pituitary surgery

✍️ Day 22: 40 Days of Thankfulness

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Today is the 38th anniversary of my pituitary surgery at NIH.

As one can imagine, it hasn’t been all happiness and light.  Most of my journey has been documented here and on the message boards – and elsewhere around the web.

My Cushing’s has been in remission for most of these 38 years.  Due to scarring from my pituitary surgery, I developed adrenal insufficiency.

I took growth hormone for a while.

When I got kidney cancer, I had to stop the GH, even though no doctor would admit to any connection between the two.

In 2017 I went back on it (Omnitrope this time) in late June.  Hooray!  I still don’t know if it’s going to work but I have high hopes.  I am posting some of how that’s going here.

During nephrectomy, doctors removed my left kidney, my adrenal gland, and some lymph nodes.  Thankfully, the cancer was contained – but my adrenal insufficiency is even more severe than it was.

In the last couple years, I’ve developed ongoing knee issues.  Because of my cortisol use to keep the AI at bay, my endocrinologist doesn’t want me to get a cortisone injection in my knee.  September 12, 2018 I did get that knee injection (Kenalog)  and it’s been one of the best things I ever did.  I’m not looking forward to telling my endo!

I finally got both knees replaced.  The left in 2023, the right on February 3 of this year

I also developed an allergy to blackberries in October and had to take Prednisone – and I’ll have to tell my endo that, too!

My mom has moved in with us, bring some challenges…

In early May of this year I got a cortisone injection in my right thumb.  Hopefully, this won’t turn into anything.

But, this is a post about Giving Thanks.  The series will be continued on this blog unless I give thanks about something else Cushing’s related 🙂

I am so thankful that in 1987 the NIH existed and that my endo knew enough to send me there.

I am thankful for Dr. Ed Oldfield, my pituitary neurosurgeon at NIH.  Unfortunately, Dr. Oldfield died in the last year.

I’m thankful for Dr. Harvey Cushing and all the work he did.  Otherwise, I might be the fat lady in Ringling Brothers now.

To be continued in the following days here at http://www.maryo.co/

 

💉 Helpful Doctors: New York

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Robert Heller, M.D., has joined Albany Med’s Department of Neurosurgery and has been named assistant professor of neurosurgery at Albany Medical College. He specializes in the surgical treatment of pituitary tumors, meningiomas, acoustic neuromas and gliomas. He is also skilled in stereotactic radiosurgery, a precisely targeted form of radiation therapy to treat tumors.

As a cranial and skull base surgeon, Dr. Heller will work with a team comprised of neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and ear, nose and throat surgeons who make up Albany Med’s Pituitary and Minimally Invasive Cranial Base Surgery Program.

Dr. Heller completed a complex cranial and skull base neurosurgery fellowship at Tampa General Hospital and University of South Florida in Tampa. He completed his residency training at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, where he also received his medical degree. His research interests include clinical outcomes in minimally invasive approaches to skull base surgery, and he has authored or co-authored nearly two dozen journal articles and book chapters. His professional society memberships include the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the North American Skull Base Society.

He resides in Delmar.

Dr. Heller is seeing patients at Albany Med’s Department of Neurosurgery at 43 New Scotland Ave. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call the Department of Neurosurgery at (518) 262-5088.

 

 

Media Inquiries:

Sue  Ford Rajchel

fords@amc.edu

(518) 262 – 3421

😳 A *Bit* Misleading

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Headline: “‘I gained 10st due to a rare condition – I lost it again by doing a simple daily exercise’
Hannah Mai, 37, managed to lose the weight in two years by doing a simple daily exercise”

She did lose the weight but, reading the article, also “Following her diagnosis, Hannah underwent brain surgery in February 2021 to remove the pituitary tumour causing her condition and was prescribed steroids to manage it.”

Just a bit of a misleading header.

Here’s the whole article.  And it was a bit more than a “simple daily exercise” and removing a pituitary tumor!

A woman who piled on 10 stone due to a rare condition has shed the weight in just two years, thanks to a daily exercise routine.

Hannah Mai, 37, was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, a hormonal disorder caused by high cortisol levels, in October 2020 after gaining 10 stone in just two and a half years.

Following her diagnosis, Hannah underwent brain surgery in February 2021 to remove the pituitary tumour causing her condition and was prescribed steroids to manage it.

In April, 2023, Hannah was taken off her steroid medication and was determined to shed the 10 stone she gained due to the disease – who weighed 20 stone 5lbs and was a size 26.

Through a combination of high-protein meals and daily pilates sessions, Hannah impressively slimmed down to 10 stone 4lbs, fitting into a size 10, all within two years.

Hannah, from Coventry, Warwickshire, said: “Once I started losing the weight, I just kept going.

“It isn’t easy, you really have to push yourself, and focus on who you want to be and think about who you want to be.”

When she turned 30, Hannah noticed she started gaining weight and went from nine stone to 16 stone in a few months. She revealed that despite frequent doctor visits, she was constantly asked if she was expecting or if her weight gain was due to hormonal changes.

