Robin Smith (staticnrg) submitted 'Paying It Forward in the Digital Age: Patient Empowerment 2.0 Using Web 2.0'
Robin (staticnrg) submitted an abstract to Medicine 2.0. Medicine 2.0 is the annual open, international conference on Web 2.0 applications in health and medicine, also known as the World Congress on Social Networking and Web 2.0 Applications in Medicine, Health, Health Care, and Biomedical Research.
This conference distinguishes itself from "Health 2.0" tradeshows by having an academic form and focus, with an open call for presentations, published proceedings and peer-reviewed abstracts (although there is also a non-peer reviewed practice and business track), and being the only conference in this field which has a global perspective and an international audience (last year there were participants from 18 countries).
An academic approach to the topic also means that we aim to look "beyond the health 2.0 hype", trying to identify the evidence on what works and what doesn't, and have open and honest discussions.
This year's conference will be held in Toronto, Canada and will be attended by

Academics (health professionals, social scientists, computer scientists, engineers)
Software and Web 2.0 application developers
Consultants, vendors, venture capitalists, business leaders, CIOs
End-users (health professionals, consumers, payors)

Robin's abstract was submitted and accepted! WooHoo!
'Paying It Forward in the Digital Age: Patient Empowerment 2.0 Using Web 2.0'
An online community is usually defined by one or two things. These come from blogs, websites, forums, newsletters, and more. The emphasis is typically either totally support or education. But sometimes all of these meet. The Cushing’s community, bonded by the lack of education in the medical community and the necessity or self-education has become a community of all of these things.
Mary O’Connor, the founder and owner of the Cushings’ Help website and message boards started with one goal in mind. She wanted to educate others about the awful disease that took doctors years to diagnose and treat in her life. Armed only with information garned from her public library and a magazine article, she self-diagnosed in the days prior to the availability of the internet.
Mary’s hard work and dream have paid off. Others, with the same illness, the same frustrations, and the same non-diagnosis/treatment have been led by MaryO (as she’s lovingly called) to work with her to support, educate, and share.
The Cushing’s Help website soon led to a simple message board which then led to a larger one, and a larger. The site has numerous helpful webpages chock full of information. The members of this community have made a decision to increase awareness of the disease, the research that is ongoing with the disease, the doctors who understand it, and the lack of information about it in the medical field.
From this hub have come multiple Web 2.0 spokes. Many members have blogs, there is a non-profit corporation to continue the programs, a BlogTalkRadio show with shows almost every week, thousands of listeners to podcasts produced from the shows, twitter groups, facebook groups, twines, friendfeeds, newsletters, websites, chat groups and much, much more. The power of Web 2.0 is exponential, and it is making a huge difference in the lives of patients all over the world. It is Empowerment 2.0.
One patient said it well when she said, “Until this all began I was a hairstylist/soccer mom with a high school education. It’s been a learning curve. I am done with doctors who speak to me as if they know all; I know better now.” And she knows better because she’s part of our community. All patients need this type of community.
On the Message Boards

'Paying It Forward in the Digital Age: Patient Empowerment 2.0 Using Web 2.0'

New and Updated Helpful Doctors
• Stephanie Shaw, M.D. (Round Rock, TX)
• Todd Darmondy, M.D. (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
• Adam Maass, M.D. (Rogers, AR)
• Andrew D. Scrogin, MD, (Macomb, MI)
Daniel Kelly, MD (Santa Monica, CA)

• Leamington Spa, UK
• Toronto, Canada
• Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Hamburg, Germany
• Lucknow, India

New and Updated Helpful Doctors

New and Updated Bios
Please note that new and updated bios submitted after July 7 have not yet been formatted for the site. They are being done in turn and will show up here in the next few days. Add or Update your bio here
Names in parens are user names on the message boards

