💉 Helpful Doctors: North Carolina

 

Sherry A added her helpful doctor, Matthew Gorris.

How would you rate your Helpful Doctor? 5/5
Your Doctor’s Name Dr. Matthew Gorris
Your Doctor’s Address Medical Center Boulevard
City: Winston Salem
State / Province: NC
Postal / Zip Code: 27157
Your Doctor’s Phone Number (336) 713-7251
What are your Doctor’s Specialties? Endocrinologist
Hospital Affiliation Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Comments Excellent Doctor, Takes his time, actively listens to his patients concerns and addresses questions in an easy to understand manner.

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💉 Helpful Doctors: Washington, D.C.

Someone on Facebook her helpful doctor, Dr. Susmeeta Tewari Sharma.

 

 

How would you rate your Helpful Doctor? 5/5
Your Doctor’s Name Dr. Susmeeta Tewari Sharma
Your Doctor’s Address
110 Irving Street Northwest
GROUND FL.
Suite NW

Washington, DC 20010

Your Doctor’s Phone Number 301-774-8962
What are your Doctor’s Specialties? Many, including Addison’s and Cushing’s.  See this list.

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ℹ️ Reasons You or Your Friend or Family Member Should See Dr. Friedman

 

Refer a friend or family member to see Dr. Friedman as a new patient and get a $50 voucher for your next appointment.

Here is a list of reasons you or your friend or family member should see Dr. Friedman

  1. Dr. Friedman thinks outside the box, as willing to look beyond standard testing and treatment approaches.
  2. Dr. Friedman is an expert in pituitary, thyroid and adrenal issues as well as several other endocrine conditions, while most endocrinologists specialize in diabetes or just thyroid disease.
  3. Dr. Friedman has seen and diagnosed more patients with Cushing’s disease, growth hormone deficiency or adrenal insufficiency in a month than most Endocrinologists see in a lifetime.
  4.  Dr. Friedman is well-trained and knows the Endocrine literature well
  5. Dr. Friedman is not beholden to protocols that many university-based Endocrinologists need to follow
  6. Dr. Friedman listens and cares.
  7. Dr. Friedman works with you and not against you
  8. A new patient who wants to be seen by Dr. Friedman can usually get in within a few weeks as opposed to months for other Endocrinologists that are booking out several months.
  9. Dr. Friedman uses conventional medicines, compounded medicines and supplements to optimize your health.
  10. Dr. Friedman works with several compounding pharmacies that prescribes weight loss medications so you can lose weight while you get your hormones optimized.
  11. Dr. Friedman believes should learn all about their health and provides scientific, yet easy to understand articles to help educate his patients.
  12. Dr. Friedman has hired extra staff members, so your needs are addressed in a timely manner.

For more information go to Dr. Friedman’s website https://www.goodhormonehealth.com or contact his office at mail@goodhormonehealth.com.

🦓 Day 13, Cushing’s Awareness Challenge

UVA 2004
Cushing’s Conventions have always been special times for me – we learn a lot, get to meet other Cushies, even get referrals to endos!

As early as 2001 (or before) my pituitary function was dropping.  My former endo tested annually but did nothing to help me with the symptoms.

In the fall of 2002 my endo refused to discuss my fatigue or anything at all with me until I lost 10 pounds. He said I wasn’t worth treating in my overweight condition and that I was setting myself up for a heart attack. He gave me 3 months to lose this weight. Those 3 months included Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  Needless to say, I left his office in tears, again.

Fast forward 2 years to 2004.  I had tried for a while to get my records from this endo. He wouldn’t send them, even at doctors’ or my requests.

I wanted to go see Dr. Vance at UVa but I had no records so she wouldn’t see me until I could get them.

Finally, my husband went to the former endo’s office and threatened him with a court order. The office manager managed to come up with about 13 pages of records. For going to him from 1986 to 2001 including weeks and weeks at NIH and pituitary surgery, that didn’t seem like enough records to me.

In April of 2004, many of us from the message boards went to the UVa Pituitary Days Convention. That’s where the picture above comes in.  Other pictures from that convention are here.

By chance, we met a wonderful woman named Barbara Craven. She sat at our table for lunch on the last day and, after we learned that she was a dietitian who had had Cushing’s, one of us jokingly asked her if she’d do a guest chat for us. I didn’t follow through on this until she emailed me later. In the email, she asked how I was doing. Usually I say “fine” or “ok” but for some reason, I told her exactly how awful I was feeling.

Barbara emailed me back and said I should see a doctor at Johns Hopkins. I said I didn’t think I could get a recommendation to there, so SHE referred me. The doctor got right back to me, set up an appointment. Between his vacation and mine, that first appointment turned out to be Tuesday, Sept 14, 2004.

