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ACTH Indepedent Cushing’s Syndrome

After nearly a month of tests & waiting, I received a formal diagnosis from my doctor on Friday – I have ACTH Independent Cushing’s Syndrome. Ok…so what does this mean?

We have two adrenal glands, located in the abdominal cavity. One gland produces adrenaline & the other gland produces serveral different hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. Simply stated, it’s an overproduction of cortisol in the body. Cortisol helps to maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function, reduces the immune system’s inflammatory response, balances the effects of insulin in breaking down sugar for energy, and regulates the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

A tumor developed on one of my adrenal glands, causing it to produce too much cortisol and caused the other gland to stop producing all together. Good news is that it can be treated by the removal of the over active gland. I’ll have to be on hormone replacement therapy until the other gland can function normally on it own (long-term, short-term? don’t know yet).

Apart of me wanted to scream with joy, “Yes, I finally have an answer to this hell!” Now I know what’s wrong (and it’s not all in my head). This has to be the best Christmas present EVER – I get my body back.

Another part said, “Damn, more than 4 years of feeling like I’ve been trapped in someone else’s body.”

More than 4 years of killing myself in the gym with no results, 4 years of watching my once youthful, fit body become one that looked abused by overeating & lack of exercise, reluctantly buying the next size up in clothing (making sure to cut the tags out so I wouldn’t be reminded of the “new” size I’d become), 4 years of trying “alternative” eating regimens (only to become more obsessed with what I ate or didn’t eat).

This last year or so has been particularly difficult. I had begun to accept the fact that this is the way my body is going to look. Fine, I can deal with that. What I feel most saddened by is the decrease & down right lack of energy I’ve had. Plus, my body just f*&^ing hurt (joints, back, racing heart, hot sweats, swelling & bloating ALL the time). The list goes on & on…

Based on what my doctor has said & the information I’ve read so far, it appears that the surgery has a high success rate and my body should return to “normal” once the tumor is removed. If everything goes according to plan, the surgery will take place by the end of January. Looks like 2008 is going to be a big year indeed.

Cushings Disease: The Obesity Tumor

Pregnancy can do strange things to a woman’s body. I had my son more than 4 years ago & my body has yet to return to normal…

When my son was about one, I gave up on losing the 40+ lbs of pregnancy weight. I’m a fitness instructor & know how to eat right & lose weight, but nothing I did seemed to have an affect.

Over the next 3 years, I started experiencing symptoms related to Cushings disease. Individually, these symptoms don’t appear to be all that alarming, but collectively they can become life threatening.

All this time, I thought the symptoms I was experiencing were over exaggerated figments of my imagination…The inability to lose weight & continually gaining weight, bloating & water retention, puffiness in the face, insomnia, hot sweats, bruising, extreme fatigue and my favorite – a buffalo hump (my husband pointed this out to me about 6-8 months ago, concerned that I had poor posture spending so much time on the computer).

About 3 months ago, I decided to try to reclaim my body again and started working with a personal trainer. Two & half months passed with NO change. WFT?! I was at the end of my rope & came to the conclusion that something has to be wrong with my body. I was weight training for 40 min. 3x/wk and doing cardio 45 min 3 or 4x/wk. I had even resorted to eliminating carbs from my diet. Basically starving myself.

I went to my doctor to get a full check up. She took my blood pressure & it read 180/92! I was a stroke victim waiting to happen. I explained my exercise routine & my inability to lose weight. What’s wrong with me???

My blood work came back abnormal…Based on the initial results, she suspected it might be Cushings disease. She requested that I undergo more testing. Apparently Cushings disease is rare, affecting less than 200,000 people in the US population and is often times misdiagnosed.

After nearly a month of testing (blood work, urine collection and a MRI), it’s been officially confirmed that I have Cushings disease.

