Hello! I have been on your website for the past year and wanted to share my story and pictures. I hope it can help someone going through what everyone with Cushing’s understands. Thank you so much for your website. It is a blessing to have as much info as possible on the web to help others.

I wanted to share my story in the hopes to help others they way others did when I was at my worst. I remember finding great strength knowing that I was not alone. I quickly realized my story is very similar to others. In March, 2004, I was still feeling myself, but in May 2004 I started to realize that my spring clothes were not fitting, so I started to diet, to no avail. I was continuously adding weight (though on a diet of almost nothing) and losing large amounts of hair and just thinking “cloudy” and very anxious, which is not like me. I KNEW something was wrong with me. I went to two doctors who told me to diet, that I was getting older (I was 28.) They would test for thyroid issues and send me home. I would not back down on the third doctor and was finally ordered a CAT scan. I will never forget the minute a doctor, who just happened to be watching my CAT scan, noticed my right adrenal gland was “too” big. He explained it should be the size of a peanut and it was the size of a golf ball. That night I researched the web and found Cushing’s. It was like it was a description of me: Buffalo Hump, Moon Face, Middle bloating, thinning skin, loss of hair, depression, etc. I went to see an endocrinologist the next day to confirm my diagnosis. I was referred to Dr. Mary Lee Vance at the University of Virginia. I will never be able to express my gratitude towards her and my surgeon, Dr. John Hanks. I was so blessed to find them and get the best treatment for me. My adrenal gland was removed 10/8/04. I was in the hospital for 4 days. I was on supplemental Cortisol for 3 months. My tumor was not cancerous and I finally feel like myself again. I have been exercising (which took time) and eating right and am losing weight. I am more than happy to talk to anyone currently going through the madness. I know how depressing and frustrating it can be. You have to be active with your diagnoses and pursue all options. I made it only with the support of family and friends. You realize who your true friends are when you go through a physical change such as Cushing’s. It is a wake-up call with how fragile life is. I feel extremely lucky and I thank God for his guidance. Thank you and God Bless,