Interview with Danielle (Smilez133), pituitary patient

Danielle writes in her bio: I started having noticeable Cushing's symptoms when I was 17 (2003) I started gaining weight and getting stretch marks. In the fall of 2004 when I moved away to college, I spent the first 3 weeks sick with Pneumonia. More weight gain, irregular periods, stretch marks, insomnia, kidney stones, shingles, fatigue, mood swings and muscle weakness followed for the next few years. In 2005, I came across an article about Cushing's and KNEW that was what I had. I had previously been diagnosed with PCOS and knew that didn't explain half of my symptoms. ... I had an IPSS to confirm the pituitary adenoma as the source, and had my first pituitary surgery on December 16th, 2009. After a week of losing weight and feeling better, I suddenly had high blood pressure, swelling in my legs, more irritability, and weight gain. I was taken off the replacement steroid medication I was on, and started testing again. It took about a month to get another high test, and I am scheduled to have half of my pituitary gland removed on February 11th. I am looking forward to a cure this time! It has been a long journey but hopefully this will be my turning point.