Just getting through the maze at Johns Hopkins was amazing. They have the whole system down to a science, moving from one place to another to sign in, then go here, then window 6, then… But it was very efficient.

My new doctor was wonderful. Understanding, knowledgeable. He never once said that I was “too fat” or “depressed” or that all this was my own fault. I feel so validated, finally.

He looked through my records, especially at my 2 previous Insulin Tolerance Tests (ITT). From those, he determined that my growth hormone has been low since at least August 2001 and I’ve been adrenal insufficient since at least Fall, 1999 – possibly as much as 17 years! I was amazed to hear all this, and astounded that my former endo not only didn’t tell me any of this, he did nothing. He had known both of these things – they were in the past records that I took with me. Perhaps that was why he had been so reluctant to share copies of those records. He had given me Cortef in the fall of 1999 to take just in case I had “stress” and that was it.

The new endo took a lot of blood (no urine!) for cortisol and thyroid stuff. I went back on Sept. 28, 2004 for arginine, cortrosyn and IGF testing.

He said that I would end up on daily cortisone – a “sprinkling” – and some form of GH, based on the testing the 28th.

For those who are interested, my new endo was Roberto Salvatori, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins

Medical School: Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
Residency: Montefiore Medical Center
Fellowship: Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University
Board Certification: Endocrinology and Metabolism, Internal Medicine

Clinical Interests: Neuroendocrinology, pituitary disorders, adrenal disorders

Research Interests: Control of growth hormone secretion, genetic causes of growth hormone deficiency, consequences of growth hormone deficiency.

Although I have this wonderful doctor, a specialist in growth hormone deficiency at Johns Hopkins, in November, 2004, my insurance company saw fit to over-ride his opinions and his test results based on my past pharmaceutical history! Hello??? How could I have a history of taking GH when I’ve never taken it before?

Of course, I found out late on a Friday afternoon. By then it was too late to call my case worker at the drug company, so we had to appeal on Monday. My local insurance person also worked on an appeal, but the whole thing was just another long ordeal of finding paperwork, calling people, FedExing stuff, too much work when I just wanted to start feeling better by Thanksgiving.

As it turned out the insurance company rejected the brand of hGH that was prescribed for me. They gave me the ok for a growth hormone was just FDA-approved for adults on 11/4/04. The day this medication was approved for adults was the day after my insurance said that’s what is preferred for me. In the past, this form of hGH was only approved for children with height issues. Was I going to be a guinea pig again?

The new GH company assigned a rep for me, submitted info to pharmacy, and waited for insurance approval, again.

I finally started the Growth Hormone December 7, 2004.

Was the hassle and 3 year wait worth it?

Stay tuned when all will be revealed.

Thanks for reading 🙂

MaryO

Behind High Blood Pressure and Anxiety, a Hidden Diagnosis: The Overlooked Rise of Adrenal Disorders

April marks Adrenal Awareness Month, a national initiative focused on a group of hormonal disorders that are frequently overlooked, often misdiagnosed, and in some cases life-threatening if left untreated. Many adrenal disorders present with symptoms that mimic common conditions—such as high blood pressure, anxiety, weight gain, or fatigue—leading patients to go undiagnosed for years.

Adrenal Awareness Month expands its focus to spotlight a broader range of adrenal disorders, including Cushing’s syndromepheochromocytomaConn’s syndrome, and adrenal cancer. Each condition will be featured throughout the month, offering targeted education, resources, and increased visibility for these complex and often overlooked diseases.

Cushing’s syndrome results from prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol levels, often caused by adrenal or pituitary tumors. Symptoms can include rapid weight gain, particularly in the face and abdomen, thinning skin, muscle weakness, and high blood pressure—features that frequently overlap with more common conditions, delaying diagnosis. Pheochromocytoma is a rare but potentially life-threatening tumor of the adrenal glands that causes excessive release of catecholamines, including adrenaline. This can lead to sudden episodes of severe high blood pressure, headaches, rapid heart rate, sweating, and anxiety or panic-like symptoms. Because these episodes can occur unpredictably, diagnosis is often challenging. When properly identified, however, pheochromocytoma is highly treatable, particularly with specialized surgical care. Conn’s syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism) is a leading but often unrecognized cause of secondary hypertension. Studies suggest that up to 10% of patients with high blood pressure may have an underlying hormonal cause such as Conn’s syndrome—yet many remain undiagnosed. The condition occurs when an adrenal tumor produces excess aldosterone, causing the body to retain sodium and lose potassium. This imbalance can lead to persistent high blood pressure, fatigue, muscle weakness, and increased cardiovascular risk. Because these symptoms often overlap with more common conditions, Conn’s syndrome is frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed.

