SadisticPeppers
eXtreme Business
I've been debating whether or not to post something about this on here for a couple weeks now, since I'm not big on sharing personal health struggles, but I figured it's as good a time as any. I haven't been feeling 100% for a few months now. Pursuing the job promotion helped me take my mind off it big time, and would have made my day if I had gotten the promotion, but it's pretty obvious now that they went in another direction. I've also been trying to help my mom through the passing of her beloved 17-year old dog this weekend, who hasn't been doing well recently, as well as doing my best to prepare my garden for the next set of superhots I want to grow.
A couple weeks ago, a doctor friend where I work had a "House" moment when she looked at me, asking me to come into her office for a moment. She said she was worried about me and that I was displaying some of the tell-tale symptoms of something called Cushing's Disease. I had never heard of it, and she told me that in essence, a noncancerous, slow-growing tumor, either in the pituitary or the adrenal glands, chronically pumps corticosteroids into the blood, causing a list of symptoms and issues almost as long as The Lord of the Rings, and some of these symptoms are diseases in their own right, but Cushing's is so rare (the incidence is only 2-3 cases per million people) that most doctors don't know to look for it, and the symptoms are literally all over the medical map. She and I discussed it at length, and we went through the list of issues Cushing's symptoms. Here's the list of things I've had over the years that she suspects were due to Cushing's:
Of the list of symptoms she rattled off, the only three I didn't have or was never diagnosed with was Type II Diabetes, Osteoporosis, and kidney stones. She said she only knew what to look for because she studied it extensively in med school. She asked me whether I had ever been prescribed steroids or was taking them for any length of time, and I never did, which was good, since that could temporarily induce a form of Cushing's but since I've never taken steroids of any kind, that was a relief.
She gave me the number to a colleague of her's with a private practice near where I lived who specializes doing tests for rare/uncommon diseases. Because my coworker and I were already friends, and given where I work (doing IT work for the VA hospitals) and the fact I'm not a veteran, it would've been inappropriate for her to have me tested for Cushing's through my job. I made the appointment for January 11th, which the earliest her colleague could fit me in considering it's the holiday season. Thankfully, this specialist takes my health insurance, so the tests won't cost an arm and a leg, and like I said, she specializes in doing tests for diseases that are very uncommon, and has a reputation for getting to the bottom of things, and finding issues many other doctors would overlook or dismiss, so even if it's not Cushing's, she can get to the bottom of things.
If the specialist confirms I have it, the next step would be to get a high-res MRI done of my pituitary and adrenal glands to see which of these two is the culprit. After that, it's a matter of performing surgery to remove the tumor, or if it's sufficiently bad, remove the gland(s) completely.
I also discussed this with my mom prior to her dog passing away, and being a doctor herself, she concurs that looking back, Cushing's makes the most sense considering the health issues I've had over the years, and the fact that they simply won't go away on their own. And my mom conceded that it's likely the disease first presented when I hit puberty around 12 years old. I very quickly went from a small, underweight kid to an overweight kid seemingly in no time, and didn't grow as tall as I should have. My mom, who was coming down to Florida anyway in December for Christmas, will be coming to the the appointment with the specialist to help with providing a more complete history. And if the disease is confirmed and I have to have the surgery, I'd need someone here to make sure I don't overdo things.
