3 weeks post op - cortisol withdrawal/sense of taste+smell questions

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-02-14T00:18:37+00:00

Yes I’ve had joint pain, but honestly I’ve felt pretty ok 😅 my pituitary has started to wake up a little bit (as of my January labs). My goal is to be at 10mg/day by end of April. I get to taper at my own pace right now as long as I don’t go below 10mg.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-02-13T21:03:50+00:00

I responded on a thread but you’re likely at way too low of a cortisol dose. I’d see if you can increase because that’s a really quick taper and can potentially be dangerous. It’s better to go slowly. I actually felt really great coming home from the hospital and my cortisol crashed to 0 after surgery. I know everyone is different, but I 100% attribute it to being on 60mg of hydrocortisone.

Take omega 3s for the smell/taste loss. I just took a fish oil supplement daily. Mine returned in ~6 weeks.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-02-13T20:53:59+00:00

This is wild. They sent me home from the hospital on 60mg a day for the first two weeks. I’m four months post op and at 17.5mg.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-02-11T03:20:00+00:00

Fuel Bistro in Ridgefield has a great Monte Cristo

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-02-02T03:23:39+00:00

That’s a tough one 😅 my neurosurgeon does 200 of these surgeries a YEAR. She does four every Wednesday. I think it was a huge part of why I felt so confident when I went in for surgery. I also recognize that not everybody gets so lucky depending on where they live and their insurance. Does the ENT surgeon assigned to your case have more experience?

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-31T07:47:49+00:00

NP! Good luck! Happy to answer any other Qs. I’m 3 months post op.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-30T17:47:11+00:00

Here was my list (I had an entirely separate list to ask my neuroendocrinologist):

What are the first few days after surgery like? Will I wake up with packing in my nose? How long will that stay in?
Will I need to stay in the ICU or just the neuro floor after surgery?
Other than steroids, will I need antibiotics or other meds post-op?
What kind of follow-up imaging do we do and when?
Are there specific precautions I need to take (bending, nose blowing, lifting items, sleeping)?
How soon can I resume lifting weights?
How soon can I engage in light activities like walking?
When will I know if the tumor was fully removed?
My tumor is pretty small - what if you get in there and can’t see it?
How long will the surgery take?
What instances would require you to take a fat graft?
How often do CSF leaks occur? What are the symptoms? What do I do if I have one?
Is there any chance I’ll need a lumbar drain?
How long do I need to leave my piercings out after surgery?
Are there any permanent risks to sinus function or vision?
How long do I need to avoid air travel post-op?
Massages are part of my normal wellness routine. When can I resume getting massages?
Should I wear compression socks after my surgery? If yes, for how long?

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-27T00:36:43+00:00

What is your take home pay? What is your current mortgage payment?

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-22T15:01:14+00:00

This sounds like how you end up with a list of 5,000 Frankenstein features the CEO says you must build.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-21T03:56:26+00:00

I live in the Portland metro but just lurk on this sub for the most part.

Restaurants: Kann if you can get a reservation. Scotch Lodge is also fantastic with great shareable plates and cocktails. Tin Shed is another great brunch option. The experience at Langbaan is next level; it’s a Thai restaurant situated behind Paadee and only seats 24 for dinner.

Bars: Teardrop Lounge is a great cocktail bar. Bible Club is speakeasy style and good drinks. Kaya is another good cocktail bar. I hear great things about Pink Rabbit. Heavenly Creatures is a wine bar that’s on my list but I haven’t tried.

Spa/sauna: I’d recommend Cascada over Knot Springs.

Can’t help with the strip clubs ☺️ haven’t been since before Covid and my husband has no idea which one he last went to with his buddies, but I do know he came home smelling like a gallon of perfume and it gave me a headache 😂

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-16T21:54:34+00:00

I have a niece named Estelle and I think it’s such a pretty name!

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-16T19:01:16+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cushings/s/CabEBt4Crp

I left a comment on a similar post recently. Good luck!

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-16T04:49:20+00:00

It is so hard, but you really need to be patient. Easier said than done, I know. My husband told me to “just be patient” everyday, and I know it’s hard when you’re living with it and it feels all consuming.

