moon facing. In 2003 my daughter noticed my buffalo hump. I tried to point it out to the doctor but to no avail. Said it was fat. I was tired, depressed and sick.
I have to note that when I was a child I cracked my skull open. My sister said I had clamps on my head. I cannot find anything else about it. I had severe headaches, poor appetite, skinny and fearful. Many emotional problems. I came home from school many times to have ice packs on my head for the headaches. I started to drink alcohol at about 13 yrs old, becoming an alcoholic until age 33. 20 years of drinking! I am now sober 18 yrs.
I am pursuing a diagnose for Cushing disease based on my symptoms and the huge hump on my neck. I’ve been really complaining for the last two years.
My newest PCP was the one who gave me a copy of a printout on Cushings. She is sending me to an Endo but who knows. 3 1/2 month wait to see Endo. Now, wouldn’t you know it, my hubby’s job looks like its going to be terminated in March, so my insurance will only be in for two months after that! I’ll be without insurance!
September 2009
I’m now in the process of testing after going through 2 more Endos and meeting a great Endo in Maysville, KY: Dr Holmes. “Wonderful, Good doctor “as we’d say in PA! I had went to one Endo here in PA and had two UFC24 test done and I showed high, but he just asked if I was stressed and sent me to Hershey. I heard Hershey Medical wasn’t very good for Cushies so I moved on to KY. I’m so glad I took the time and the money to go there. I will never regret that. It saved my life!
I feel so fortunate. Dr Holmes ordered more testing which I am doing now, and he looked over a Pituitary MRI which I obtained from the other Endo. Dr Holmes disagrees with the radiologist that my MRI was normal. BTW, my husband got another job that uses the same Union Insurance! I also have high GFI-1. He said I might have an Acromegaly.
Dec 2009
I am now diagnosed with Cushings and Acromegally. At this present time I have chosen my surgeon and am waiting for his approval for surgery and set a date to meet with him.
All of this testing and paperwork is time consuming and a lot of patients is needed. I am diagnosed during the holidays and this is really a slow process with many delays.
My symptoms are many, including that horrid buffalo hump. I feel really sick sometimes, and bloated like I am going to exploded. I have extreme fatigue. I also feel during my lows like I am just going to die, with waves of dizziness and a huge general weakness that I can hardly turn over in my bed. I thank God that I do not hurt. I am just stiff in the knees and I can’t get up very well from a squat or from sitting too long. My emotional state is awful, from rages to deep depression.
I suffer/suffered from TMJ ,Depression, Mood Swings, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (2)with surgery, Weight gain, Headaches and Vertigo- dizziness, teary right eye, Teeth gapping, Cavities, infected Root Canals, Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s Disease, Tonsillectomy, Costochondritis, Heart Murmur, Tortuous Aorta- a twisted heart valve, shortness of breath, Tennis Elbow, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Dysentery, Impotency, lost periods, Osteopenia, Ovarian Cysts, 3 C sections, Joint stiffness, chronic rectal itching, Hemorrhoids, Heel Spurs, Ganglion foot cyst, MRSA.
I am very afraid of the Acromegally. I have changed sizes. I was a petite 10, I am now a size 22. I do believe I have gained height by 1–1 ½ inches. My wedding rings size has changed twice and now I can no longer wear them. I suffer chest pains from Costochondritis- inflammation of the rib bone area. As the days go by without treatment, I swear I can feel the damage that is being done to my organs. I suffered terrible dental problems with major infections and I also had an awful infection in my foot from a minor injection for a cyst. I ended up with surgery to clean out MRSA and had two areas of incision! I also show a twisted Aorta valve, which I feel is from Acromegally.
I succeeded in obtaining my diagnose of Cushings Disease with Acromegally from Doctor Holmes through UFC tests (Urine) and blood work for IGF-1, CRH testing, and Glucose Suppression Tests. Salvia testing didn’t work for me. I feel I have problems with my saliva in general, perhaps a malady not yet diagnosed, but nevertheless is present. I was tested once with saliva that proved I had a very low acidic value, and the comment from the lab was “could be due to cortisol access!” 5 years before I was diagnosed with Cushings! I am now waiting to meet my surgeon, Dr Jho and set up a surgery date.
This site is invaluable to anyone suffering. The amount of information can be overwhelming because it is so plentiful. The forum is wonderful. Up to date information, wonderful people who give help, information; support and Hope!
Update April 5, 2011
I had my 1st pituitary Surgery Jan 28th, 2011. My tumor stained positive for Growth Hormone but did not stain for ACTH as suspected. i was on cortisone for less then 3 months, for I was told to wean quickyl when I was actually gaining weight and aquired more stretch marks. I had some relief…such as my tongue had swellling the went down some, my hemmroids disappeared overnight, and my earlobes went down from being swollen so big you couldnt see my post earrings. And that horrible feeling I was being squeezed to death. But, after tesing one UFC and some other blood labs, I was found to be high with my UFC24. It was a 53 (0-50). Even though my doctor said I was cured, I begged for another UFC. He gave me a lab slip and said return in 6 months. I went home and did the lab and it came back 57 (0-50). He made a note to discuss this when I returned in the fall. I knew I wasnt cured. I actually gained more weight then ever and grew more in the waist line. I tried to get help at John Hopkins and Allegheny General Where I had my surgery with Dr Jho’s Endo, but to no avail. They told me to go home and forget about Cushings.
it is then I called Dr Ludlaum with photos and a note explaining my surgery and testing. I went to Camp Cushy in Seattle, Washington @ Swedish Medical Center. 5 Days testing proved successful. I had high Midnight serums, high UFC and High ACTH. Though not quit enough for a diagnose , I went home with a test kit to continue testing. I have just completed my third kit and am waiting for result. Dr Ludlam said this is it for home testing an he will come to a conclusion soon after this. I hope that I will get an ok to have another surgery. I am now suffering more problems …I am now a pre diabetic. Dr Ludlam found that I have a enlarge left Adrenal Gland. I have tested high in all areas now, including one high saliva! ( surprised me! ) My ACTH has been consistantly high ( about 10 units higher than the top limit) and I had a few more UFC highs. I definely feel sicker, unable to clean my house, run the sweeper, wash clothes or even take a walk very far. I get extremely out of breath. I suffer high and very low BP. (92/49/75) I am anxiously awaiting Dr Ludlam’s final say in my matter.
Also, I am dealing with my son who is 16 and is now in testing for Cushings also. He is showing signs of this dreaded disease!
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