New Bio July 6, 2009
Shon (Shon) is from El Reno, Oklahoma. Two months before her 31st birthday, she was diagnosed with diabetes. She has many Cushing's symptoms and will test for Cushing's in early August.
New Bio July 2, 2009
Shirley (Shirley) is from Tauranga, New Zealand. She has pituitary surgery in August 2008 after years of illness, weight gain, depression, etc. She is off all meds bus is still tired and sore.
Updated Bio July 2, 2009
Cynthia (cmo) is from San Francisco, CA. She updated her bio in May 2009 after an MRI showed a pituitary tumor. She was finally diagnosed with ACTH Dependent Cyclical Cushing's after all these years of problems. Her Endo is looking at MEN1 also. This bio includes pictures.
New Bio July 1, 2009
Amber (AmberP) is from Martinsburg, West Virginia. Several doctors have told her that she most likely has Cushing's but after testing say she has PCOS. She has taken meds for PCOS and doesn't feel any better so she is still testing for Cushing's. She has has many symptoms for at least 15 years.
New Bio June 29, 2009
Dina (Dina G) is from Newington, Connecticut. She was diagnosed with Cushing's in November 2008 and just had pituitary tumor removed on June 3rd 2009. She is weaning off steroids now.
New Bio June 29, 2009
Melissa (Melissa G) is from Evans, New York. She is not yet diagnosed with Cushing's but has many symptoms. She has an appointment with an endocrinologist on July 29 and she is undergoing more testing.
New Bio June 29, 2009
Angela (AngelaK) is from Howell, Michigan. She had gastric bypass surgery in December 2006. As more symptoms showed up her PCP treated them individually. A recent MRI shows a pituitary tumor and she is consultation with a neurosurgeon at the University of Michigan who only does pituitary operations (2000+).
New Bio June 28, 2009
Aly (Aly H) is from Poughquag, New York. She has been dealing with Cushing's for the past 4 years and has seen at least 10 different doctors. She recently had her Petrosal Sinus Sampling and hopes to have pituitary surgery soon.
New Bio June 27, 2009
Katie is from St Augustine, Florida. She is not yet diagnosed with Cushing's but has many symptoms. her cortisol level is elevated and she is undergoing more testing.
New Bio June 26, 2009
Beth (bounceback01) is from Lexington, Kentucky. She is not yet diagnosed but her endo is pretty sure she has Cushing's and they're discussion treatment options.
New Bio June 24, 2009
Robert (Robert) is from Portland, Oregon. He had pituitary surgery about 18 months ago and his symptoms are returning. He is not happy about starting testing again.
New Bio June 22, 2009
Leah (cushiemom4) is from Goodlettsville, Tennessee. She had adrenal surgery August 8, 2009 and is now pregnant. She was diagnosed partly due to Mystery Diagnosis.

New and Updated Bios

Our own Robin Submitted this Abstract

0 comments

Robin (staticnrg) submitted an abstract to Medicine 2.0. Medicine 2.0 is the annual open, international conference on Web 2.0 applications in health and medicine, also known as the World Congress on Social Networking and Web 2.0 Applications in Medicine, Health, Health Care, and Biomedical Research.

This conference distinguishes itself from "Health 2.0" tradeshows by having an academic form and focus, with an open call for presentations, published proceedings and peer-reviewed abstracts (although there is also a non-peer reviewed practice and business track), and being the only conference in this field which has a global perspective and an international audience (last year there were participants from 18 countries).

An academic approach to the topic also means that we aim to look "beyond the health 2.0 hype", trying to identify the evidence on what works and what doesn't, and have open and honest discussions.

This year's conference will be held in Toronto, Canada and will be attended by

Academics (health professionals, social scientists, computer scientists, engineers)
Software and Web 2.0 application developers
Consultants, vendors, venture capitalists, business leaders, CIOs
End-users (health professionals, consumers, payors)

Robin's abstract was submitted and accepted! WooHoo!

'Paying It Forward in the Digital Age: Patient Empowerment 2.0 Using Web 2.0'

An online community is usually defined by one or two things. These come from blogs, websites, forums, newsletters, and more. The emphasis is typically either totally support or education. But sometimes all of these meet. The Cushing’s community, bonded by the lack of education in the medical community and the necessity or self-education has become a community of all of these things.

Mary O’Connor, the founder and owner of the Cushings’ Help website and message boards started with one goal in mind. She wanted to educate others about the awful disease that took doctors years to diagnose and treat in her life. Armed only with information garned from her public library and a magazine article, she self-diagnosed in the days prior to the availability of the internet.

Mary’s hard work and dream have paid off. Others, with the same illness, the same frustrations, and the same non-diagnosis/treatment have been led by MaryO (as she’s lovingly called) to work with her to support, educate, and share.

The Cushing’s Help website soon led to a simple message board which then led to a larger one, and a larger. The site has numerous helpful webpages chock full of information. The members of this community have made a decision to increase awareness of the disease, the research that is ongoing with the disease, the doctors who understand it, and the lack of information about it in the medical field.

