I felt like I needed to contact you as I am at wits end!
The problem is I live in Tasmania, (the little island under Australia) and most of Drs and Specialists have never seen a lot of rarer conditions.
I had been a very active when younger, dancing teacher, two jobs, study ect. I was on top of the world.
Then at 32 I tried to fall pregnant, had a little trouble, but finally fell a year later,
But before that I always had a funny cycle, and very heavy, after my son was born I heremerged and
Hi Everyone! Me again, just wanted to blog, say hi, and tell everyone that is a "Cushie"(lol!) that you can do anything! I had such an awesome weekend. I went to Fairbanks provincial park to go camping. SO much fun! Went swimming, layed in the hot sun on my beach towel, went tubing on the boat and had some awesome campfires! I know that a "Cushies" life is a painful one, but that doesn't mean we can't all have fun, right? If you are upset about yourself, or your life; please don't be!!! You can
Hi everyone, some of you already know me,(Emma12!)I just wanted to start a blog, I mean, wouldn't it be great if I could help people by telling them MY story? Sounds awesome to me!! I love writing(or typing I guess!(LOL) When I got diagnosed with cushings, they told me that I have had it for over a year and a half now. Now, I am one of the biggest drama queens in Canada, and I think my mom,would defiantly agree on that,(you can find her on this website, karenY) so you could imagine how hard it w
To all my Cushie sisters (and brothers!), "Peace Be With You", as we say in our church tradition. Whether you believe or not, there is a "Higher Power" who can support us when we are down. How many lonely nights before the internet, "social networks" and forum boards, did so many of us suffer alone? In agony and torment we cried out in the night (and day - beating fists on steering wheel), saying "Why ME, Lord, Why ME?" Still some inner strength kept us going, when all seemed lost to us. Some me
It's been a long time since I have posted here...nearly a year in fact. I have been absent from the site in an attempt to try and move on from Cushings and regain my life. I don't know if that will ever be possible although a year on I feel so much more better, more energy, and more like the old me again. The only trouble is my life is still ruled by my medication and just being a little late means I can feel just how reliant I am on them. I fine that sad. In the past year I have tried my hardes
I had to call the endo's office to get the lab report review from the last UFC test returned after Thanksgiving. Thankfully, on review, the results were within "normal range". It may be that stress from most recent job change caused some elevation in the prior 24hr UFC from October. So next semi annual visit is scheduled for April 2011.
We have enjoyed our first snowfall of the winter, and I am ready for it to be gone! I did get some cute pictures of my Pepper playing in it.
Sept 30, 2010 was the 5th anniversary of my life after Cushing's Tumor, or so I thought. During my fall maintenance appointment with endocrinologist, the routine lab tests turned up an elevated cortisol level. I had to do another collection and turned it in earlier this week. Results are pending.
For quite some time, my average weight was holding between 150-154 pounds, but since this fall, has been creeping up again, now hovering around 158-160. This takes me back to 2002, when the creep u
I am back on METFORMIN again, after about 2 years without. My initial period did not go so well, as the endo had me start out at a FULL dose of 2 tabs a day, rather than reintroduce gradually. I never took that much before. After I got ill 3 days into the 2 tab a day dose, I stopped, got better, and then tried the more gradual approach, with only 1/2 tab for several days. After a few weeks, I am up to 2 tabs a day.
Funny thing, now my fasting blood sugar is running higher than before, but I
Lab reports from my last follow-up visit for CUSHING's indicate that my blood sugar has continued to "creep up" since 08-25-06, when it reached the lowest point of 5.6 for A1c. Since then my 6 month maintenance visits show that I held around 5.9 to 6.0 for a couple of years, then I was back up to 6.3 with my last visit in September.
I was prescribed METFORMIN again, starting out with a whopping 2 pills a day, 1 AM and 1 PM. I quickly felt bad at this level, and within a few days, believe I w
Spring in the Carolinas... Flowers blooming, sun shining, pollen on the breeze....
