🦓 Day 27, Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2022

April 27, 2022April 22, 2022 MaryO Cushing's Awareness Challenge, Cushing's Awareness Challenge 2022 arthritis, Cancer, COVID-19, cruise, Cushing's Awareness Challenge 2022, exercise, MaryO, Norway, part-time job, piano, real life, running, Steinway Hall, travel, walking, water aerobics

I first saw a similar image to this one with the saying Life. Be in it at a recreation center when my son was little. At the time, it was “Duh, of course, I’m in it”.

The original image was a couple of males, a couple of females, and a dog walking/running. No folks in wheelchairs, no older folks, and certainly no zebras.

It would be nice to have everyone out there walking or running but that’s not real life, at least in the Cushie world. It’s been a long time since I’ve really been In My Life – maybe it’s time to get back.

A dear friend who has not one, but two forms of cancer was traveling throughout Europe for the first time after her husband’s death wrote:

Some final words before I turn in for the night. If there is a spark of desire within you to do something which is not contrary to God’s Holy Law, find a way to make it happen. All things are possible and blessings abound for those who love Him. Life is such an adventure. Don’t be a spectator – live every single moment for Him and with Him.

Somedays, it’s hard even getting up in the morning but I’m trying. Pre-COVID I took Water Aerobics for People with Arthritis and I actually went to class three times a week. Now, I took the stuff I learned there and do it 3 times a week as part of “water walking” by myself or with my DH. I got a “part-time” job several years ago and I’m teaching piano online. We had plans for a cruise to Norway which COVID made us reschedule for Alaska, which has to be rescheduled…again.

This is the one and only life I’ll ever have and I want to make the most of it!

⁉️ Cushing’s Myths and Facts: Cushing’s Syndrome/Disease can be healed or cured

April 9, 2022April 4, 2022 MaryO Cushing's Awareness Challenge adrenal, Cure, Cushing's Myths and Facts, Cushing’s, Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2021, diet, ectopic, exercise, Pituitary, remission, surgery, symptoms, tumor, weight

Myth: Cushing’s Syndrome/Disease can be healed or cured through change in diet or exercise.

Fact: NO! Caloric intake or lack of exercise has NO impact on weight gain and/ or loss in persons with Cushing’s.

Saying that someone “cheated” on their diet may seem reasonable to some as a reason for weight gain but I assure you that a candy bar or a piece of pie does not make a person with Cushing’s gain weight or get sick. Excess cortisol is the reason for Cushing’s symptoms. Treating the disease is the only way to alleviate symptoms.

The first line of treatment with the highest rate of remission is currently surgery to remove the tumor (s) from the pituitary, adrenal gland, or ectopic source.

🦓 Day 1: Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2022

April 1, 2022April 1, 2022 MaryO Cushing's Awareness Challenge, Cushing's Awareness Challenge 2022 April Fool, awareness, bruise, Cushing's Awareness Challenge 2022, diagnosis, doctors, Dr. Harvey Cushing, drug companies, endocrinologist, exercise, fatigue, hirsuitism, MRI, Pituitary, sleep, stretch marks, surgery, symptoms, transsphenoidal, treatment, tumor, Video, weight

April is always Cushing’s Awareness Challenge month because Dr. Harvey Cushing was born on April 8th, 1869.

Thanks to Robin for this wonderful past logo! I’ve participated in these 30 days for Cushing’s Awareness several times so I’m not quite sure what is left to say this year but I always want to get the word out when I can.

As I see it, there have been some strides the diagnosis or treatment of Cushing’s since last year. More drug companies are getting involved, more doctors seem to be willing to test, a bit more awareness, maybe.

How fitting that this challenge should begin on April Fool’s Day. So much of Cushing’s Syndrome/Disease makes us Cushies seem like we’re the April Fool. Maybe, just maybe, it’s the doctors who are the April Fools…

Doctors tell us Cushing’s is too rare – you couldn’t possibly have it. April Fools!

All you have to do is exercise and diet. You’ll feel better. April Fools!

Those bruises on your legs? You’re just clumsy. April Fools!

Sorry you’re growing all that hair on your chin. That happens as you age, you know. April Fools!

Did you say you sleep all day? You’re just lazy. If you exercised more, you’d have more energy. April Fools!

You don’t have stretch marks. April Fools!

You have stretch marks but they are the wrong [color/length/direction] April Fools!

The hump on the back of your neck is from your poor posture. April Fools!

Your MRI didn’t show a tumor. You couldn’t have Cushing’s. April Fools!

This is all in your mind. Take this prescription for antidepressants and go home. April Fools!

If you have this one surgery, your life will get back to normal within a few months. April Fools!

What? You had transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing’s? You wasted your time and money. April Fools!

I am the doctor. I know everything. Do not try to find out any information online. You could not have Cushing’s. It’s too rare… April FOOL!

All this reminds me of a wonderful video a message board member posted a while ago:

So now – who is the April Fool? It wasn’t me. Don’t let it be you, either!

🦓 Day 27, Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2020

April 27, 2020April 25, 2020 MaryO Cushing's Awareness Challenge arthritis, Cancer, COVID-19, cruise, Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2020, exercise, MaryO, Norway, part-time job, piano, real life, running, Steinway Hall, travel, walking, water aerobics

I first saw a similar image to this one with the saying Life. Be in it at a recreation center when my son was little. At the time, it was “Duh, of course, I’m in it”.

The original image was a couple of males, a couple of females, and a dog walking/running. No folks in wheelchairs, no older folks, and certainly no zebras.

A dear friend who has not one, but two forms of cancer was traveling throughout Europe for the first time after her husband’s death wrote:

Some final words before I turn in for the night. If there is a spark of desire within you to do something which is not contrary to God’s Holy Law, find a way to make it happen. All things are possible and blessings abound for those who love Him. Life is such an adventure. Don’t be a spectator – live every single moment for Him and with Him.

Somedays, it’s hard even getting up in the morning but I’m trying. I take Water Aerobics for People with Arthritis and I actually went to class three times a week until COVID-19, I got a “part-time” job several years ago, I’m now teaching piano online, my son and I play at Steinway Hall in NYC twice a year and we have plans for a cruise to Norway in August.

This is the one and only life I’ll ever have and I want to make the most of it!

⁉️ Cushing’s Myths and Facts: Cushing’s Syndrome/Disease can be healed or cured

April 8, 2020 MaryO Cushing's Awareness Challenge adrenal, Cure, Cushing's Awareness Challenge 2019, Cushing's Myths and Facts, Cushing’s, diet, ectopic, exercise, Pituitary, remission, surgery, symptoms, tumor, weight

Myth: Cushing’s Syndrome/Disease can be healed or cured through change in diet or exercise.

Fact: NO! Caloric intake or lack of exercise has NO impact on weight gain and/ or loss in persons with Cushing’s.

The first line of treatment with the highest rate of remission is currently surgery to remove the tumor (s) from the pituitary, adrenal gland, or ectopic source.

🦓 Day 1: Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2020

April 1, 2020April 12, 2020 MaryO Cushing's Awareness Challenge April Fool, awareness, bruise, Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2020, diagnosis, doctors, Dr. Harvey Cushing, drug companies, endocrinologist, exercise, fatigue, hirsuitism, MRI, Pituitary, sleep, stretch marks, surgery, symptoms, transsphenoidal, treatment, tumor, Video, weight