Before the j-pouch surgery, I was on prednisone for approx 6 months. Every time they reduced the mg, the bleeding would get so heavy. In that short amount of time, I went from a small 140 lbs or so up to 225 lbs. I'm 5'7". I had the moon face, buffalo hump on the back of neck, the whole nine yards. 10 years later I still can't get all the weight off. I'm down to about 190 now, but it's difficult to lose it because I work so much and cannot tolerate anything with fiber therefore normal dieting is out the window. Within the first year after surgery and being off the prednisone, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hips. Over the years it feels like it is getting worse and worse. There have been a few occasions where when bent over, they lock up and I have to get someone to help me straighten up. Also in that first year, I started getting hair growing on my chin. It started out just a few and could pluck them, but for the last several years it progressed so badly I literally have to shave like a man every single day. In fact, just 12 hrs after shaving I have stubble like a man. (already tried Vaniqa and doesn't work at all)I also have hairs on my breasts I have to pluck and some that run along the scar on my stomach from the surgeries. I was 29 when I had the take down and stopped the prednisone. I turned 40 this year and all these problems are really wearing on me. I am going through a divorce and have 2 kids and I just can't help but think I will always be alone as long as I have all these horrible scars and hair growth. Nobody knows since I shave it, but 10 years is a long time to deal with these issues. About 2 years ago, I started having fatigue that was extremely bad, I could sleep all day and feel like I could just collapse. I would take a shower and then have to sit down and rest as if I had just ran a marathon. Doctor did tests and ruled out everything so through process of elimination, they diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. I went back to doctor yesterday to ask if the facial hair could be my hormones and they are running tests. When I research these symptoms online I come up with Cushings Disease which apparently is a hormone syndrome caused by steroid usage or PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). Please tell me there is someone else out there with these issues that know what is going on.
Original Post
