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In 1994, when I was 14, I was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease. The symptoms started when I was 11, but no one realized that anything was "wrong" until then.
In November of 1994, at the University of Viginia, I had an ACTH secreating tumor removed from my pituitary gland. Things were going really well after that and I was living a fairly normal teenage life.
Toward the end of my college years, I started to take on the Cushing's Symptoms again.
In 2002, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid and the medicine seemed to help for a little while. I lost 15 lbs. right away and felt much better. After about the summer of 2003; however, my weight just skyrocketed, I developed a hump on my back, my strechmarks were getting darker, etc., etc. My doctor was very wary of diagnosing me with Cushing's even though I had had it once before. I was diagnosed with PCOS.
In fall of 2004, I was able to get a hold of UVA and through test results they were able to diagnose me with Cushing's again.
In February of 2005, I had another tumor removed along with 3/4 of my pituitary gland, to hopefully stop any future recurrance. I've never really fully felt great since this surgery. My cortisol levels are running around 6 at the 8am test, which is considered normal; however, it's not enough for me to really function well.
February 2010 will be 5 years since my last surgery.
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