Curing Cushing's Disease

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Cushing's disease hits in the prime of a person's life and if left untreated, can make young, active women fatigued, overweight, and depressed. While it's often misdiagnosed, there is a cure if caught in time.

Chondra Hungerford could clean and jerk 200 pounds and bench press 185, but in a matter of months she went from a five foot six inch, 120 pound muscle machine to 176 pounds.

"I was trapped in this body of a monster and I was horrified," Cushing's patient Chondra Hungerford tells Ivanhoe.

She was diagnosed with hypo-thyroidism, was told she was allergic to her own hair follicles, and should be treated for mental problems.

"I didn't know what I was doing anymore," says Chondra.

Tests revealed her testosterone level was 77; it should have been 40. Her cortisol level was over 1,400; normal is 30! She started researching and found doctor U, who immediately tested her for Cushing's disease. It's caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland.

"The life expectancy is very low. If you can correct it, however, your life completely turns around," says Hoi Sang U, M.D., Neurological Surgeon from the University of California, San Diego.

Doctor U says several of his patients have been referred to him from psych wards.

"These people were locked up. Psychotic!" exclaims Dr. U.

But finding the tumor can be difficult.

Dr. U explains that, "Some of these patients could have full blown symptoms and appearance of Cushing's disease, and yet when you do a MRI scan, you don't see a tumor."

Doctor U pinpointed Chondra's tumor. He went through Chondra's nose, to the base of the skull where the pituitary gland sits and removed the tumor.

Four months later and 40 pounds lighter, Chondra is back at the gym working to regain her strength and her life.

After surgery, Chondra did go through cortisol withdrawal because Cushing's disease made her levels so high. Symptoms for Cushing's include weight gain, acne or skin infections, purple marks on the skin of the abdomen, thighs and breasts. Patients also experience excessive hair growth on their face, neck, chest, stomach, and thighs.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Jackie Carr, Media Relations

University of California San Diego

jcarr@ucsd.edu

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