Hannah shared: “I was always around nine stone, but I noticed how I started to gain a bit of weight. I knew there was something wrong with me, but people around me thought I had changed my diet and asked if I was eating more.

“I was asked if I was pregnant six times, and told that my weight gain could be caused by hormones. I went up to 20 stone at my heaviest.”

In October 2020, over two years since her weight began to increase, Hannah woke up one day with a hunched back.

After a quick Google search suggested Cushing’s disease as a possible cause, and noticing the other symptoms including weight gain, she immediately sought medical advice.

She was referred to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire, where an MRI scan and blood tests confirmed she had Cushing’s disease.

Hannah added: “I printed off the list of symptoms and took them to my doctor, who then referred me to the hospital.

“There, I had an MRI scan and blood tests, which confirmed that I had Cushing’s disease.

“I was relieved but scared when I got the diagnosis. I had been saying for years that there was something wrong with me.”

Five months post-diagnosis, in February 2021, Hannah underwent brain surgery to remove the pituitary tumour causing the condition, and was put on steroids to manage her symptoms.

After battling with her health and spending two years on steroids to manage her condition, Hannah came off the medication as her health improved.

After she came off her medication, Hannah said she knew she was better and became determined to lose weight.

She said: “It wasn’t easy to lose weight whilst I was still on steroids, as soon as I came off them, I knew this was my body and I was a lot better.

“I really pushed myself, I worked super hard, cut out all sugar, cut out dairy, and gluten after I was diagnosed with celiac disease.

“I have a low-carb, high-protein diet with lots of vegetables, and I do pilates every day.”

Her commitment paid off as she impressively slimmed down from 20 stone to 10 stone within two years. She went from wearing a size 26 clothes to wearing a size 10 – back to where she was before Cushing’s disease.

Hannah said: “I am super proud of myself, I am always worried that the weight will come back.

“I feel so much happier. When I look back at myself, I just can’t believe I was that size.

“When I look back at old photos, I feel very sad about what happened to me, but it makes me think that I need to be proud about how far I have come.”

Adapted from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/i-gained-10st-due-rare-35432462

📅 Johns Hopkins Pituitary Patient Education Day

MaryO Five Star, Helpful Doctors, Interviews, Meetings and Conferences, Maryland , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 25 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

The annual Pituitary Patient Education Day is a free event that features presentations from Johns Hopkins pituitary experts.

To RSVP, please email pituitaryday@jhmi.edu. Space is limited. Each person can bring up to one guest. If you RSVP yes but you cannot make it, please inform us as soon as possible by email, so that the slot can be offered to someone else.

List of presentations will be posted when finalized. Topics covered in previous years include:

Free
1800 Orleans Street, Zayed 2117
Baltimore, Maryland 21287 United States

410-955-5000

🎥 Interview with Doc Karen, Pituitary Patient and Cushing’s Advocate

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Karen’s Story

Life was good! In fact, life was great! I was married to the love of my life. We had a beautiful little girl. My husband and I had both earned our graduate degrees. I earned my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and was growing my clinical practice. I loved my work!

In October, 2006, my life was turned upside down when I gained 30 pounds in 30 days! I knew this was not normal at all. I sought answers but my doctor kept insisting that I wasn’t eating the right foods, that I wasn’t exercising hard enough, and finally that it was genetic. However, I was always a thin person, I ate pretty healthy foods, and I was pretty active. Red flags became even greater when my physician put me on prescription weight loss drugs and I STILL gained another 30 pounds. I knew my body and I knew something was wrong but I had no one to validate what was going on.

In January, 2010, to my surprise, I learned that I was miraculously pregnant with our second daughter. I was so sick during that pregnancy and,  again, my doctors couldn’t figure out why. My OBGYN was very supportive, yet so concerned. Her solution was to put me on bed rest. I became so ill that she told me that “my only job was to sit still and wait to have a baby”. I did give birth to a healthy baby girl four weeks early. Little did I know, then, how much of a miracle she was.

During the latter part of my pregnancy, while flipping through channels on television, I came across a Cushing’s episode on the health TV show, “Mystery Diagnosis”.

I knew right away that this diagnosis fit everything I had been experiencing: years of weird and unexplained symptoms, gaining 150 pounds for no reason, an onset of diabetes, high blood pressure, and an overall sense of doom.

