Chronically Yours – a Column by Noura Costany

Much of my journey with Cushing’s disease has involved sharing my treatment options and choices with others in the community. This is largely because I had so much difficulty deciding on a treatment path. Thoughts swirled in my mind constantly. What if I chose the wrong option…

I’m not sure if this is a universal sentiment in the chronically ill community, but it seems like every time I have a doctor appointment, it consumes my entire day. I’ll sit at the computer, waiting for the virtual appointment to start, knowing that it won’t come for several more…

Cortisol: It’s one of the hormones involved in the body’s fight-or-flight response. Feeling anxious about a test? You might be able to thank cortisol for that. Think everyone hates you? Perhaps it’s cortisol. Most people don’t know that cortisol can also make you depressed, like on those…

I remember the day I realized something was wrong with me. Until that point, I’d been able to explain away my symptoms. Buffalo hump on my back? Bad posture. Periods stopped? I’d been stressed out. Acne? It happens! Then I gained 70 pounds in a month and a half.