Fiona, pituitary bio
Well, I was first diagnosed in 1990 after a year of tests and years of symptoms which I put down to my age (early 20s!!). I had a TSA to remove the pituitary tumour and was put on replacement therapy with steroids.
I lost LOADS of weight and felt better within days of the op. I felt I carried on improving for about 4 or 5 years post-surgery then felt 'normal'.
But about 3 or 4 years ago now I started getting symptoms again. I didn't know it then, but looking back now I know I did. I had cut down my steroids a little but my consultant's team didn't think it was anything important. I cut down again 2 years ago and again they didn't think it mattered. At Christmas I cut down to 5mg of hydrocortisone a day in the morning. My GP wrote to my consultant to say I thought I wasn't getting enough steroid and they were going to admit me for a day curve, but the paperwork never got done.
I chased this all up 2 weeks ago and have now been off all steroids for 2 weeks, have had a short synacthen with levels of steroid showing prior to the synacthen, 3 24 hour cortisols results awaited and a midnight Dexamethasone suppression results awaited.
It seems that my Cushing's has recurred after 18 years.
Update June 3, 2009
3 June 2009 - I have now had short Synacthen. My basal cortisol was in excess of 700 and after the synacthen went to over 1000. I have also had 3 high 24 hour urinary cortisols and an overnight dexamethasone suppression which didn't suppress and I had a level of in excess of 600. I have been booked for a MRI which I have been told will be in 4-6 weeks. I will also be called for 5 days of dexamethasone suppression at some point. I am getting depressed because all the symptoms I had first time round are coming back.
I can't walk more than a couple of 100 yards without being out of breath and aching, I can't climb stairs without a handrail, etc, etc, etc,...... It looks like my Cushings has come back but I so wish they would get on and sort it.
I lost LOADS of weight and felt better within days of the op. I felt I carried on improving for about 4 or 5 years post-surgery then felt 'normal'.
But about 3 or 4 years ago now I started getting symptoms again. I didn't know it then, but looking back now I know I did. I had cut down my steroids a little but my consultant's team didn't think it was anything important. I cut down again 2 years ago and again they didn't think it mattered. At Christmas I cut down to 5mg of hydrocortisone a day in the morning. My GP wrote to my consultant to say I thought I wasn't getting enough steroid and they were going to admit me for a day curve, but the paperwork never got done.
I chased this all up 2 weeks ago and have now been off all steroids for 2 weeks, have had a short synacthen with levels of steroid showing prior to the synacthen, 3 24 hour cortisols results awaited and a midnight Dexamethasone suppression results awaited.
It seems that my Cushing's has recurred after 18 years.
Update June 3, 2009
3 June 2009 - I have now had short Synacthen. My basal cortisol was in excess of 700 and after the synacthen went to over 1000. I have also had 3 high 24 hour urinary cortisols and an overnight dexamethasone suppression which didn't suppress and I had a level of in excess of 600. I have been booked for a MRI which I have been told will be in 4-6 weeks. I will also be called for 5 days of dexamethasone suppression at some point. I am getting depressed because all the symptoms I had first time round are coming back.
I can't walk more than a couple of 100 yards without being out of breath and aching, I can't climb stairs without a handrail, etc, etc, etc,...... It looks like my Cushings has come back but I so wish they would get on and sort it.
posted by MaryO at
1:37 PM
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