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Health/Life Update

With so much going on the last few months, this blog has been severely neglected. Events in the last week or so have inspired me to be better about blogging.

For those of you who don't know, possibly the biggest news in my life recently is....

I GOT INTO SCHOOL! I will be going to school in Maine to finish my biology degree and then continue onto medical school. I couldn't be happier about getting in. I have felt like most aspects of my life recently have been out of my control. I don't feel like I am where I thought I would be when I started this journey, now many years later, I was forced to move back in with my mom due to financial reasons, I'm not exactly thrilled with my job situation, I miss having friends around (I have no social life whatsoever...) and I feel like all of these things are finally starting to turn around with this little glimmer of future coming my way!

In other exciting news, I have some upcoming appointments. I've been at a standstill in terms of my health the last few months and I can't seem to figure out what is wrong. I still swell like crazy, I have stopped losing weight (after losing almost 40lbs since August) and generally just don't feel WELL. I have shared these concerns with my PCP, who is suggesting that I see a local endocrinologist as well as my favorites at MGH. I think this new endocrinologist might have more time to get super involved over the summer and hopefully straighten things out before I move. I also have an MRI scheduled (we somehow skipped over my 1 year post-op MRI of my pituitary so we're doing it in July) and a follow up with my endocrinologist at MGH. I'm hoping between all of these brilliant doctors, I will walk away with some new ideas to help me feel better.

With the news of Sarah's death earlier this week, I feel like I was overcome with the need to help others like us. Too many people don't get the medical help they need with this disease. I was dismissed for almost 4 years (and had symptoms much before that) before finding doctors who would listen to me and help. It took another 18 months after that to get a diagnosis. What other disease can you think of that patients often diagnose many years before their doctors? Have you EVER heard of someone going to their doctor for months, years, sometimes decades and still not receiving the help they need?

I can't wait to be an endocrinologist (in 6-7 years!) and hopefully help more people. Cushing's Disease IS FATAL if not treated, and I think a lot of people forget that.

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