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Stephanie M (Stephanie), Pituitary Bio

November 7, 2025

MaryO growth hormone, Pituitary, radiation, Recurrence, Treatments , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

 

I found out I had a tumor on my pituitary gland in Nov 15 quite by accident, as you do!

I’d had an ovarian cyst and endometriosis taken out quite easily and then a horrific back surgery to take out a cyst on my lumbar spine. I was ( and am still) dealing with chronic severe nerve pain and numbness in my left leg and foot.

I’d been told I needed to watch what I eat and exercise even though I did both and still I gained 30 lbs. An ENT found the tumor on an MRI after I had a lymph node practically explode on my neck! Ugh.

We were getting ready to relocate to AK from TN and still hadn’t been diagnosed. I had to travel to Seattle from Fairbanks for all my appts!

Long story short, I had a macroadenoma on my pituitary gland. By the time I had my first surgery, I could barely think rationally anymore, I was in terrible pain, I had very little muscle strength left, and I’d gained a total of 70 lbs. I can’t remember much of that time. I had negligent pms and great but distant specialists.

I had to go back for a second surgery then have radiosurgery w/ a gammaknife in the Spring of 2017. I took mifepristone for too long because my Seattle endocrinologist moved to AZ. It worked well then it was making me sick. I couldn’t eat and lost 50 lbs. I changed all my doctors and am now making the uphill climb. I’ve gained 10 lbs back and my progress with muscle strength is so sloooow. I’m thinking much clearer now.

Because of this experience, I have learned to be an advocate for myself in the medical field, I am a cynic about the human race still but appreciate people and the world a lot more. I have learned to be patient because my life has slowed down.

I am the only Cushing’s patient in Fairbanks I think. It’s hard because I’m in remission but it’s just stage 3 after diagnosing then curing. Now it’s recuperating after being ravaged by the disease. I have no idea how blogs work. I don’t know where to start w/ regards to mining all the info. Thanks for having this site. I was going to make my own if I hadn’t found it!

Stephanie’s doctor

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Andrea (AndreaM), Pituitary Bio

October 18, 2025

MaryO Adrenal Surgery, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, radiation, Recurrence, Success Stories, Treatments , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I suffered from Cushings when I was 9 years old. I had pituitary surgery, bilateral adrenalectomy (back in 1988 when it was not laparoscopic), then 2 more pituitary surgeries as my tumor grew and regrew too close to the optic nerve. My last pituitary surgery was followed by Gamma Knife Radiation. That was when I was 19. Thankfully, since then, my ACTH levels have been normal, so there is no evidence of regrowth of pituitary tumor. I just turned 36.

The good news is that despite needing repeated pituitary surgery, I recovered well from the Cushings once my adrenals were removed and I was on daily replacement steroids. I have gone on to have a fairly normal life, including 4 children with no help needed in conceiving. I guess the doctors consider this basically a miracle considering my irregular cycles and all the pituitary surgery. I did end up with diabetes insipidus from the last pituitary surgery, which is probably the most uncomfortable (and expensive) lingering problem. It can be very uncomfortable at times, particularly when pregnant is is difficult to get the right dose of DDAVP.

Not sure what prompted me to look online for others with Cushings Disease/post adrenalectomy, but I have never in my life met anyone else with my condition and my endocrinologist says she has only one other patient with adrenal problems, but that person still at least has 1. Of course doctors can’t tell you who their other patients are anyway. Obviously when I was actually suffering from Cushings there was no Internet. I guess it would just be interesting to compare notes about living without adrenal glands. Since I was so young when it happened it is all I’ve known and I’m thankful for how basically normal my life is. I see too that I can encourage people that although I do take 3 medications multiple times daily, I basically have a normal life, including 4 normal, healthy children ages 9, 7, 5, and 2.

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Susan W, Pituitary Bio

September 10, 2025

MaryO Adrenal, Diabetes, Golden Oldies, Other Diagnosis, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, Treatments , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

A Golden Oldie

After 2.5 yrs of testing, I was diagnosed with Cushing’s (which was un-diagnosed for over 20 yrs).  My Pituitary Tumor was removed on 10/20/11.

My surgeon has recommended Radiation/Gamma Knife treatment which will be discussed at my post srgery checkup 1/10/12.  I also have noduals on both my adrenals.

Other symptoms:  obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, muscle weakness, sleep apnea, fatigue and depression.

Susan submitted a second version of her bio.

My testing -> diagnosis -> surgery journey took 2.5 years.  I have always had a weight problem.  All my Doctors ever asked if I was interested in a liquid diet, liposuction, gastro bypass or go to Weight Watchers, and eat less.  But when I reached 375 lbs I knew something had to be done.  Things were way out of control.  I could no longer handle this by myself, I needed HELP.

