About

Cushing’s and kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) patient, founder, owner and webmaster of Cushing’s Help and Support, web designer, piano teacher and mom.

I am a Cushing’s patient who has dealt with Cushing’s symptoms and the aftereffects of pituitary surgery since 1983.

Because I had very little support for my symptoms, diagnosis and surgery, I decided to try to make things a little better for other patients and started a support site called Cushing’s Help and Support in 2000. The site has grown to astronomical numbers. This disease isn’t as rare as doctors have told us!

In 2006, I was also diagnosed with kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). My left kidney and adrenal gland were removed. Having an adrenal gland removed complicates my post-Cushing’s symptoms.

I am not planning to have any more rare and unusual diseases.

My entire bio to date can be found here: http://www.cushings-help.com/maryos_story.htm

All our Cushing’s-related sites:

7 Responses

  1. mary o’connor: i had cushing’s disease since i first diagnosed myself from a textbook in spring of 1993! i am now cured, thanks to drs. edward laws, dan kelly, and, amin kassam!! my dear friends! mary, i put off writing you ’til now. i got your phone number, but, you would not come to the phone. how did i do this! i studied computer science in college, trade schools, etc. fine until 1985, when bill gates came out with “windows”. we programmers were left without jobs. i want to tell you my story. mine is the longest, saddest, most complicated you have ever, ever heard of. i will keep trying to reach you by other means in the meantime. all your friends know me down through the years: karen campbell, etc. mary, i now have recurrent left facial squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal region (cheek). fast growing, very agressive, high rate of recurrence. i had 3 surgeries for this monster in 2012-2013. 4 weeks in i.c.u.! it has come back. i will find you. or, you can find me. today is sunday, nov. 16, 2014. 3:12 p.m. cst. i am robert e. dean, jr. 1908 kingsley ave. memphis, tenn. 38127. u.s.a. 901-573-0806 (cell). rdean1908@gmail.com. mary-call me. send me an e-mail. i am tied up with cancer- trying to survive. but, i was tied up with cushing’s disease for 17 years- yes, 17 years, as well, and, somehow, i have lived through all of this hideous mess!

  2. […] Your donation helped pay for the message boards, the main website, the Cushie Wiki and several blogs. […]

  3. Celebrating on Saturday 18 years with out adrenal glands!!!
    So glad I woke up today!!!!!💗
    JayneK

  4. While I have a Cushing’s recurrence, I have reclaimed my life. I can golf, kayak and climb hills. I would greatly value your opinion on what I have discovered. You are so knowledgeable and current on all things Cushing’s and a trusted source for so many I am interested in your take on what is happening to me to lessen my Cushing’s symptoms. Please visit my website to see if you think my theory is something to be explored further at http://www.janicebarrett.ca. .

  5. Hi Mary:
    I’m looking for your advice. I have a Cushing’s recurrence. I have used my body as a science experiment for the last 3 years and have discovered my Cushing’s symptoms are tolerable when I drastically change my diet. You are so knowledgeable that I would love your input on my results. If I can improve with Cushing’s I want yo see if others can have a better quality of life while living with Cushing’s too. This is such a horrendous disease, I want to help others. I feel certain this will work for them too. Can you look at my website and tell me what you think. It is so hard when people won’t believe me. Or dismiss me because its just another diet that they figure wont work. But I am living this and experiencing a better quality of life and my bloodwork and medical reports support what I say. Please take a look at my website and tell.me what you think. I need your help Mary to help others.
    http://www.janicebarrett.ca

  6. Will menopause be delayed since I didn’t ovulate for 15 years?

    I’ve been trying to find information on this but have been unsuccessful…
    I had Cushing’s Disease and successful (so far!) transphennoidal surgery in 2013 at age 41.
    I hadn’t had my period for 15 years but started getting it 10 months after surgery & for the last several years have had regular cycles, every 28 days on the dot! I am definitely still ovulating and I’m almost 49.

    Does anyone have experience with menopause being much later in life due to not ovulating for a majority of their younger years???
    I’m curious if I will keep ovulating until I’m over 60?! Of course, I know there’s no definitive answer, but is there any logic in this?
    Thank you for any insights!

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