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H. Lane (Sunshine), Undiagnosed Bio

December 31, 2025

MaryO Diabetes, Undiagnosed , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I have a giant buffalo hump on the back of the neck with vertical blue/purple lines below it.

I also have lipomas not symetrical across my upper back.  Then there are two symetrical lumps near each arm pit.

Two lab results come back saying I have a normal cortisol level.

I am diabetic, type 2, with high blood pressure, and only slightly elevated cholesterol levels.

I am wondering if I may have Cushings as well as Madelung’s disease.  I am very confused.

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Margaret D (MargaretD), Pituitary Bio

December 3, 2025

MaryO Adrenal Surgery, Ectopic, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, Success Stories, Thyroid, Treatments , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 7 Comments

Original Bio:

My story spands over 20 years and may sound familiar to many with Cushings who read this. The first clue came when I was diagnosed at 19 yrs old with a thyroid tumor. The tumor turned out to be both solid and cystic… Cushings is a cystic disease.

Shortly after my thyroid surgery, I developed difficulties with having regular menstrual cycle. I was diagnosed with PCOS… Cushings is a cystic disease.

In the following years, I went up and down with my weight until I finally was 80lbs over and unable to lose any; I slowly lost my hair; I developed stretch marks in my abdomen and chest area; and I developed hypertension, diabetes, and bad cholesterol problems at a young age. I went to my doctor for help and was told I just needed to lose weight.

My symptoms kept getting worse with time.

In July of 2003 changed jobs and was hired by Dr Johnny Delashaw, Neurosurgeon @OHSU. This was a day of blessings in more way than one. Accepting this position brought changes to my professional career and BIG changes to my life.

As part of my job, Dr Delashaw asked me to work with the Pituitary Diseases Clinic and Dr Bill Ludlam. I was more than happy and very enthusiastic as my professional background is in Internal Medicine.

In the beginning, I was interviewing patients to get them ready for surgery and I would also see them for their 2 week post-ops. Soon after that, I got involved in conducting endocrine testing with Dr Ludlam. This was my information gathering stage.

Not long after that, I came to the realization that I may have Cushings and the thought scared me. It took me a month or so to gather enough courage to talk to Dr Ludlam and discuss my fears. (If anyone out there knows Dr L, you know how funny my last statement is since he is the most kind and caring of doctors). He LISTENED to me and did not make me feel like a fraud. I felt legitimate.

We ran the tests and did the MRI and – BOOM – I had a very large pituitary tumor and high cortisol levels. I was surprised but then not surprised.

I have undergone 2 pituitary surgeries with the second one resulting in a complete hypophysectomy. Despite no pituitary, I continued to have symptoms along with high levels of ACTH and cortisol and eventually had a BLA in Sept 2004.

I struggled through withdrawals after my BLA but like a trooper, I returned to work within a month. Thank God I worked for Dr Delashaw who was very understanding. I was doing well for a few months but then in March 2005 I started to have symptoms again. Recent tests show ectopic cortisol production so now I’m waiting to go through the work-up to find the ectopic tissue.

I believe, as well as my doctors, that I’ve had Cushings for at least 20 years if not more. This disease has caused me to develop other conditions that increase my mortality and morbidity. Ironically, as I was going through Physician Assistant school… I jokingly (halfway) thought I had Cushings Disease as we studied it in class. I should have pursued it more but people with Cushings understand how this disease plays with one’s mind.

I am not sure when or if I will get over this disease, but I can tell you….
I am grateful… I am blessed… but most of all, I am hopeful…

Update December 12, 2013:

It’s been 10 years now since I had my “cure” for Cushings.  I am one of those rare people who have had both a complete hypophysectomy and bilateral adrenalectomy.  I have had my ups and downs over the years but can honestly say I am in a good place now both physically and mentally.

I just wanted people to know that I am back in the Pacific Northwest working at Swedish Neuroscience Institute with Dr. Johnny Delshaw again – the team is back!  Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions. As a healthcare provider and patient, I can be honest with what to expect and I will do what I can to help you through it.

Many thanks to my family and friends who have put up with me and helped me while I rediscovered myself after Cushings.  God Bless to all!

