About

Diagnosed with Cushing's Feb. 2008.  Symptoms began around 2004 I believe.  I lost a baby (Ryan) in the womb 2nd trimester is 2006 and got pregnant again shortly after and was hospitalized for most of the pregnancy, it was then that I knew there was something rare and different wrong with me.  My son was born Pearl Harbor day 12/7/2007.  After he was was born, the sensations I had in my abdomen led me to seek answers and diligently.  I was diagnosed with Cushing's by my Primary Care physician after only 2 visits with her.  I got lucky in a quick diagnosis, but I had it for years before knowing something was going on and to seek help.  My first appointment with her she dismissed every symptom and thought I had Anxiety and Post-Partum Depression.  But when I came back two weeks later for a follow up and had gained 14 lbs. in two weeks, she looked closer at my symptoms and my story.  I also had previously had  CT scan done of my brain (when I lost my baby) and they saw something on the scan and were going to refer me for an MRI.  Because the baby had suffered a fetal demise, they sent me up to another floor to have an emergency D & C to take my baby which they called an infection by then.  I didn't get the referral for the MRI because of all the confusion.  So I told my Primary Care DR about it, and knowing that there was something seen on my "right frontal lobe" on a CT scan an then my symptoms and weight gain & stretch marks, she gave me a referral for an MRI herself with suspect Cushing's.  Referred to an Endocrinologist who confirmed it with the MRI and Dex test.  I went to UCLA for surgery in April was admitted to the emergency department, the trip made me sick.  Had to get cleared for surgery, was operated on May 2, 2008.  Was hospitalized for at least a week after my surgery.  All follow up appointments later that year suggest that I am cured of Cushing's.  The damage Cushing's has done to my body and mind are not reversible in my case, or at least in my opinion.  I might not have a tumor or ACTH over production, but my body is far from cured from what Cushing's has done to it.  Recently I had a scare and thought Cushing's was back.  I went to the ER 3/10 and again 3/16 of this year, 2011.  I got a CT scan of the brain.  They didn't see a tumor, but I have a sever sinus infection that I'm still battling.  They also did a CT scan of my abdomen and found an ovarian cyst.  3/17/11 was my LMP, I had some spotting 4/5-4/8 and have missed my period as far as I can tell.  I have no insurance and I'm concerned that the ovarian cyst may be more serious causing spotting and missed period or there is a chance I could be pregnant as well.  My husband is going to try to go back to the company he quit working for so that we can get insurance.  Oh, one more thought.  After I found out I had Cushing's I contacted the Perinatal Associates that managed my high risk pregnancy and told them that I had Cushing's all through that pregnancy and hospitalization and that I was upset with them for not getting my MRI because I told every DR I saw about that CT scan and that I needed the MRI and I was upset they didn't listen to me.  They had a meeting with me and told me that they wouldn't have let a neurosurgeon touch me during my pregnancy with my toxemia anyways.  This worries me, because I have seen that pregnant women have had successful brain surgeries & tumors removed.  These are the finest high risk perinatal DRs in town.  So IF I were to become or am pregnant and (God forbid) had another pituitary tumor, they "wouldn't let a neurosurgeon touch" me.  Scary! Okay so that's most of my story, in short, and an up to date, where I am now.  I also think my 10 year old daughter exhibits signs of Cushing's and I want to have her checked when we have insurance again.