Where to Start?

There is a lot to tell and a lot to explain.

Also, I'll probably say this a million times, but I am not a doctor, and this website is not providing medical advice. I am a patient who has been researching relentlessly to development a more effective way of recovering from Endogenous Cushing Syndrome. I have affiliate links and referral codes for products that have personally helped me in the process. See full disclosure statements in the footer.

For my first post, I am going to share the framework and explain how I am going to structure this website. (Hopeless Type A.)

Also, you should know, I like analogies and I love football.

Let's jump in. In 4th grade, we had to teach the class about something we loved. Immediately choosing football, I borrowed my cousin's helmet, included my football, and filled a posterboard with all of the rules, positions, coaches, etc. Around that time too, I was adamant that I would be on Penn State's football team (my mom's alma mater), and coined my moto, "Steffi Matour, Punter Galore". My cousin still reminds me of this (often), and needless to say, the dream didn't materialize. However, the football passion stayed strong. And through this journey, aligning my experiences with a football game has been therapeutic.

Because - I am incredibly competitive & this is a game I am going to win.

I will get to the details of preseason,1st, and 2nd quarters in later posts with 'long read' warnings.

In preseason I didn't know it was preseason, but the signs were there, in hindsight.

In the 1st quarter, I tried to do everything right, but I was way out of my league. "You don't know, what you don't know" and I didn't know a lot. I made mistakes - ones that seem so obvious now (but they always are, right)?

In the 2nd quarter, I went through the ringer. It seemed like everything was going against me and I was making more sloppy mistakes and utilizing the wrong resources. As a punter, I was being trained by the special teams coach (endocrinologist). But think about it like this - the special teams coach had experience training the kicker, not the punter and I didn't know it...until I did. As soon as I realized it, I did my research to find a doctor that specialized in punter training (ECS). I had the right coach in place, but what I'd soon learn is that you can't protect yourself from exogenous attacks (and neither do the coaches). Say, for example, someone shows up to the game with a gun; spots the punter, targets and shoots. In the second quarter, I was shot twice (adrenal crisis), and while there were timeouts and I went to the medical tent, they didn't suffice. Despite it all, I survived to halftime.

Halftime is for taking a much-needed pause. If you watched the Texas A&M vs. South Carolina football game last weekend (11/15), you know what I am talking about. During halftime, you take everything you learned from the first and second quarters and you make changes. "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result." Halftime is for breaking that cycle. It's about the rest and it's about taking the lessons and moving forward - rested, stronger, and equipped more with knowledge.

I am now in halftime. Resting, processing, studying, learning, and putting myself in the best state I can be as I go into the 3rd quarter.

In the words of Snoop Dogg, I would like to thank me.

Note: don't worry, I have many others I need to thank too. That'll come as I tell my story.

What's to come:

Topic	Details
Finding the Right Providers & Advocating for Yourself	Guidance on obtaining appropriate medical care when feeling unwell (for any condition)
How a Healthy HPA Axis, Vagus Nerve & Circadian Rhythm Work	Baseline physiology before dysfunction
Understanding & Diagnosing Endogenous Cushing Syndrome	Clinical signs, symptoms, and diagnostic criteria
Pregnancy While Living with Undiagnosed Cushing Syndrome	Experiences and medical implications
The Full Impact of Endogenous Cushing Syndrome	Physical, emotional, metabolic, and long-term effects
Adrenalectomy: Surgery, Recovery & What to Expect	Pre-operative considerations, post-operative course
Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency & Adrenal Crisis	Understanding low cortisol and the recovery process
Personal Recovery Plans & Active Healing Approaches	Tapering strategies, routines, mindset, and long-term stabilization
Resources: Guides, Tools & Support	Educational materials, trackers, organizations, and reputable sources