Day 5: Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2015

Posted on April 5, 2015 by MaryO

The Seven Dwarves of Cushing's

So, these are only seven of the many, many symptoms of Cushing’s.  I had those above – and I often felt like I looked like one of those little bearded dwarves.

Cushing’s affects every part of the body.  It’s not like when I had kidney cancer and only the kidney was affected.

Here are some of the many areas affected.

  • Progressive obesity and skin changes
  • Weight gain and fatty tissue deposits, particularly around the midsection and upper back, in the face (moon face) and between the shoulders (buffalo hump). Some symptoms such as sudden weight gain, are caused by excess cortisol. The excess cortisol in the body does not increase protein and carbohydrate metabolism. It slows or nearly disables metabolism function, which can cause weight gain (fat accumulation) in the buttocks, abdomen, cheeks, neck, or upper back.
  • Loss of muscle mass. Some areas of the body, such as the arms and legs, will remain thin.
  • Pink or purple stretch marks (striae) on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, breasts and arms
  • Thinning, fragile skin that bruises easily
  • Slow healing of cuts, insect bites and infections
  • Acne

Women with Cushing’s syndrome may experience:

  • Thicker or more visible body and facial hair (hirsutism)
  • Irregular or absent menstrual periods

Men with Cushing’s syndrome may experience:

  • Decreased libido
  • Decreased fertility
  • Erectile dysfunction

Other signs and symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Depression, anxiety and irritability
  • Loss of emotional control
  • Cognitive difficulties
  • New or worsened high blood pressure
  • Glucose intolerance that may lead to diabetes
  • Headache
  • Bone loss, leading to fractures over time
  • Hyperlipidemia (elevated lipids – cholesterol – in the blood stream)
  • Recurrent opportunistic or bacterial infections
Think you have Cushing’s?  Get to a doctor and don’t give up!

MaryO
         MaryO

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Cushing’s syndrome vs simple obesity. How can a needle be found in the haystack?

Posted on April 2, 2015 by MaryO

Endocrinology Today 02/2015; 4(1):30-35.

Clinical recognition of Cushing’s syndrome should generally follow from the observation of a constellation of compatible clinical features that progress over time. Screening for Cushing’s syndrome in patients with individual features of the metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, hypertension and hyperglycaemia, is not recommended.

Early diagnosis reduces unnecessary suffering and the ultimate lifetime sequelae of Cushing’s syndrome. Confirmation involves the demonstration of biochemical hypercortisolism, and the extent of diagnostic testing needs to be based on the degree of clinical suspicion.
Read the whole article here, in PDF format

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How Patients Are Driving Research & Cures For Their Own Rare Diseases

Posted on April 1, 2015 by MaryO

By definition, a rare disease is one that strikes fewer than 200,000 Americans, sometimes only a few dozen. But with 7,000 rare diseases known to doctors, and more emerging all the time, nearly 1 in 10 Americans has a rare disease. For most, there is no treatment, let alone a cure. Just getting an accurate diagnosis often requires a medical odyssey, and 30 percent of children with a rare disease die before age 5.

For decades, drugmakers were reluctant to invest in rare-disease treatments, preferring to focus on mass-market drugs for cholesterol, heart trouble and other common problems. Then, starting a decade ago, patents on some of the industry’s most lucrative medicines began to expire, and cheap generic drugs started wiping out tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue.

So many companies shifted money to rare-disease drugs, knowing that those medicines cost less to develop and will face limited competition. Some already sell for $100,000 or more for a year of treatment, although drugmakers usually give financial aid to patients and big discounts to insurers and government health programs.

“They’re recreating the blockbuster,” said analyst Steve Brozak of WBB Securities. “There’s more money, fewer patients and it’s 10 times easier to defend high prices to payers.”

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved a record 17 medicines for rare diseases. More than 450 others are in development to treat a wide variety of ailments — rare cancers, sickle-cell disease, the hormonal disorder Cushing’s disease and a bleeding ailment called thrombocytopenic purpura, as well as hemophilia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and pulmonary fibrosis.

Patient-advocacy groups are getting better at raising money for research and building registries of patients that could be used to recruit participants for drug studies, a process that otherwise can take years.

Read more at How Patients Are Driving Research & Cures For Their Own Rare Diseases.

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Day 1: Cushing’s Awareness Challenge 2015

Posted on April 1, 2015 by MaryO

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

30-posts

 

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.

This year’s logo, also thanks to Robin:

cushie-blogger-2015-large

 

April Fool's Day

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:

It’s Literally Impossible to Have Cushing’s

 

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

 

 

 

 

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Ways to “Give Back”

Posted on March 31, 2015 by MaryO

Now that Cushing’s Awareness Month is almost upon us, here are some ways to help spreading awareness.