You see, my friends and family witnessed me go from a vibrant young Clinical Psychologist in practice, to someone whose health deteriorated due to the symptoms of Cushing’s, as I tried for many years to get answers from professionals. As I continued to eat a healthy, 1000 calorie per day diet, engage in exercise with multiple personal trainers, and follow through with referrals to consult with dietitians; I continued to gain weight at a rate of 5 pounds per week and experience rapidly declining health. Finally, after watching that Cushing’s episode of Mystery Diagnosis, I found my answer! Ultimately, I sought the expertise of and treatment from a team of experts at the Seattle Pituitary Center in Seattle, WA. I had brain surgery in Seattle on November 16th, 2011. I want to tell you how I found the people who helped save my life…

On June 9, 2011, I went to my first MAGIC conference. I had never heard of them but someone on one of the online support groups told me about it.  At that time, I was working but was very, very sick. We suspected at that time that I had been sick for years! My local endocrinologist was far from a Cushing’s expert. After watching the Cushing’s episode of Mystery Diagnosis, I told the same endocrinologist who had misdiagnosed me for years that I had found my answer. He swore that there was “literally no possible way that I had Cushing’s Disease!” He stated that my “hump wasn’t big enough”, “my stretch marks were not purple enough” and that “Cushing’s patients do not have children!” I told him that I was NOT leaving his office until he started testing me. He finally caved in. To his surprise, I was getting abnormal labs back.

At that time, there was evidence of a pit tumor but it wasn’t showing up on an MRI. So, I had my IPSS scheduled. An IPSS stands for Inferior Petrosal Sinus Sampling. It is done because 60 % of Cushing’s based pituitary tumors are so small that they do not show up on an MRI. Non Cushing’s experts do not know this so they often blow patients off, even after the labs show a high level of ACTH in the brain through blood work. An overproduction of the hormone ACTH from the pituitary communicates to the adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol. Well, the IPSS procedure is where they put catheters up through your groin through your body up into your head to draw samples to basically see which side of your pituitary the extra hormone is coming from, thus indicating where the tumor is. U of C is the only place in IL that does it.

So, back to the MAGIC convention; my husband and I went to this conference looking for answers. We were so confused and scared!  Everyone, and I mean everyone, welcomed us with opened arms like we were family! There were brilliant presenters there, including an endocrinologist named Dr. William Ludlam. At that time, he was the director at the Seattle Pituitary Center in Seattle, WA. He is a true Cushing’s expert. Since then, he left in January, 2012 to have a significant impact toward the contribution of research of those impacted by Cushing’s Syndrome. His position was taken over by another brilliant endocrinologist, Dr. Frances Broyles.

I was scheduled to get an IPSS at U of C on June 28th, 2011 to locate the tumor. Two days after the IPSS, I began having spontaneous blackouts and ended up in the hospital for 6 days. The docs out here had no clue what was happening and I was having between 4-7 blackouts a day! My life was in danger and they were not helping me! We don’t know why, but the IPSS triggered something! But, no one wanted to be accountable so they told me the passing out, which I was not doing before, was all in my head being triggered by psychological issues. They did run many tests. But, they were all the wrong tests. I say all the time; it’s like going into Subway and ordering a turkey sandwich and giving them money and getting a tuna sandwich. You would be mad! What if they told you, “We gave you a sandwich!” Even if they were to give you a dozen sandwiches; if it wasn’t turkey, it wouldn’t be the right one. This is how I feel about these tests that they ran and said were all “normal”. The doctors kept telling us that they ran all of these tests so they could cover themselves. Yet, they were not looking at the right things, even though, I (the patient) kept telling them that this was an endocrine issue and had something to do with my tumor! Well, guess how good God is?!!!!

You see, Dr. Ludlam had given me his business card at the conference, which took place two weeks prior to the IPSS. I put it away for a while. But, something kept telling me to pull the card out and contact him. I am crying just thinking about it, Lord!

So, prior to my IPSS, I wrote Dr. Ludlam an e mail asking him some questions. At that time, he told me to send him ALL of my records including labs. I sent him 80 pages of records that day.  He called me back stating that he concurred with all of the evidence that I definitely have Cushing’s Disease from a pituitary source. He asked me what I planned to do and I told him that I was having the IPSS procedure done in a few days at the University of Chicago. He told me once I got my results to contact him.

Fast forward, I ended up in the hospital with these blackouts after my IPSS. The doctors, including MY local endocrinologist told me there was no medical evidence for my blackouts. In fact, he told the entire treatment team that he even doubted if I even had a tumor! However, this is the same man who referred me for the IPSS in the first place! I was literally dying and no one was helping me! We reached out to Dr. Ludlam in Seattle and told him of the situation. He told me he knew exactly what was going on. For some reason, there was a change in my brain tumor activity that happened after my IPSS. No one, to this day, has been able to answer the question as to whether the IPSS caused the change in tumor activity. The tumor, for some reason, began shutting itself on and off. When it would shut off, my cortisol would drop and would put me in a state of adrenal insufficiency, causing these blackouts!

Dr. Ludlam said as soon as we were discharged, we needed to fly out to Seattle so that he could help me! The hospital discharged me in worse condition then when I came in. I had a blackout an hour after discharge! But get this…The DAY the hospital sent me home saying that I did not have a pit tumor, my IPSS results were waiting for me! EVIDENCE OF TUMOR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY PITUITARY GLAND!!!