“Adrenal disorders often present with symptoms that overlap with more common conditions, which is why they can go unrecognized for years,” said Tobias Carling, MD, PhD, FACS. “The challenge is that these are not just complex conditions—they can be serious and even life-threatening if missed. The good news is that many are highly treatable, and in some cases curable, when diagnosed early.” Early diagnosis and expert surgical treatment can be life-changing—and in many cases, curative.

Dr. Carling and his team operate at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery, home to the highest-volume endocrine surgery program in the world.Adrenal conditions are frequently overlooked, leaving patients to manage symptoms such as hypertension, fatigue, anxiety, or metabolic changes without identifying the underlying cause. Increasing awareness and encouraging appropriate screening are critical steps toward improving diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

Individuals experiencing persistent high blood pressure, unexplained weight changes, episodic anxiety, or abnormal potassium levels are encouraged to speak with their physician about further evaluation. Direct-to-consumer testing options, including specialized adrenal panels, are also available through providers such as Any Lab Test Now.

To further elevate awareness and bring a human perspective to these conditions, former patients of the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery are invited to share their personal stories. By visiting:
https://hospital-for-endocrine-surgery.boast.io/form/conns-awareness-day
patients can contribute their experiences—helping others better understand symptoms, treatment journeys, and life-changing outcomes associated with adrenal disorders.

“It is our hope to amplify the voices of those who have experienced these conditions firsthand,” Dr. Carling added. “By sharing these stories, we can help others recognize symptoms earlier, seek appropriate care, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients worldwide.”

Throughout April, patients, providers, and advocates are encouraged to participate, share information, and help bring long-overdue visibility to adrenal health.

About the Carling Adrenal Center
Founded by Dr. Tobias Carling, a global leader in adrenal gland surgery, the Carling Adrenal Center is an international destination for the surgical treatment of adrenal tumors. After nearly 20 years at Yale University—including seven years as Chief of Endocrine Surgery—Dr. Carling founded the center in 2020. Today, it performs more adrenal operations than any other hospital in the world. Learn more at www.adrenal.com or call (813) 972-0000.

About Hospital for Endocrine Surgery
The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery, a campus of HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital, specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal tumors. The hospital is dedicated to compassionate, patient-centered care and is recognized as the nation’s highest-volume center for endocrine tumor treatment. Learn more at www.hospitalforendocrinesurgery.com.

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@xpr.media

From https://www.registerguard.com/press-release/story/51335/behind-high-blood-pressure-and-anxiety-a-hidden-diagnosis-the-overlooked-rise-of-adrenal-disorders/

💉 Helpful Doctors: New York

 

Michele M (Michele), added her Helpful Doctor, Toni Murphy, to the Cushing’s MemberMap

How would you rate your Helpful Doctor? 5/5
Your Doctor’s Name Toni Murphy
Your Doctor’s Address Street Address: Harlem Road
City: West Seneca
State / Province: NY
Postal / Zip Code: 14224
What are your Doctor’s Specialties? Endocrinologist
What are your Doctor’s Hospital Affiliations? Mercy Hospital

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Dr. Friedman Has Partnered With Ulta Lab Tests to Offer Affordable, Hassle-Free Lab Testing at About One-Tenth the Cost of Going Through Insurance

Ulta Lab Tests Overview for Dr. Friedman’s ​​​​​​​patients.

Ø  Tired of dealing with insurance or the Quest/Labcorp bureaucracy to get your labs done.

Ø  Frustrated at the slow turnaround times at Quest/Labcorp.

Ø  Dr. Friedman understands your concerns and has partnered with Ulta Lab Tests to offer affordable, hassle-free lab testing—typically at about one-tenth the cost of going through insurance, with fast turnaround times.

Ø  The Ulta Lab Tests platform is especially helpful if you are uninsured, underinsured, or have a high deductible.

Ø  Both you and Dr. Friedman will get the results in a few days.

Ø  Please note that Ulta Lab Tests does not work with insurance or handle any insurance billing or reimbursements; all services are self-pay. The only exception is that HSA and FSA cards may be used at checkout.

Patient Instructions 

1.         Change your preference for labs to Ulta Lab in Acuity and/or let Dr. Friedman know at the time of appointment you want to use Ulta Lab

2.         Go to https://www.ultalabtests.com and sign up for an account.

3.         Open the Ulta Lab Tests email from Dr. Friedman’s staff and click the link to your pre-filled cart. This will display the corresponding prices for the selected tests.

