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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…

I generally like my health insurance plan, because it covers a lot of what I need. But I have Cushing’s disease, which is complex and can lead to complications with my insurance coverage. Here’s a recent example: Step one: I had a regular checkup with my OB-GYN. Because I…

I’m currently about halfway through my pregnancy, which is an amazing and exciting feat. To ensure the baby’s safety, I am currently off most of my medications for Cushing’s disease. I am currently taking the following medications and supplements: Synthroid (levothyroxine) Prenatal vitamins Vitamin D Iron Vitamin…

Working out with Cushing’s disease can be incredibly tough. I have weak bones and nonexistent muscles, and starting any new workout routine is intimidating. I’ve tried lifting, Pilates, yoga, running (the worst for my body), and even spin classes. When I was living in New York City,…

I’m terrible at asking for help. It’s important to me to prove that I can handle anything, despite my disability with Cushing’s disease. I have high expectations for myself and big goals I’m striving to achieve, and I don’t want to rely on anyone else to reach them. But…

My pregnancy is both high risk and low risk, which can be a bit confusing to explain. Because of my Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome, my partner and I decided to pursue in vitro fertilization (IVF). I’m currently 16 weeks pregnant, and while my pregnancy has been going…

Recently, an image depicting a “disability hierarchy” has gone viral on social media, sparking controversy within the disability community. The pyramid has three levels that seem to indicate the severity of one’s disability: Wheelchair users are at the top, people with limb differences and other visible disabilities are in…

I have Cushing’s disease, so I always travel with a mask. That’s because whenever I’ve gotten sick with something like COVID-19 or norovirus, it’s taken me out for weeks and posed great risk to my health. Even a common cold has landed me in bed for several days. That…

I’ve previously written about the spoon theory, which posits that different tasks require a certain amount of energy, or number of “spoons,” to complete. Those of us with chronic illness have a limited number of spoons each day, and tasks cost us more spoons than they cost a healthy…