Two days later, Craig and I were on a plane to Seattle. I had never in my life been to Seattle, nor did I ever think I would go. We saw the man that God used to save my life, Dr. William Ludlam, the same man who we had met at the MAGIC conference for the first time one month prior! He put me on a combo of medications that would pull me out of crisis. Within one month, my blackouts had almost completely stopped! Unfortunately, we knew this was a temporary fix! He was treating me to carry me over to surgery. You see, his neurosurgeon, Dr. Marc Mayberg was just as amazing. He is one of the top neurosurgeons in the US! Statistically, he has one of the highest success rates!

The problem was that our insurance refused to pay for surgery with an expert outside of IL, stating that I could have surgery anywhere in IL! Most people don’t know that pituitary surgeries are very complicated and need the expertise of a “high volume center” which is where they do at least 50 of these surgeries per year. Dr. Mayberg has performed over 5,000 of these surgeries!  By this time, we had learned that we need to fight for the best care! It was what would give me the best chance at life! We thought I would have to wait until January when our insurance would change, to see if I could get the surgery I so desperately needed! I was holding on by a thread!

We began appealing our insurance. At the time the MAGIC foundation had an insurance specialist who was allowed to help us fight our insurance. Her name is Melissa Callahan and she took it upon herself to fight for us as our patient advocate. It was a long and hard battle! But…we finally WON!!!! On November 16th, 2011, Dr. Marc Mayberg found that hidden tumor on the left side of my pituitary gland! He removed the tumor along with 50% of my pituitary gland.

Recovery was a difficult process. They say that it takes about one full year to recover after pituitary surgery for Cushing’s. I was grateful to be in remission, nonetheless. However, about one year after my brain surgery, the Cushing’s symptoms returned. After seven more months of testing that confirmed a recurrence of the Cushing’s, I was cleared for a more aggressive surgery. This time, I had both of my adrenal glands removed as a last resort. By then, we had learned that I had hyperplasia, which is an explosion of tumor cells in my pituitary. It only takes one active cell to cause Cushing’s. Therefore, I could have potentially had several more brain surgeries and the disease would have kept coming back over and over.

As a last resort, my adrenal glands were removed so that no matter how much these cells try to cause my adrenals to produce excessive amounts of cortisol; the glands are not there to receive the message. As a result, I am Adrenally Insufficient for life, which means that my body cannot produce the life sustaining hormone, cortisol, at all. I had my Bilateral Adrenalectomy by world renowned BLA surgeon, Dr. Manfred Chiang, in Wisconsin on August 21st, 2013. I traded Cushing’s Disease for Addison’s Disease, one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make in my life. However, I knew that I would die with Cushing’s. Recovery from my last surgery was difficult and involved weaning down to a maintenance dose of steroid to replace my cortisol. Now, on a maintenance dose; I still have to take extra cortisol during times of physical or emotional stress to prevent my body from going into shock.

I promised a long time ago that I would pay it forward…give back because so much has been given to me. This is why I have committed my life to supporting the Cushing’s community. I post videos on YouTube as a way of increasing awareness. My channel can be found at http://www.YouTube.com/drnkarenthames

Additionally, I am working on a Cushing’s documentary. Please like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Hug.A.Cushie

Thank you for taking the time to read my story!

Karen has made 2 videos about her experiences with Cushing’s:

and

Doc Karen will be our guest in an interview on BlogTalk Radio  Friday December 2 at 11:00 AM eastern.  The Call-In number for questions or comments is (323) 642-1665 .

The archived interview will be available through iTunes Podcasts (Cushie Chats) or BlogTalkRadio.  While you’re waiting, there are currently 90 other past interviews to listen to!

🦓 Day 29, Cushing’s Awareness Challenge

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invisible

 

I’ve been thinking about this since the article I posted on doctors not understanding what it was like for a post-op Cushing’s disease patient – ME!  I’m updating this for Cushings Awareness Month 2025.

I originally posted this on Facebook way back in 2010.

Edits from November 21, 2015 are in blue italic
Edits from September 25, 2023 are in red italic
Edits from February 29, 2024 are in green italic
Edits from April 2025 are in purple italic

November 21, 2010 at 6:31pm

I really liked Jessica’s list, so I decided to make one of my own.  I was looking in my blog for what I wrote already about Psalm 116 and found out that I already did a very similar list in September 2009.  Talk about bad memory!

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illnesses I live with are: Cushing’s Disease and kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). I also have secondary adrenal insufficiency as well as a growth hormone deficiency. I had pituitary surgery on November 3, 1987 and had my kidney cancer (kidney and adrenal gland) removed May 9, 2006.  Having my adrenal gland removed acerbates my post-op pituitary issues. My one remaining adrenal gland doesn’t work well and I cannot replace my deficient growth hormone because I had cancer.

November 21, 2015:  I haven’t added anything much to this list – HOORAY!  OTOH, nothing has gone away, either.  