4.         Activate your patient account by entering the required demographic information.

5.         Choose a patient service center based on your ZIP code (Quest charges $12.95; “Premium Draw” fees vary).

6.         Complete payment for your order.

7.         Check your email for your order confirmation. Click the embedded link to access your Patient Portal, where you can view and download your Patient Service Center Requisition Form.

6.         Schedule your blood draw (Quest and other appointment optionscan be made through your patient portal).

7.         Review your patient instructions listed on your requisition form to view fasting and testing requirements.

8.         You will receive an email notification once your results are available. From there, you can access them in your patient portal. Dr. Friedman will also have access to your results once they are available.

9.         If you are a new patient, wait for Dr. Friedman to send you a summary of your labs. If you don’t hear from him, send us an email. If you are a follow-up patient, discuss the labs with Dr. Friedman at your next appointment

💉 Helpful Doctors: New Jersey

James K. Liu, MD
Professor of Neurosurgery
Director of Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery
Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School
RWJ Barnabas Health

Dr. James K. Liu is the Director of Cerebrovascular, Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery at the Rutgers Neurological Institute of New Jersey, and Professor of Neurological Surgery at Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, and has a robust pituitary tumor practice at University Hospital and Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

Dr. Liu graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with Phi Beta Kappa honors, and obtained his MD from New York Medical College with AOA honors. After completing a neurosurgery residency at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, he was awarded the Dandy Clinical Fellowship by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and obtained advanced fellowship training in Skull Base, Cerebrovascular Surgery & Neuro-oncology at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

Dr. Liu is renowned for his comprehensive treatment of complex brain tumors and skull base lesions, including pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas, chordomas, and jugular foramen tumors. His robust clinical practice encompasses both traditional open and minimally invasive endoscopic endonasal skull base approaches. He also specializes in microsurgery of cerebrovascular diseases including aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), cavernous malformations, and carotid artery stenosis. He also has expertise in cerebrovascular bypass procedures for moya moya disease, carotid artery occlusion, vertebral artery occlusion, complex aneurysms and skull base tumors, as well as endoscopic-assisted microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm.

As one of the most active researchers in his field, Dr. Liu has published extensively with over 250 peer-reviewed publications and 25 textbook chapters. He has taught many hands-on cadaver dissection courses in skull base surgery and has lectured extensively nationally and internationally throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Liu’s research is focused on the development of innovative and novel skull base and endoscopic techniques, quantitative surgical neuroanatomy, microsurgical and microvascular anastomosis skills training, virtual surgical simulation, pituitary tumor biology, and clinical outcomes after skull base and cerebrovascular surgery.

Dr. Liu is an active member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, North American Skull Base Society, Pituitary Network Association, The Facial Pain (Trigeminal Neuralgia) Association, AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section, Tumor Section. He serves on the medical advisory board of the Acoustic Neuroma Association of New Jersey, and is the current Secretary-Treasurer of the International Meningioma Society.

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💉 Helpful Doctors: Arizona

Donna’s Doctor. She said on the message boards

“I Went to my Endo appt yesterday (prepared) I had a list of all of my symptoms and a few photos of me to show the dramatic changes that my body has gone through over a short period of time. Without my prompting, He is sure that I have Cushings. …The endo walked in the room, introduced himself, took a good look at me and my pictures and asked me if I had ever heard of Cushings? He told me that I was in good hands and that he would set me up with a great neurosurgeon.”

Dr. Alexander Zwart. He is located in Tucson Arizona.

Tucson Endocrine Associates.

5910 N La Cholla Blvd.

Tucson Arizona, 85741.

(520) 297-0404

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Helpful Doctors: Dr. Fernandez-Miranda

This month the spotlight focuses on Dr. Juan Carlos Fernandez-Miranda, a Professor of Neurosurgery and the Surgical Director of Brain Tumor, Skull Base and Pituitary Centers at Stanford University. Dr. Fernandez-Miranda did a neurosurgery residency at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, Spain. He completed a fellowship in microsurgical neuroanatomy at the University of Florida. He did clinical training in cerebrovascular surgery at the University of Virginia, and in endoscopic endonasal and open skull base surgery at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He joined the faculty at Stanford earlier this year. He was kind enough to answer some questions from the PNA. His answers are below:

What inspired you to choose your career path?

When I was a young kid, about 10-11 years old, I got sick with a skin rash and high fever; the family doctor visited our home, carefully examined me, and based on a number of clues, he determined I got a very rare bacterial infection known as scarlet fever; a few days of antibiotic medication and I was back to normal. I now realized that I was fascinated by the wisdom, expertise, and detective attitude of the physician, and this personal event was (I now know) key to my future decision to become a doctor.

