I am thankful, believe it or not, that I had Cushing’s. Mind you, I wouldn’t want to have it now, although diagnoses and surgeries seem “easier” now. Having Cushing’s taught me a lot, including how to stick up for myself, how to read medical books to learn more about my disease, how to do …
Category: Memories
Nov 17
Giving Thanks, Day 17
Today, since it’s a “teaching day”, I’m thankful for my piano studio, my students, and my piano 🙂 When I was growing up, my dad was a minister, meaning we lived in whatever parsonage the church chose to let us live in. The one we had in Pawcatuck, CT had an upright piano …
Nov 16
Giving Thanks, Day 16
Adapted from https://cushieblog.com/2010/11/22/40-days-of-thankfulness-days-thirty-one-to-thirty-five/ Today is the fifteenth anniversary of my one and only zipline experience. I had been thinking about doing this since my kidney cancer surgery 3 years earlier. I figured I had “extra years” and I wanted to do something kinda scary, yet fun. So, somehow, I decided on ziplining. All the following …
Nov 14
Giving Thanks, Day 14
TiVo. I love that I can fast forward through commercials and have all my favorite shows waiting for me when I lie down on the sofa (and fall asleep!) I probably wouldn’t have gotten one of these when we did but our son got us one for Christmas many years ago. He had it …
Nov 12
Giving Thanks, Day 12
Today I am thankful for my church choir. A few years ago the “low voice choir” formerly the Men’s Choir will be singing this: I’ve had a long history with singing from the time I was a kid singing in the choir at my Dad’s church in Springfield, Mass. In High …
Nov 11
Giving Thanks on Veterans Day
Giving thanks to our Veterans today I’m not sure how Veterans Day turned into a Monday holiday and a day to sell stuff, but then, most every holiday has turned into a day for stores to run “sales”. Possibly, the original intent was to give our veterans a break but it has sure morphed away …
Nov 08
Giving Thanks, Day 8
Today I am hugely thankful that the last major issue we had here was in 2013 when Tom had his heart attack. That event caused me to start a whole new blog to post about our experiences. Adapted from https://maryomedical.com/category/other-medical/bees-knees/ It all started on our 40th wedding anniversary, when I fell on my knee …
Nov 06
Giving Thanks, Day 6
From November 6, 2017: As it turns out, I didn’t give thanks yesterday when the Roto-Rooter guy left yesterday as he did absolutely nothing. 🙁 Our troubles weren’t going down the drain at all. Today, I give thanks and shed a more than a few tears for a wonderful friend, co-worker, choir buddy, …
Nov 05
Giving Thanks, Day 5
I hope I’m not jinxing myself but today I am thankful that I haven’t had any migraines for a while. It’s not “just” not having migraines, but the fact that, should I get one, there’s nothing I can do about them anymore. I used to get migraines quite often, a hormone thing probably. …
Cushing’s
- ℹ️ Basics: Testing: Dex TestsDexamethasone suppression test measures whether adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) secretion by the pituitary can be suppressed. How the Test is Performed During this test, you will receive dexamethasone. This is a strong man-made (synthetic) glucocorticoid medicine. Afterward, your blood is drawn so that the cortisol level in your blood can be measured.
- 📰 A Case Series of Bilateral Inferior Petrosal Sinus Sampling Using Desmopressin for Evaluation of ACTH-Dependent Cushing’s Syndrome in Pediatric PatientsPediatric Cushing Syndrome (CS) is rare and difficult to diagnose, especially when distinguishing ACTH-dependent subtypes. Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) is an essential but technically challenging procedure for this purpose.
- ⁉️ Would *YOU* Do This?I remember someone on the House TV series trying a stunt like this on the episode titled Deception. At a betting parlor where House happens to be, a woman collapses and House makes sure she gets to the hospital. He thinks she has Cushing’s syndrome while Cameron starts to think she has Münchausen syndrome, a […]
- ‼️ Message Board Update (and new features!) Coming This WeekendVersion 4.7.21 of Invision Community is now available and includes a security update.
