Columns

I usually try to stay hopeful through my Cushing’s disease — so much so that people often comment that they’re amazed I’m still happy and thriving despite all the hardships my condition has caused me. While I’m proud of my ability to overcome those challenges, a lot of those…

Last November, I had a transphenoidal pituitary resection surgery to remove a 3 mm tumor on my pituitary gland, in hopes of placing me in remission from Cushing’s disease. It’s laughable to say that having brain surgery was the easy part of this journey, but getting to the…

It hits me like a ton of bricks every single time. My stomach starts to knot together, I feel myself gagging, and I know that if I so much as breathe wrong, I’ll end up on my knees throwing up everything I’ve eaten in the past 24 hours. The nausea…

Six months have passed since I had transsphenoidal pituitary surgery to remove a 3 mm tumor on my pituitary gland. Since then, I have taken time to reflect on things I’ve learned. Before surgery, I had many expectations about how my Cushing’s disease symptoms might improve afterward. These…

In the past year, as I’ve been dealing with a recurrence of Cushing’s disease, I’ve found myself needing a wheelchair for myriad reasons. My bones are brittle, my muscles are weak, I have vision issues, and I’m at risk of fainting. Furthermore, I have extreme fatigue, which will only…

To those who have a loved one with Cushing’s disease, Welcome. I’m glad you’re here. So a friend or family member has told you that they have Cushing’s. You might be unsure about how to support them, what to say, or how to ask how they’re doing. These are…

I’ve often thought that my chronic illness is a burden on me and everyone else around me. Because of this mindset, I’ve found myself apologizing for it. When my medicine caused me to vomit in front of my in-laws, I was embarrassed. When I hit a low point and…

The internet has proven to be one of the most fundamental tools I have utilized while navigating my Cushing’s disease journey. My body felt off, and I didn’t understand why. In the most traditional fashion, I presented my symptoms to many different doctors, who all brushed me off.

As of this writing, I’m preparing to travel from New York to Michigan to visit my brother. It’s my first time flying in over a year, and I’m a little nervous. Traveling with a chronic illness like Cushing’s disease can be immensely overwhelming, as it’s very different from traveling…

For Cushing’s disease patients with a pituitary tumor, transsphenoidal surgery can help them achieve remission. But as with many other diseases, there’s a chance of recurrence. Surgical remission rates currently range from 65% to 85%, which is a large enough window to cause fear about recurrent…