I had Cushing's myself.
Surgical recovery is a few weeks - but hormonal recovery can vary. Some people can take a year, some years. It can vary in *severity* depending on how the disease has effected you - for me, I became completely disabled as my body was actually using the steroids I produced for another disease and I was self-treating, and so when that source was gone, I went to heck in a handbasket quickly.
My hubs had to come up quick too - after all, most surgeries are like that - you go in, you recover, and viola - FIXED! But pituitary stuff is different. The hormonal variable can make for some weird things.
Glad you have criteria for surgeon and are being critical - it pays in the long run to have the best surgeon out there.
Hi Rumpled,
I have what my endo believes is a ACTH secreting microadenoma in my pituitary. I finally will meet with NIH next Tues to confirm the Cushing Disease and schedule surgery if they believe I'm a canidate and IF their Neurosurgeon meets my criteria.
My husband thinks I will need a few (3-4) weeks down and then I'll be ok. Ok meaning back to work as an RN and packing our house up for a move across the city this summer. I will be taking him to NIH with me, but thought I would spare him embarrassment as he talks with the Drs there.
I love my husband and give him credit that he is very smart and one of those who ( I hate to admit) is usually right on most issues......BUT I have him on this one. He is so overwhelmed with my psych/depression issues and the loss of his wife, that he has resigned to just agreeing with me on most things. "Whatever you need or can do, dear". But I feel he doesn't believe me. I need him prepared for the reality of a possibly difficult recovery. More than a month. More than a couple of months. Maybe a year or even two.
You said you PM me. I'll see if I can find it. I'll let you know what happens with NIH. Thanks for your time!
I sent a link to you PM.
What type of tumor do you have? When is your surgery?