Cushing's Info

Right now I am scared. I know I have Cushings but have not yet been diagnosed.  I have an appointment on Monday which will hopefully get the ball rolling.  It is a relief  to finally understand what is going on with my body.

My story is long and complicated--and I am already a zebra!  Years ago (1991) I was diagnosed with a brain tumor on my cerebellum--it was benign and partially removed.  A few days later, I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus as a result of the tumor and had to have a second surgery to place a shunt.  The shunt overdrains and a recent MRI shows that I have a collapsed ventricle in my brain.

My neurosurgeon says that all is fine with that but I am not satisfied with his opinion.  At the time of this surgery I remember my sister asking the neurosurgeon about the hump on my upper back.  He told her that this was just the way I was built.

Last year I had a follow up visit with this doctor following an MRI which shows an abnormally large pituitary gland in addition to the problems with my shunt.  At this time I again asked hm about the hump on my back--he again told me that it is nothing.  I also have hypthyroidism and take synthroid regularly  to control this.  I recently had a blood test to monitor my throid production and had to increase my dosage.

I am finally starting to put 2 and 2 together--18 years after I first noticed the hump.  I have always thought that I was brain damaged as a result of the very large tumor and shunt--my main problems are anxiety and depression, memory problems and lack of concentration and dizziness.  Maybe I am but it also sounds like Cushings especially  when you add the hump, central obesity, moon face and facial hair.  I also have dark elbows, dry skin,  tachycardia, blurry vision and some balding.

I have tried for months now to see an endocrinologist and have been unable to make a connection because of my insurance.  So I have changed my primary care doctor to a UAB (University of Alabama in Birmingham) physician and hopefully she will refer me to an endo.  UAB is a teaching hospital so surely they know about Cushings.

Anyway it is a true pleasure to have found this website and I already believe that Mary O is an angel in people's clothing.  I feel like a zebra on a roller coaster--but ain't it a crazy life.

Thanks Karen