Title: Doctors Blamed Her Marriage for Her Sudden Severe Anxiety and Weight Gain. Testing Revealed the Real Cause.
Subtitle: Bridget Houser’s years of suffering were misdiagnosed until proper testing uncovered a hidden illness.
Date: October 7, 2023
By: Bianca Bagnarelli for The Washington Post
Bridget Houser’s journey started with unexplained weight gain and increasing anxiety in the months leading up to her wedding in 2018. Despite her intense exercise regimen and strict diet, her weight continued to rise, and her appearance changed dramatically. Doctors initially blamed her marriage and stress for her symptoms. However, further testing revealed a different and serious underlying illness.
Houser’s troubles began with daily headaches, which she attributed to tension and migraines. Seeking relief, she underwent Lasik eye surgery hoping to alleviate the pain. While the procedure briefly improved her condition, the headaches returned. Houser’s anxiety and other symptoms started to worsen, leading her to seek help from a psychiatrist.
As her wedding day approached, Houser’s anxiety peaked, and her self-image deteriorated. She struggled with weight gain, hair loss, insomnia, night sweats, and acne. After several visits to different doctors who attributed her symptoms to stress and her recent marriage, Houser decided to advocate for further testing.
She insisted on testing her cortisol levels, a hormone involved in the body’s stress response. The results showed significantly elevated cortisol levels in her blood, urine, and saliva. These findings, along with visible physical changes, led to a diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome, a rare hormonal disorder caused by excessive cortisol production.
The delayed diagnosis is not uncommon with Cushing’s syndrome since symptoms tend to develop gradually and can be easily misdiagnosed. Dr. James Findling, an eminent endocrinologist, confirmed the diagnosis and worked with Houser to locate the source of the excess cortisol. Eventually, a dotatate PET scan identified a nodule in Houser’s left lung.
Despite a difference in opinions among doctors, with one recommending surgery and another suggesting therapy, Houser decided to trust in the expertise of Dr. Findling and a thoracic surgeon from Milwaukee. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor, leading to successful treatment and a long recovery.
Looking back on her journey, Houser regrets blaming herself for her symptoms and not seeking further testing earlier. “I wish I’d been nicer to myself,” she admits.
Cushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder, typically caused by tumors in the pituitary or adrenal glands. It disproportionately affects women and is often diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50. Without proper treatment, it can have fatal consequences.
Houser’s story serves as a reminder to both patients and medical professionals that rare disorders can easily be overlooked and misdiagnosed. As the medical community continues to broaden its understanding of various illnesses, it is essential to consider all possibilities and persist with thorough testing to ensure accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment plans.