From this hub have come multiple Web 2.0 spokes. Many members have blogs, there is a non-profit corporation to continue the programs, a BlogTalkRadio show with shows almost every week, thousands of listeners to podcasts produced from the shows, twitter groups, facebook groups, twines, friendfeeds, newsletters, websites, chat groups and much, much more. The power of Web 2.0 is exponential, and it is making a huge difference in the lives of patients all over the world. It is Empowerment 2.0.

One patient said it well when she said, “Until this all began I was a hairstylist/soccer mom with a high school education. It’s been a learning curve. I am done with doctors who speak to me as if they know all; I know better now.” And she knows better because she’s part of our community. All patients need this type of community.

On the Message Boards

Upcoming Cushing's Book

0 comments

This project was started in June 2008 and put on hold due to several "life issues", one of them being the enormous amount of time it takes to apply for non-profit status.

Here are some of the thoughts and ideas that will be in the book when finished, hopefully by December 2009.

MaryO: some people have articles on the website like http://www.cushings-help.com/helpful_hints.htm and these:

On the website here

Discuss here at http://cushings.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=32996

May 20, 2009 Cushing's Help and Support Newsletter

0 comments

In This Issue

Welcome to the latest Cushing's Newsletter!

Cushing's on Facebook and Twitter

Media: Follow up to last week

Want to Volunteer?

Robin writes: Adult Onset Growth Hormone Deficiency: Phenotype and Benefits of Treatment

Video: Cushing Syndrome

Clinical Trials

Help Keep The Cushing's Sites Going

The Endocrine System

Endo News: Diagnosing Cushing’s syndrome

Endo News: Cushing’s syndrome (Hypercortisolism) from NLE Review Bullets

Endo News: Back Pain and Cushing's

Endo News: Pituitary-directed medical treatment of Cushing’s disease

Endo News: About Cushing's from OHSU

Endo News: Untreated Growth Hormone Deficiency Contributes to the Phenotype of Patients With History of Cushing's Disease

Robin writes...

New and Updated Bios
New Bio May 16, 2009
Melanie (Melanie W) is from Oklahoma. She has many Cushing's symptoms and has been diagnosed with PCOS and mild hypothyroidism so far.
New Bio May 15, 2009
Shirley (SBett) is from Ronan, Montana. After 6 years her doctor finally found a pituitary tumor on an MRI. She is testing and has high cortisol and growth hormone.
New Bio May 13, 2009
Jodi (Jodi) is from Rochester, Michigan. She had surgery to remove half her pituitary. She is now having issues with adrenal insufficiency.
New Bio May 12, 2009
angelp (angelp) is from London, England. She had her first pituitary surgery in January 2009 and a second in March 2009. She will have an adrenalectomy and radiotherapy to remove the rest of her pituitary tumor.
New Bio May 11, 2009
Sue (Sue) is from Lombard, Illinois. She has many Cushing's symptoms and her cortisol levels are very high but the source of her Cushing's hasn't been found yet.
New Bio May 10, 2009
Kate (kate22) is from Richmond, Virginia. She is not yet diagnosed with Cushing's but she is testing. She has many Cushing's symptoms.
New Bio May 10, 2009
Angie (dermpat) is from Melbourne, Australia. She is not yet diagnosed with Cushing's but is testing for cyclic Cushing's.
New Bio May 10, 2009
Vanessa is from Phoenix, Arizona. She has recently been diagnosed with a pituitary tumor and is looking for an endo.
New Bio May 10, 2009
Rachael (RachaelB) is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She was recently diagnosed with Cushing's and will be having her pituitary tumor removed in August.
New Bio May 4, 2009
Shiloh (Shiloh) is from Fort Collins, Colorado. She is not formally diagnosed. She is trying to manage her symptoms with healthy eating, massage and acupuncture.
New Bio May 3, 2009
Luisa (Luisa) is from Knoxville, Tennessee. She was originally misdiagnosed with PCOS and is testing for Cushing's currently.
New Bio May 1, 2009
Song is temporarily outside of U.S.A. She is not yet diagnosed. Someone at a party saw her buffalo hump and asked is she knew about Cushing's. Her own research says she might have this and testing shows elevated cortisol.
New Bio May 1, 2009
Alisha (gbsawyer) is from Kirksville, Missouri. She is not yet diagnosed but has many symptoms and is seeing a new endo.
New Bio April 30, 2009
Lulu is from Corona, California. She had transnasal surgery 10/2007 and stereotactic surgery 8/2008. Both surgeries have failed. She tried Ketoconozole for a month and ended up in the hospital because the medication was affecting her liver. She is currently doing nothing for her Cushing's.
New Bio April 29, 2009
Melissa (meltizzle) is from Santa Fe Springs, California. She was recently diagnosed with Cushing's and thinks she had it since 2007.
New Bio April 29, 2009
Aly is from Arizona. She has had diabetes for 18 years and is a brand new mom. About two years ago she started getting Cushing's symptoms and is scheduling adrenal surgery.
New Bio April 27, 2009
Patty (pattycakes) is from Cincinnati, Ohio. She has many Cushing's symptoms but doctors are calling her pituitary tumor a Rathke Cleft cyst so she is still trying to get answers.
New Bio April 24, 2009
McCall (McKenzie) is from Fairfax, Virginia. She was diagnosed with central adrenal insufficiency after an ITT (Insulin Tolerance Test) and is taking 15mg of Hydrocortisone a day for the ACTH replacement therapy. She is wondering if it is possible to have both adrenal insufficiency AND Cushing's.
New Bio April 22, 2009
Kirsty (kirstymnz) is from Hamilton, New Zealand. Her doctors couldn't find the source of her ectopic Cushing's. She had a lung nodule but removal didn't help so she had a BLA (bilateral adrenalectomy).
New Bio April 22, 2009
Jeff (akflier) is from Palmer, Alaska. He was diagnosed with pituitary Cushing's in July 2008 and had surgery in August 2008.