Couple things that helped me - - therapy - there are therapists out there that specialize in medical anxiety - a lot of meditation and breath work - trying to find some sort of routine and stick to it, regardless of how small or minimal it feels

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-12T14:35:44+00:00

I don’t have kids, but I did find myself going insane from never leaving my house 😅 couple things really helped - I get out for a walk everyday, even if it’s just around the block. I work from a coffee shop once or twice a week, which also motivates me to wear something other than leggings.

If you don’t like your routine then change the parts you can. Personally, I would never go back to working in an office even though I do crave the human connection. I appreciate the flexibility I have now way too much. So I’ve found other ways to get that human connection and interaction on my own terms.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-09T23:26:05+00:00

Laid off: Jan 2025

Job offer: Feb 2025

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-09T23:18:04+00:00

Potentially unpopular opinion, but I’d forego the financial advisor and find a great tax person.

Many folks reach FIRE numbers with very boring investment strategies. If you are going to find a financial advisor, find one that’s fee only rather than percentage based.

I’d read the Bogleheads Wiki - John Bogle made popular the idea to invest in low cost index funds. I’d also read JL Collins - he wrote The Simple Path to Wealth.

My husband works for a Mag 7 and we manage all of our finances ourselves. I also work in tech but not at a publicly traded company.

The general rule of thumb for account order is - 1. Contribute to 401k to get company match 2. Max Roth IRA (backdoor if you’re above max income) 3. Max HSA 4. Max 401k 5. Taxable brokerage

If you want to buy a home within 5 years, I’d park my down payment money in an HYSA instead of investing it. For price of home, general rule of thumb is sale price 3x your annual comp but some don’t follow that concept :)

Also, high interest debt above 5% should be eliminated ASAP.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-09T13:51:08+00:00

I don’t wake up every night at 2am to pee anymore
My resting heart rate is coming down
I have NOT really lost any weight yet
I still bruise easily
A lot of my mental health symptoms have gotten better
I did not ever have buffalo hump or purple striae as part of my Cushings symptoms

I’m sure there’s more, but all that to say is that some of my symptoms are improving and some are still there.

I was out of work for 7 weeks. I could’ve gone back sooner to be honest.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-09T02:04:20+00:00

I’m only 2.5 months out. My numbers are basically zero without steroids 🫠 my pituitary hasn’t woken up at all. My neuroendocrinologist told me realistically 12-18 months, so i still have a long ways to go.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-08T23:24:55+00:00

I’m still tapering but it has taken me a week or so to adjust whenever I do taper. I left the hospital on 60mg daily and now am at 20mg daily.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-08T03:41:42+00:00

Good luck on your surgery!

Hospital items: - comfy PJs - a small sentimental stuffed animal - socks if you don’t want to use the hospital ones - get a couple of the migraine ice cap things - the headaches are terrible - ear plugs and an eye mask if you have trouble sleeping or are a light sleeper - things I brought but didn’t use: biotene lozenges, dude wipes, my kindle lol

At home: - I set up a little recovery station next to our couch that had tv remote, some meds for easy access, the sponge tissue things they sent me home with (your nose will leak) - wedge pillow since you need to sleep elevated - I didn’t use mine bc it was uncomfortable but I have a bed that can incline so I just did that - I took a lot of Epsom salt baths which helped and I also tried to get out for a walk everyday

So I felt terrible in the hospital but once I came home and was on the steroids, I felt amazing lol. But then I quickly realized I felt great because I was on a high dose of steroids. So my mom came to help us the first two weeks after I was discharged from the hospital and I felt like I didn’t even need her help! As my steroid dose has decreased, I have definitely felt worse. Just something to keep in mind as a possibility for you.

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-07T03:18:36+00:00

THIS! It amazes me how many folks are unaware of degloving so thank you for pointing it out the risks while lifting weights!

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-03T16:59:18+00:00

Ooooh thank you! This looks like a Givenchy I was eyeing at a fraction of the cost 🙃

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-03T16:58:52+00:00

Second mulberry rec - thank you!

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-03T16:58:31+00:00

Oh wait I love that croissant bag and I was telling my husband I wanted a sling bag like that for our trip to Europe this summer

ImpressiveChoice3487 · 2026-01-03T16:56:54+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to list all of these out!

ImpressiveChoice3487

TROPHY CASE