tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:23:14 +0000Thoughts on Cushing's and Lifehttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (mertoo)Blogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-165920658777709419Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:25:00 +00002009-06-27T13:18:51.961-04:00advocateMaryOtributeCushing'sawarenessThis post is a tribute to a woman who is well known in the Cushing's community, our own Mary O'Connor, affectionately known as MaryO to those whose lives she has touched. Mary had Cushing's Disease rear it's ugly head in her life in 1983, long before the internet. She diagnosed herself after reading an article in a woman's magazine, then spent a couple of years trying to get a doctor to listen tohttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2009/06/tribute.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-5636021573811317128Mon, 04 May 2009 03:32:00 +00002009-05-04T00:39:53.739-04:00Recently I made a new friend through a meetup group online. He's a 40 something man who is post-op pituitary surgery. He was on hydrocortisone for 4 months and then his doctor took him off the hydro as well as his Synthroid because in the doctor's words: "You are cured. You no longer need these medications." The poor man has been in terrible pain ever since. He is on pain killers for all the http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2009/05/recently-i-made-new-friend-through.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-975108037964477765Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:31:00 +00002009-04-22T23:48:30.505-04:00Thought I'd let everyone know how life is going for me these days. Let's see, I'm working part time, and I'm enjoying it. I work in a department store and stand on my feet 5 hours a stretch....and I can DO it! No way I could have done this 3 yrs ago, and probably not even 1 yr ago. So I am still getting better! It has been a long road, but for the most part I have my life back. I love interactinghttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2009/04/thought-id-let-everyone-know-how-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-6010208360429834419Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:43:00 +00002009-04-17T00:44:22.715-04:00I think Spring has finally sprung. Funny how my body, mind, and spirit also seem to experience rebirth as the days get longer. To be continued...http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-think-spring-has-finally-sprung.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-5324789733739674544Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:23:00 +00002009-02-23T11:39:23.387-05:00I start every post by apologizing for not keeping up with my writing...so again, I apologize. I think part of the problem is that I am just turning inward so much lately. I am avoiding people and just keeping to myself (and family). I don't feel like sharing much, and am just holding it all in as much as possible. I really feel like I'm in hibernation. Waiting for winter to be over, waiting for http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-start-every-post-by-apologizing-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-6673924731915315111Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:51:00 +00002009-02-03T01:55:34.616-05:00http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2009/02/speechless-for-moment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-4348530326294316041Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:06:00 +00002009-01-07T01:31:12.250-05:00I wish I could write here consistently, but life seems to get in the way. Or maybe I just let it get in the way!This is still a really difficult time for us. We miss Bill and we miss the family that we'd come to depend on. What I mean is, we just sort of took for granted that they would always be, and now that family is fragmented. Our daughter is not reacting to this death the way that we http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2009/01/two-good-years-etc.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-8497812389139021895Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:16:00 +00002008-12-27T23:54:46.967-05:00We got through Christmas. It was pretty rough, but we got through. We thought that would be the hard part, but a therapist tells us that the hard part is still ahead of us...after the letdown from the holidays. At least we are prepared for it now. On Christmas morning, imagine the surprise the girls got when they saw this:They were all excited to see those bootprints on the hearth. We have a http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-is-over.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-3389895691520878763Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:27:00 +00002008-12-17T00:38:29.043-05:00anger after suicidechildrenjob lossToday was better. I was busy every minute. We went shopping with friends for the better part of the day, then rushed home so DH and the other guy could go to work and I could meet S and go eat with her and the girls before their Christmas program at school. They looked so pretty in their new velvet and satin dresses. On the way there, Gabby said "I have a surprise for you at the program, Mom!" http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/12/today-was-better.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-3903509347311468914Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:50:00 +00002008-12-16T01:03:19.156-05:00adrenal glandsdepressionGriefCortefinsurancecortisolpainpituitaryToday was just blah. I got up early, in anticipation of a shopping trip with a girlfriend, but we scrapped that idea around 7:00 AM when it was light enough outside to see what all the noise was about. The wind was howling and the temperature dropped from 49 degrees last night to 16 this morning. Everything was a sheet of glare ice, and we decided shopping could wait. We will try it again http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/12/moving-on-i-guess.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-992106794938197513Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:02:00 +00002008-12-15T00:18:05.629-05:00grievinglossshockGriefpainMy DH and I are walking around like zombies, trying to do all the things that need to be done, but we are both aching and sometimes when we are alone we look at each other and just start crying and saying "I can't believe he did this" to each other. My husband is taking this really hard, I worry about him. What we are going through is called heartache for a good reason. It really hurts our heartshttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/12/grief.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-3118054431987068551Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:05:00 +00002008-12-12T22:05:15.351-05:00Indianarandomutopianspelling beePosey CountyNew HarmonyOk, time to lighten things up a little bit. Maybe it will lighten up my mood!Christy and Jess tagged me, and the instructions are to write 8 random things about myself and then to tag 8 other bloggers. So here goes:1. I grew up in New Harmony, IN, a town that was the site of a utopian experiment. It's a beautiful little town with a very rich history, and it was THE perfect place to grow up. Thinkhttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/12/ok-time-to-lighten-things-up-little-bit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-8308615468239723782Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:44:00 +00002008-12-10T18:30:01.352-05:00I'm writing this blog today to tell you about our son-in-law, Bill. Bill died last Monday by his own hand. We are coming out of the shock and going into grief, which includes sadness, guilt, and anger. Bill was married to my older bonus daughter, and they have been extremely happy together for about 10 years. They have 2 little girls that everyone adores. The girls are 5 and 8 years old, but willhttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/12/suicide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-7695241138342236086Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 +00002008-11-12T17:09:46.948-05:00Today I walked past a mirror and thought "Ugh". I usually think that when I see myself, but today it brought up memories of the day a doctor finally thought there might be something to my suspicions that my health problems were endocrine. I'd taken in a picture of me and my husband that was taken 5 years earlier, at our 2nd daughter's high school prom. The doctor, who hadn't known me for 5 years,http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/11/mirror-mirror.