New and Updated Bios

Third Anniversary of My Kidney Cancer Surgery

0 comments

I know that this isn't about Cushing's but I feel that my kidney cancer "counts" as a chronic disease.

The beginning recap is here: http://cushingshelp.blogspot.com/2009/05/third-anniversary-of-my-kidney-cancer.html

So, here we are 3 years later...

I find it amazing in a way. The time seems to feel like more than 3 years. Yet, had I been told I had 3 years to live back then, I would have seemed like a short time. Amazing, the tricks that time can play.

I wish I could say that I feel wonderful now but I can't. My energy levels are still so low and my temporary part-time job isn't helping.

Because the one adrenal gland I have isn't working and the other is gone, I'm still taking cortisol, although much less than my endo wants me to take. If I take more, I start gaining weight again.

I'm feeling almost Cushie - when I'm home I'm sleeping but sometimes I's awake during the night, too.

I'm also eating more than normal, I think. Not meals, but snacks, junky stuff.

Trisha Torrey wrote in her blog about Patient Empowerment a post titled An Ethical Conundrum - Should I Share This Information? One of her questions was "How many patients, when given the choice between quality of life vs quantity of life, would choose quality anyway?"

Part of my response was "I want as much information as possible about my diseases and I want to be able to decide what do with that information...

I would much rather have a better quality of life than a longer one."

And it's true for me, today. What is the point of hanging around for 20 or so more years if they're just spent sleeping?

True, I'm not in pain or anything but shouldn't there be more? Am I just here to help other Cushing's patients? I think I have enough started that future folks can help themselves.

I often see studies and clinical trials for Cushies and various drug options. And the cut-off date is always younger than I am. Does this mean that possible future treatments wouldn't work for me? Am I now too old to deserve a better quality of life? What's the deal with that?

I know there are no answers to all this. Maybe in my lifetime someone will come up with some answers to all this and I'll be out doing stuff. I sure hope so!

But now it's time for a nap...

Herding Zebras

Categories

In Memory

Fave me

Disclaimer

Blog Archive

Cushing's Help Newsletter, September 16, 2009

Current Cushing's Newsletter, July 29, 2009

Current Cushing's Newsletter, July 8, 2009

Our own Robin Submitted this Abstract

Upcoming Cushing's Book

May 20, 2009 Cushing's Help and Support Newsletter

Third Anniversary of My Kidney Cancer Surgery

.

Herding Zebras

Categories

In Memory

Subscribe To

Fave me

Disclaimer

Blog Archive

Cushing's Help Newsletter, September 16, 2009

Current Cushing's Newsletter, July 29, 2009

Current Cushing's Newsletter, July 8, 2009

Our own Robin Submitted this Abstract

Upcoming Cushing's Book

May 20, 2009 Cushing's Help and Support Newsletter

Third Anniversary of My Kidney Cancer Surgery

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