PCOS or Cushing's?
I’ve never had a weight problem until I started medication when I was 18 for an illiness I had. I went from 130 to 200 by the time I was 20. I’ve done everything you can think of to lose weight. I’m not an over eatter and I don’t binge on junk food. I’ve always had the same eatting style and lifestyle. I do blame the drugs for the weight can. The drug I was one does increase the levels of cortisol while you are taking it. I’ve been off it a while now. My midsecion and face is plump and my legs very thin. I just passed a kidney stone and I have a small hump on my back. These are some of the symptoms I found of cushings. I also read that people get falsely diagonsed with PCOS instead of cushings. Please answer only if you have experience with this.
Thanks!
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2 comments
Nurse in Ohio on September 1, 2010 at 7:01 pm
From the symptoms you have described, it does not sound like PCOS at all. Except for the weight gain(and hard time losing it!) none of those symptoms go with PCOS.
Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder that develops when the body is exposed to too much of the hormone cortisol. Cushing’s syndrome is also known as hypercortisolism.
Normally, cortisol levels increase through a chain reaction of hormones. The brain’s hypothalamus produces corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland to make adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Then, ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.
Cortisol affects almost every area of the body and is particularly important in regulating blood pressure and metabolism.
But if your body makes too much cortisol-or if you take certain medications that act like cortisol-you may develop a variety of symptoms. Cushing’s syndrome may cause weight gain, skin changes, and fatigue and lead to such serious conditions as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and osteoporosis. If untreated, Cushing’s syndrome can cause death.
What causes Cushing’s syndrome?
Cushing’s syndrome may be caused by:
Taking corticosteroid medication after an organ transplant or for long-term (chronic) conditions such as lupus, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, or other diseases that cause inflammation. This is the most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome.
Small, noncancerous (benign) tumors on the pituitary gland. This is called Cushing’s disease and is the second most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome.
Benign and cancerous tumors on the adrenal glands that make cortisol.
Benign and cancerous tumors on the lung and less often the pancreas that make ACTH. These organs normally do not make ACTH.
What are the symptoms?
Weight gain and obesity-especially around the waist-are the most common symptoms. Because cortisol affects almost all body systems, many symptoms may develop. They include:
Muscle weakness.
Changes in the skin, such as bruising, acne, and dark purple-red stretch marks on the abdomen called striae.
Changes in mood, such as irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Extra fat on the back of the neck and upper back.
Backaches.
Loss of muscle tone.
Menstrual irregularity.
Abnormal hair growth (such as facial hair in women).
The signs and symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome generally develop gradually.
Sometimes alcoholism, depression, panic attacks, obesity, or other conditions can cause symptoms similar to Cushing’s syndrome; this is known as pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome. Symptoms usually stop when these conditions are treated. Antiviral therapies used in the treatment of HIV also may cause pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome.
a jaded angel on September 1, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Hi. I’ve had PCOS.
If you have sharp pains in your right or left ovary and have acne, you more than likely have PCOS. I had a blood test for it. PCOS is more linked to high blood sugar levels than cortisol. I regulate it with exercise and ginseng supplements (for blood sugar). Most docs will prescribe metformin for it but you get terrible gut aches so I’d rather exercise.
Yes, cortisol makes you gain weight. This does sound like Cushings. It sounds like you were maybe put on steroids? A good friend of mine had Crohn’s disease really bad and was put on prednilsone and as a result got a lot of weight gain. She gets more benefit from changing her diet.
I wish I knew your original illness so I could tell you what alternative therapies help. I will say that taking virgin raw unrefined coconut oil (a teaspoon with every meal) helps with weight loss and inflamatory disorders (helps with my arthritis). It’s available at health food stores.
I highly recommend reading Kevin Trudeau’s Natural Cures books. They are the best alternative medicine books that I’ve found. The information will blow you away. You can find them at Borders.
Best of luck! My prayers are with you.