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-93737559690541612Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:23:00 +00002008-10-30T02:25:46.282-04:00Hallelujah gentle readers! DH got a job! After 10 months, we'd just about given up hope. Now maybe life can get back to normal, and I can work on getting healthy again.http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/10/employment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-6790633014909642193Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:39:00 +00002008-10-18T22:57:09.760-04:00I found this article and thought it would be of interest to the Cushing's community, since so many suffer from fatty liver and diabetes. My new diet is in response to the way I've been feeling lately, as well as the 225 blood sugar reading I got 2 hours after dinner one day last week. I'm not diagnosed diabetic, but it runs rampant on my maternal side of the family. I figure I need to try to headhttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/10/exercise-proven-treatment-for-fatty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-4980459287164214473Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:19:00 +00002008-10-18T00:54:46.426-04:00internet connectionlow carb dietinsuranceweight loss stalledjob lossI've been away for awhile again. I lost my internet connection for 2 weeks and that was interesting - I lived through it with very little withdrawal, which was a surprise for me. But I did miss all my online friends. I'm on my 4th or 5th data card. Everytime Windows does a service pack, my connection bites the dust.I'm struggling lately with weight loss. At first, right after my pituitary surgeryhttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/10/ive-been-away-for-awhile-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-823570000747474253Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:21:00 +00002008-09-22T01:44:26.942-04:00natureweird bugwildlifeI haven't been around much lately, mainly because I am working on a project and just haven't had time. I hate writing here so sporadically, but it's that or nothing for me these days!Many of you know that I live in a beautiful woodland. This is our dream location, we both love everything about the woods. (Except I am not fond of snakes!)If you notice the photo on my homepage, you can see what I http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-havent-been-around-much-lately-mainly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-4416740374351835556Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:15:00 +00002008-09-12T23:29:56.484-04:00hormonesimmune systemstresscortisolHappy experiencescortisol testsnewlywedsCushing'ssickThis study caught my attention. It is, in itself, quite interesting. But the thing that got me was that they did this and measured these subjects' cortisol levels several times throughout the course of the interview, once beforehand, and then at 30 minute intervals. And it occurred to me: Why do sick people have to beg to get cortisol tests to check for Cushing's?!COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Researchers http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/09/even-happy-experiences-cant-reduce.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-7894097614800017563Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:14:00 +00002008-09-11T21:25:18.566-04:00We went to Applebee's for dinner last night while on a trek to the "city" for my meds at Walmart. (BTW, I was able to get 3 months worth of generic Synthroid for $10!!! What a deal!)Anyway, we were sitting there waiting for our meals, and an older lady was walking with 2 little boys holding her hands past our table. I looked at the little one, who was maybe 2 yrs old and at first I thought he washttp://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-feel-so-guilty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-8775002829948156648Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:32:00 +00002008-09-07T22:41:07.706-04:00I found this article today and it cracked me up. I mean, how many of us Cushing's patients can say our doctors never told us we were eating too much and not exercising enough? I wish they'd do a study on Cushing's patients and see how many got an endocrine work-up right away when they told their doctors they couldn't lose weight. But instead, we get this!Doctors skimp on diet, exercise adviceBy http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/09/doctors-skimp-on-diet-exercise-advice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-4434070267470231459Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:37:00 +00002008-09-02T00:56:01.358-04:00adrenal glandsFlorinefCortefcortisolCushing'spituitaryI am over a year and a half post-op pituitary surgery for Cushing's. I had to take Cortef to replace my cortisol for nearly a year after surgery. I could not WAIT to get off the stuff. After all, patients like me have been suffering with an excess of cortisol for some time. It's the stuff that made us fat, depressed, achey, and red-faced, among other things. So it's probably understandable that http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-lovehate-relationship-with-cortef.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-4147596813284470316Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:05:00 +00002008-08-28T15:18:18.176-04:00I've been away from home all week, visiting my kids. A girlfriend and I drove down to the Detroit area to see our daughters, and then my daughter and I drove down to Indiana to visit my son and his family. It has been a good visit, I've enjoyed seeing my kids and grandkids, but I am about ready to get back home. Tomorrow my friend will meet me back here at my daughter's, and we will head north. http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/08/visit-with-kids-and-aftermath-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-3124465522009480836Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:11:00 +00002008-08-24T06:23:16.199-04:00I have to admit, the past few months I have not been a very good advocate for my fellow Cushing's sufferers. I don't have any excuse except that I am sick to death of Cushing's. I want it eradicated. I don't want people hurting and suffering, and for awhile I just couldn't stand to watch others going through it. It is a terrible, heartbreaking disease that destroys lives and relationships, as http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/08/advocating.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664858512118942648.post-1262472996357638463Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:42:00 +00002008-08-23T15:58:24.100-04:00Lightning struck our house this morning. I was getting ready to step outside to go to the bank and turned to look for the umbrella since it was pouring down rain. Then BOOM and a ball of fire and holy crapola!We have 3 pines growing up through our deck and 2 were hit. Hub was on the laptop and got a little shock, but is ok, thank God. We looked outside when the rain slowed. There are 2 holes http://marysmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/2008/08/lightning-struck-our-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (mertoo)5