I'm sorry to hear that you also had to go through all of this. However it is comforting to finally talk to someone who understands what this feels like and doesn't automatically tell me that my problems are because of my weight. And I know what you mean about the faded stretch marks! A lot of my stretch marks that were once purple and red are now faded, especially those below my belly button that I've had for many years. But if you pull the skin, you can see the texture is definitely that of scar tissue. These are also narrower than many of the pictures I've seen of Cushing's characteristic striae.
About the PCOS, I actually had an ultrasound done when I was 14 years old, in middle school. I guess they couldnt tell, because they never did give me a clear answer. Since then its been "up in the air" as to what was causing my missed periods. The reason I waited so long to get it checked out was because I didnt really think that these were symptoms of a disease. I thought it was just because I was overweight, and there seemed to be some logical explanation to each one of them. The thing that prompted me to go back to the Doctor was swelling in my ankles. No matter what time: morning, evening, fasting, full, low sodium, high sodium - if you press my ankle at any time, the skin will stay dented and not come back up for about 15 minutes.
The Endocrinologist prescribed me the following tests to check my cortisol and also check other things to help rule out other possibilities:
- 24 hour urine free cortisol
- Cortisol, salivary 11pm test
- Insulin
- CMP
- Free T4
- Insulin like Growth Factor -1
- C-peptide
-Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies
-ACTH, plasma
Unfortunately, the Lab isnt open on weekends but I will get these done ASAP and post the results as soon as I get them.
This post breaks my heart, not because of you but because it hits home so badly. I am 31 years old, and from the time I was 17-19 years of age I gained 200 lbs. There are many disorders that deal with adrenal function so the above poster is very very correct. I went to an endo. last week and he was like "it is not Cushings" just because he couldn't see the faded stretch marks I had. Anyways, I personally think even a good Kidney doctor who specializes in adrenal problems might be a start. But you should go and have an MRI of your brain to rule out anything there as well that could cause this. My thyroid was fine until two months ago. Oh and by the way, did they check to see if you had insulin resistance. There is some kind of calculation with this and hormonal levels if I remember correctly. Did they do an ultrasound to check if there were cysts on your ovaries all over? Are your cycles really irregular. IF , they just ran the hormone labs, but didn't do any of these things, you should re-look into PCOS as well. That is what caused my weight gain. I have lost 100 lbs on Metformin, but gained 30 in the last two months cuz my thyroid is low now.
Good luck to you
the obvious test would be to check your Cortisol levels. you mentioned that you thought it would be endogenous...so maybe you've had that bloodwork already.
your symptoms do sound very much like Cushings, so please see a specialist...not just an endocrinologist, but a Cushings Specialist! the sooner you can be evaluated by someone who has experience with the disease, the sooner you can be diagnosed and treated!