As I started medical school, I became deeply interested in the structure of the brain and how it explains brain and perhaps even mind function. I realized that the closest I could get to know the brain was actually as a surgeon operating on it.

I became a neurosurgery resident, and I immediately felt that entering into a patient’s brain, skull base, or pituitary gland was a huge privilege and a unique experience that will require my entire devotion and attention. I learned from my mentors the importance of precise knowledge of surgical neuroanatomy to perform gentle, accurate, and safe surgery. After residency training, I decided to spend 2 entire years in the lab – fully dedicated to mastering the understanding of the complex tridimensional surgical neuroanatomy required to safely and efficiently navigate the brain and skull base. These years, under the guidance of legendary neurosurgeon Albert Rhoton, served as the basis of everything I have accomplished thus far.

I was then fortunate to continue my clinical training at University of Virginia with several giants of neurosurgery, and I was greatly influenced by the meticulous approach of Dr. Ed Oldfield’s pituitary surgeries, particularly for Cushing’s disease. It was such a joy to watch his precise extracapsular tumor resections. At the same time, I had become totally enchanted by the endoscopic endonasal operations that Dr. Amin Kassam was performing at University of Pittsburgh, and after many requests he finally accepted me for specialized training with him and his team. That was a life changing event for me, as my career was about to be centered in the development and refinement of endoscopic endonasal skull base and pituitary surgery.

What is the primary focus of your work/research?

My primary clinical focus is the treatment of patients with pituitary, skull base, and brain tumors. I have particular technical expertise in endoscopic endonasal surgery for pituitary tumors and other skull base lesions, such as craniopharyngiomas, meningiomas, and chordomas, with an accumulated surgical experience of more than 1,000 cases. My clinical practice includes a full range of minimally invasive approaches, in addition to complex open skull base and brain surgery.

My research interests lie in the study of surgical neuroanatomy and the application of innovative techniques into the operating room that aim to improve surgical safety and effectiveness. As an example, along with my fellows, we have recently provided a new compartmental classification of the cavernous sinus that may help improve resection rates of pituitary tumors that invade the cavernous sinus, while preserving cranial nerve function. We have also described the structure of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus and the ligaments that anchor it to the carotid artery, and we have implemented an innovative surgical technique to selectively remove the medial wall of the cavernous sinus; this is extraordinarily important to achieve complete remission in certain functional tumors causing Cushing’s disease or acromegaly, and our results have proven not only the efficacy of this novel technique, but its safety when appropriately performed.

What do you consider to be the future of your field?

There is no doubt that the field is already moving towards multidisciplinary super-specialization, promoting the creation of Pituitary Centers of Excellence that provide dedicated clinical care, research, and education. This favorable trend will facilitate the development of more effective surgical and medical treatments. Pituitary tumors should only be treated by fellowship-trained neurosurgeons in this field at high-volume surgical centers.

In spite of the multiple advances in the treatment of pituitary tumors, we are still in need of further improvement at all levels. From the surgical point of view, the future is on developing better visualization tools and mini-robotic instruments that will allow more effective and less invasive operations. From the imaging point of view, I believe functional imaging, such as PET-MRI, may improve the diagnosis and localization of hormonally active microadenomas with “negative” MRI studies. The future will hopefully bring newer and more effective medical therapies for active and even inactive pituitary tumors.

What should patients know about your field/what deserves more recognition/awareness?

I think the most important message for current and future patients is to make sure they seek the best team around to treat their disease. It is important to emphasize the team approach, because experience, knowledge, and collaboration is critical to obtaining the best outcome. This extends to all members of the team, including not only the neurosurgeon and the endocrinologist, but also ENT, neuro-ophthalmologist, radiation therapist, neuroradiologist, and neuropathologist.

What would you like to convey about yourself to your patients?

I strive to offer my patients the best possible treatment, that combines ultimate surgical and technological applications with compassionate care. I believe in teamwork and I am privileged to work with such a stellar team at Stanford. I have dedicated my life to becoming the best possible surgeon for my patients.

Why did you get involved with the PNA and what is the extent of your involvement?

I have always been fascinated by the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary tumors and pituitary diseases, and I feel extremely fortunate to dedicate a large portion of my practice to helping pituitary patients. My motivations perfectly align with the PNA goals, and this is the main reason I got involved. I have contributed to the education and counseling of patients through the PNA and I hope to continue to do so for the years to come.

Adapted from https://pituitary.org/highlights-enewsletter-child/spotlight-dr-fernandez-miranda/