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Christy's Story

Hi I am a 33 year old mother of six. I have mixed feelings when reading everybody's bio's. I am so glad to hear that I am not the only person in the world feeling like this but I hate to hear that others are going through this too. My story started, I suppose, after the birth of my 3rd child in '96, but didn't start getting tested until 11-2003. I had a plasma cortisol test that came up high so my PCP did a 24 hour UFC and when it came up high he sent me to the endo Here is the list of symptoms I typed for the first visit.

• 11-95: Miscarriage
• 12-95: Pregnant
• 8-96: Placental Abruption, baby born 4 days early weighed 7-15
• 10-97: First period very heavy for 4 months very irregular next 6 months
• 12-97: Backaches at least once a month with no relief from any pain medicine<
• 7-98: Pregnant
• 4-99: Baby induced almost 3 weeks early after same symptoms as first abruption weighed 8-8
• 4-99: No periods unless on birth control
• 10-99: Surgery for mastitis after extreme pain during every feeding starting at birth
• 11-99: Teeth breaking easily
• 6-00: Sudden swelling in feet ankles and wrists (from mild to elephant ankles), acne
• 7-00: Boils on arms, thighs, and breasts, rapid pulse
• 11-00: Pregnant
• 12-00: Exhausted after simple tasks like taking a shower or getting dressed. No energy
• 2-01: Sent to cardiologist for pulse rate (100 resting) dx-anxiety, stress
• 3-01: Shortness of breath, dizzy spells
• 8-01: Baby induced 10 days early weighed 8-10
• 8-01: Severe pain with nursing
• 9-01: Surgery on same breast for mastitis
• 10-01: Depression, possibly from death of grandma
  weight gain to 215
  boils, so bad that one was dx as brown recluse bite
  Skin tags removed from around eyes
• 3-02: Started weight watchers no weight loss
• 5-02: Taking ephedra products increased energy but no weight loss
• 5-02: Severe elbow pain, cant hold even light things without dropping them
• 6-02: Suddenly dropping weight fast from 215 to 183 in 1 months
• 8-02: Pregnant stopped weight loss products and weight loss
• 4-03: Elbows stopped hurting as suddenly as they started
• 6-03: Baby born weighing 11-2 , no glucose testing during pregnancy with midwife, lost 20 pounds that day and 10 more that week.
• 6-03: Bad headaches with no relief from pain med only relief eating sugar
  Swelling from mild to bad every day
  Acne continued
  Dizzy spells
  Swelling in face
  Waxy substance between fingers
  Skin tags returning on eyes
  Seeing yellow
  Excessive sweating
  Night sweats
  Burning, stabbing pain in lower back and hips
  Tender hip joints
  Facial hair
  Dry brittle hair
  On and off depression
  No energy
  Dry brittle fingernails
  Crying for no reason
• 7-03: Gained 30 pounds
  Trouble sleeping
  Severe pain in heels especially when first standing elbows turning brown
  Headaches every morning, if I get more than 5-6 hours sleep headaches are horrible
• 8-03: Gained another 20 pounds while taking diet pills
• 11-03: Bronchitis lasting until 1-04
• 12-03: Sharp pains in upper back and shoulders
  Pain in right side of neck going up into head
  Headaches on daily basis
  Fingers tingly and numb
  Can't think of words I'm trying to say
  Increased appetite
  Can't sleep more than 5-6 hours
• 1-04: Rash on top of both hands
  Liver enzymes elevated
  No periods
  Pulse 96
  Blood pressure 130/98
• 1-04: Pulse 120
  Blood pressure 110/90
  Ultrasound showing gall stones surgery set for 2-24-2004

Had the surgery and liver enzymes down to normal now. He ordered an overnight dex test and mumbled that if it came up normal he would just dx as post-partum. When the nurse called me she just said it showed "abnormal cortisol levels" and ordered another 24 hour UFC (high again) and am now to do the low dose dex test. Every time I come home with a bright orange jug my oldest son cringes and I hear oh not again mom! Of course I am doing this all to disrupt his life! :-)

That is pretty much my story and I would like to get this solved and over with, hopefully before I gain anymore weight since I make the Stay Puff marshmallow man look thin!