On this web site, the symptoms are covered under About Cushing’s – The Basics and in the brochure under What’s New.  Not every Cushing’s patient gets every symptom, so Cushing’s cannot be ruled out strictly by the presence or absence of certain symptoms.  The diagnosis of Cushing’s requires appropriate testing for the disorder. Your primary care doctor can order the tests listed in the flow chart in the Testing section of this web site.  Screening is usually done using a late-night salivary cortisol test, a 24 hour urine test, and/or an overnight dexamethasone suppression test.

Print either About Cushing’s – The Basics or the brochure and the Testing section of this web site.  Take this with you to your doctor’s appointment along with photos that illustrate your change in appearance.  Discuss the symptoms with your doctor and ask to be tested.  Consider taking someone who is also concerned about your health with you to your appointment.  You can also mail the materials to your doctor prior to your appointment so your doctor knows what you’d like to discuss.

Understand the testing required and make sure you are adequately tested.  Early, mild and cyclic cases of Cushing’s can be challenging to diagnose.  If your primary care physician does not wish to order the tests and you need to search for a local endocrinologist, you can search by zip code or state at www.hormone.org.  There are many excellent doctors experienced in Cushing’s listed on our web site under Cushing’s Doctors, but most “experts” require some type of test abnormality or a referral and getting an appointment can take a substantial amount of time.

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