I’m bitterly conflicted. Apart of me feels relieved to have an answer as to why my body is the way it is. It validates all of the symptoms I tried so hard to brush off. For the same reasons, I’m frustrated that I lost more than 4 years with my body (Prior to getting pregnant, I was in the best shape of my life & loved to be active. I had completed my first Olympic distance triathlon in 3 hrs & 33 min and was training to climb Mt. Rainier).

There are two types of tumors that cause Cushings disease: pituitary tumors & benign adrenal tumors. Good news is that this disease is fully treatable with surgery. Preliminary MRI results show that I have a 3 cm benign adrenal tumor.

I still have a long road ahead, with more testing, additional doctor evaluations and eventually surgery. My doctor has informed me that once the tumor is removed, my body should return to normal, what ever that means…

My greatest hope is that my body will feel good on the inside AND outside. I’m ready to conquer my next triathlon…

Modmix: the organic cocktail mixer

I was recently treated to a taster by Tricia McCracken, co-founder of Modmix. She prepared a variety of unique drink combinations – (the French Martini & Lavender Lemon Drop were my favorites.) I have to say I was impressed – the mixer was subtle & not too sweet.

Cool fact – Modmix is the first USDA approved organic cocktail mixer! It’s slowly but surely making its way to the mainstream market & is available in organic grocery stores in the Pacific NW & East coast. Not yet in bars…

Thanks Tricia!

Harmonica Man

Harmonica man…ummm…play me a tune…just play me

Power of the Blog!

I’ve received numerous comments in response to my recent experience with Washington Mutual and I’d like to respond with additional thoughts & feedback for those who are having a similar experience.

It’s extremely frustrating to go head to head with a massive corporation with substantial resources. One person, one voice trying to gain traction and cut through the corporate “red tape”- it’s impossible, right? WRONG.

With the growing popularity of social media & the focus shifting from appealing to the masses to focusing on the “individual” – you and I now have a voice that can’t be stifled. It’s no longer about strength in numbers. It’s about empowering the individual & making authentic connections with others who have similar interests, values & beliefs. Social media has changed the rules of “engagement” and it’s forced a lot of bullies off their soapbox. Online reputation is critical. It can quickly leverage a brand’s image. Or it has the power to send it down in flames – all with a few blog posts, forum discussions & emails.

Use the power of social media (blogs, forums, online communities, bookmarking etc.) to your advantage & see what happens…

The 2007 Rosey Award Winners Are….

The Roseys are know for featuring the so called “under dogs” of the advertising world and this one event draws out some of the best creatives Portland has to offer. It gives them a moment of glory for all the blood, sweat & tears that went into these amazing advertising campaigns. Goes to show you don’t need endless amounts of cash to make award winning ads. Congrats to all the winners!

Drum roll please…

The 50th Annual Rosey Award Winners are…

Overall Best in Show

Title: Videogame

Agency: W+K

Client: Coca-Cola

Overall Judges Favorite

Title: The Leader

Agency: w+k12

Client: MTV Switch

___________________

Title: Provocateur

Agency: BENT Image Lab

Client: Lux

Interactive: Advertising/Websites

Excellance

Title: Swing Portrait

Agency: W+K

Client: Nike

___________________

Title: Its Red Again

Agency: W+K

Client: Starbuck’s Corp.