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Sherry, Undiagnosed Bio

September 21, 2025

MaryO Bipolar, Diabetes, Golden Oldies, Other Diagnosis, Thyroid, Undiagnosed , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

A Golden Oldie

I am a Veteran who goes to the Veteran Clinic for my healthcare.  I have been going there for a little over a year.  I go to a womens clinic for both my primary care and gyn.

Backing up a bit…Since my youngest son who is turning 18 next month was about 3, I recall the onset of many of the symptoms of Cushing’s Disease.  However, I didn’t realize what was going on. I believe a lot of my symptoms started when I fell down backwards down a flight of stairs breaking my elbow and wrist.  I really haven’t been the same since. I have slowly put on 120 pounds over the years, all of it being in my mid-section.  I have suffered off and on migrane headaches. My arms and legs are thin as rails compaired to my mid body.  My skin has gotten transparent and dry.  I have the thick cushion of fat tissue between my shoulder blades.

Then in 2007 I had a severe hysterectomy due to massive bleeding/clotting and cysts.  I had serious complications which include blood clots in my legs and also a PE.  I have gone down hill from there.  My bones, muscles and joints ache so bad and can barely get up and down.  I can’t hardly stand more then a few minutes at a time. I have fluid retention so bad that my current doctor finally put me on lasix daily. Finally I suffer from depression and anxiety and I hate to go out in public because of my condition.  Though my husband gets frustrated with me he is still very protective of me and helps.

I have had so many doctors imply  that my problems are phycological or due to my obesity and I am simply tired of that.  I am on 17 medications now due to blood pressure, fluid retenstion, thyroid, diabetes, neuropathy, depression and anxiety, cholesterol and to insure against a heart attack.

I am 52 years old and I feel like my life is coming to an end.  I just recently was reassigned to another primary doctor as my old one left the clinic.  I didn’t like her at first, her personality was so different from my last doctor.  But Friday she did a completed physical and gyn exam.  She asked me if I had ever been diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease.  I had never heard of this disease.  She started pointing out all the classic signs. She decided she wanted me to have a blood test and was very determined I had it done.  I went home and researched it and indeed I have all but maybe one of the symptoms.

I am a little bit nervous about it and realize its a waiting game as far as tests and more test.  On the other hand I feel like I can finally put a name to what’s been going on and hopefully feel better.  I am glad I found this support group and would enjoy talking to others

UPDATE March 6, 2012: Also, additional systems include excessive hair growth on my face, foggy vision, inability to concentrate, red patchy marks on my arms and I have been told I am slightly bi-polar as well at suffering from anxiety and depression.

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Voices from the Past: Melissa, Undiagnosed Bio

July 22, 2025

MaryO Other Diagnosis, PCOS, Undiagnosed , , , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

undiagnosed3

 

Im currently 24. In 2008 I was diagnosed with PCOS because of my very absent periods, an ovary full of cysts and acne. At that moment the gyno only gave me contraceptive pills.

In 2013 another gyno started giving me also metformin 2x500mg. Also because all these years my cholesterol and triglicerides were always high even though I have been vegan and vegetarian for over 7 years.

In 2010 I fractured one ankle and in 2014 I fractured the other ankle and Ive had multiple surgeries to try to fix that. Ive had continuous weight gain all these years even though I watch my diet and I exercise all the time.

I recently asked my GP to test for cortisol, also because now I’ve been almost a year without any libido. It turned out that my AM cortisol was high, and she repeated it a month later and it came out even higher. Now she referred me to an endocrinologist.

I have the appointment with the endocrinologist in three weeks. Im very nervous about this appointment, and I really just want to figure out what is wrong with my body. Wish me luck 🙂

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Voices From the Past: Maria, Pituitary Bio

July 15, 2025

MaryO Golden Oldies, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, Recurrence, Treatments , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

 

Originally from December 29, 2007

 

Hi there, I am 26 but I was diagnosed at the age of 16 with a pituitary tumor, 17 when I had removed the first time and 19 the seconded time.

Here is the story. I was pregnant at 15 and gave birth at 16. My son was born in June (I was 135 lbs) by December I was 240lbs. I had all the classis symptoms. Weight gain, thin skin, upper back hump, moon face, lack of a menstrual cycle, high cholesterol and the strata (all over stretch marks).

