I have to try this!
2011/05/31
2008/09/30
2008/09/26
Interview with Dr Rob, October 2, 2008
Dr. Robert Lamberts aka "Dr. Rob": Dr. Robert Lamberts, aka "Dr. Rob", write the amusing and insightful Musings of a Distractible Mind. He also is the "father" of a lobster named Zippy who travels the world seeking a cure for pediatric cancer.
His profile in his blog reads:
Doctor, Blogger, Goofball. Yes, that is me. Dr. Sid called me the "Dave Barry of medical blogging," but I like to think of myself as the "Hulk Hogan" of the Medical blog world. It just makes more sense to me. Anyway, I author "Musings of a Distractible Mind" as other dabblings. I like llamas for no other reason that the word starts with to l's.
I am a practicing primary care physician in the Southeastern US, caring for patients of all ages (Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics). This blog covers a wide variety of issues, including the following: What it is like to be a physician, dogs driving cars, what troubles are in our system, toddlers with flame-throwers, what would it take to fix that system, llamas, death and dying issues, mutants, and accordions. Maybe I need to write about mutant dying accordions with flame-throwers. Hmmm....I feel a post coming. Anyhow, I like variety. Life is always lived with both laughter and tears. If you are a regular reader of this blog, it is also filled with nausea and nightmares. Thanks for stopping by. -Dr. Rob
About Dr Rob reads:
Hi! I am Dr. Rob.Join Dr Rob, October 2, 2008, 8:00PM
I am a primary care physician from the Southeastern United States. Yes, I am a real doctor. Here are some other facts about me:So sit back and enjoy the blog. I hope you grow from the experience. I know I haven’t.
- I am a father of four children.
- I am board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.
- I am bad at bowling, but would like to be better.
- I have lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Georgia.
- I don’t like mushrooms. They are just too slimy for me.
- I play multiple musical instruments, including Piano, Cello, and Guitar.
- I started college as a voice major.
- I am an early adopter of Electronic Medical Records and have been awarded for our implementation of them in our practice. I have given talks about this subject across the country.
- I don’t have psychic powers - I am not that Doctor Rob.
- I have been diagnosed with ADHD. My staff agrees with this diagnosis.
- I don’t like to write about politics. It just gives me the heebie-jeebies.
- I recently had my gallbladder out. It wasn’t that bad, but the scars kind of look like bugs.
- Llamas and goats have mysteriously become an important part of my blog. I am not sure who invited them, but they keep showing up.
- I accidentally deleted this page, so had to rewrite it. I do stuff like that sometimes. Still, I think I am a pretty good doc. I have never deleted a patient by mistake.
- My feet are size 10.5
- I am the recipient of far more grace than I deserve.
- I have very little patience for those pesky muskrats.
2008/08/01
Interview with Ashleigh (Marinewife05), August 7, 7:30PM
Ashleigh has been diagnosed with PCOS and is testing for Cushing's.
She has had many Cushing's symptoms for quite a while and she has written a bio at http://www.cushings-help.com/ashleigh.htm
Part of her bio says:
My name is Ashleigh, and I'm a 22-year-old Marine wife of three years.
As long as I can remember, I was always the skinny kid. Too skinny, even. Weighing in between 110 and 115 pounds at 5' 3", I could lose weight just by thinking about it, and NEVER imagined that I would gain weight. But I did! It seemed to start exactly on my 19th birthday. It started with just a few pounds, but despite dieting and going to the gym, I gained 50 lbs in one year. I also stopped ovulating and having periods, and my hair began to change texture. My once super-thick and soft locks were becoming thin and brittle. I'd always had a little trouble with acne, but it was becoming out of control, and I had started growing hairs on my upper lip and chin - dark, coarse ones that I furiously plucked each morning.
I also noticed that I was developing these hideous magenta stretch marks on my sides at my hips, and down my legs. Progressively, the hair growth got worse and I developed dark hair on my abdomen as well. I was urinating a lot and experiencing insomnia, but extreme fatigue during the day. I also could NOT get pregnant. Eventually, all my symptoms were attributed to PCOS, and I was started on a high dose of Metformin (aka "Glucophage"). My husband left on deployment around this time (Jan 2007), and between the medication and going on the Nutrisystem diet, I managed to lose 22 pounds.
After I went off the diet, I gained back a few pounds but nothing terribly significant. My husband returned home in Jan 2007 and we resumed trying to start a family, but to no avail. A few months ago, I noticed that I had begun to gain the weight back despite being on weight watchers to LOSE weight, and that the acne and hair growth were becoming worse! To top it off, my hair was beginning to thin in the pattern of male-pattern-baldness. I was scared, believing my PCOS to be out of control, and asked my gynecologist to refer me to an endocrinologist.