I had seen comercials on TV which talked about excess Cortisol leading to excess belly fat .   So, I asked my Primary Care Doctor if she could test my Cortisol level.  She just laughed and said I would have to go to an Endocrinologist (Endo).  She did not even provide a referral.  Through my insurance company I found an Endo.  On 7/3/09,  my first appointment with the Endo, she agreed to test me but felt I just had a fatty liver.

When the test results came back, they showing excess Cortisol.  This started a series of saliva, blood test, 24 hr urine, MRI, and CAT Scan tests.  Then I was referred to another Endo Dr Findling in WI (I live in IL) for another opinion and the IPSS test..  (Dr Findling said I looked like I had Cushings for over 10 yrs.)  This was followed by Ostrascam and PET Scan.  Armed with the diagnosis of Cushing’s Disease we were off to get a surgeon.  The first doctor I seen in IL was a bust.  Then I was referred to Dr Oldfield in VA, who performed my surgery on 10/20/11.

Now in recovery, I still get weak, tired and sleep a lot.  I have been using a walker and cane to get around.  Interesting to see that other Cushings also have problems with mobility, aches and pains.  I hope this gets better.  I have follow-up appointment 12/21/11 and 1/11/12 with the Endo and surgeon.  I am off my High Blood Pressure and 2 of the 3 Diabetes meds.  I have lost 30 lbs in the 7 wks since surgery.   I can;t wait, 1 more wk before I can start swimming again.

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Aimee, Adrenal Bio

May 1, 2017

MaryO Adrenal, Adrenal Surgery, Golden Oldies, Pituitary, Pituitary Surgery, radiation, Treatments , , , , , , , Leave a comment

 

 

I am the daughter of a Cushing’s patient who is workning on her BLA and switch. My mom is not always able to be on line, but is very interested in the networking that this site offers. So for right now I am the deligate and the Patient advocate whenever she is in the hospital.

Mom’s (Pat) history is complicated and lots of different turns have taken place. She was diagnosed very late into her case and has often had the worst of what can happen happen. A true trooper through it all but she is starting to really lose the desire to fight and yet more and more is happening. So I am hoping that the networking will help give her the little boost that she needs.

The brief run down: diagnosed Cushing’s, Pituitary surger (no tumor found), gama knife surger, chemical treatment, 4 – 5 years of sitting on the edge and then 4 years building back up to full blown Cushings.

Now she is have BLA in Feb. 08 and we are hoping to move forward. During the time between full blown she had 2 back fusions (1 did not take and will have to be redone) 2 knee replacements, and an assortment of other stuff. So as you can guess he poor body is worn out and ready for a rest.

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Steve, Pituitary Bio

April 1, 2015

MaryO Golden Oldies, Male, Pituitary, Success Stories , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

golden-oldie

 

I am a 43 year old man from South Carolina who has been a “big boy” most of my adult life and have been pretty healthy until early 2003 when i started noticing marked weakness in my legs. At the time I was on a diet and thought I was just deficient in something and started trying all kinds of supplements but nothing helped. I was kinda checking my bp here and there and it was very high so I decided to go to my gp because I was due for a physical anyway. He saw me and I told him about my leg and arm muscle weakness and he started asking lots more questions about my moods, vision, looked at my stretch marks and felt my noticable hump and said that it looks like cushings but probably isn’t because it’s so rare. He sent me to an endo “just in case, to rule it out”.

I have since found out how blessed I am to have had this gp and to be referred on the 1st visit. My endo agreed and started lots of tests (I never gave so much blood or peed so much in my life!) and even though after a CT and MRI they couldn’t see any tumors, he referred me to Drs. Vance and Laws at UVA Medical Ctr. who are wonderful! After an IPSS I was diagnosed and it was caused by a tumor on the pituitary.

I had transphenoidal surgery on Feb. 7, 2004 and after no change in my cort levels in 4 days they decided to go back in and operate on the other side which resulted in complete removal of the pitiutary. I never did “crash” so they sent me home saying I definitely would in a few days. It is now March 2005 and I am still waiting to crash. I never had to take steroids due to my levels being near normal and although I am due for another check-up in a month, I feel pretty good, having gained 90% of my strength back along with most other symptoms getting better. The wierd thing is that Dr Vance thinks that I am in remission from cushings but I am a rare case (I guess that makes me rare among the rare!). One year post-op and I am only on bp meds and thyroid replacement and testosterone replacement, that’s all.

I am a lurker here and was during my darkest days and appreciate all the help this site has given.

The recurrence of this disease seems to be high, among posters here anyway, but I am optimistic that I am through with cushings for good and just have to deal with hormone replacement.

 

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