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Sue's Sister's Story

My sister has been diagnosed with Cushings, and I am writing on her behalf, as she is in Intensive Care at a NY hospital, after having a rare reaction to the Petrosal Sinus Sampling test over 2 weeks ago.

I have been researching Cushings, and she has been on several websites, and joined a Cushings chat, before she entered the hospital. I have been trying to find out which chatroom, so I can talk to those she was corresponding with. I think she may have used a name other than her own.

To tell her story briefly, we believe she has had undiagnosed Cushings for many years. She was diagnosed as Diabetic Type 2 about 2 years ago, but for many years has had the hump at the base of her neck, fatigue, stretch marks, increased weight gain, especially around the stomache and chest, facial hair, broken blood vessels and red lines on her cheeks, etc. Now we are wondering if maybe she is not diabetic after all.

Her doctors suggested the Petrosal Sinus Sampling, and she was willing to go through it, and get answers. As a result of the test, and her body's rejection of the dye or whatever was used, she suffered a mini-stroke, with swelling in her brain and she has been unable to breathe on her own.

Today the doctors are having a family meeting and they are going to suggest a tracheotomy (please excuse spelling) to make her more comfortable. My parents are in their 70's and truly don't understand all that is involved. They are with her in NY, but I am out of state.

As her only sibling, I would like to find out as much as I can, and learn if anyone else has had such a severe reaction such as she did, and what the outcome was. Her dr. says there is no tumor in the pituitary, and they will have to look elsewhere. Should we be glad or sad?

Extended family members want to sue the doctors and/or hospital, thinking they are at fault, but my parents think this was just a rare occurrance and no one is really at fault. I don't know what to think. I would love to hear comments from anyone about this!

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