High ACTH or Cushing's Syndrome?

[MyHappy]

CHi,
I 'believe' I have debilitating Cushing’s syndrome or some disorder associated with high ACTH. Some of the symptoms I have are:

• High BP(When consuming Magnesium, this stabilizes);

• Hyperpigmentation from the neck up to my face, in my joints(knuckles, knees, elbows), armpits, private parts but I am never exposed to sunlight and I have brown skin and I should note that these symptoms started a few years before  puberty;

• A relatively small hump(bone but I read in Cushings it is fat hump) below the neck which I always figured was me not walking straight;

• I do have weight gathered around my upper body but my arms and legs are relatively thin in terms of fat... I have small frame, I am a male, 22yrs of age, 210lbs and my height is 6feet... so you can say I am a bit obese;

• I have no problem concerning libido;

• I also have stretch marks in my biceps, right below my shoulders, on the sides of my abdomen and their color is lighter than my skin much like a scar... I figured I had this stretch marks because I tried to put on some muscle unsuccessfully during my mid teens and never paid attention to it(But in Cushings stretch marks are purple?);

• I also started male pattern baldness early(17) and tend to have hairy chest;

I will continue this in a reply.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

This is not likely cushings, but a 24 hour urine cortisol would be a good test to be certain.  

[MyHappy]

• My gums right below my teeth seems to be a bit darker when compared to the section right below which is very ripe red;

• I have oily skin and sweaty palms; I also have acne in my chest, back, and face;

• My hands tend to get cold, and sometimes, so does my feet;

• I am not certain about my Testosterone levels at current, but approximately 2 years ago, I had a blood test done(CHEM-Screen Panel + HDL, Hepatic Function PNL Clarification, CBC, Urinalysis) in which most were normal except for my WBC, MCV, MCH, Platelet Count which were all out of range but not sure of the estrogen levels. Since these were out of norm, my dermatologist had a CBC done about two weeks ago in which everything was right on the mark(average);

• Yes, the environment I was raised in was extremely stressful from the day I was born, literally!

No ACTH test/see an endocrinologist but options first because no insurance. If you can differentiate these symptoms as possible side-effects of Cushings Syndrome or a high level of ACTH/cortisol or something even more ensnaring, I would appreciate it. Thanks

[MyHappy]

Doc, i think you missed my Question... :(

[MyHappy]

Thanks for the reply. At analyzing the symptoms more critically, they seem to examply that of Addison's disease? Especially pigmentation of the buccals. But I have no fatigue/low blood pressure. Can one have low cortisol and be overweight which envokes high blood pressure? Thanks

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

no, addison's would cause low blood pressure and weight loss.

[MyHappy]

A related discussion, HIgh Dopamine levels was started.