New Video Up!

https://youtu.be/wSUAf2yqhcM

This channel will be dedicated on videos about my experience with Cushing's Syndrome, My health journey and what i've learned. I've been getting a variety of questions concerning Cushing's, health, diet, and skincare routine so I would like to share it with you. I hope that talking about my experience will help others who are struggling know that there is a life after suffering from an illness and you are not alone. I was never confident enough to put out videos but if it can help someone why not!! Please feel free to comment below about anything :)

Pre Cancer? The Dogs Know...

Greetings From Mt. Bonell Austin Tx!

Hello to all who still keep up with my health/cushing's blog and to the new cushies who stop by to read more about my personal Cushing's journey (remember to read more about Cushing's Syndrome in my 2013-2014 archive).
 So another update on my health. I am so far feeling good. No more Cushing's related symptoms. Not even that much anxiety, depression. The insomnia has improved so much and I can pretty much sleep anytime I want. My weight has been fluctuating again, which causes me to worry. I recently gained 8lbs in the time frame of 2 months, though I still look the same size, the weight gain scares me. ( the paranoia never goes away) I have been weight training and lifting like crazy and taking protein so maybe that is the reason why I am gaining weight-- hopefully it's muscle gains!! Some days my face look a little rounder/moon face-y and it freaks me out but I have realized that I am very sensitive to sodium and sugar. So If I eat too much of those two.. I get pretty swollen and bloated all over. So water is definitely very important to flushing all the toxins out and keeps the bloat away.

So far Everything is going fine in my life. Things are feeling like they are coming together and I enjoy every moment of my life.  The last entry I wrote was to investigate more about my abnormal menstrual cycle. After surgery I got my period around a year later and it came every month and I was thrilled but then since this year it stopped and started coming every 3 months or so and I noticed a little bit of breakouts, moodiness, bloating and hirsutism come back Basically PCOS symptoms. So I went to see the doctor. She gave me a pap smear and when the results came back, they found abnormal cells. My doc was a bit concerned so she sent me to the Ob Gyn and had her check me out. They decided to take a biopsy of my cervix and so we went ahead and did that. When the results came back, it turned out that I have type 1 Dysplasia which is a mild case of abnormal cells in the cervix. There are 3 types. Luckily I was not at a severe case and so they did not have to surgically remove the cells in me. With type 1, it can go away by itself or it can progress to type 2 or 3(precancer). It generally shows up when the immune system is lowered (maybe due to my cushing's or adrenal insufficiency) but  could get better with healthy lifestyle choices. There is still a small chance of it developing to something more severe so I will always need to go get a pap/ biopsy every 6 months to make sure it is managed. But getting minor surgery to remove some cells is no where near the debilitating experience I had with Cushing's. at this point, I am no longer afraid of what else is to come of my health/life. I am grateful that I can enjoy my life so much more with very little symptoms.

So I hope you guys are doing well and still feel free to reach out to me on my email yumnguyen07@yahoo.com please note that I will only respond to real patients with valid questions. I have been getting a lot of fake people reaching out pretending to be sick and that makes me so angry..being sick is not something to lie about, it is just unfair to others who are seeking help, support, and information.

I want to share with some pics of our first road trip with my two dogs. I mentioned some time ago that one of my dogs (Van-key the corgi/jack russell mix) is getting older and he has diabetes insipidus so I want to spend more time with him since he was one of my main supporters during my illness always lending me his little body for comfort. So I want for him to explore more in his puppy doggy life. It was just an amazing trip to Austin and the dogs enjoyed it so much. Austin is a city very open to pets everywhere and you get to meet all kinds of animals every where you go. Vankey was so happy and took in the whole experience-- even kayaking! which makes me so happy I can't wait to take him back in a few months!

Austin Here we come!

"Why you do this to me mommy?" -Vankey

Rascal looking Handsome in his life jacket

"What are you looking at?" -Rascal

Captain Corgi-Jack

Vanks navigating us

Feeling wayyy more confident post steroids!

The boys enjoying @Amy's Ice cream

Rascal enjoying Buttercream Icecream  (ps. Amy's icecream

is dog friendly!)

All tucked in @ our 5 paw hotel

The kings in their Queen size bed

Taking over the State Capitol!

Enjoying Mt. Bonell

A wedding on the peaks of Mt. Bonell!