- ℹ️ Cushing's Disease BasicsCushing's Disease is a rare condition caused by excessive production of cortisol, a hormone essential for various bodily functions. It is a specific form of Cushing's Syndrome, where the overproduction of cortisol is due to a tumor in the pituitary gland. The condition affects 10 to 15 people per million each year, predominantly women between […]
- 📰 A Second Look at Cushing Disease: Hypercortisolism Recurrence From Another GlandCushing disease (CD) is the most common form of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-dependent Cushing syndrome (CS), whereas unilateral adrenal adenoma is the most common cause of ACTH-independent CS. However, the occurrence of different subtypes of CS in a single individual is very rare.
- ✍️ Add or update Your BioPlease add your bio. Your information will help others. If anyone would like to do something for the Cushing's Awareness Challenge but you don't have (or want to have) a blog, why not consider adding your bio?
- ℹ️ Cushing's Syndrome OverviewCushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs when the body is exposed to too much cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the body and is also used in corticosteroid drugs. Cushing's syndrome can occur either because cortisol is being overproduced by the body or from the use of drugs that contain cortisol (like prednisone)…
- 📅 Cushie CalendarCushie Calendar! Our Cushie Calendar has been updated with a new look and it's now embedded with the message board calendar. All items are color coded. There are iCal and RSS links at the lower right and there is a Printable View.
- 🎬 Video: Cushing Disease & ACTH-Secreting Pituitary TumorsIrina Bancos, M.D., an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Jamie J. Van Gompel, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Minnesota, discuss Mayo’s multidisciplinary approach to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary tumors.
Music & Local Events
- 🇺🇸 Today is Flag Day!National Flag Day is celebrated annually in the United States on June 14. This day commemorates the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777. On National Flag Day, Americans show respect for the U.S. Flag and what it represents. Our independence and unity as a nation is represented by our flag. The […]
- 🎵 Pop Goes the Weasel – Daily Listening AssignmentsToday’s Daily Listening Assignment is a little different. Pop Goes the Weasel was chosen today because somehow, somewhere someone chose today as National Pop Goes the Weasel Day.
- 🎶 Tickets Available Now for Washington Balalaika Orchestra Concert: Fairytales, June 15MaryO is in this Orchestra! Let the Washington Balalaika Orchestra transport you into a fantasy world through the magic of our folk instruments, as well as flutes, oboes, and clarinet. Revel in the thrill of Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade, the passion of Bizet’s Carmen, and the beauty of Borodin’s Nocturne and discover new favorites as well. […]
- 🔥 Touch-a-Truck: Firetruck, TodayCome explore the fire engine, investigate the equipment, and talk to community helpers! In addition, the firemen will show us what they wear and why. Popsicles, tattoos, and crafts will follow up the departure of the firetruck.
- 🎶 Washington Balalaika Orchestra Concert: Fairytales, TodayMaryO is in this Orchestra! Let the Washington Balalaika Orchestra transport you into a fantasy world through the magic of our folk instruments, as well as flutes, oboes, and clarinet. Revel in the thrill of Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade, the passion of Bizet’s Carmen, and the beauty of Borodin’s Nocturne and discover new favorites as well.
- 🐞 Illusive Insect Scavenger Hunt, All JuneInsects are moseying around the Children’s Section for the entire month of June! Find 10 hexapods for a prize!
- 😎 Register for Vacation Bible School (VBS)For potty-trained three year olds through ninth graders. Embark on an exciting journey with Road Trip VBS, based on Joshua 1:9 – "The LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Discover God's presence everywhere as we explore new places, make new friends, and experience God's goodness together. Join us in a fun-filled adventure […]
- 🌈 Can You Find the Colors?, TodayPictures of paint palettes showing some of our favorite colors are scattered among the children’s books. This scavenger hunt at the City of Fairfax branch is fun for all ages and runs during FCPL’s Summer Reading Adventure – June 11th through August 18th!
- 🪴 Neighborhood Plant Clinic, TodayCalling all home gardeners! Drop in for horticultural tips, information, techniques, and advice from the Fairfax County Master Gardeners. Weekly until July 26
- ✝️ Hymn History: O Spirit of the Living GodOn Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025, the Pender choir and congregation lifted their voices in the stirring hymn “O Spirit of the Living God” (UMH #539), celebrating the movement of the Holy Spirit among us.