Marit

Does anyone here have Cushing's disease? My cortisol test was high so they are doing a dexomethasone suppression test tomorrow. I'm freaking out!
Marit

__________________
-29 year old female, dx 2005, symptoms ~10 years
-High testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, androstenedione, free androgen index, no apparent insulin resistance however
-off all hormone meds since having pulmonary embolism in August 2009
-Main symptoms: weight gain (especially annoying in mid-section/abdomen), high androgens, very low progesterone, no periods unless on OC
-fortunate to have very good bp, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc., no hirsutism.

sharone

I'm going through the same thing. My cortisol levels were high and I did the dex-supp test and it came back normal. My doctor is making me retest the 24-urine sample again because she thinks the lab screwed up again. It's annoying but it's better to know what's wrong now. High cortisol levels can cause damage in the long run.

linni

not to worry about the testing... it's not too bad. I believe many of the women on the boards went through testing for Cushings.

My cortisol was also quite high.. I had to do ... 2 or 3 dex supression tests... they were both high, and I did two 24 hour urine collections... now they are fun!!

Hopefully you're tests come out ok... don't worry about them... stress is a cause of high cortisol, so stressing out won't help matters.

Let us know how your tests turn out

__________________

Marit

Thanks....oddly enough, when I took the dexamethasone, by anxiety practically disappeared the next day. I hope that's a good sign. I live in fear of adrenal cancer, since my cousin had it. I mean, stress, anxiety, depression, my birth control pill, and spiro can all cause cortisol to be higher, but high cortisol can also CAUSE stress, anxiety, depression.....how in the heck do I know what starts what?
If I DO have high cortisol because of my depression and anxiety, then what? I've done all I can to control them, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, nutritional guideline, excerise....what else can I do? I can't continue to have high cortisol levels!
Can I buy dexo by the truckload? It sure made me feel better, unless that was a weird coincidence.
Yeah aren't the 24 hour tests fun. Nothing like a jug of urine in your fridge. Ech.
Marit

__________________
-29 year old female, dx 2005, symptoms ~10 years
-High testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, androstenedione, free androgen index, no apparent insulin resistance however
-off all hormone meds since having pulmonary embolism in August 2009
-Main symptoms: weight gain (especially annoying in mid-section/abdomen), high androgens, very low progesterone, no periods unless on OC
-fortunate to have very good bp, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc., no hirsutism.

jennb76

Marit: I hope things go okay for you...I know, it's not fun though!

Hang in there!

Jenn

__________________
DX PCOS ~ 5/21/2004
DX Type II Diabetic ~ 4/15/2005
Actos 45mg
Glucophage XR 2000mg

Marit

linni, how did it turn out for you? Was it stress that caused it?

__________________
-29 year old female, dx 2005, symptoms ~10 years
-High testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, androstenedione, free androgen index, no apparent insulin resistance however
-off all hormone meds since having pulmonary embolism in August 2009
-Main symptoms: weight gain (especially annoying in mid-section/abdomen), high androgens, very low progesterone, no periods unless on OC
-fortunate to have very good bp, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc., no hirsutism.

linni

I never really found out what the cause of my high cortisol was?!? It was kind of put on the back burner and never brought up again.

I don't know if it is still high or not? it hasn't been checked in quite a while.

I hope everything turns out ok for your tests!

__________________

cmccaffe81

what ever happened?? I'm going through the same thing right now. i'm 27 and have had symptoms of cushings for about a year. my endo is treating me like my body has just changed and i need to eat "right" even though he is still having me do the 3day! dexamethasone test! i've done blood work twice and 2 24 hour urine collections! yes not fun is right!!! my acth and cortisol was high on my blood work the last two times. oddly i feel better the last two days im taking the dexamethasone! is that a good thing?

Marit

Holy moly it's 5 YEARS later!!!!

It turned out good, cmc. My cortisol was high normal, due to my levels of testosterone, aldosterone, androstenedione, etc. being high, plus my stress levels. So was high normal, but still 'normal', if you will. After being on the pill and spironolactone for a long term, my hormones normalized (provided I was on them).

I'm not at all surprised you feel better on the dex - I hadn't felt so good in ages the day I took it! Hopefully you've gotten some answers by now, too.

__________________
-29 year old female, dx 2005, symptoms ~10 years
-High testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, androstenedione, free androgen index, no apparent insulin resistance however
-off all hormone meds since having pulmonary embolism in August 2009
-Main symptoms: weight gain (especially annoying in mid-section/abdomen), high androgens, very low progesterone, no periods unless on OC
-fortunate to have very good bp, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc., no hirsutism.

VickiP

Same story here... high cortisol levels and then had the suppresion test which came out fine... then the high cortisol was not followed up on.

__________________
27 y/o
170/139/135 4 pounds away from goal!!
Glucophage XR 1000 mg
Lots and lots of exercise!!
Loose IR Diet and Calorie Control
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