Question: I had my surgery in Feb 2007. I had an inguinal hernia in May 2008 and have recently been diagnosed with a large paraesphogeal hernia that requires surgery. I wonder if I have had these hernias due to the amount of time I had Cushing’s Disease before being diagnosed?

Answer: There is no way to know if the hernias are a consequence of Cushing’s – although Cushing’s does cause a negative effect on supporting tissues (thinning of the skin), one can speculate that this may be a consequence of Cushing’s. However, in the many patients with Cushing’s that I have taken care of , this has not occurred.

By Dr. Mary Lee Vance MD (Winter, 2010)