I have Cushing’s syndrome—what should I ask my doctor?

People who are diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome should find out all they can about their treatment and what they can expect from it.

Following are some helpful questions to ask the doctor.

About treatment

• Can my Cushing’s syndrome be cured?
• What type of treatment do you recommend for me?
• How effective is this treatment?
• What do I need to know before starting this treatment? For example, are there any special instructions?

If treatment is surgery

• How should I prepare for surgery?
• Will I need to take any medicine before and/or after surgery?
• How long will I be in the hospital?
• How long will I take to recover?
• Are there any special instructions for me during my recovery period?

About treatment side effects

• What are possible side effects of my treatment?
• If I have side effects, what can I do to handle them?

About follow-up visits with the doctor

• How often do I need to visit you?
• What will you check during these visits, and what kinds of tests will you do?
• Is there anything I need to do to prepare for my appointments?

About treatment results

• How will we know if my treatment is working?
• When can I expect to start seeing and feeling results?
• If my treatment is effective, how will that affect my other conditions that are caused by Cushing’s syndrome (for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis)?
• If my treatment doesn’t work, or if my Cushing’s comes back, what is the next step?
• Are there any medicines being studied for Cushing’s syndrome that I can try if my treatment doesn’t work?

 

Good communication between the patient and the doctor can be very important to help achieve treatment goals for Cushing’s syndrome. Click here for more information.

 

Next, read some lifestyle and nutrition tips for people with Cushing’s syndrome.