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Linda's Story

Hey Guys,

My story is sad but true. In late 1992 I started gaining weight, well with my job as a Deputy Sheriff, and just getting out of the Police academy, I was working out everyday and eating right. I didn't know what was going on, I went to my Doc and he said yea your fat, here's a diet, try this. No blood work or nothing. I said okay..

One month later I gain 10 pounds and wondered why, so I went back to the Doc, luckily there was another sub Doc and he asked some questions and did some blood work, 2 days later my results were back and my cortisol 824. That's high he said.

In a week I was seeing Endocrinologists and doing all the neat tests they do, in August 93 I was told I had a tumor on my pituitary.

So in October of 1993 I had a transsphenoidal surgery with Dr Laws and Dr Vance. Doing well and everything. Then in 1995 the tumor came back... had another transsphenoidal surgery at UVA.

Doing well again and in 1997 the tumor came back so I had Gamma knife radiation with Dr Steiner at UVA...tumor came back again in 1999 another transsphenoidal surgery at UVA ... In 2000 another tumor so I had Gamma knife Radiation with Dr. Steiner UVA.

Well, in February of 2001 I was told by Dr. Vance that I was in remission and everything was going well. So I thought.. in July of 2001, I was told that I had another tumor and it was inoperable so I needed a Bilateral adrenalectomy at UVA with Dr Hanks..., He's good.. Don't get me wrong all the Doc's at UVA are great.. But Dr Hanks has the funniest sense of humor...

I'm Doing well and everything. Since I had all these surgeries and everything, I need total hormone replacement at 35 yrs old... I don't wish this disease on anyone... I just wish that I could tell everyone how bad I feel some days...
I still have a tumor and headaches are back, we shall see...
I'm here to help anyone who needs it......

As they say BEEN THERE DONE THAT....