And It's About Time There Was Some Support For Cushing's!
I'm a 21-year-old TV reporter in one of the bigger cities in Idaho, which doesn't say much. I think this is where they find those lame doctors for the infomercials.
I've put on 40 pounds in 3.5 months. Since 8th grade I've been a size 6/8, now I'm a size 16. The clothes I bought last month won't zip up this week. I mean, I like clothes shopping and all, but this is getting a bit excessive.
I'm on my 4th doctor right now. The first two, even though I've been keeping a food diary, writing EVERYTHING I eat and drink, how much and when (its less than 1200 cal/day, and its the same as I've always eaten) tell me to see a nutritionist, diet and exercise. HELLO? IS NO ONE LISTENING TO ME?! I stopped working out a month ago because I'd put on 30 pounds in 2.5 months--I mean, what's the point? In May I did 90 minutes of cardio, then weight train, five days a week, no problem. Today I lose my breath on two flights of stairs. Something is REALLY wrong here.
My hair is coming out in clumps, I have stretch marks on my hips, red ones, purple ones, white ones. I have acne like junior high and I get these headaches right behind my eye. I get this jabbing lower back pain from just walking or shifting my weight in my chair. BUT, I don't have a lot of facial hair and I don't have that hump on the back of my neck (thank god!) I've finally found a doctor in Seattle (where my folks live) who knows enough about Cushing's to think I have it. My big fear is, what if I don't? What if they don't know what's causing this, and I keep gaining 3lbs/week until it kills me?
My blood pressure, which has always been LOW LOW LOW is now 140/100. I'm scared that I'm going to die. It's weird to say, "god, I hope its a brain tumor" but really, I do. At least they can fix that. Or, what if I have it and they can't find it? I've read some of your bios that say you came back negative on that 24-hour pee test...then what? I am so scared. I've worked so hard to get where I am, and now it feels like it doesn't matter, because I won't be able to work in TV at this weight or getting bigger for much longer.
Anyone with advice on getting diagnosed, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact me. candacebaltz@hotmail.com
thanks -C
