Well, I finally got to go see my endo. He was really nice and I liked him a lot. He said Cushing's is super rare (I already knew that and still think I have it) but he said there is definitely something wrong with me hormonally. He isn't going to ignore the Cushing's possibility thankfully, but he is testing me simultaneously for that and Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome, which I guess is a lot more common and has many of the same symptoms. My hump isn't a symptom for that though and that's the whole reason this got started! Oh wells, we shall see I suppose.
Today = first day or school, ugh. I had to drop one of my classes all over and go down to 3/4 time (9 credit hours) because my Pell Grant was inexplicably cut way wayyyy down ($2000 less). That is sad so now I will only be graduating with one degree instead of two like I was planning on :(
Ugh life.
The doctor sent me for blood tests the other day and they took seven vials of blood from me, I thought I was going to be sucked dry! I also have to do another 24-hour urine test (oh joy). I'm just glad someone is actually taking me seriously :)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
hmph
Do you ever feel like your significant other is holding you back?
That's kind of how I'm feeling right now. I have just been cruising around Facebook and I ended up on two of my ex's sites and one is engaged and the other just got married! I had no idea! I'm not upset about that because I have no desire to be married right now, but when looking at their pictures...they just seemed so happy and in love. There were pictures of the couples snuggling and smiling and being generally in love...and there were pictures of them out doing things, together! We never go anywhere :( We always just stay home and watch movies or something. I think I'm bored with him and my life. I feel like I'm being held back in every way. I don't even want to live in Sandusky but he refuses to leave! He doesn't even want to live in this horrible city! He never cuddles me or holds my hand...I don't know..maybe I'm just being melodramatic, but I am definitely feeling lonely, and slightly robbed, unhappy. I want to do something with my life, but I feel like I'll never have the chance.
I really wish I hadn't moved away from Columbus.
That's kind of how I'm feeling right now. I have just been cruising around Facebook and I ended up on two of my ex's sites and one is engaged and the other just got married! I had no idea! I'm not upset about that because I have no desire to be married right now, but when looking at their pictures...they just seemed so happy and in love. There were pictures of the couples snuggling and smiling and being generally in love...and there were pictures of them out doing things, together! We never go anywhere :( We always just stay home and watch movies or something. I think I'm bored with him and my life. I feel like I'm being held back in every way. I don't even want to live in Sandusky but he refuses to leave! He doesn't even want to live in this horrible city! He never cuddles me or holds my hand...I don't know..maybe I'm just being melodramatic, but I am definitely feeling lonely, and slightly robbed, unhappy. I want to do something with my life, but I feel like I'll never have the chance.
I really wish I hadn't moved away from Columbus.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Buh-Buh-Buh-Barrel
Well I think this week makes it official, summer is in full swing! I'm sad that I haven't really done anything fun :( I feel like I'm wasting my young years away sometimes. I want to go places and on adventures but it seems like money is always an issue, I need to get myself out of debt! Also I have a very lazy boyfriend who always seems to find a reason not to do anything, what a downer!
Anyway, I will probably be working 40-50 hours a week until school starts so I should be able to save lots of money and hopefully pay off a credit card or two. July 18 is Brian's 29th birthday and I am hoping to take him out and have a good time :) Then, August 8 is my one year anniversary with my besty, Hannah, and we plan on going to Cedar Point for the occasion since our boyfriends are both scared of roller coasters (losers). THEN, August 12 is Brian and I's two year anniversary and I have convinced him that it would be an awesome idea to go out of town and stay in a hotel for a night or two and have some fun going to places we've never been (or maybe we stay in town and stay at Kalahari? Expensive but bound to be awesome). Also Brian and I plan on going to Cedar Point together when Halloweekends starts so I should being having a good few fun adventures in the upcoming months. Just gotta get through all this work! I am convinced that I am a cushie and the exaustion/fatigue I have sometimes is overwhelming! I just woke up from sleeping over 10 hours and I definitely could have slept longer but I decided to get up.
Today = dying my hair (hopefully), working 5-9:30 (hopefully making at least $70), and hanging out with boyfriend (hopefully he doesn't fall asleep immediately after work)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
My Brain Hurts
I love Helvetica font.
Hi, I thought I would post more than I have since I came back to Blogger...maybe this time around will be better.
That diet I was talking about went on for a couple weeks to no avail (as usual).
I have given up dieting since I went to the doctor back in April. I asked him about this strange hump on the back of my neck that I had never noticed before. Brian says I have had it since he's known me, but I'm not sure. The doctor immediately said it looked like a symptom of Cushing's disease (or Cushing's syndrome, I'm not sure on the difference between the two). This is caused by an excess amount of cortisol being produced by the body, which in turn causes all kinds of symptoms including inexplicable weight gain, buffalo hump, acne, mood disorders and all kinds of other things. Mr. doctor man did a blood draw, which came back negative. Then, he prescribed a 24hr UFC which is a 24 hour urine collection test and this came back with elevated levels of cortisol which prompted him to refer me to an endocrinologist in Toledo. I have been on pins and needles waiting for this appointment, a three month wait period, a little less than two months to go :(
The excess corstisol is typically caused by a small tumor on the pituitary gland. It releases too much of the hormone ACTH which then tells the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol. It can also be caused by a tumor on one or both of the adrenal glands. The treatment is surgery, very dangerous from what I have read and there are only a few neurosurgeons who specialize in the surgery so travel is usually necessary.