A couple days/nights a month, I have unexplained, random itching.  It could be on my foot, then jump to my stomach, then anywhere. It keeps me awake at night and is very annoying.  I originally had this in menopause and I’m very annoyed that it has come back.

I mentioned this to my endo last year because of the possibility of “hormone withdrawal” and he said I should probably talk to my PCP about this, and that it could be “serious”.  I haven’t yet because I don’t like the possibility of tracking down some other dread, unknown disease.  According to that great doctor, Wikipedia: 

Causes of formication include normal states such as onset of menopause (i.e. hormone withdrawal). Other causes are medical conditions such as pesticide exposure, mercury poisoning, diabetic neuropathy, skin cancer, syphilis, Lyme disease or herpes zoster (shingles). Formication can also be a result of stimulant intoxication (e.g. methamphetamines, cocaine) or alcohol withdrawal in alcoholics (i.e. delirium tremens), and is often accompanied by visual hallucinations of insects.

Also, I’ve been having terrible swelling, and pain in my left ring finger.  I will see my PCP about that on Wednesday after having this for about 8 months or so.  I looked up the possibilities on Dr. Google and there are too many to contemplate.  I hope it’s not arthritis.  I already know I can’t take meds for that.

September 25, 2023 – I’m able to take growth hormone injections – Omnitrope – again but I don’t see it making any difference.

In March of 2023 I had a total left knee replacement after many steroid injections and one series of hyaluronic acid.  I documented all that in another of my blogs. I am expecting to do the right knee possibly in the fall of 2024 but I’m putting it off as long as possible.

February 3, 2025 I had a total right knee replacement.  It was “easier than the left but I developed an allergy to something which is yet unknown and I had a terrible itch rash for about a month.

2. I was diagnosed with Cushing’s in the year: 1985; adrenal insufficiency in 1999; GH deficiency in 2004 and kidney cancer in 2006.

November 21, 2015:  Somehow, I forgot that I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the early 1980’s and took NSAIDs for about 30 years.  Those are another kidney cancer no-no.

In April of 2021 I had a Mohs Surgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma.  A description and photos are available here: https://maryomedical.com/2021/05/09/the-mohs-nose/

 

3. But I had Cushing’s symptoms since: 1983 for sure.  Looking back, I can trace some other symptoms to the 1970s.

 

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Sleeping so much.  When I say I have to sleep, that’s it, no matter where I am, no matter what I’m doing.  From the cancer – not being able to take my arthritis meds.

 

5. Most people assume: I am completely healthy.  I had surgery, so everything is fine.  I am, however, lazy.

 

6. The hardest part about mornings are: getting up.  I could sleep until at least noon if I didn’t have an alarm AND something specific to do.  It’s also hard to get my joints so they work.  Sometimes I have a hard time standing.  I have a footed cane beside the bed to help me get up.

November 21, 2015:  I seem to be getting up earlier.  I have an issue with a joint on my ring finger, left hand.  It often throbs at night and wakes me up.

2023-2024, I seem to be waking up about 1 or so.  I guess because my 2-3 hour naps, my body is treating bedtime as just another nap.

2024-2025. I’m waking up about 3 and doing some online work, then napping for about 30 minutes to an hour until my alarm goes off at 9

7. My favorite medical TV show is: House.  I started watching it because an episode about Cushing’s was loosely based on a Cushie I know.

November 21, 2015:  House doesn’t seem to be on anymore so I no longer have a favorite medical TV show.

 

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Wow, so many. My iPhone is the main one with a few others very close.

November 21, 2015:  iPad now.

 

9. The hardest part about nights are: Staying asleep.  I’m always tired but I often have to get up to go the the bathroom.  Then, I often have trouble getting back to sleep.

November 21, 2015:  Dreams, some scary, some that just play like endless loops until I get up.  I still get up for the bathroom, too. Pain, sometimes that itching. 

 

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins: Not much.  I only take Cortef and lisinopril/HCTZ.  I used to take a lot of other meds but, due to having only one kidney, I can’t take much of anything, including vitamin C, aspirin and NSAIDs.  I pray I don’t get headaches anymore!

November 21, 2015:  Nowadays, it’s only the Cortef.
If absolutely necessary, I take Alavert for allergies and Benadryl if I’m in an itchy pattern; Tylenol for headaches.  

Because of the cancer, I can’t take Growth Hormone any more.

September 25, 2023 – I’m able to take growth hormone injections – Omnitrope – again but I don’t see it making any difference.

 

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: have to clear anything I take or do with my kidney cancer surgeon so it’s easier to just not take anything.

 

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: What I have.  While I wish people would understand better, I don’t want anyone to feel pity or single me out.

 

13. Regarding working and career: I’ve been fortunate – I’ve been a piano teacher forever and I can control my hours to get in naps when I need them.  I could not work a 40-hour job.