This acrobat

Taking in the views at the top of the graffiti wall

Thanks for stopping by!!! Bye now!

My Hair Has Been Electrocuted

Hello! Sorry it's been a while since my last entry but I just wanted to talk about our physical appearance during Cushing's Disease (CD) and going through Adrenal Insufficiency (AI) As all of you patient's know. The physical changes are so severe that even the most confident person would feel insecure. I want to talk about hair this time.

I've been trying to grow my hair out since my last haircut a few months ago. Lately I have been distracted examining my hair. For the past few weeks I have been noticing another change in my hair texture. When I had CD my hair was falling out, I had some bald patches in the front and overall was thinning. It was oily so It was still soft and shiny though it was very thin. I noticed that after surgery, My hair started to regrow and fill in the bald patches however the new hair growing in is very course, dry and rough in texture. It is still fairly thin as my ponytail is a measly half fistful and now it looks dead and dull. I traded the balding for courser crinkly hair. I am not sure how I feel about this, other than I am completely distracted with how it feels. Almost like I've been electrocuted lol

A bit worried, I talked to my friend and she confirmed that the hair issues are from steroids and possibly AI. And her hair improved when fully tapering off. I hope in time my hair will start growing in better and healthier. Not only are we plagued with waiting for our health to get back but we have to be patient for our appearance to get normal. But Don't worry about it Cushies! Worst case scenario is that we could shave it all off lol just kidding >.<

As my lesson in health and recovery continues, I realize that the best way to get through these changes is to let go of our attachments to things in our life such as the past, the way we use to look, anger towards things we cannot change, material items and the way other people view us. Yeah that's a hard pill to swallow being a 25 year old girl/woman who is vain as the mortal version of a Kardashian. But I must remember that things were worse and now getting better. I almost forget that while comparing old photos pre CD, I look better now because I have some kind of inner self esteem I discovered during this whole process. It helps me to feel comfortable in my own skin and accept myself regardless of how I look. It kind of just radiates and people seem to approach and say hi to me. Unlike before people seemed to stare at me for the way I was dressed or the ridiculous amount of eyeshadow I wore lol OR maybe, it's because I seem happier :D

The Meaning of It ALL..

When I was going through my darkest days, I questioned my will to live. Nobody should suffer that way in any lifetime. I felt a heavy heart and and nothing I did felt right. I had no one that understood the conflict and pain that was going on in me. Throughout the whole process of getting slowly sicker, getting rejected from doctors, friends and family, finding an endo, going through the tests, labs and scans, having surgery, then waiting for recovery--- It felt like it was too much to handle. I felt weak. People told me that I must be strong to still be holding on but I felt like any moment I would let myself slip away and find peace with God.

After all of the suffering, I did not know what I suffered for. Until this happened....

 

 ^sorry I couldn't get the whole message! But I replied to your recent email today!! Stay strong <3

 ^ When I started getting emails, messages, and comments from people (I am keeping their indentity anonymous) who are in the same position I was a few years back. These people are suffering, falling apart, and are on the brink of breaking. They need an answer to it all. That is when I realize my purpose of  all the suffering was to be here for these people, write this blog and tell them, I understand what they are going through. And am the example for them to know that if they hold on, they WILL be okay. These past few months have been getting better. and everyday I am getting stronger inside and out. I never knew how weak I was until I realized how much strength I do have now. If that makes any sense! lol. The weakness, suffering and pain is somehow becoming the strength I have within myself now. I just want to thank again to the recovered women who told me I will be okay. I remember life felt so pointless. My hair was falling out, my face was full of cystic pimples and scars, my face looked like a heavy saggy mask, my body was swollen. I felt like I would never get back to the way I use to look. But the amazing thing is that, I feel more beautiful than ever now than  before. I don't know how it is possible after going through hypercortolism. Maybe it took all of this for me to find strength and self love. I want to thank you for all the people who have reached out to me. And thankyou for reading my blog. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know the meaning of it all and finding the peace inside myself. So please stay strong and I will be there whenever you guys need an ear, a prayer, or an answer or anything. <3

Here are some links for when you want to read more about other patient's stories and you can contact the recovered patients:

http://csrf.net/living-with-cushings/patient-stories/

http://www.cushings-help.com/toc.htm 

http://cushings.invisionzone.com/