I was diagnosed in March in July (1999) since I live near Pittsburgh I had surgery with one of the doctors who developed the use of the Endoscope for removal of pituitary tumors. I had been told that the tumor would not come back. It was fine to have more kids. There was one in a billion chance that it would be a tumor that grows like cancer, and then there was a one in a million chance that there would be any of the tumor left behind that could grow back. A

fter words I lost most of the weight and the moon face. I had no need for hormones, because they only remove part of my pituitary, I also graduated high school and was married.

I felt very good when I gave birth to my 2nd son 22 months later (April 01). I was 160lbs. Well, I tried to ignore the weight gain, the lack of menstrual cycle, but when my hump started to come back and when in infant’s finger nail scratched me and I bleed, I self diagnosed this time and went to the doctor for confirmation.

I was 280lbs when I went in for the second time in November (2001). Now I am 90% sure there is a tumor up there I do not know I do not want to have a M I R to see. My husband and I will not have any more kids.

I still have a fear that it will come back on its on or if I suffer a body troma that causes the pituitary to enlarge that it will cause the tumor to grow and I will have to go through this again. I am still struggling to lose this weight. I am now 230

 

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Debbie (flawdnotclawd), Steroid-Induced Bio

May 1, 2025

MaryO Chronic Fatigue, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Steroid-Induced , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I am a 55 yr. old female recently diagnosed with Cushing’s.

Previous diagnoses included: diabetes, HTN, asthma, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, high triglyc/choles., IBS. Still in process of testing to determine cause. Had multiple steroid epidurals in past few years. Have had symptoms for over a year.

Doctors misdiagnosed Cushing’s as Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, hypochondria. So fed up with arrogant judgmental doctors.

Have a great endo now who diagnosed Cushings and doesn’t treat me like I’m nuts.

Angelina S (Angel), Pituitary Cushing’s

May 21, 2015

MaryO Diabetes, Other Diagnosis, Pituitary , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

pituitary-gland

I am 41 years old. I have a pituitary tumor, cushings, diabetes and lumbar spinal stenosis.

I went on the depo shot in 2006 due to heavy periods.

In 2009 I was having migraines and weight gain and ended up going to the hospital. They did a scan and said I needed to get to my doctor for further treatment. She only gave me pain medicine and I ended up on blood pressure and cholesterol medicine.

In 2010 I ended back up in the hospital they did another scan and asked if I was being treated for the pituitary tumor. I was in shock I knew nothing about it. They said it had showed up in the 2009 scan. The doctor said she knew nothing about it. I went to an endo he said I needed surgery and it was causing my eye problems pressing on my nerve.

I tried to go to a neurosurgeon but he wouldn’t see me unless I had $3,000 to $5,000 since I didn’t have insurance. So I dealt with the migraines, missed out on alot.

In 2013 now that I have insurance which not many doctors especially specialist take, they wanted me to go for more tests. In 2013 I started taking herbs, which was helping to reduce my prolactin so my doctor said to stay on the chasteberry and butterbur.

In October of 2013 I was diagnosed with cushings, after all the weight gain and trouble walking. December of 2013 they finally stopped playing around and put me on diabetic pills, which I should of been on sooner.

In 2014 I kept getting sick so much I lost my job working with disabled children. In May of 2014 my gynecologist took me off of the depo shot. I kept gaining weight and it was to the point that by September of 2014 I was having difficulty walking. Doctors didn’t say much about it just told me to lose weight.

In March of 2015 I read an article about cushings and the slowing of metabolism so I started taking raspberry ketones and in 2 months have now lost 24 pounds and can walk some. It is so nice because I was basically stuck in bed. I had another MRI in April and they compared it to the one in 2013 and the tumor hasn’t grown any.

The doctors haven’t given me any medicine for the tumor or the cushings, I am trying to control it all with herbs and so far it is working out. I had to fight to even get muscle relaxers for my back. I have lost all my friends through all of this and had to move back in with my parents because I lost my apartment. I was denied for SSD, but I am trying again. I want my life back and I am fighting for it.

 

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