The story of Morgan
Four years ago, as I prepared for a minor back surgery, my doctor mentioned that an MRI of my spine showed a small tumor on my left adrenal gland. “It’s probably just a benign ‘incidentaloma’ but, just to be sure, you should have some blood work done to make sure it’s not an active tumor.” Two weeks later blood test results were back, showing nothing wrong, and I put this little mystery tumor of mine out of mind. Two years later, I was struggling with rapid weight gain, especially in my abdomen, (see photo) neck and face weakness in my arms and legs, and mental health challenges ranging from brain fog and memory problems, to anxiety and irritability. I was worried about my performance at work, and my presence with family at home. After doing a little research on adrenal tumors, I asked my general practitioner to run the tests again. This time blood work showed very low ATCH and high Cortisol and I was referred to an endocrinologist. On my first visit, after running through my list of symptoms, which had grown to include hair loss, easy bruising, insomnia and depression, the doctor said to me “I don’t think you have Cushings, you don’t look obese enough.” (see photos of my face, two years apart). But fortunately, she ordered tests, including a dexamethasone suppression test (the gold standard for diagnosing Cushing’s syndrome) which I failed twice. Still the endocrinologist wasn’t convinced I had Cushing’s Syndrome caused by my adrenal tumor and wanted me to have imaging done of my pituitary gland (tumors there cause the similar Cushing’s Disease). Even at my last appointment with the endocrinologist, when she finally agreed I had elevated cortisol and referred me to an endocrine surgeon at UCSF, she wasn’t convinced. But I was, and fortunately, so was the surgeon an her team. I am now three weeks post-adrenalectomy. I have adrenal insufficiency as my other adrenal gland hasn’t “woken up” yet but I am on the road to recovery, and so glad I trusted my gut!