I really wish there was a simple test that could confirm Cushing's but unfortunately this disease is one of the most difficult ones to diagnose in the practice of endocrinology (It has been mentioned on House once or twice!). I have read horror stories of people knowing they have the disease but Cushing's can be cyclical so your cortisol isn't always elevated and it can be difficult to get consistent diagnostic test results. There are women on the Cushing's Help website who have been fighting with doctors for years to get diagnosed. The doctors will not let you go for an MRI or CT scan looking for the tumor unless you have multiple diagnostic pathology tests done first. I think this is smart because statistically 1 in 5 people have pituitary tumors and most are completely benign and cause no problems, so surgery is unnecessary. I am so afraid of a difficult diagnosis..I feel like giving up before even beginning this fight. I have so many of the symptoms, but I still feel as if my endocrinologist is going to turn me away. Cushing's is very rare and most doctors have never even seen it before. I am told that I am very lucky to have had a positive test result so early in my diagnosis journey, so maybe my trek won't be as difficult as the ones I have read about.
My endocrinologist is apparently one of the best in his field, so here's hoping he knows about and has experience with Cushing's! Counting down to August 18th!
In other news, Brian and I are doing great. He is cooking/managing at Water St. Bar and Grill and I am still serving a good ol' Cracker Barrel. I am hating it there, but it is good money and I am so so close to being finished with Terra. Two classes left, wahoo! Anyway, Brian is so good to me and I like that he copes so well when I get out of control angry at him sometimes. This usually happens at night and I am pretty much positive that this is a Cushing's symptom because late night cortisol highs are fairly common and that is when I am feeling the craziest. Our 2 year anniversary is coming up and I am so excited! I think we are going to go out of town and stay in a hotel and go out to nice places :)
I am trying to save for a new car...I really want one of the new Ford Fiestas! I love the bright green hatchback and it will be mine one day! I don't care how much debt I put myself in for it!
Oh and how about a picture or two of my hump.....in case you were wondering what I was talking about.
Hi, I thought I would post more than I have since I came back to Blogger...maybe this time around will be better.
That diet I was talking about went on for a couple weeks to no avail (as usual).
I have given up dieting since I went to the doctor back in April. I asked him about this strange hump on the back of my neck that I had never noticed before. Brian says I have had it since he's known me, but I'm not sure. The doctor immediately said it looked like a symptom of Cushing's disease (or Cushing's syndrome, I'm not sure on the difference between the two). This is caused by an excess amount of cortisol being produced by the body, which in turn causes all kinds of symptoms including inexplicable weight gain, buffalo hump, acne, mood disorders and all kinds of other things. Mr. doctor man did a blood draw, which came back negative. Then, he prescribed a 24hr UFC which is a 24 hour urine collection test and this came back with elevated levels of cortisol which prompted him to refer me to an endocrinologist in Toledo. I have been on pins and needles waiting for this appointment, a three month wait period, a little less than two months to go :(
The excess corstisol is typically caused by a small tumor on the pituitary gland. It releases too much of the hormone ACTH which then tells the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol. It can also be caused by a tumor on one or both of the adrenal glands. The treatment is surgery, very dangerous from what I have read and there are only a few neurosurgeons who specialize in the surgery so travel is usually necessary.
I really wish there was a simple test that could confirm Cushing's but unfortunately this disease is one of the most difficult ones to diagnose in the practice of endocrinology (It has been mentioned on House once or twice!). I have read horror stories of people knowing they have the disease but Cushing's can be cyclical so your cortisol isn't always elevated and it can be difficult to get consistent diagnostic test results. There are women on the Cushing's Help website who have been fighting with doctors for years to get diagnosed. The doctors will not let you go for an MRI or CT scan looking for the tumor unless you have multiple diagnostic pathology tests done first. I think this is smart because statistically 1 in 5 people have pituitary tumors and most are completely benign and cause no problems, so surgery is unnecessary. I am so afraid of a difficult diagnosis..I feel like giving up before even beginning this fight. I have so many of the symptoms, but I still feel as if my endocrinologist is going to turn me away. Cushing's is very rare and most doctors have never even seen it before. I am told that I am very lucky to have had a positive test result so early in my diagnosis journey, so maybe my trek won't be as difficult as the ones I have read about.
My endocrinologist is apparently one of the best in his field, so here's hoping he knows about and has experience with Cushing's! Counting down to August 18th!
In other news, Brian and I are doing great. He is cooking/managing at Water St. Bar and Grill and I am still serving a good ol' Cracker Barrel. I am hating it there, but it is good money and I am so so close to being finished with Terra. Two classes left, wahoo! Anyway, Brian is so good to me and I like that he copes so well when I get out of control angry at him sometimes. This usually happens at night and I am pretty much positive that this is a Cushing's symptom because late night cortisol highs are fairly common and that is when I am feeling the craziest. Our 2 year anniversary is coming up and I am so excited! I think we are going to go out of town and stay in a hotel and go out to nice places :)
I am trying to save for a new car...I really want one of the new Ford Fiestas! I love the bright green hatchback and it will be mine one day! I don't care how much debt I put myself in for it!
love it love it love it
Oh and how about a picture or two of my hump.....in case you were wondering what I was talking about.
Just call me Quasi!
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