November 21, 2015:  I still teach piano, although it’s hard to play now due to that joint issue.  I also am webmaster for my church, for my husband’s company and the Cushing’s sites.  I also inherited my friend’s menopause site when she died.  So, there’s a lot of stuff to do, but I can still work naps in.  I still could not work a normal work day.

September 25, 2023 – I still teach piano, am the Director of Communications for my church and keep the Cushing’s sites going – sort of.  I still take a lot of naps.

 

14. People would be surprised to know: that I have trouble dealing with so many things.

 

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: that I can’t be the Energizer Bunny any more.  No project days where lots of stuff gets done.

 

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: start a website and support group to help others.

 

17. The commercials about my illness: NONE!

 

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: I miss Sweet Adelines.  I loved the singing, the dressing up in sequins and false eyelashes to sing before huge crowds.  Almost like being on Broadway.  I also miss playing violin in a local orchestra.

January 2024, I bought a silent e-violin so I can start practicing again without bothering my 100-year-old mom. In March I joined a balalaika orchestra!

In 2025 I’m sill playing with the balalaika orchestra

19. It was really hard to have to give up:my arthritis meds.

 

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Naps, sleeping.

 

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I cannot even imagine.  I could join a gym again, although for only one day it wouldn’t do much.  I could commit to doing something in the afternoons without napping before.  I could get some of my house tidied up…

 

22. My illness has taught me: a lot about hormones, glands, medical terms and… HTML.  I almost think I could have gone to med school if I’d had the stamina.

 

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: “Oh, my friend’s dog (or cat/horse/ferret) had that [Cushing’s].  The vet just gave the dog some pills and she was fine.  GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

24. But I love it when people: listen to me when I try to tell them a bit about Cushing’s, even if it is a dumbed-down version.

February 15-16, 2024 I had the opportunity to be in both Fair Oaks Emergency Room and the hospital in Fairfax, VA.

Whenever a nurse/medical tech mentioned steroids, I asked what they knew about Cushing’s. One asked if it was a medication. DUH!

Needless to say, none were very Cushing’s-savvy. So, I gave them all the abbreviated version of my Cushie Story.

I think (and hope!) that they will all remember the day that they met a real live Cushing’s patient.. 

My left knee surgey was supposed to be in early January 2025 but it was snowed out.  Because it was rescheduled for more than a month later, I had to redo some testing.  I was amazed that the doctor in the walk-in clinic knew about Cushing’s although she’d never met a real one in the wild.  I spent a lot of time talking to her.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:

Psalms 116:

“1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;he heard my cry for mercy.

 

2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

 

3 The cords of death entangled me,the anguish of the grave came upon me;I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

 

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:”O LORD, save me!”

 

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;our God is full of compassion.

 

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;when I was in great need, he saved me….”

 

After I was finished with the long diagnostic process, surgery and several post-op visits to NIH, I was asked to give the scripture reading at my church. The man who did the sermon that week was the survivor of a horrific accident where he and his family were hit by a van while waiting at an airport.

 

I thought I had written down the verse carefully. I practiced and practiced, I don’t like speaking in front of a crowd but I said I would. When I got to church, the verse was different. Maybe I wrote it down wrong, maybe someone changed it. Whatever. When I read this Psalm aloud, I just started crying, it so spoke to me and my situation.

 

Another reading I love is:The Best Day Of My Life by Gregory M Lousignont

 

“Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I’m going to celebrate!

 

Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

 

I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

 

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I’ll make someone smile. I’ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don’t even know.

 

Today, I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I’ll tell a child how special he is, and I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.

 

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me.

 

I’ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

 

And tonight, before I go to bed, I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

 

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!”

 

When I’m feeling down, depressed or low, reading this and “my” Psalm can help me more than anything else.

 

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Learn everything you can about your disease.  You know more about your body than anyone else.  If your doctor tells you something that you know to be wrong about *you* – get another doctor!  Don’t waste your life getting good care for yourself.

 

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how intolerant other people can be and the discrimination that I have run into, such as not being included in some activity just because my physical limitations would make it inconvenient for them to deal with accommodating me.

 

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: trying to understand that I wasn’t just fat and lazy, I really had medical issues going on.

 

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I like people to know that just because someone looks healthy, they may not be.  There are lots of people out there with invisible illnesses who need understanding, compassion and, possibly, help.

 

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: like you’re really interested.

 

The 2009 version was pretty close!

Thanks for being interested enough to read this!

Webinar: Visual Recovery After Pituitary Surgery

MaryO Interviews, Meetings and Conferences , , , ,

I’m sorry I can’t find more info on this –

Webinar Announcement: Visual Recovery After Pituitary Surgery

 

Presented by:
Dr. James Chandler

 

Friday April 26, 2024
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM  PST
Learning Objectives: TBD

 

💙 Post-Op Pituitary COVID Injection 1

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Quick takeaway: I have adrenal insufficiency (one adrenal was removed with my kidney due to cancer, steroid-dependent (post-Cushing’s Disease), growth hormone insufficiency, panhypopituitary.  I had some issues after my first COVID-19 injection (Moderna) but not too bad.  My second injection will be March 15.