I had my appointment last Tuesday. I told the doctor about my PCOS diagnosis, and about all my other symptoms, too. I am constantly tired no matter how much sleep I get (I had 10 hours last night and a 2 hour nap this afternoon, and here I sit, still completely exhausted). I told him about how I bruise easily, and how my nails are weak and my skin is dry. ( I did neglect to mention the stretch marks and Anxiety diagnosis, wishing now that I had). He told me that he doesn't trust my PCOS diagnosis and wants to test me for Cushings. I was shocked and had to tell him that my mother is being tested for the same thing! I do not have some of the classic symptoms, however - my blood pressure is always low (104/60 on most days), and I carry my weight in my hips and bottom, not my middle. I also do not have moon-face or a buffalo hump - in fact, my upper body is quite thin.
I just went in for my blood tests today and will be doing my 24 urine test tomorrow. He also ordered an ultrasound to confirm or deny the PCOS diagnosis. I am hopeful and scared. It would be nice to have a definite diagnosis and treatment plan, but I'm also afraid of what a future with Cushings could mean....
She has had many Cushing's symptoms for quite a while and she has written a bio at http://www.cushings-help.com/ashleigh.htm
Part of her bio says:
My name is Ashleigh, and I'm a 22-year-old Marine wife of three years.
As long as I can remember, I was always the skinny kid. Too skinny, even. Weighing in between 110 and 115 pounds at 5' 3", I could lose weight just by thinking about it, and NEVER imagined that I would gain weight. But I did! It seemed to start exactly on my 19th birthday. It started with just a few pounds, but despite dieting and going to the gym, I gained 50 lbs in one year. I also stopped ovulating and having periods, and my hair began to change texture. My once super-thick and soft locks were becoming thin and brittle. I'd always had a little trouble with acne, but it was becoming out of control, and I had started growing hairs on my upper lip and chin - dark, coarse ones that I furiously plucked each morning.
I also noticed that I was developing these hideous magenta stretch marks on my sides at my hips, and down my legs. Progressively, the hair growth got worse and I developed dark hair on my abdomen as well. I was urinating a lot and experiencing insomnia, but extreme fatigue during the day. I also could NOT get pregnant. Eventually, all my symptoms were attributed to PCOS, and I was started on a high dose of Metformin (aka "Glucophage"). My husband left on deployment around this time (Jan 2007), and between the medication and going on the Nutrisystem diet, I managed to lose 22 pounds.
After I went off the diet, I gained back a few pounds but nothing terribly significant. My husband returned home in Jan 2007 and we resumed trying to start a family, but to no avail. A few months ago, I noticed that I had begun to gain the weight back despite being on weight watchers to LOSE weight, and that the acne and hair growth were becoming worse! To top it off, my hair was beginning to thin in the pattern of male-pattern-baldness. I was scared, believing my PCOS to be out of control, and asked my gynecologist to refer me to an endocrinologist.
I had my appointment last Tuesday. I told the doctor about my PCOS diagnosis, and about all my other symptoms, too. I am constantly tired no matter how much sleep I get (I had 10 hours last night and a 2 hour nap this afternoon, and here I sit, still completely exhausted). I told him about how I bruise easily, and how my nails are weak and my skin is dry. ( I did neglect to mention the stretch marks and Anxiety diagnosis, wishing now that I had). He told me that he doesn't trust my PCOS diagnosis and wants to test me for Cushings. I was shocked and had to tell him that my mother is being tested for the same thing! I do not have some of the classic symptoms, however - my blood pressure is always low (104/60 on most days), and I carry my weight in my hips and bottom, not my middle. I also do not have moon-face or a buffalo hump - in fact, my upper body is quite thin.
I just went in for my blood tests today and will be doing my 24 urine test tomorrow. He also ordered an ultrasound to confirm or deny the PCOS diagnosis. I am hopeful and scared. It would be nice to have a definite diagnosis and treatment plan, but I'm also afraid of what a future with Cushings could mean....
2008/07/26
Interview with Gracie (fatnsassy), July 31, 2008
Gracie (fatnsassy), July 31, 2008
Gracie says: "I've been having symptoms of Cushing's at least 14 yrs. I began testing with Dr. F. June, 2007. I was diagnosed in May, 2008 with cyclical Cushing's disease. I have surgery coming up soon.
I'm going to see Dr. J. next Monday, and I'll get my surgery date that day, so I will know by the night of the program, when I am going to surgery.) Let me know if you need more info."
The Call-In number is (646) 200-0162.
2008/07/02
Newsletter July 2, 2008
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| July 2, 2008 | |||||||||||
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Upcoming Meetings: 
2008/03/29
This week in Voice Chat
StaceyJenn, April 3. StaceyJenn was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and a host of other ailments in 2001 (candidiasis, intestinal permeability, 22 latent food allergies).
Once diagnosed, she was on specially formulated hydrocortisone for 7 years as she was allergic to the fillers in the meds. Her doctor stopped practicing and she was transferred to his associate. She switched StaceyJenn to medrol.
After Cushing's symptoms, a new endo started weaning her off the medrol and she had many problems. Read StaceyJenn's bio
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