Hello,
My name is Kathryn and I am new to the site. I know it sounds silly but I feel a bit shy and embarrased about introducing myself. This is probably because I have spent so much time over the last eight years being very upset in social situations due to my appearance and inability to think clearly. Cushings has ruined a lot of my life and left me quite worried about the future, but I am trying to come to terms with it.
On the bright side I have been very lucky to have very uncomplicated surgery for removal of my pituitary adenome. I am on replacement of cortisol, thyroxine and soon to be on growth hormone. With a bit of luck I will soon be feeling better.
Unfortunately the excess cortisol has been masking severe osteoarthritis and so I will soon be going for a hip replacement.
At only 19, I have been through a lot medically. I went through puberty at the young age of 8 and by age 15 was diagnosed with osteoporosis after breaking 20 bones within a year’s time. I had always had hormone problems and was put on birth control pills in hope to help.
This January I stopped the pill and within a few days started to feel crazy. After an allergic reaction to nuts I went to the hospital and was put on prednisone. Within a few days I was miserable and ended up on suicide watch. I knew my hormones were wacky and I had panic attacks, depression and anxiety all of which I never had before.
Over the next two months I gained 40+ Lbs all in my stomach and got “moon face” with a slight buffalo hump. I was exhausted all the time. I bruised easily and was afraid to talk to doctors for fear they would put me in a mental ward for my anxiety and depression. I could barely sleep through the night becuase of nightmares. I had no libido and started growing a lot of facial and body hair…
When I came home from freshman year, I finally went to the doctors. Urologists, cardiologists, endocrinologist, gynogylogists you name it. Most wrote me off. The endocrinologist diagnosed me with PCOS and hypothyroidism after blood work and becuase of my symptoms. However I kept having headaches and would be freezing and rapid rate heart even when laying down. I finally perseuded the doctor to do a brain MRI. I got the results last week and there is a suspected 3mm pituitary microadenoma. Of course my endocrinologist left for a month vacation and I go back to school next week.
Right now I’m in the process of figuring out where to go and what to do but I feel like this would be the closest thing to what I have… Hopefully answers will come soon
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