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[sydneybird]

I went to a gynecologist, instead, and learned that my symptoms were uterine cancer. If I hadn't heeded my feeling that something was seriously wrong, I would probably now have inoperable, metasticized cancer, instead of being 2.5 years from being declared cancer free.

First off I am so happy that you are now cancer free. Reading your post reminded me that I should mention what happened to my wife so that it may help others. Forgive me if I am hijacking the thread too much in the wrong direction, but I just wanted to send out this information. Over an 8 year period of time my 34 yr old, 5'4", 100 pound aerobic instructor wife became a 200 pound woman, gaining weight in the midsection and upper back (buffalo hump), and moon face, but skinny legs and arms. While all this was happening she had a back injury (so she had to stop exercising), and Legionnaire's disease that almost killed her. The Legionnaire's disease supposedly scarred her heart so she went for cardiac rehab twice and failed. Doctors gave up saying she is not trying hard enough in rehab and had mental issues. Cholesterol levels were off the chart and advanced osteoporosis set in. Mayo Clinic, the third major medical center to see her, just about kicked us out of the hospital in the first 2 hours after waiting 9 months for an appointment because she had so many symptoms the doctor said it would be futile to try to find out. We left after a week of inconclusive testing. By this time she had been using a wheel chair and electric scooter when shopping or family outings for about two years. She went to her fifth neurologist (due to a change of insurance) who instantly knew what she had, ignored the inconclusive blood tests, ordered an MRI of her head within one day, brain surgery one week later to remove a large benign tumor on her pituitary (Cushings Disease, which caused her adrenal glans to produce a huge amount of cortisol). The tumor regrew 6 years later so another surgery; tumor free for 3 years now and getting better than after the first surgery. All of her symptoms are attributable to advanced Cushings Disease.

The moral of the story is to trust your feelings, and keep pushing and researching to find your health answers. She just knew it wasn't her heart as the central cause. She also self diagnosed the return of the tumor, just another feeling, and was able to catch it much earlier this time. Cushings disease is rarely diagnosed as it usually ends up killing the patient with a heart attack. An MRI of the pituitary is the primary diagnostic tool (in my opinion, not the medical insurance company's) as blood tests are not very accurate. Average diagnosis time is 5-10 years if at all, so push for that MRI if you have the symptoms. There are also more accurate blood tests available now so do your research and educate your doctor.

http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/newspub/rel ... ushing.cfm
http://www.cushings-help.com

[sydneybird]

Someone mentioned satiable and by their post I took it to mean that growing grains was more so than raising meat. I disagree.

I think me but it was the opposite. I find protein keeps me satiated much more and longer.

Are we confusing satiable (satisfying hunger) with sustainability (the social and ecological consequences of economic activity)? It is argued by the ecologists that meat production is contrary to minimizing ecological consequences (and somehow grain production is not?), but boy, meat does satisfy the hunger more quickly and for a much longer period of time than grains.

[LoQ]

Wow, sydneybird, that is quite a story. I'm so sorry that your wife had to go through that, but what a great neurologist you ended up with. Sounds like that doctor was worth their weight in gold. I'm so glad you finally found out the problem. It's too bad the wrong doctors don't routinely get feedback when they misdiagnose or fail to diagnose. It would improve their practice of medicine.