Worried about Cushing's Syndrome or Fibromyalgia????

[sunshine8790]

Here are my symptoms:
My whole body feels and looks swollen, my muscles and joints hurt all over.  I'm extremely weak and tired.  Lack of concentration.  Fluid Retention.  Hair Loss; bruising; sudden weight gain (50 pounds); upper body obesity; ceased menstrual cycle; blurred vision.  Feel miserable and swollen, nothing fits me anymore

[zaksmom]

Have you been to a dr. yet?  They will probably want to check cortisol levels to check for cushing's (been there, done that).   Don't be surprised if your dr. suggests lots and lots of tests - they may need to rule other items out before being able to pinpoint your problem.  I've been tested for numerous things, (over past 10 years) and still cannot determine cause of massive fluid retention (obviously causing weight gain, by end of day clothes I put in on the morning do not fit, etc).  

Good Luck
Becky

[gidget1967]

Hi Sunshine,
It looks like it's been a while since you have posted this. This is the first time I have commented or posted anything...so if you're still searching, here's my story:
I am 41 and I too have had all the same symptoms including horrible hot flashes that don't go away with HRT (total hysterectomy 12/06). The fatigue is unbareable and I have three kids to attend to. They have never seen me this big (70 lbs. overweight), ill or unhappy. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2001, however, the stigma it had kept me from seeking the right help. Everyone thought it was just depression and in my head giving no credence to it until now.
I went to an endocronologist who said I don't have cushings...I couldn't believe it! I thought I self diagnosed and while relieved it wasn't Cushings, I still needed answers. My Fibromyalgia doc did another battery of tests and says I have reverse T3 and has placed me on Cytomel for hypothyroidism. I have lost about 10 lbs. in the past month, but my energy level is still not as good as they hoped. I take B-12 injections and they also want to start me on Plaquenil. I also started taking D3, as the test showed I was severly defiiciant. They recommend heat (4-5 red) lamps in small room (bath or laundry) for 10 -15 min. each day (at least once a day) on your troubled/tender spots. Other parts of this test included mycoplasma, Epstein Barr virus and HHV6, none which are herpes STD's...just strains that are dormant or active in your bod. Sooo, in that long winded comment, perhaps you can try a Fibro doc and get some help and relief! Dr. Powell of Sacramento is the one I have seen and can possibly reffer you to someone in your community. 916-922-8400. Good Luck! Gidget

[gimel]

It's been so long that I hope sunshine still monitors this site.  If so, I also hope that you both have gone further in trying to determine some of your problems.  Just based on your symptoms, it sure sounds like investigating hypothyroidism would be a good place to start.  You might get an idea for yourselves, by checking your temperature for several times a day and for several days in order to get a good average to compare to the reported normal of 98.6.   Temperature below that is an indication of low metabolism/low thyroid.   The potential effect of hypo t on fibromyalgia is also interesting.  Check this.

"As Dr. Gina Honeyman-Lowe and I have argued with substantial documentary
evidence,[44][50][51] the disorder underlying most patients’ fibromyalgia is
inadequate thyroid hormone tissue regulation. Our data indicate that the
fibromyalgia symptoms and signs of approximately 90% of patients are features of
hypothyroidism and/or thyroid hormone resistance. In most cases, patients’
thyroid disease is complicated by low physical fitness levels, nutritional
deficiencies, the dysglycemic and proinflammatory effects of poor diet, and the
adverse metabolic effects of various medications other than thyroid hormone
prescribed to control symptoms of hypothyroidism and/or thyroid hormone
resistance. The number of patients with chronic, widespread pain (a classic
symptom of hypothyroidism) increased in the mid-1970s to a point that
rheumatologists began to take notice. This occurred shortly after
endocrinologists, in 1973 and 1974, recommended cutting hypothyroid patients’
thyroid hormone dosages
in half. This reduced patients’ dosages from the equivalent of 200-to-400 mcg
of T4 to 100-to-200 mcg.[74][75] The purpose was to raise the patients’ TSH
levels. (The new TSH test had recently come into widespread use.) The
rheumatologists unquestioningly accepted the endocrinologists’ pronouncement
that the patients’ reference range TSH levels ruled out thyroid hormone
deficiency as the cause of their chronic, widespread pain. Eventually, the
rheumatologists gave this classic hypothyroid symptom the name
"fibromyalgia."[76]

This paragraph came from this link, which is also very enlightening, if you have
the time to go through it.

http://www.drlowe.com/frf/t4replacement/critique2.htm

[gidget1967]

Hi Gimel,
Wow, very interesting! Thanks for the info, I will definitely check into it! My temp usually runs from 99.1 to 100.7. It has been that way since my hysterectomy...so chicken or the egg, right? It all seems so complex, but the gist of it is simple; some of us feel so desperate for answers and it has taken years to get that. Hence the reason for joining MedHelp. So far it seems I am getting more answers or suggestions here than through some of the MD's.
Thank you!