January 12, 2021 my Mom’s doctor called and offered her the vaccine but she didn’t want it. She said she didn’t go anywhere.  True but my DH and I do – and she has a friend visit once a month.  I joked to a friend that I could put on a wig and go as her since we have the same first name.

I have been doing the COVID-19 Patient Monitoring System through my doctor’s office since it was first offered.  Just a few boxes of how I’m feeling, if I wore a mask and so on.  I am a strong believer in helping to participate in medical trials, as I mention below.  This one is very easy and takes about a minute out of my day.  Easy-peasy.

I’ve been on the Fairfax Waiting List since January 19, 2021.  As of right now, they are still scheduling people from January 18 – I read somewhere that 41,000-some people registered on the 18th, so it may be a while to get to my date.  They have set up an interesting dashboard to track how things are going  – https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus/vaccine/data

I got a link from a friend when CVS opened up clinics in my state – https://www.cvs.com/vaccine/intake/store/covid-screener/covid-qns

I kept the CVS link open and checked it every morning.  Everything was full until Saturday, February 13.  I was able to register at about 5 am.  When I went back about 20 minutes later, everything was gone.

 

CVS sent out an informative email with directions, dates, ics file to easily add to calendar,

On the day of your appointment:

•Please arrive early enough to check in before your scheduled appointment. Arriving late for your appointment may result in an extended wait time.

•Bring your ID and insurance card, voucher or other coverage

•Don’t forget a face covering—wearing it throughout your visit is required

•When you arrive, please check in at the pharmacy area inside the store or follow the signs for the COVID-19 vaccine

CVS tips for vaccine shots:

•Wearing short sleeves makes getting a shot easier and faster

•If you must wear long sleeves, dress in layers with the short sleeves underneath

• Review the patient fact sheet about the specific vaccine you are receiving

What to do if you feel sick or have COVID-19 symptoms:

•Contact your health care provider immediately

•If your provider recommends it, get tested for COVID-19

• Cancel your appointment

•Don’t come to the pharmacy

•Schedule a new appointment when you’re well

After your vaccine:

•Be prepared to stay for 15 to 30 minutes after the COVID-19 vaccination so you can be observed for side effects.

•If you experience side effects from your COVID-19 vaccine dose, you may find some guidance at Coronavirus: Vaccine, Prevention Tips & FAQs

•The CDC has created a way for you to report how you feel after the COVID-19 vaccination through a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with you. Learn about v-safe and sign up today.

And a short survey, which I took – just add up to 5 stars and write a short paragraph.

Monday, February 15, 2021: When I got to CVS, I found that everything was very well run.

I got a text from CVS asking me to click a link when I arrived at 3:30 and it gave me directions on where to go.

I was met by someone at door who checked my name – I showed him my phone screen – he showed me where to walk following arrows on floor.  Then I was met by so someone who checked my name and he asked if I had done the texting thing (yes!).

There were 4 people ahead of me that I could see.  It went very fast.  I was in the little room within less than 10 minutes.

The nurse asked if left arm was ok to use.

She told me to treat the little quarantine form like gold.  Take a picture on my phone, just in case.  Maybe laminate after second shot.  Keep it with passport.

She said that old folks (like me!) didn’t have as many issues after second shot.

The shot was very fast – I never felt it.

The nurse said if I get a headache, take Tylenol only.  I said that was all I could take anyway because I have only one kidney.

I sat in the waiting area for 15 minutes to be sure there were no problems  There were about 10 or so people sitting around the store that I could see at various stages of their 15 minutes.

I was glad to see that it was Moderna (MRNA) although I would have taken either.  I have a long-standing issue with the other drug company, unrelated to COVID vaccines.

I posted on FB that I had done my first injection and a friend told me about registering at vsafe.cdc.gov for them to keep track of me after the vaccination.  I signed up for that right away – and I noticed that CVS had also given me that link.

About 12 hours later (3:30 am) I got up to go to the bathroom and noticed that my arm was a little sore. No biggie.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021:  I just got my first dose of Moderna yesterday – sore arm, so far.

The nurse told me yesterday that older people like myself (I’m 72) had fewer side effects since we had been exposed to more things over the years.  I’m not sure how accurate that is but I’ll hold on to that hope until I get my second dose on March 15!

Wednesday, February 17, 2021:  I had weird dreams overnight but I got up about 4:00 am.  I did some work and fell back asleep until 10:15.

We didn’t go to water exercise. I decided at the very last minute, walking out the door. Reaction to Monday shot?  I had a little headache, dizzy, congested, very tired.  I should have taken more cortisone at this time but didn’t remember until 8:30 pm.

I slept more until about 2 pm and had very weird dreams – I don’t know if the dreams are part of it or not but I reported them to the safe.cdc.gov questionnaire.

