Rare Disease Day 2016

Today is Rare Disease Day! It is recognized internationally, and is becoming more well known in the US. Having a rare disease is not easy. For many, it takes way too long to just be diagnosed, then there is the issue of treatment. I can't even count on my fingers and toes the number of times I've had to explain my rare diseases to a doctor, or a nurse, or even friends and family. My rare disease is Cushing's Disease. I may also have carcinoid syndrome, but that is yet to be proven or officially diagnosed.

I have included some links below to a few helpful articles and websites!

16 Reasons You Should Pay Attention to Rare Disease Day

24 Things People with Rare Diseases Wish Others Understood

NORD

Comments

Plastic Surgery

When I was 17, I thought about getting a breast reduction. I was still pretty thin at this point and it bothered me to by bigger clothes just to fit my bust. I had a hard time exercising and always had back pain and grooves in my shoulders where my bra straps sat. I had a few consults with different plastic surgeons and ended up scheduling surgery for the week before my high school graduation. I ended up "chickening out" because I didn't want the surgery to have any impact on my graduation, and I hadn't had any major surgeries before. I started gaining weight due to Cushing's shortly after, so it worked out for the best in the end.

Now, my breast size has gone way down since I've lost weight, and even though they are still bigger than average, they don't get in my way as much and are more proportional to my body. These days, my plastic surgery dream is to have a tummy tuck. I have a lot of excess skin on my body, especially on my belly, and in a drea…

Cushing's Awareness Challenge - Day 9

The only potentially permanent treatment for Cushing's is surgery. Whether you have a pituitary tumor, adrenal tumor, or ectopic source of ACTH, most often, you will eventually need surgery.

For me, the first step was a pituitary surgery to try to remove the tumor in my pituitary gland. They went through my nose to access the pituitary gland, which means you have no visible scars after.
I was very nervous heading into the surgery, but didn't have much time to dwell on it, as my surgery was scheduled about a week after my IPSS. I talked to a lot of people before, about their experiences, and heard vastly different stories from each person.
The only thing I remember from before my surgery was being rolled down what looked like a basement hallway (all concrete), while passing maybe 30 operating rooms. I saw patients in the hallways on stretchers waiting for surgery, I saw into the small windows in the doors to operating rooms, it was a very scary experience. Obviously, not ev…

Cushing's Awareness Challenge - Day 4

I have often said, I wish I had cancer instead. Most people would not understand this sentiment, why in the world would you wish for such a horrible disease?
It is another common thread tying people with chronic illness together. If my disease was cancer, everyone would know what it was. I wouldn't be questioned by my boss when I called in sick. My friends and family would be more supportive. My doctors wouldn't question my symptoms.
Maybe my life would be easier.
But, maybe this would not be true. I am not looking to find out. Chronic illness is lonely. It seems, from the outside, that cancer is not. Most people know someone with cancer. Most people know what cancer involves. Endless appointments, surgeries, maybe even chemotherapy or radiation. Cancer is life threatening. Did you know that a lot of chronic illnesses involve all of the same things?
With Cushing's, a lot of people have multiple surgeries. I have had 3 directly related to Cushing's, and…

Life with Chronic Illness

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