Today is the 37th anniversary of my pituitary surgery at NIH – November 3, 1987.
I can now affirm that I have lived more than half my life post-op. That’s pretty amazing when I was sure that I was going to die before I had my surgery. And didn’t care if I did.
As one can imagine, it hasn’t been all happiness and light. Most of my journey has been documented in my original bio here and on the message boards – and elsewhere around the web.
My Cushing’s has been in remission for most of these 37 years. Due to scarring from my pituitary surgery, I developed adrenal insufficiency.
I took growth hormone for a while.
When I got kidney cancer, I had to stop the GH, even though no doctor would admit to any connection between the two.
A few years ago I went back on it (Omnitrope this time). I am posting some of how that’s going here.
During nephrectomy, doctors removed my left kidney, my adrenal gland, and some lymph nodes. Thankfully, the cancer was contained – but my adrenal insufficiency is even more severe than it was.
In the last several years, I’ve developed ongoing knee issues. Because of my cortisol use to keep the AI at bay, my endocrinologist doesn’t want me to get a cortisone injection in my knee. September 12, 2018 I did get that knee injection (Kenalog) and it’s been one of the best things I ever did. I didn’t look forward to telling my endo! I have had a couple more injections. I was approved for a new three-time gel injection over 3 weeks.
I also developed an allergy to blackberries last October and had to take Prednisone – and I had to tell my endo that, too!
A couple years ago I had squamous cell carcinoma on my nose and had Mohs Surgery.
March 9, 2023 , I finally had my left knee surgery. I’ve posted about that here: https://maryomedical.com/2023/03/09/bees-knees-tkr-finally/
January 6, 2024 , I’ll get my right knee done.
But, this is a post about Giving Thanks. The series will be continued on this blog unless I give thanks about something else Cushing’s related 
I am so thankful that in 1987 the NIH existed and that my endo knew enough to send me there.
I am thankful for Dr. Ed Oldfield, my pituitary neurosurgeon at NIH. Unfortunately, Dr. Oldfield died.
I’m thankful for Dr. Harvey Cushing and all the work he did. Otherwise, I might be the fat lady in Ringling Brothers now.