Interactive: Micorsites/Landing Pages

Excellance

Title: Nike Golf – Ignite

Agency: Summit Projects

Client: Nike Gold US

Interactive: E-commerce/Transactional Website

Excellance

Title: www.drmartens.com

Agency: Summit Projects

Client: Dr. Martens

Sales Material: Advertising Poster

Rosey

Title: the Compass

Agency: NEMO Design

Client: Nike6.0

Sales Material: Sales Kit/Dealer Aid/Ad Specialty

Excellance

Title: Nike6.0 SUPERBALL

Agency: NEMO Design

Client: Nike6.0

Sales Material: Point of Sale

Excellance

Title: 6.0 at Active

Agency: NEMO Design

Client: Nike6.0

___________________

Title: St-Germain Case Pack Floor Display

Agency: Sandstrom Design

Client: Cooper Spirits International

Corporate Identity: Logo

Rosey

Title: mint

Agency: Sandstrom Design

Client: Mint

Self-Promotion: All Media

Exellance

Title: Ant Hill Marketing, Ebbets Filed Flannel Proposal

Agency: Ant Hill Marketing

Client: Ant Hill Marketing

___________________

Title: April Fools

Agency: w+k 12

Client: W+K

Packaging: Single

Rosey

Title: ULLR Bottle

Agency: Leopold Ketel & Partners

Client: Hood River Distillers

Advertising Arts: Illustration, Single

Rosey

Title: Nike6.0 Superball

Agency: NEMO Design

Client: Nike6.0

Integrated Campaign: Advertising, Design, Interactive, Out of Home

Excellance

Title: St. Germain Integrated Campaign

Agency: Sandstrom Design

Client: Cooper Spirits International

Public Service: Traditional TV

Excellance

Title: MTV Global Warming

Agency: Food Chain

Client: MTV

Direct Response: Single

Excellance

Tile: Kuni Box

Agency: Coates Kokes

Client: Kuni Automotive

Radio: Single

Rosey

Title: Cool, Cool Sea Lions

Agency: Leopold Ketel & Partners

Client: Oregon Coast Aquarium

TV: Single, Budget $50k+

Rosey

Title: I Feel Pretty

Agency: W+K

Client: Nike

TV: Single, Budget $50k-

Excellance

Title: Nike6.0 Vertigo

Agency: NEMO Design

Client: Nike6.0

TV: Series (3+), Budget $50k+

Excellance

Title: Nike6.0 Superball

Agency: NEMO Design

Client: Nike6.0

“When You Look This Good, Who Can Blame You for Licking Your Own Crotch?”

I was cruising one of my favorite blogs that feature the latest “eye catching” advertisements to hit the streets & came across these…

 

The WaMu Difference: One Voice is All it Takes

A follow up from my previous post, The WaMu Difference: I Found Out the Hard Way

I received some insightful advice from a reader at Marketing ROI: Whims from Ron Shevlin

“Ron, It could be that this story might come back to haunt WaMu. Has anyone read the book “Citizen Marketers” by McConnell and Huba? They talk about the power of one. KW’s story is now on this blog, Ron. Other bloggers may just pick it up and then, if I were WaMu, I’d be worried.

Can this happen at a credit union? You’re right, it depends. I think that’s where an active board comes in. A CU board is supposed to monitor poor management and make sure policies are put in place so that the rights of the member come first. I know we’re taking a chance at UFirst with the Boardcast but I’m assuming if KW were our member she might decide to get in touch with the board through the Boardcast.”

Using my search skillz, I was able to locate email addresses for a handful of WaMu board members & directors. I composed a letter that outlined the series of events associated with this transaction & requested specific action to be taken in order to rectify my account.

• Sent an email out Sunday afternoon
• I received a message from a WaMu investor relations contact Monday afternoon
• The requested correction was posted to my account Tuesday

Just yesterday, I received a letter from WaMu requesting more information in regards to the dispute I filed nearly 3 weeks ago! WTF? First WaMu says they don’t have a record of a dispute & now they’re requesting more information so they can pursue the claim? WaMu needs to take inventory of their internal processes & make some changes. I’m relieved to have my account rectified, but this is experience has caused me to take my business elsewhere.

50th Annual Rosey Awards: Wednesday, November 7 @ 5:30pm at the Gerding Theater in the Portland Armory

On November 7th, 2007, The Portland Advertising Federation (PAF) is hosting the 50th annual Rosey Awards. This exclusive show celebrates some of the most kick &@! advertising work in the Northwest. Staying true to the the community mantra, “Keep Portland Weird“, is one thing we can count on from some of the big player’s in town.

The PAF and The Art Institute of Portland gallery have joined forces this year & will be featuring the award winning work exclusively from November 8-28.

The Art Institute of Portland

1122 NW Davis St

Portland, OR 97209

503 228 6528