How can YOU help spread the word?

  • We always need people to be interviewed in the BlogTalk Interview series.  These interviews usually take place on Thursday nights at 7:30PM Eastern but you can do this at any time that’s convenient for you.

If you’re interested in being interviewed, there is more information here.  You can sign up by checking off the box on the Add Your Bio form, sending an email to MaryO, posting in this topic on the boards or filling out this form.

You do not need to be diagnosed to be interviewed!

Spread The Word! Cushing’s Pocket Reference

Robin Writes:

This has been a concern of mine for some time. Your post spurred me on to do something I’ve been meaning to do. I’ve designed something you can print that will fit on the business cards you can buy just about anywhere (Wal-mart included). You can also print on stiff paper and cut with a paper cutter or scissors. I’ve done a front and a back.

Cushing's Pocket Reference

Here are the links  (NOTE:  The phone number is correct on the images above but incorrect on the links below and will be fixed soon):

• Front: This card is being presented by a person who cares.
• Back (The same for everyone)

This Topic on the Message Boards

 

 

Cushing’s Awareness Day! April 8, 2015

What Can *YOU* Do to help?

Ways to Give Back… in no particular order:

    • Endocrine Society News – Cushing’s as Cover Story!ENLetters@endo-society.org to send a letter to the editor. Some will be published and the doctors (endos!) who read this will get the patient’s eye view.
    • Participate on the message boards and help support others, especially newcomers. If you see a post with no, or few responses, say something so that the person doesn’t feel like they’re being ignored. I’ve noticed that many people here are very good at this 🙂
    • If you’ve had successful surgery, stick around to offer hope to those who come after. Far too many cured Cushies leave, and present an unbalanced look of life after Cushing’s.
    • Add (or update) your bio.
    • Attend the chats.
    • Offer to talk to others offline.
    • Send cards or little notes to others who are hurting– either online, or through snailmail. There are some free eCards available through Hallmark, Bluemountain, many places. If you don’t know someone’s email address for an eCard, you can send it to yourself, get the link (URL) when it comes to you and paste that into a PM for the person.
    • Use the “Tell a Friend” links on any page to share it with someone who would be interested.
    • Be a board moderator.
    • Visit other Cushies in the hospital, or go with them to doctor appointments. Call them when you know that they’re “down” – or happy!
    • Print your own Cushing’s brochures. These work best on tri-fold brochure paper.
    • Print some brochures and pass them out to doctors, Weight Watchers and other similar meetings, people who look Cushie. There are also Cushings-Help business cards available.
    • Wear your Cushing’s Awareness bracelet or pin often and tell everyone what it means.
    • If someone asks how you’re doing, explain Cushing’s to them, at least a simple version! I’ve been doing this with my piano students and parents – they’re finally getting it!
    • Submit your Helpful Doctor info – we need all the good doctors we can get.
    • Submit any Helpful Books you may have read – we need all the info we can get.
    • Attend meetings, be involved
    • Help Jayne get Cushing’s Awareness Day enacted.
    • Get a Cushing’s Awareness Silicone Bracelet – or two! These are are made from 100% silicone, and are stronger and longer lasting than rubber bracelets. Reminderband works closely with the production facility to guarantee that quality is consistent in all sizes and colors. To ensure that we are producing the highest quality silicone bracelets on the market, the Reminderband team conducts ongoing production tests and research. Rest assured, Reminderbandis second to none.
    • Design your own awareness bands.
    • Participate in The Clothes Closet, the book project
    • Someday, maybe you’ll meet a Cushie without a computer. Offer to print out helpful pages for him/her, or invite her over to check out your computer. Invite him to a local meeting, or give her the number to call for more info.
    • Help someone fill out insurance or disability forms.
    • Ask someone how you could help them.
    • Share your good news – it spreads like wildfire!
    • Pray, or send healing thoughts, to those who need them
    • Post relevant News Items that may help someone else.

Thank you for your contribution to the Cushing’s Help and Support Community!

When I started Cushings-Help.com, it was my intention to make it a place for all to receive much needed free help and support. That is still my intention; however, these costs keep mounting, so you now have the option of making a donation to help with the running of these websites. If you are satisfied with our support, information and/or the help you receive here, please consider making a donation. Your donation will help to offset the costs of keeping these sites online and free to all who need them.

To register and participate in any of the Cushing’s Help and Support websites and services is free. However, it is through the generosity of our members that these sites remains free. Members who choose to “subscribe” or “donate” help keep the website fees paid so that the thousands of members can enjoy the support offered.

