Chronically Yours – a Column by Noura Costany

My husband and I figured out a while ago that we can’t live in New York City forever. As much as I adore this city, my illness and disability make it impossible for me to take the subway, which is a major travel limitation. On top of that, the city…

When I was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, I felt completely alone, like I was on an island surrounded by raging waves I couldn’t possibly swim through. In response, I built a community of understanding people, via this column and on social media, as well as by meeting up with…

My white blood cell count was high during my first tumor with Cushing’s disease, back in 2020. Now, with my second tumor, it’s happening all over again. For that reason, I’ve added a hematologist to my doctor rotation to make sure there isn’t any cancer and that Cushing’s is…

I have Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), both of which cause fertility issues. With Cushing’s, my periods stopped entirely and my hormones are obviously completely messed up. With PCOS, I had cysts and calcified fibroids on my ovaries. I was told I had a chance to…

I’ve been open about my current journey with in vitro fertilization (IVF). A few months ago, my husband and I went through the first part of it, freezing our embryos, and now we’re at the beginning stages of an embryo transfer. I, somewhat naively, thought that was going to…

I turned 29 last week, and for the first time, I no longer feel like I’m waiting for life to happen. In the past, Cushing’s disease took over every aspect of my life. I was diagnosed in 2020, though I’d been experiencing symptoms for years. After undergoing…

Cushing’s disease takes a toll on the body, sometimes including osteoporosis and bone loss. People often forget that those symptoms might mean that teeth are affected. Unfortunately for me, my teeth have lost some calcium, which caused dental issues. My dentist pointed out that when parts of teeth are…

Nobody likes getting MRIs. You’re shoved into a giant clanging machine where you’re supposed to remain completely still. I go through this nightmare every six months to check on my pituitary tumor. After I was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, I had surgery in 2020 to remove my first tumor.

I’ve had a lot of awkward interactions recently. I’ve made some new friends and reconnected with old ones, yet I never know when to bring up where my Cushing’s disease is at. Is it strange if I tell them? Is it weird if I keep it to myself? Am…

I’m a huge anime fan. It’s one of the only things that pulls me up when I’m feeling especially down. I recently started watching a new anime show called “A Sign of Affection.” I was hesitant to watch it at first because the main character, Yuki, is deaf,…