Cushing's Info

Hi, thank you for allowing me to join and vent.

Link to my saliva test: http://tinyurl.com/7w5lavz

re: this test my endos all said that saliva can't be trusted, but then they did nothing else to test me for cortisol! my gp has finally written an order for a test called "Free Fasting Cortisol". Is that a good test to do? It seems like my symptoms get progressively worse as the day wears on. Should I get tested late in the day? Is there a benefit to fasting?   I am brand new to this, my first post. I don't know what to do. I can't get any doctor to take me seriously any more.

Where do I begin? I have a history of autoimmune issues including fibromyalgia, thryroid, shingles, epstein barr, mono.

About 3 years ago I started having symptoms that at first were only once a week or so, and have increased to where they are now nearly 24/7 and I am hanging on by a thread. I have been poked, prodded, laughed at, ignored, shuffled off to other doctors, and accused of being a total hypochondirac. My symptoms are: EXTREME anxiety and insomnia, profuse sweating and feeling of hear (mostly from my shoulders up), outrageous muscle and bone pain (so much worse than the pain I had with fibro, this is in every single square inch of flesh), headaches,my normally low blood pressure is now way too high, as is my heart rate and now I am on beta blockers. Also tremendous weight gain in a very short period of time (I am normally 120 at 5'4" and I am now almost 160- this gain has occured in about 1-1/2 years, outrageous appetite and thirst, absolutely no libido, irritability and anger, confusion and memory loss, upset stomach, no appetite at all in the morning, but RAVENOUS at night, Freezing cold hands and feet despite feeling unbelievably hot (with a low temperature), very easy to startle, rapid aging and age spotting, inability to tolerate my thyroid medication for hypothyroid.

I have always been very thin, particularly from the waist up (very thin), never ever had even a trace of a belly. Now my gut is so fat and my butt HUGE. My face and eyes are all puffed up too. I have been through 4 endocrinologists now. I begged the last one to test my cortisol. He did a 24 hour urine test, I thought for cortisol, but found out later it was to rule out a pheochromocytoma which is for epinephrine, and norepinephrine, not for cortisol. He said that this rules out adrenal issues.

Meanwhile, I found a doctor (who unfortunately passed away about a month or two ago) that was willing to phone consult and order a 4X saliva test. The results of the test I have posted here. Now I have my GP who is willing to order a "Free Cortisol Fasting" test. Is this a good test? Is there anything I need to know? I can say that as the day wears on my symptoms do also. They are much worse at night. I have been very close to looking for a "permanent" solution, I cannot tolerate these symptoms, and maybe it would be more tolerable if I COULD JUST FIND A DOCTOR THAT WOULD BELIEVE ME.

I am in NE OHio, and the 4 that I have seen are supposed to be "the best of the best". thank you so much for listening to my tales of woe. I do realize that you all are dealing with your own health issues. I just feel like I am in crisis now and at the end of my rope. I have to go out of town on business this week and i am totally dreading it, not knowing how the hell I am going to get through one more week of hell and misery.

Thank you for allowing me to join this group and post....

Thanks you kindly, Carolyn

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