My First Ever Post...

After two years of constant wondering, I found my answer and thought I would start a blog to document my life and my story. Mainly a way for me to express my feelings and maybe possibly help others who are feeling the same. Reading other people's stories and journeys and realizing I wasn't alone has already helped me cope, so hopefully I can do the same for someone else.

For the past two years I have been dealing with numerous weight and health issues, I just haven't been "myself"! From the constant weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, and many many more health issues. Everyone including my family doctor seemed to have the answer: "Exercise!", "Your over eating!", "Your just comfortable!", "Its all in your head!" Well, they for sure had the last one right.. It is all in my head.
My family doctor had reffered me to an Endocrinologist to teach me "portion control". It was then that I was sent for numerous cortisol tests and blood work. After these tests were coming back abnormal she sent me for an MRI.
It was then on December 17th, 2012 that I heard "You have Cushings!"
The MRI showed a clear image of a tumor growing on my pituitary gland. This for sure wasn't exactly what I was wanting to hear but I was happy to finally have an answer. My life over the past two years finally started to make sense to me. In a way I feel as tho already my Endocrinologist saved my life. It was a constant struggle with weight, I gained 20 pounds in less then a month and now over the two years I am up almost 100 pounds. This isn't normal. While during this time I was exercising and also training for my first ever 1/2 marathon. Which I am proud to say I did accomplish on December 2nd, 2012 in Las Vegas. Considering the amount of training I did and not losing even a pound, I knew there was something wrong.

Everything in my life started to make sense and come together, all the side effects, the constant feeling of feeling drained, the weight, my anxiety, the random panic attacks. Cushing's truly is an ugly disease. Im still not sure how to deal with it, I feel like I have been robbed of my life the past two years. I know I shouldn't feel like this but I do. I mean, I always wanted to feel special but being diagnosed with this rare disease isnt really what I had in mind.

On December 17th, 2012 (the day of my diagnoses), while driving home from my Endo's office, I received a phone call from the Foothills Hospital in Calgary from the Neurosurgery department saying they wanted to meet with me two days later. I couldn't believe it, everything was happening so fast. I never would have imagined even a week prior that I would be on my way to meet with a Neurosurgeon to plan a brain surgery.
I went to my appointment on December 19th, 2012 and Bradey and I met with the surgeon to make a plan. He showed us my MRI and explained how the procedure is going to take place. It was a little overwhelming but I realize this is one of my only options to get rid of this tumor so I can feel "normal" agian. He was extremely nice to the two of us so needless to say I signed his permission to go ahead with the surgery. He works with another man who is an ENT so we just have to wait now for when an available OR time is good for both of them.

I believe I have a long road ahead of me and reading stories from other "Cushie's", I understand this is something that is not to easy to deal with. However, I do know that over time it is all going to be worth it. The tole this awful disease has taken on my life.. It's now time to fight back!!

I have learned a huge lesson just the past couple weeks since my diagnoses, "Never judge someone by what they look like, Its on the inside that matters most!" This is extremely important to me now because I have been made fun of and brought down by even some of the closest people to me. Yes I gained weight but that doesn't change who I am on the inside and I have been judged by so many people about my weight and what I look like now compared to before. You never ever know whats happening to someone emotionally or if they have some medical issue for the way they look. I hope I can teach many people this life lesson, as I know how much it has effected me over the past two years emotionally. I hope to save the next person from the hurt I've felt.

I'm currently just waiting for my phone call to find out when everything will be taking place but I will keep my blog updated!

Much Love,
From one Cushie to another...

Gail



A little information about Cushing's disease:

Cushing's disease refers to a pituitary-dependent cause of Cushing's syndrome: a tumor (adenoma) in the pituitary gland produces large amounts of ACTH, causing the adrenal glands to produce elevated levels of cortisol.

Adenoma is a benign tumor of glandular origin. Adenomas can grow from many organs including the colon, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, thyroid, prostate, etc. Although these growths are benign, over time they may progress to become malignant, at which point they are called adenocarcinomas.