In Memorium: Cushies We Lost

MaryO, founder of Cushing's Help online does the solemn job of maintaining the In Memorium list of Cushies we lost (among her many jobs). I am so thankful that she does. 

MaryO wrote, 

"I am so sorry to read that we have lost another Cushie :(  The "In Memory" pages are growing far too quickly. Rest in Peace, Kalyn :("

http://www.cushings-help.com/memoriam.htm

Your Part in Cushing's Awareness

In response to my previous post about Kalyn's death, someone in a Cushing's group said she didn't know Cushing's led to death and that more awareness needs to be done.

I replied:

"I totally agree with you. This shouldn't be happening, but it happens a lot--2-3 times a year THAT WE KNOW OF. Many Cushies never reach out online to find others like them. They never find our safety net... and we lose them as they fall through the cracks.

We have lost MANY to Cushing's in the last decade I have sought diagnosis, treatment, and remission. Many of us have been trying very hard to create awareness.

I created a blog 9 years ago to share my story, medical research, and create a patient presence on the internet at a time horse and dogs had websites dedicated to Cushing's but humans didn't (true story) and before the time we used Facebook or even had cushing's groups.

Some of us have attempted to turn April into Cushing's Awareness Month by blogging every day instead of just posting Cushing's Awareness Day on April 8. Moreover, others won't participate. For unknown or personal reasons, many do not share info and photos about Cushing's and Cushies through FB, when so many have hundreds and thousands of friends connected to us on FB pages. Actually, I know the reason Amy don't share on FB. I suspect that Cushies' fear this would invite further humiliation disbelief, interrogation, and isolation from their "family" and "friends." Not sharing our experiences and horror stories cripples us significantly in our fight for Cushing's awareness.

Sharing another Cushie's FB post or creating your own infographics are such simple and effective ways to get the word out. Maybe 5 people read your message. With thousands of Cushies online, that's leads to thousands of people who learn about Cushing's.

If you want to create awareness, please, do your part.

I invite you to like my FB page Fight Cushing's with Moxie and visit my blog: http://cushingsmoxie.blogspot.com.
Share my posts freely on FB or email.

I chose to create awareness in this way. I encourage anyone to create blogs or even just share FB posts. Please make a commitment to do this. It makes a difference.

It is my strong belief that when every Cushie must does his or her part to create awareness, I mean with persistance and prevention in their heart, we will begin to reduce diagnosis times (some suffer 7-20 years!) as we pull Cushies from near and far into our Cushie safety net.

Once we meet a Cushie who understands us, we never let them go.

PS A keyword search for "death by Cushing's" bring up quite a few articles and blogs that demand reviewing.

Rest In Peace, Kalyn

We lost another Cushie sister today, Kalyn Allen. Her husband posted these updates: 

Yesterday he posted:

Kalyn is in critical condition in the CV-ICU at St. John's in Tulsa in a medically induced coma due to pulmonary embolisms in her lungs and thrombosis in her legs. She had a procedure last night to install a VC fiter and to remove as many clots as possible in her lungs. They cant use tPA to dissolve the clots without a great risk of bleeds in the previous brain surgery. Today was difficult. Kalyn had a cardiac event and coded for a few minutes this afternoon. They quickly resuscitated her with only 2 sets of chest compressions but at this point we are unsure why it happened. She stabilized very quickly afterwards with good rhythm and pressure. A blood clot may have temporary blocked something. She is still being kept sedated and intubated and they can't move her yet to to do anymore scans and at this point they would not be able to use contrast due to the stress on her kidneys. At this point we are still just touch and go. Because she is in ICU you can not send flowers and if you would please ask a family member if there is an appropriate time to visit. Instead of flowers we are still in need of funds as the children and I are having to make daily trips into tulsa and back home each night and the cost of meals while we are there so any donations would be helpful. Thank you everyone for your kind words of support."

"This afternoon my beautiful wife and mother of my children completed her path in this life so that she may be reborn again into the next. She was surrounded by her children, family, and friends when she transitioned very peacefully. She now is free to be reborn again and continue the cycle of life to hope one day to reach nirvana. While we will morn her passing our attachments to this world of suffering and rebirth are what bring us back over and over. So let us not mourn a loss today but say good luck in the next. For we are full of desire for this world and we will surely meet again.  

My heart breaks reading that. 

Thank you to our Cushie friend Nancy for befriending Kalyn and notifying us of her tragic death. Thank you to Carla, Nancy's niece, for reading Kalyn's story and connecting her to Nancy.  We often say that it takes a Cushie to understand a Cushie. Cushie friends are amazing, supportive, and essential.

Family and friends of Cushies, please stay on high alert. Cushies talk a lot about Cushing's because when we feel compelled to create awareness so others won't suffer needlessly alone, blaming themselves for weight gain and disfigurement.

The rest of her story can be seen im on Kalyn's YouCaring page. Take a few moments to read it. Her Cushing's came on very quickly--diagnosed late 2016'with pituitary surgery (-ies ?) in May 2017. Kalyn's page offers more details. Please consider donating any amount to help this family recover financial from this. 

https://www.youcaring.com/kalynallen-786017

The Cushing's community has mourned too many deaths of friends in the past. This can't keep happening to Cushies. I'm so sorry, Kalyn. I send my condolences to her husband, children, parents, family, and friends. We will always honor you, Kalyn, as one of us. ❤️ 

Recommending my Dallas Endocrinologist

I've been thinking about all the people in Texas who are still looking for a good endo. I highly recommend my current endo, Sasan Mirfahkrhee, assistant professor, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX.

Office staff is friendly and very responsive to mychart messages and refilling meds.

Dr. Sasan has a calming and reassuring bedside manner.

He always asks me, "How does that sound to you?"

Dr. Sasan is open to all my questions and analyses of labs and symptoms. I spend 30-50 minutes with him. He answers all my very nuanced questions.

This is so refreshing after seeing at least 10 arrogant, think-they-know-it-all endos who brazenly dismissed my Cushing's--cortisol ups and downs (cyclical) and reoccurring--for years.

Dr. Sasan asked me how often I'd like to see him. I feel most comfortable with every three months. He allowed me to set up my appointments for every three months for a year out. There is piece of mind knowing that I can get labs and discuss them with him often. Changing Texas seasons means big dose changes to fludrocortisone, so I find comfort with access.

I highly recommend Dr. Mirfahkrhee.

For those in DFW who have seen other doctors at UTSW and staff said you can't transfer to another endo, Dr. Mirfahkrhee said he has never heard of this. He said he would be happy to see all my Cushie and BLAer friends!

http://profiles.utsouthwestern.edu/profile/118024/sasan-mirfakhraee.html

For those who can't make it to Dallas for your endo appointments, please use this as a checklist of the type of doctor-patient partnership we Cushies need and deserve.