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My story may read like a lot of others you have heard. It is amazing to me to open each newsletter and see all the similarities. Sometimes I could swear it was my own story! I was diagnosed in September of 1999 with a pituitary tumor and Cushing's disease. Dr. Strumph in Asheville, NC diagnosed me. My PCP, Dr. Gehring found a mass on my pituitary from the CAT scan.
This was after three or more YEARS of hormone tests that came back normal, and a panic attack during training for a job promotion. My symptoms were: menses stopped, classic moon face, stretch marks, facial hair, slight mood swings, fatigue, and 40 lbs. of weight gain! These all came gradually since I had married in April of 1995.
The tumor was successfully removed; I am currently on cortef and synthroid. I have follow up MRI's each year and see my endocrinologist, Dr. Dodd, about every six months. I am losing weight slowly and regaining my life!
I would like to share about the emotional problems during my diagnosis and panic attacks. I became very depressed and socially withdrawn. I wouldn't even go to the grocery store, and the only people I allowed to see me were my husband and mother. I wouldn't even return to work. I didn't care about the disease or what was happening to me. I don't know if anyone else experienced such strong emotions through this disease. My endocrinologist downplayed the problem as unrelated. I have sought professional help, and that combined with other's stories, have helped me to cope and make sense of what happened to me. I have spent the better part of this last year trying to cope and understand what caused me to behave this way.
I'm interested in knowing if this disease is hereditary. Is it uncommon that family members or even siblings might have the disease?
I do want to include one good thing, my son, Wesley, was born on December 17, 2000 and is now a healthy, happy seven-month-old! He is what keeps me going and he was my inspiration that pulled me from my depression and made me hope for something better! Cushing's nearly destroyed my life, my career, my family and belief and faith in God. I am so thankful that I escaped it, or at least am fighting it every day. |
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