Where Can I Find…?

Also in the Cushings-Help family of websites

Cushing’s FAQ

A FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).  Directions are in each category for adding your own question.

IMPORTANT: The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation.

Please note that there are several questions waiting to be answered at this time. Your question will be answered as soon as possible.

This is a different website than the message boards and requires a different log-in, although you may use the same log-in name and password.

 

Adrenal Insufficiency

Adrenal insufficiency is a life threatening chronic illness. An active and vigorous lifestyle with normal life expectancy is possible as long as the prescribed medications are taken regularly and adjusted when indicated. As with most chronic diseases, adrenal insufficiency demands that the patients take responsibility and develop self-management skills and techniques.

Read an article on Adrenal insufficiency

Cushing’s Types

Cushing’s Disease/ Cushing’s Syndrome: Cushing’s is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body’s tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Your adrenal glands, which are right above your kidneys, release cortisol when they receive a chemical message from your pituitary gland. The message comes in the form of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), which travels through the bloodstream.

Cushing’s Disease Is the result of a pituitary tumor which causesthe emergence of secondary male characteristics (like hair growth, acne, etc.), and ovarian failure. Other symptoms usually include high blood pressure and water retention.

Cushing’s Syndrome: Causes the same symptoms, but is a disorder marked by overproduction of adrenal hormones, which can cause a drop in LH and FSH.

An estimated 10 to 15 of every million people are affected each year. Cushing’s is an increased concentration of glucocorticoid hormone (ACTH) in the bloodstream that is being produced by an adrenal gland tumor (adenoma). Ectopic Cushing syndrome refers to the production of ACTH in a location other than the pituitary gland or adrenalgland. Examples of ectopic sites include thymoma, medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, pheochromocytoma, islet cell tumors of the pancreas, and oat cell carcinoma of the lung.Symptoms include weight gain, central obesity, moon face, weakness, fatigue, backache, headache, increased thirst, increased urination, impotence, mental status changes, and muscle atrophy.

Treatment varies with cause. If an ACTH secreting tumor is involved then it must be removed surgically.

More about Cushing’s.

Talk about Cushing’s with people who understand.

Subcategories:

Growth Hormone

Human Growth Hormone (hGH) is produced in the pituitary gland of humans, and the hormone is secreted throughout a person’s lifetime. It promotes growth in children and plays an important role in adult metabolism.

More about HgH

Where Can I Find…?

Medical Apps, Part 4: RXmindme

I often forget to take my meds.  And other days, I can’t remember if I took them or not.

So, here’s another great (FREE!) iPhone App:  Rxmindme

From their features list at http://www.rxmind.me/Features.aspx

Making your life easy

RxmindMe includes:

  • Nine different types of reminders
  • A Passcode Lock screen for your privacy
  • Multiple types of alert sounds
  • Photos of your prescriptions
  • Email your prescription history
  • The FDA Drug Database for easy searching of medications
  • Historical records of all your reminders and prescriptions
  • Multitasking
  • Fast App Switching
  • iPhone 4 / iPod touch 4 – Retina Graphics
  • Snoozing Capabilities, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours
  • Ability to add multipule prescriptions / pills / vitamins / medications to a single reminder

RxmindMe has a growing feature set. We keep adding new things to help fellow pill takers monitor their medications, track what they take, and view their history of their medications.

We believe compliance is important for anyone taking medications, that is what RxmindMe aims to do, help you stay healthy and safe. No matter what you call your medications – pills, prescriptions, medications, or vitamins, we have the App to track them all.

RxmindMe allows you to use any application and receive reminders. We utilize iOS 4’s Local Notifications instead of the old Push Notifications. With Local Notifications, you need no network connection. Meaning you’ll receive your reminders anywhere at any time.

The home screen of RxmindMe gives you all your reminders for the day in once place. It allows you to easily identify which reminders you have missed, which reminders are coming up, and which reminders you have already taken.

From this home screen, you will have the option to create snoozes, add as needed reminders, and add prescriptions you take randomly throughout the day – like Asprin.

RxmindMe allows you to create nine different types of reminders

  • Daily reminders, ones that can occur on any day of the week
  • Weekly reminders, like daily reminders, but you can set weekly repeat intervals
  • Monthly reminders, monthly reminders that occur on a specific date during the month
  • Monthly reminders, monthly reminders that occur on a specific day of the week of a specific week of the month – for example, the last Friday of the month
  • Our new Every “X” Days reminder, repeats every few days
  • Hourly reminders for specific hourly intervals
  • As needed reminders which are taken infrequently
  • On specific dates, reminders that you want to occur on specific dates – for example the 28th of November

Now with the ability for devices with cameras to take photos of your prescriptions, you can see visually what you are supposed to take.

RxmindMe will keep and store your photos for your medicates, then it will display them along your reminders.RxmindMe now includes the up to date FDA database. You can search for prescriptions in RxmindMe, select the one you want, and it will auto populate the details for you. No more entering the units and name yourself!

No more forgotten meds for me!

Medical Apps, Part 3: Capzule PHR

I just found a new iPhone app today which looks pretty good. You can add family members and send the info to another phone so everyone has the info they need. It’s only $.99 in the iTunes store:

It’s called Capzule PHR and the website is http://capzule.com/phr/ with help files at http://capzule.com/phr/phrhowto.html

There’s a free version to try called Capzule PHR Free

Features

* Push Notification to alert appointments
* Data Visualization via Interactive Timeline
* Edit records and upload files from Desktop/Laptop
* Record conditions and allergies
* Store doctor appointments
* Enter medications
* Email summary and graphs
* Print or download summary from Desktop/Laptop
* Maintain immunization records
* Enter vitals in Metric or Standard units
* Analyze line graphs of vitals and lab results
* Keep family, social, and medical history together
* Create custom health screening templates
* Enter notes, upload results and files
* Manage physician and insurance information
* Reset password when password is lost
* Categorize Notes and Attachments
* Email flowsheet data in CSV format along with graphs
* Email Summary with graphs embedded
* Backup and Restore from Desktop/Laptop
* Export CSV data from Desktop/Laptop
* Email documents
* Add files from other Apps (iOS 3.2+)
* Summary Reporting Filter