And It's About Time There Was Some Support For Cushing's!
I am 31 years old, a mother of 2 very beautiful kids. Grace is 5 and Luke is 1. I have a very supportive husband Nate who has been with me through every step of this nightmare.
I was diagnosed with Cushings in 2005 when I went to my dermatologist because my knuckles and elbows were very dark and nothing would lighten them up. She examined me and looked at the back of my neck and said, "I think you have Cushings disease". She then pointed out the dark stretch marks and my buffulohump. So after testing it was confirmed that I had Cushings disease and a tumour on my Pituitary gland.
I then went to University Of Michigan where Dr Chandler preformed surgery and removed it. My labs showed a cure, my levels were actually too low.
Then after a year I started feeling the symtoms again. Sure enough it was back. So back to UM for another surgery and we thought that maybe there were just some cells left over, and since he removed a sliver of the gland this should be it.
Then I was blessed with the greatest miracle, I was pregnant. I was very scared but the doctors said that this was good that I had I normally functioning pituitary. This was a very welcomed surprise since I had not had a period and in a very long time. After Luke was born my life was very stressful because he was born prematurely at 24 weeks, weighing 1 lb 1 oz. I was too busy to notice that I was sick again.
Finally I called my Endocrinologist here at Ohio State University and all the test were run and sure enough ROUND 3. I am devastated at this news.
On April 3 I had Gamma Knife Radiation, which is NOT fun at all. I go back to see Dr Malarkey (my endo here at OSU) this week to discuss my options now.
Leslie was the subject of a future Live Interview in the Cushing's Help Voice Chat / Podcast series May 22, 7:30. Archives are available.