Your donation helps with the upkeep of the seven sites in the Cushing’s Help family, cushings-help.com, addisons-help.com, cushings-support.com, cushings-info.com, cushings.invisionzone.com/ [message boards], cushie.info and cushingsonline.com; the message boards, the CushieWiki, podcasts, chatrooms and much more.

Any size donation will be much appreciated.

Please Help Keep Cushing’s Help and Support Running!

Donate to Please Help Keep Cushings Help Running!

 

Thank you so much for your donation!

  • Sign Amber’s Petition. www.ipetitions.com/petition/CushingsDiseaseAwarenessAmber writes:

    Thought I would explain what this petition can do….First of all, it adds power and substance to our efforts to have a Nationally recognized day if we have an extensive, following.

    Second, this petition and all the signatures can be printed and sent to a Senator, politician, or medical professional that may be will to take on the cause.

    Third, this petition and its list of signatures are IDEAL for releasing to the press and media for coverage and will assist GREATLY in getting the word out there.

    It is so simple. The petition has a place to add your name and a comment if you want. PLEASE take a moment to sign and formward it on to all the people in your address book, your friends and family.

    We all get forwarded messages all the time, but this one is dear to our hearts and can make a differnce! WHATS STOPPING YOU!?

    PLEASE SUPPORT OUT EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS! YOUR HELP IS NEEDED AND IT IS SO EASY!

  • CherylF suggests:

    I contacted Senator Inhofe’s (OK) office recently, and he is happy to reintroduce the Cushings Awareness Day Resolution for April 8, 2007.Please contact your US Senator’s office and ask them to support this Resolution. I’m not sure when Senator Inhofe will try and contact other senators but if you send a letter soon, and call your senator to let him know your letter is coming, and that Senator Inhofe is going to reintroduce the Resolution, it will truly help.

    Last year the Resolution was introduced, but to my understanding, only one senator-another from Oklahoma was the only one to contact Senator Inhofe’s (Okla) office to co-sponsor the Resolution.

    If you send a letter requesting it, you might also request that a reply be sent back to you . Please try to send the letter in the next two weeks if possible.

    Last year we had a small Conference in OKC celebrating the passing of the Resolution, and there is some information on that conference on the CUSH website (CUSH.org), and I believe on this one as well. We won’t be having a specific conference in OKC, but ask that you bring awareness in your own states, communities as you can. Last year a TV station in OKC aired a small segment about the conference & Cushings Awareness Day, as did one in Nebraska- with Autumn as the contact person.

    As the OK CUSH rep as well, I might have something for those around the OK area, a small get together if anyone is interested…more like a dinner or luncheon so we can visit each other. You can always contact me for more info if you’d like…together we can make a difference!
    Thank you in advance, Cheryl Farrar- CUSH Vice President

  • Contact your Senator Print out a sample letter to send to your congress person or senator or download it in Word format.More information here
  • Follow Jayne’s Lead. She writes:

    Of course, I’ll be supporting the day and writing letters and emails and making phone calls. I hope to find us a celebrity ribbon wearer. Something else I am working on is national TV recognition with the major networks and National publications. You can email them as well on their “contact us” info. Contact the hosts of the show and the producers to mention April 8th and Cushing’s Awareness.I am going to find out information on getting money (grant) to publish magazine adds/articles for the April editions, if not this year then for next year. I know they are probably being printed, but I just thought of this idea. My local paper will run a small 2×3 ad for starting at $300. I want the whole page! I thought about having a yard sale to raise money to put in an ad, but doubt that I’d make enough. Oh Well!

    Something else I thought about is getting a chain pharmacy to post cushings info for that week prior to the 8th. Medical school journal/papers can also be contacted. I know I must have emails over 100 doctors last year on the 7th (once I know that it had passed). I’ll be setting up a booth at the women’s Forum again this year. I hope to set up at some health expo’s and at the local Hospital or at least make/pass out flyers.

  • Wear Cushing’s Bracelets or T-Shirts to promote Cushing’s Awareness. Cushing’s Awareness T-Shirts and other products are available here: Cushie GiftStore.  Also check out Robin’s Cushie Store.
  • Post your ideas and what you have done here:http://cushings.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=19173

2006:

For Immediate Release:

April 6, 2006

INHOFE DESIGNATES ‘NATIONAL
CUSHING’S SYNDROME AWARENESS DAY‘

More info here

April 8, 2006, the Cushing’s Understanding, Support & Help Organization (CUSH) petitioned in the USA to have April 8 be declared as Cushing’s Awareness Day. This date was chosen because it was Dr. Harvey Cushing’s Birthday. More info here

The Cushing’s Awareness Day Proclamation, fromhttp://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.RES.423:

Designating April 8, 2006, as `National Cushing’s Syndrome Awareness Day’. (Agreed to by Senate)

More info here

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