Monday, July 6, 2009

Shon (Shon), undiagnosed bio

Two months before my 31st birthday, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I was really shocked considering no other family member (maternal or paternal) had this disease.

Well, as the months followed, so did other diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. Each diagnosis brought more shock because I felt great and could keep up with any 20 year old out there. Within the next two years I had gain 70 pounds and looked like an apple with popsicle sticks for legs. I also seemed to have more symptoms which seemed to be dismissed by the doctors because it was also a symptom of one of my other diseases.

In the past 8 1/2 years, I've had 3 doctors, 3 endocrinologists, a hemotologist, a nuerologist, and 2 cardiologists that just keep attaching my symptoms to one of the labels that has already been given to me. Now, at the age of 40, I feel like I have the body of an 80 y/o. I can hardly walk because of the clots in my legs (have 2 stints), can't stand for long and bending just kills my back because of the crack in my L5 S1 vertebrae, and among other things, can't seem to do anything because of the extreme fatigue I have. I have no doubt that I have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, clotting problems with my arteries, and everything else they want to label me with, but it seems to me that after only 8 1/2 years, my health shouldn't have gone down hill so fast. I also take 16 pills a day because each doctor wants to give me a medication for each symptom.

For a few years, I've been searching the internet for an answer. I would spend hours and seem to hit a brick wall each time. Still, I wasn't going to give up. No one gets so sick that quickly from any of the diseases I've been diagnosed with. Just the other day, I was watching Mystery Diagnosis. I don't even remember what it was about, but it did prompt me to start my internet search again. I did something different this time. I didn't research all of my "diseases". I simply typed in the search field: "Do any diseases mimic diabetes". Guess what popped up all over my screen. Yep, Cushing's Disease. I went to article after article and website after website. I was amazed to find that many of my symptoms were linked to Cushing's Disease. I couldn't believe what I was reading. My "diseases" could actually be a symptom of a bigger disease which would explain a lot to me. Now I have another endo which I've made an appointment with (a month away, yuk) and I'm going to ask to be tested specifically for Cushing's Disease.

Below I'll list my symptoms.

Round "Moon" Face, Fat Lump on Back of Neck, Low Potassium, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, High Blood Sugar, Glucose Intolerance, Insulin Resistant, Muscle Weakness, Fatigue, Anxiety, Irritability, Depression, Decreased Fertility, Decreased Libido, Acne-like Rash, Backaches, Excess Facial or Chin Hair, Slow Healing Cuts or Scratches, Large Abdomen, Insomnia, Irregular Periods, Edema, Scalp Hair Loss, Excess Sweating, Memory Problems, Dizziness, Low Growth Hormone.

I also have a chronically high platelet and white blood cell count. The Hematologist couldn't even figure it out (Yes, cancer has been ruled out with a bone marrow biopsy). I'm not sure if that has anything to do with Cushing's or not, but unfortunately I have that as well.

Sometimes we tend to forget that many doctors only spend 7-10 minutes a visit speaking with us and forget about us about 7-10 minutes after leaving the room, and they certainly don't lay awake at night thinking of us. It is much easier for them to treat a symptom that has already been issued a label rather than find a bigger cause for it, so we sometimes have to take matters into our own hands and help ourselves.

I'm thankful to have found this sight. If I find out that I do not have Cushing's, I will continue my search, but it is nice to know that I will find an answer someday.


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