Chronically Yours – a Column by Noura Costany

“It’s completely fine! No big deal,” I find myself muttering again and again as people ask how I’m doing. I laugh off how serious my situation is, quickly changing the subject. But then, at home, I end up staring at the wall and crying myself to sleep. As someone with…

It was 4:30 a.m. when I sat up in bed, eyes wide open. As I looked down at myself, I was filled with embarrassment. Had I just wet the bed? I rushed to the bathroom, feeling more humiliated than anything. I was about 25 weeks pregnant and couldn’t believe this…

“Let’s go around the table and share what we’re thankful for.” It’s the typical question we all hear during Thanksgiving. For me, my answer never changes. I’m incredibly thankful for my partner, who is not only an amazing husband but also a fantastic caregiver. I’m so grateful to have him…

Cushing’s disease has affected my skin for more than five years now. I started noticing skin issues in 2020, and now they’re all starting to reappear. I’ve been off my Cushing’s medications for about seven months because I’m pregnant. The drugs could be dangerous for my baby,…

I’m more than halfway through my pregnancy, which seems to be going incredibly fast. The egg retrieval procedure was last year, and our first embryo transfer was last June. My partner and I were lucky the first transfer worked, and now I’m over 23 weeks pregnant. It’s been an exciting…

I turn 30 in a few months, which has me reflecting on how my life has unfolded. Have I done enough to give back to others? Am I as far along with my career and other ambitions as my peers are? Reflecting helps me outline the things I still want…

I am a big believer in science, and I’m grateful that many vaccinations exist to keep me healthy and safe. But I also tend to have strong reactions to vaccines, partly due to my Cushing’s disease. Cushing’s disease weakens the muscles and thins the skin, which means injections can…