Many days I hope I am really past all the Cushings issues, when I wonder if some new ailment may or may not be related. Add the Scoliosis to that, and it is no wonder I hurt most of the time from something. Then... I am no spring chicken either. Stuff just falls apart when you are older. Recovery is slower, if at all.
I take my pleasures in the simple things. A good night's sleep, a blushing rose on the
Christmas in the Carolinas, complete with a trip to the Blue Ridge mountains. Of course we had to stop and visit husband's favorite fishing hole along the way. It was a bit too cold to stay for long.
Cushings? 3 years + post surgery, I am still on "hormone therapy" for my monthly cycle, and in early February I have a round of doctor appointments scheduled for annual and semi-annual visits. My sugar level seems to be under better control, with my latest problem - chronic proctitis, under some
I have received copies of my latest lab results, and in my unexpert opinion, they look pretty good. My endocrinologist seemed to be satisfied with the findings as well.
Vitamin D 25-OH Total 61 ng/mL (20-100 ref range) I have been taking 50K unit supplements weekly since last April. My February reading was < 7.
Glucose 100 (70-99 ref range)
Hgb A1c 5.9 (4.4-6.4)
Urine creatinine 141
Urine Microalb <3.0 (0.0-23.0)
Urine Cortisol 16.6 (4.0-50.0)
A recent Cushings Board post, I kind of like the analogy, so I am sharing here:
The problem lies "in the nature of the beast". I love the Michigan Frog analogy I read yesterday, where the frog performs when no one is LOOKING. In my 16 years from initial symptom, it was rarely the same symptom twice. Even when there were multiple symptoms, you couldn't tell when they would be consistantly active.
Our little beast, will lie dormant for a long while, then awake & growl, take a turn out
Surgery was 09-30-05. The following are copied from messages sent to family and friends at the time, providing updates on my post surgery condition:
October 3rd
Flip was in good spirits today and enjoyed the visitors. She got an IV of antibiotics that the doctor ordered. Funny thing is after her dinner tonight she began to run a fever, although a mild one of 100.5. Needless to say ANY fever concerns me so please continue to pray for her. I do not see her coming home until at least Wednes
I realized after reading through the old blogs, I never finished the Surgery Story.
I went home after an overnight stay for the bleed one week post-surgery. I was so afraid to leave. With my oxygen content low due to extreme loss of blood, I was rather fragile. My blood pressure was still borderline low, even with all the saline they have put in me. But send me home they did? At home I did VERY little for the next few days. I chose not to continue the blood pressure medication, becaus
The photo in background in from about 1995, I almost resemble my "old self".
I have been more active recently on the Cushings Help Board and have elected to link this blog to that site. If anyone drops by, please leave a message. Especially those in the Carolinas. I would like to see us start planning meetings on a quarterly basis, to enable those that can, to come together to share their story - up close and personal - and get a hug too! I dropped a line on the Cushings board, that maybe June
Ferol, Jon, Grandma Doris (Harold's Mom), Grandpa Dave (Flip's Dad)
Jon graduated from junior college in Georgia June 2nd. He was also Commissioned as a 2LT in U. S. Army Reserve on June 1st.
A view from my Back door... At times it can be peaceful and relaxing. I can go out and sit on the deck, listen to the birds and frogs singing, the whisper of the soft breeze. Early in the day, or late in the evening, I take my solitude.
But then, the neighbor's kids start hollering and the local dogs start their "song". Quickly I retire to the kitchen, and continue to enjoy the view....
What is Cushing's Syndrome? Cushing's syndrome refers to the physical and emotional difficulties caused by an elevated cortisol level. Features of excess cortisol include weight gain , especially centrally, fatigue , easy bruisability , excess hair growth (termed hirsutism ), susceptibility to infection, depression, menstrual irregularities in women , decreased libido and erectile dysfunction in men, high blood pressure , diabetes , and weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Many of these are no