I cancelled piano lessons for the day.  I wrote to my students:

I am so sorry but I need to cancel today’s lesson.  I had the first COVID vaccination on Monday afternoon.  I was feeling fine yesterday so I assumed that I wasn’t going to have any side effects but they caught up with me today.  It’s just a headache , a bit of congestion and fatigue (I’ve been sleeping all day so far) but I don’t think I would be at my best during XXX’s lesson.

See you next week…

After cancelling lessons, I went back to sleep until time for Pender’s 7 pm Ash Wednesday service.  I was felling cold but I don’t know if it was chills or really a cold.  I started coughing a little.

At night, I remembered I should have up-dosed. I told my DH that night if he ever noticed me like this again, it was the perfect time to tell me to stress dose.  It never occurred to me during the day.

At that point, I realized I hadn’t eaten all day.  I had dinner (I was surprised that I could eat it) at 9:25 and did my growth hormone injection.

I went to bed at 11 p.

Thursday, February 18, 2021: I’m a little more tired than usual but ok.  I spent time napping and working alternated through the day.

Friday, February 19, 2021: Just the normal tiredness.  Hooray!

Info below from https://medshadow.org/covid19-vaccine-side-effects/  I’ve had the bold ones so far after the first injection.

Moderna

Moderna started Phase III clinical trials for its vaccine candidate in July. In earlier trials, nearly half of patients experienced common adverse effects like injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle soreness, nausea and fevers after the second injection. These effects generally subsided within two days. CNBC spoke to a few individuals, some participating in Moderna’s trial and some in Pfizer’s trial who said much the same thing: the side effects were intense and included a high fever, body aches, bad headaches and exhaustion, but were worth it for protection from Covid-19.

In the FDA report published in December, the most common side effects were pain at injection site (91.6% of patients), fatigue (68.5%), headache (63.0%), muscle pain (59.6%), joint pain (44.8%), and chills (43.4%). Three patients experienced Bell’s Palsy, a sudden, and usually temporary, weakening or paralysis of the facial muscles.

A few patients with facial fillers experienced swelling after receiving the vaccine. They were treated with antihistamines and steroids. In California, officials halted the use of one particular batch of Moderna vaccines (lot 41L20A) after a small cluster (fewer than 10) of patients at one particular site experienced allergic reactions that required medical attention.

Out of the first 7.5 million doses administered from Dec 14- Jan 18, 19 cases of anaphylaxis were reported to VAERS after the Moderna vaccine. No patients have died from anaphylaxis. Patients are now being monitored for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine to watch for signs of anaphylaxis.

Many patients are reporting injection site reactions that show up shortly after the injection or up to a week later. These reactions — which are characterized by swelling, redness, itching, rashes, heat and pain — are expected to last a day to a week. Physicians emphasize that while these effects can be scary, they are not dangerous and should not prevent someone from getting the second shot. So far, doctors do not report seeing these reactions after the second shot, however so few have been given so far that scientists are not sure how common it will be on round two.

The CDC reports that 11% of patients experienced swollen lymph nodes after the first shot. That raised to 16% after the second shot.

A study posted on Feb 1 showed that patients who received the vaccine after having been previously infected with COVID-19 showed greater immune response to the first shot and more intense side effects that are associated with strong immune responses like fever and muscle aches. The study included patients who received either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Some scientists believe these patients may only need a single shot to provide sufficient immunity, but more research is needed.

Moderna has announced that it will begin testing its vaccine in children and adolescents, who they believe may have stronger immune responses, leading to more intense side effects.

This page has information about the other brands of vaccine: https://fairfaxcountyemergency.wpcomstaging.com/2021/02/16/what-you-need-to-know-when-you-get-vaccinated-and-after-you-get-vaccinated/

📞 Webinar: Expect more from pituitary surgery: difference-makers for post-operative outcomes

MaryO Interviews, Meetings and Conferences , , ,

 Presented by

Ahmad Sedaghat, MD, PhD – Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Rhinology, Allergy and Anterior Skull Base Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and UC Health.

Norberto Andaluz, MD, MBA, FACS – Professor of Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery – Director, Division of Skull Base Surgery University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute – UC Health

 

Click here to attend

Date: Wednesday, Sept 23, 2020

Time: 3:00 PM  Eastern Daylight Time

Learning objectives:

1.  To understand the surgical steps of endoscopic pituitary surgery
2.  To understand how the surgical steps of endoscopic pituitary surgery translate to post-operative outcomes
3.  To understand surgical factors that can modify post-operative outcomes after endoscopic pituitary surgery
4.  To understand post-operative care that can modify post-operative outcomes after endoscopic pituitary surgery

📞 Webinar: What every Patient needs to know about Recent Advancements in Pituitary Surgery

MaryO Interviews, Meetings and Conferences , , , ,

Presented by Georgios A. Zenonos, MD

Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Associate Director, Center for Skull Base Surgery
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh PA, 15217
Presbyterian Hospital, Suite B400

Register Now!

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Time: 3:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 6:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time