StaceyJenn, April 3.  StaceyJenn was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and a host of other ailments in 2001 (candidiasis, intestinal permeability, 22 latent food allergies).

Once diagnosed, she was on specially formulated hydrocortisone for 7 years as she was allergic to the fillers in the meds. Her doctor stopped practicing and she was transferred to his associate. She switched StaceyJenn to medrol.

After Cushing's symptoms, a new endo started weaning her off the medrol and she had many problems. Read StaceyJenn's bio

Start:	Mar 13, '08 7:30p
End:	Mar 13, '08 8:00p
Location:	http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CushingsHelp

Listen as Robin Smith (staticnrg) and Mary O'Connor (MaryO) co-host Cushing's message board members calling in to talk about their fight for diagnosis and treatment. The show will be opened with a brief explanation of what Cushing's is and what the symptoms are.

Start:	Mar 6, '08 7:30p
End:	Mar 6, '08 8:00p
Location:	http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CushingsHelp

Robin had Cushing's for over 20 years, at least. Of course, no one figured it out or even put two and two together until her new PCP whom she found in 2004 said "endocrine". She didn't figure it out, either, but at least Robin had a piece of the puzzle and she found cushings-help.com. Robin immediately went into denial and left for several months until she got so sick she knew she had to have help.

Robin (Staticnrg) explains that diurnal variation is one of the ways to diagnose Cushing's. It's typical of those of us who have Cushing's.

Robin says "If you have pseudo-Cushing's, this variation doesn't happen. A typical/normal person has their highest cortisol around 8 a.m. and it goes down incrementally until it is around zero at midnight. This is true of a person with pseudo Cushing's, too. A person with Cushing's Disease/Syndrome will have the variation shown in the link above. It's important to have this measured. The easiest way to find out is to have late-night serum cortisol measurements (around 11 p.m.) to see what it is at that time of night. If you have elevated late-night cortisols, it indicates Cushing's Syndrome/Disease. One test in the a.m. will not tell you enough information.

Stress affects everyone's cortisol. But elevated cortisol over a period of time is due to something other than "stress". And it hurts your body. Even it is intermittent (cyclical), it is very damaging, but harder to diagnose.

I hope you will go for more testing. I believe you need to find a doctor who will test 8 a.m. cortisol levels and late-night cortisol levels, preferably by both salivary and serum tests. Also, high Urinary Free Cortisol (UFC) levels are the "gold-standard" for Cushing's and if high, are very indicative. However, many of us don't have high UFC's but do have high salivary and serum levels. You need MUCH more testing to determine if you have Cushing's and to determine if your diurnal rhythm is out-of-whack!"

Kate and Dr. Ted Friedman on National Geographic TV were featured on the National Geographic channel. The show, called the Science of Obesity, has a segment on Cushing's syndrome.

Today, 127 million adult Americans are considered overweight, but few reach the extreme proportions of the exceptionally obese. What are the physical stresses of weighing more than 500 pounds and what steps can reverse it? NGC provides an understanding of what happens inside the bodies of these massive people & why a person can pack on hundreds more pounds than those with typical weight challenges. The show explores the genetics behind weight gain & medical advances available to help prevent it.

I hope that all of you can watch this. Please consider contacting your local media about doing your story! There is still much work to do to increase Cushing's awareness.

Discuss this TV show.

More about Dr Ted Friedman