Chronically Yours – a Column by Noura Costany

“How are you feeling?” “Me? Oh, a bit better.” During the holiday season, I have a version of this conversation repeatedly. My family and friends have seen me at my worst, bedridden and throwing up, completely unable to function. Life with Cushing’s disease often feels like a roller coaster:…

Slow-healing wounds are one of the Cushing’s disease symptoms that most annoy me. In the time that a regular person heals from a wound, my healing journey has barely scratched the surface. For example, I have an infected ingrown toenail that I’ve been warding off for two months and…

Cushing’s disease can exacerbate any stress I have. It can get overwhelming, especially when it seems to be piling on — as happened during the recent election season. Many people with Cushing’s experience something like post-traumatic stress disorder before pituitary surgery because their anxiety is just too…

Halloween was just the start of the holiday season. I’m now looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, as well as my wedding anniversary and several birthdays. While I adore this time of year, it comes with challenges. Not only are the holidays expensive, but all of the commitments…

Because of major muscle and bone issues caused by my Cushing’s disease, I’ve been an ambulatory wheelchair user, which means I can sometimes move independently but use my wheelchair when I feel I need it. Through treatment, though, my muscles and bones have slowly strengthened, so I’ve been…

Getting diagnosed with Cushing’s disease in 2020 changed my life — and my career path. I’d been out of college for only a year when I became sick and had to quit my job. I could barely get out of bed, let alone work or study. It was impossible to…

Some of the most difficult symptoms I deal with from chronic illness are vision problems. It’s something I haven’t talked about publicly before. Four years ago, around the time I was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, I was also diagnosed with visual snow syndrome, a condition that’s exactly…

In early October, I traveled alone for the first time in a while. Usually I travel with friends, family, or my partner, but this time, I was visiting a friend in Colorado on my own. I packed…

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of community. I adore my friends and family, and I’m so grateful for all their help and support. I didn’t spend my entire life sick, but became ill with Cushing’s disease at the age of 18. I never got better. It’s been almost…

There’s a popular trend on TikTok right now called the “everything shower.” This is basically a long shower routine that involves, well, everything — shaving, exfoliating, washing your hair and skin, and all that jazz. I’d never heard of the term before a few weeks ago, and while…