A couple weeks ago, a doctor friend where I work had a "House" moment when she looked at me, asking me to come into her office for a moment. She said she was worried about me and that I was displaying some of the tell-tale symptoms of something called Cushing's Disease. I had never heard of it, and she told me that in essence, a noncancerous, slow-growing tumor, either in the pituitary or the adrenal glands, chronically pumps corticosteroids into the blood, causing a list of symptoms and issues almost as long as The Lord of the Rings, and some of these symptoms are diseases in their own right, but Cushing's is so rare (the incidence is only 2-3 cases per million people) that most doctors don't know to look for it, and the symptoms are literally all over the medical map. She and I discussed it at length, and we went through the list of issues Cushing's symptoms. Here's the list of things I've had over the years that she suspects were due to Cushing's:
- rapid weight gain and difficulty losing weight/keeping it off
- periodic, intense hunger, even after eating a filling meal, or snacking throughout the day without realizing it
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- headaches/migraines (including ocular migraines)
- poor short-term memory
- irritability
- sudden, inexplicable bursts/feelings of anger that disapate just as quickly
- anxiety
- depression
- other mental/emotional issues
- intermittent blurry vision
- balance issues/difficulties with feelings of vertigo
- excess patchy hair growth on body
- balding/thinning hair on head (mainly near my temples and on the very top of my head)
- Impaired immunological function, leading to more frequent flu's & colds and especially recurring skin infections
- red, ruddy "moon face" with splotchy red markings on forehead, nose, and cheeks
- extra fat deposits around neck/chin
- intermittent heart palpitations or pounding heartbeat, even when not physically active such as sitting or lying down
- "buffalo hump" (fat deposit on back between shoulderblades and neck)
- characteristic "beer belly" with normal to thin arms and legs
- overwhelming intermittent fatigue
- poor concentration and difficulty thinking
- insomnia (I frequently wake up 2-3 times a night and feel restless)
- frequent urination, sometimes as much as 2-3 times an hour, as well as the frequent desire to urinate even when nothing comes out
- hyperkalemia (high calcium levels in blood)
- low potassium and magnesium levels in blood
- high sodium level due to salt retention
- hormonal imbalance, especially thyroid hormones, testosterone, estrodial, progesterone and other hormones being completely out of whack
- thin skin and purple striae (stretch marks)
- easy bruising
- slow cut and bruise healing
- muscle pain and soreness, especially in major muscles such as pectorals, biceps/triceps and quadriceps
- acne (especially on my body and upper arms)
- hip and shoulder joint weakness
- joint stiffness, soreness and pain, especially major joints, such as knees, hips and back
- periodic soreness in the groin and the feeling like I had been reauchambeau'd
- persistent itch that migrates to a random part of the body
- strong muscle twitches, or the feeling of having received an electrical shock in a major muscle
- muscle cramps
Of the list of symptoms she rattled off, the only three I didn't have or was never diagnosed with was Type II Diabetes, Osteoporosis, and kidney stones. She said she only knew what to look for because she studied it extensively in med school. She asked me whether I had ever been prescribed steroids or was taking them for any length of time, and I never did, which was good, since that could temporarily induce a form of Cushing's but since I've never taken steroids of any kind, that was a relief.
She gave me the number to a colleague of her's with a private practice near where I lived who specializes doing tests for rare/uncommon diseases. Because my coworker and I were already friends, and given where I work (doing IT work for the VA hospitals) and the fact I'm not a veteran, it would've been inappropriate for her to have me tested for Cushing's through my job. I made the appointment for January 11th, which the earliest her colleague could fit me in considering it's the holiday season. Thankfully, this specialist takes my health insurance, so the tests won't cost an arm and a leg, and like I said, she specializes in doing tests for diseases that are very uncommon, and has a reputation for getting to the bottom of things, and finding issues many other doctors would overlook or dismiss, so even if it's not Cushing's, she can get to the bottom of things.
If the specialist confirms I have it, the next step would be to get a high-res MRI done of my pituitary and adrenal glands to see which of these two is the culprit. After that, it's a matter of performing surgery to remove the tumor, or if it's sufficiently bad, remove the gland(s) completely.
I also discussed this with my mom prior to her dog passing away, and being a doctor herself, she concurs that looking back, Cushing's makes the most sense considering the health issues I've had over the years, and the fact that they simply won't go away on their own. And my mom conceded that it's likely the disease first presented when I hit puberty around 12 years old. I very quickly went from a small, underweight kid to an overweight kid seemingly in no time, and didn't grow as tall as I should have. My mom, who was coming down to Florida anyway in December for Christmas, will be coming to the the appointment with the specialist to help with providing a more complete history. And if the disease is confirmed and I have to have the surgery, I'd need someone here to make sure I don't overdo things.
