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. If you suspect you have Cushing’s, print the highlighted sections, discuss them with your primary care doctor and ask to be tested. If you are diagnosed or have difficulty getting a diagnosis, consult with an expert Cushing’s Doctor.

On this website, the symptoms are covered under Understanding Cushing’s: The Basics and in the brochure. Print either Understanding Cushing’s: The Basics or the brochure and the testing section of this website. 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.

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 expert 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.