Is It Safe To Go For Weight Loss Exercise While Suffering From Cushing's Syndrome?
Question: Hello Dr.
I had surgery about 5 weeks ago. I had a tumor removed from my pituitary gland and was diagnosed with cushings disease. I am currently on Hydrocortisone tapering down each week. I would like to start weight training and go onto a fat loss phase to lose some weight. Would it be safe to lose weight and exercise? I know hormone levels can drop or change when someone is losing weight.
I had surgery about 5 weeks ago. I had a tumor removed from my pituitary gland and was diagnosed with cushings disease. I am currently on Hydrocortisone tapering down each week. I would like to start weight training and go onto a fat loss phase to lose some weight. Would it be safe to lose weight and exercise? I know hormone levels can drop or change when someone is losing weight.
Brief Answer:
Starting moderate exercise will be good option
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Welcome to HCM. Thanks for posting this question. I understand your concerns.
In Cushing's syndrome there is a significant loss of muscle and bone mass due cortisol excess. So weight loss exercise is not going to be easy.
It is always better to have good protein diet rich in calcium and vitamins during this phase and start with moderate exercise during this phase. You can improve the exercise once your muscle strength is normal.
Hope I have answered your questions. If you have any further queries I will be happy to help you.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP [MD,DM]
Consultant Endocrinologist
Starting moderate exercise will be good option
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Welcome to HCM. Thanks for posting this question. I understand your concerns.
In Cushing's syndrome there is a significant loss of muscle and bone mass due cortisol excess. So weight loss exercise is not going to be easy.
It is always better to have good protein diet rich in calcium and vitamins during this phase and start with moderate exercise during this phase. You can improve the exercise once your muscle strength is normal.
Hope I have answered your questions. If you have any further queries I will be happy to help you.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP [MD,DM]
Consultant Endocrinologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Ok thank you
In cushings patients..is it normal to feel depressed,anxiety, lack of hunger, brain fog, poor concentration due to medication? Im currently on hydrocortisone(15mg morning - 5mg evening)
In cushings patients..is it normal to feel depressed,anxiety, lack of hunger, brain fog, poor concentration due to medication? Im currently on hydrocortisone(15mg morning - 5mg evening)
Brief Answer:
These symptoms are possible
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
These symptoms are common in Cushing's syndrome and this may persist for months even after successful removal of tumour. There can be psychiatric features up to XXXXXXX psychosis in cushings.
Please have your other hormones done like thyroid hormones, sex hormones which will also be low after pituitary surgery
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP
These symptoms are possible
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
These symptoms are common in Cushing's syndrome and this may persist for months even after successful removal of tumour. There can be psychiatric features up to XXXXXXX psychosis in cushings.
Please have your other hormones done like thyroid hormones, sex hormones which will also be low after pituitary surgery
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Thank you for the reply Doctor
I have another question that involves my surgery. I recently spoke to my Dr who performee the surgery on me to remove a tumor from my pituitary gland. He told me that no tumor was removed. Is this common? And could i have not had a tumor to begin with? I some signs of cushings after i had 2 corticosteroid shots on my knee.
I have another question that involves my surgery. I recently spoke to my Dr who performee the surgery on me to remove a tumor from my pituitary gland. He told me that no tumor was removed. Is this common? And could i have not had a tumor to begin with? I some signs of cushings after i had 2 corticosteroid shots on my knee.
Brief Answer:
Please upload the MRI reports and pre op hormonal work up
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
The answers to your questions:
1. Pituitary tumours can be very small in size and usually they are semisolid in consistency. So some times it is difficult to get sample for biopsy, as during surgery it is usually removed using small suction and there may be bleeding which will make it difficult to see the tumour.
The most important thing after surgery is whether you are cured of cushing's syndrome or not.
2. Please upload the hormonal tests and MRI reports if possible. Before MRI we usually do hormonal work up to confirm you are having cushings syndrome, followed by tests to see if it is due to ACTH producing tumour in pituitary. Then we will do MRI to see if there is a pituitary tumour.
It is sometimes difficult to confirm all these tests, as the reports can sometimes be confusing and repeat tests are needed before surgery. So I don't think the surgeon has attempted surgery before confirming all this.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
Please upload the MRI reports and pre op hormonal work up
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome back.
The answers to your questions:
1. Pituitary tumours can be very small in size and usually they are semisolid in consistency. So some times it is difficult to get sample for biopsy, as during surgery it is usually removed using small suction and there may be bleeding which will make it difficult to see the tumour.
The most important thing after surgery is whether you are cured of cushing's syndrome or not.
2. Please upload the hormonal tests and MRI reports if possible. Before MRI we usually do hormonal work up to confirm you are having cushings syndrome, followed by tests to see if it is due to ACTH producing tumour in pituitary. Then we will do MRI to see if there is a pituitary tumour.
It is sometimes difficult to confirm all these tests, as the reports can sometimes be confusing and repeat tests are needed before surgery. So I don't think the surgeon has attempted surgery before confirming all this.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D