Question about my daughter
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Question about my daughter
| Sat, 06-24-2006 - 11:35pm |
Hello,
My name is Kathy, I live in Iowa I have a 16 year old daughter with down syndrome, I noticed that she has stretch marks on her upper legs and thigh area and also on her upper breast area. I took her to the doctor today for an ear infection and I ask her about these stretch marks, she told me that it was from her thyroid and she told me what to look under, I went to Mayo Clinic website and found the word but what it come up with is "cushing sydrome", I was wondering if anyone on here has this syndrome with there thyroid problem and should I get her back to the doctor and have them look into if she has this?
Thank you,
Kathy Z

Hi bk, here is what I found:
Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Sometimes called "hypercortisolism," it is relatively rare and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50. An estimated 10 to 15 of every million people are affected each year.
Symptoms vary, but most people have upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning arms and legs. Children tend to be obese with slowed growth rates.
Other symptoms appear in the skin, which becomes fragile and thin. It bruises easily and heals poorly. Purplish pink stretch marks may appear on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms and breasts. The bones are weakened, and routine activities such as bending, lifting or rising from a chair may lead to backaches, rib and spinal column fractures.
Most people have severe fatigue, weak muscles, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Irritability, anxiety and depression are common.
Women usually have excess hair growth on their faces, necks, chests, abdomens, and thighs. Their menstrual periods may become irregular or stop. Men have decreased fertility with diminished or absent desire for sex.
Hi Kathy,
Welcome to our board.
Thank you very much for the information both of you, I really appreciate all the help, I did get a call from my doctor today, she took a pill at 11:00 CST and will have blood work done at exactly 8:00 in the morning and then we will go from there, I will let you know what we find out and what were gonna do if she does have it.
Thanks a bunch,
Kathy