Cushing's Disease. Two words most people don't even know. They don't know what it is, or how it progresses. Who it affects. Why it happens. There are so many unknowns with this disease. Most of the known's are from personal experiences shared among fellow "cushies" on various message boards and other social media. I personally would have never even known about it had I not done a Google search for "rapid weight gain, and irregular menses." When people see "cushies" they probably see the very prime example of unhealthy. A cushing patient wants nothing more than to be healthy, but their bodies are literally working against their every effort. Cushings disease is caused by excess cortisol. The source of the excess can be from a tumor in various locations but is usually found in the pituitary gland or the adrenal glands. As vital as cortisol is to the body, having it in excess is not. Having excess cortisol can wreck amazing havok on someone. Someone who was once exceptionally healthy can go from healthy to nearly death. How long it takes varies of course but for the most part it is life threatening eventually. Slow and painful. My journey started probably about 3 or 4 years ago. Seemingly minor changes were happening. I couldn't shake a "funk" even as hard as I tried. I exercised, ate better, slept when I should. Yada yada yada. Still depressed. Winter time blues are a common thing in my neck of the woods, usually clearing up with spring and nicer weather. But it just never went away. Had good days of course but mostly the days were gray. Blah. No feelings. Nothing. Then I couldn't lose weight, the weight I maintained was slowly starting to be unmaintainable. I walked every single day. 4-5 miles most of them, lots of hills and lots of heart rate raising walks. Was not lazy by any means. Then bam I looked at something sweet and on came 5 lbs. Stopped all soda, nothing but water. and bam here comes another 5 lbs. Before I knew it I was up 40 lbs. Now I am up 110 lbs from the day I got married. All in about 18 months. The fatigue I experienced on a regular basis just got worse. and worse and worse. The depression never eased up, to the point I went and got on an anti depressant. It helped take the edge off but the underlying issue was unknown. I didn't know WHY I was depressed. Being depressed and Not knowing why is depressing. Sure putting on weight faster than I can blink is depressing too but why was it happening? My diet had become so basic, I couldn't understand. Then the hair loss started. I'd always lost some hair but it came with the territory of a low functioning thyroid. Sometimes it was connected to needing medications adjusted. Bye bye sex drive. Hello irregular periods. Hello Drs who want to just give meds for the many symptoms instead of find the root cause. For at least 2 years I thought all my "signs" were my thyroid. But my labs were all ok. Story of a hashimoto patients life. So Cushings disease was on my mind. Did my research, tried to get a few tests and got no where really fast with my primary physician. Did more research and in the back of my mind wondered could it be? Asked around for a endocrinologist and got in the following week. Within 2 weeks I had a diagnoses of Cushings Disease. I couldn't stop crying! It was such a relief to have this Dr I had only met one time listen to me, run the tests needed and is now helping me through the process of getting to surgery to remove a 5mm pituitary microadenoma. Its good to know that you aren't crazy or lazy. Its also bittersweet. So now what? What happens after surgery? How will my life change? So many unknowns. Oh and add to all this I have 2 young kids and a husband and work full time.
No comments:
Post a Comment