Coping with Cushing's Disease: The Patients' Perspectives

© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This chapter concerns the patients' perspectives when coping with Cushing's disease and other causes of Cushing's syndrome. Pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease, as well as other causes of endogenous hypercortisolism (e.g., adrenal lesions or ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion) have significant effects on patients' lives. This disease presents as a series of symptoms and physical and psychological changes, all of which may lead to a compromised, health-related quality of life. If symptoms are pronounced and include troublesome features, such as fatigue, depression, or anxiety, they may have a more profound effect on daily life, affecting work, family, and social relationships. In addition, some patients may be unable to work, which may affect their economic well-being.The recovery period after successful treatment differs among patients. After surgery, most patients complain of feeling worse than when their disease was active and cortisol was high (as a result of the sudden fall in cortisol). It may take months or even years to recover fully. Patients often complain about not receiving enough information on the recovery phase, as little information is available. Life may be different after the disease, although improvement is possible. Several coping strategies are discussed.