The challenges of managing Cushing’s disease during the postpartum period
Various complications have made the past few weeks difficult
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I’m six weeks postpartum and have so much to reflect on. My water broke at 25 weeks, and I gave birth to my daughter at 27.5 weeks. The birth involved a lot of complications, including preeclampsia, a full placental abruption, an infection, and a loss of oxygen. All of that, combined with my Cushing’s disease, has made for an interesting postpartum period.
I had a cesarean section, so moving was difficult for me at first. Usually, I swim for exercise and to strengthen my muscles, but I was told to wait six weeks after my C-section to submerge my body in water. This means no pools, no oceans, and, sadly, no baths. I also can’t pick up anything heavier than a gallon of milk, and I need to monitor and clean the incision site. Luckily, despite the infection I experienced during the birth, the incision site is not infected.
Now, I have to manage both postpartum and the pituitary hormone imbalances of Cushing’s disease in a way that won’t affect my baby. I met with a lactation consultant, who said I could take all of my Cushing’s medications while pumping and breastfeeding. My doctors confirmed this two weeks after the birth, and so I went back on my meds, which I had discontinued during pregnancy. I’ve been slowly increasing my dosages to return to my usual levels, but it’s taking some time for my body to adjust.
Imbalanced
In recent weeks, I’ve been experiencing some health issues that may be related to the hormone imbalances caused by Cushing’s. First, I become sad and nauseous when pumping, which completely sucks. I also have dry skin — a common issue during the winter that has been exacerbated by my hormones and restarting my medications. While dry skin might sound like a minor concern, I’m talking so dry that I bleed, and it happens in inconvenient spots, such as the side of my mouth.
I haven’t gotten my period since the birth, and I’m not sure when I will. When I was off my medication, I only ever had my period when it was induced. For now, I’m just taking it day by day.
Life in the NICU
Because my daughter was born early, she has had to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. She’s now at 33 weeks of gestation, and I’m mostly living in the hospital. It can be tough to manage Cushing’s symptoms amid all this. I’m experiencing insomnia, fatigue, skin problems, and eyesight issues, all while trying to pump, take care of my daughter, work, and care for my mental health. (Spoiler alert: I’m only barely managing.)
My husband and I have made the tough decision to go home at night. We sleep, take showers, and return in the morning. Staying in the NICU 24/7 wasn’t healthy for us, as the sleepless nights made me extremely fatigued and sick. We might need to stay at the hospital overnight once our daughter no longer has a feeding tube, but for now, we are trying to get some sleep and maintain our mental health so we can be better parents.
Managing Cushing’s disease during the postpartum period is difficult because both affect the hormones. Our days involve a lot of anger, love, and trying our best, and we can’t wait until our daughter can come home.
You can also follow my journey on TikTok and YouTube.
Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s.
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