"How can Cushing's be an invisible illness?"
We are zebras, but our stripes remain hidden behind loose clothing and no one peeks beneath.
Our bodies grow disproportionate, yet we are only seen as obese.
As our muscles atrophy, we are told to exercise.
While we sweat like we have been exercising or we shiver from lack of thyroid hormones within the same few minutes, we have not moved.
Because our faces grow red we hear "you look so healthy", but the cortisol glow ruins our cardivascular system and no one notices.
When we grow humps and bumps in odd places, we are told it's due to being overweight.
While our other hormones plummet our emotions rise, but we are called bipolar, depressed, stressed.
From our blood pressure rising we become hypertensive, and we are handed a pill and told to eat less salt.
With acne worse than during puberty and hair in places it shouldn't be, we are told it must be PCOS.
When hair disappears from places it should be, we are told we are getting older.
Because our blood sugar cresendoes and crashes, we are told to watch what we eat and are called diabetic and/or insulin-resistant.
As edema forces our flesh into shapes not meant to be, we are given a diuretic and told to drink more water.
Cortisol becomes a rollercoaster we ride, getting sicker with each rise and fall, but we aren't offered a way off. "It's stress--take a xanax, an ativan...."
Sleep eludes us when we should embrace it, but encumbers us when we can't embrace it.
Pain is our companion, yet we fear mentioning it for being accused of wanting narcotics--until we can no longer hide it.
Will you look for us? See us? Help us?
Do you hear our hoofbeats? Can you see the stripes?
My "Cushie" friends will have more to add, I'm sure. I hope they will.
Hugs, Robin
