Guest guest Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 How are you being treated for Cushings? *Artistic Grooming * Hurricane, WV Fat cat? Diabetes? Listowner for overweight or hypothyroid cats http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hypokitties/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 Well it is not always the same as to how you are treated but it always means surgery if you produce to much cortisol. Cortisol in high numbers attacks your system, or wears it down I guess is more like it. You have weak bones, muscles become weaker, (can't get up from a squat) is usually a good indicator that you are loosing your muscle. They take out the tumor, (depending on it's location) and then you usually have to take cortef, for a while to wean your body of the high cortisol levels it has become use to. BUT it is curable. Meaning you get rid of the CAUSE, you can move on with your life with minimal effects and MOST of the time you feel better then you have in years. The weight gain is usually in the mid section, (Legs and arms usually stay rather small) people that have been " pear shaped " for years said thier weight actually " shifted " . Some people cycle, meaning for years they go up and down, not knowing something is causing thier ups and downs! Whereas some it just hits. There are other causes of high cortisol levels too though, these of course don't require surgery but rather a change in behaviour. They are depression, physical stress on the body, alcohol, mental stress etc. As well, there are other endocrine diseases that mimic cushing's. I believe I mentioned those before, MensI and MensII, are some. The best thing to do if you suspect something is going on, is to try to find a good doctor, an endo that is familiar with " cushing's " is the best. I have heard that a neuroendocrinologist is EVEN better, but those guys are few and far between. If left untreated, you expereience symptoms like continuous weightgain, problems with concentration, heart problems, fatigue, irregular sleep patterns, Blood pressure problems etc.. One of the best detection methods for a cortisol problem is it's pattern throughout the day. SALIVA testing wins hands down for that! A saliva test is a good detector, you can get those ONLINE without a docs order. Cushing patients cortisol levels are backwards compared to the healthy individual. Healthy individuals will wake up with lots of cortisol in the morning, it will peak up and down, but then it usually slows down by about 3-4 pm but makes some more again to get you through the rest of the day BUT there should be almost NONE by bedtime, or very low. Making you tired and ready for bed. Cushings wake up with none, then by bedtime their cortisol is usually pretty high which is horrible to try to sleep with. I hope I have given you a good explaination. My intent is not to scare anyone here, but to take a look at other things. For me my source was an adrenal tumor, they took the left adrenal out in Oct, and I also knew then that I had this folicular lesion on my thyroid, so I had thyroid surgery too. My system is in a mess.. I am now doing what I can to help my poor endocrine system, and to make sure I am on the road to recovery. It is a slow process, but if it takes 2 years to get better for me it is better then years of suffering. I hope I am doing things right. Being here is one.. *smile* Hugs, Canasa > How are you being treated for Cushings? > *Artistic Grooming * Hurricane, WV > Fat cat? Diabetes? Listowner for overweight or hypothyroid cats > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hypokitties/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 Well it is not always the same as to how you are treated but it always means surgery if you produce to much cortisol. Cortisol in high numbers attacks your system, or wears it down I guess is more like it. You have weak bones, muscles become weaker, (can't get up from a squat) is usually a good indicator that you are loosing your muscle. They take out the tumor, (depending on it's location) and then you usually have to take cortef, for a while to wean your body of the high cortisol levels it has become use to. BUT it is curable. Meaning you get rid of the CAUSE, you can move on with your life with minimal effects and MOST of the time you feel better then you have in years. The weight gain is usually in the mid section, (Legs and arms usually stay rather small) people that have been " pear shaped " for years said thier weight actually " shifted " . Some people cycle, meaning for years they go up and down, not knowing something is causing thier ups and downs! Whereas some it just hits. There are other causes of high cortisol levels too though, these of course don't require surgery but rather a change in behaviour. They are depression, physical stress on the body, alcohol, mental stress etc. As well, there are other endocrine diseases that mimic cushing's. I believe I mentioned those before, MensI and MensII, are some. The best thing to do if you suspect something is going on, is to try to find a good doctor, an endo that is familiar with " cushing's " is the best. I have heard that a neuroendocrinologist is EVEN better, but those guys are few and far between. If left untreated, you expereience symptoms like continuous weightgain, problems with concentration, heart problems, fatigue, irregular sleep patterns, Blood pressure problems etc.. One of the best detection methods for a cortisol problem is it's pattern throughout the day. SALIVA testing wins hands down for that! A saliva test is a good detector, you can get those ONLINE without a docs order. Cushing patients cortisol levels are backwards compared to the healthy individual. Healthy individuals will wake up with lots of cortisol in the morning, it will peak up and down, but then it usually slows down by about 3-4 pm but makes some more again to get you through the rest of the day BUT there should be almost NONE by bedtime, or very low. Making you tired and ready for bed. Cushings wake up with none, then by bedtime their cortisol is usually pretty high which is horrible to try to sleep with. I hope I have given you a good explaination. My intent is not to scare anyone here, but to take a look at other things. For me my source was an adrenal tumor, they took the left adrenal out in Oct, and I also knew then that I had this folicular lesion on my thyroid, so I had thyroid surgery too. My system is in a mess.. I am now doing what I can to help my poor endocrine system, and to make sure I am on the road to recovery. It is a slow process, but if it takes 2 years to get better for me it is better then years of suffering. I hope I am doing things right. Being here is one.. *smile* Hugs, Canasa > How are you being treated for Cushings? > *Artistic Grooming * Hurricane, WV > Fat cat? Diabetes? Listowner for overweight or hypothyroid cats > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hypokitties/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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