Columns

I’ve always been an anxious girl. I had friends growing up, but I tended to stick close to my parents and spend time with adults rather than meeting kids my age. Over the years, my anxiety worsened, and I developed depression, too. But despite my challenges, I achieved good grades…

The hardest part about my Cushing’s disease journey has been recognizing its effect on my mental health. Prior to diagnosis, life was confusing. I didn’t know why I was feeling the way I did. My symptoms were so gradual that when I told friends and family I was feeling…

No matter what part of the Cushing’s journey you are on, self-care is extremely important. I have put together a list of reminders that helped me cope with Cushing’s disease. Even though I have recovered from Cushing’s, I only have one adrenal gland, so I often get tired if…

Welcome to Vanessa Nguyen’s “My Pretty Ugly Disease,” a new Cushing’s Disease News column. If you look at me today, you would not know I was once a Cushing’s disease patient. The happy-go-lucky person I am now was once anxious and depressed, had acne and panic attacks, and wore a…

Hey, everyone! If you’re a post-operation Cushie, you know that the unknowns throughout recovery are plentiful. Are you feeling poorly because you’re about to go into adrenal insufficiency? Is whatever you’re feeling just a normal part of recovery? How long should you be feeling poorly? I get…

Two weeks ago, I ended my column by discussing the cold I got during my Portugal vacation in summer 2017 when I was six or seven months post-operation. Let’s continue that story. Many pharmacists and doctors in Portugal aren’t fully aware of Cushing’s disease, so I…

Welcome to the end of another week! For those of you who live in the U.S. had Thanksgiving last week, I hope you were able to spend time with your families, friends, and other loved ones while being thankful for everything you do have. In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving…

Hello, everyone! This week, I want to touch upon a topic I’m frequently asked about: my recovery. I want to start by making something clear: Cushing’s disease recovery is different for everyone. My recovery differs from those of my two friends, and mine is different from yours.

Hey, everyone! This week, I want to touch upon something that many Cushing’s patients deal with: others telling us how we should feel. While some people mean well, others get annoyed with us and think we’re overreacting. These interactions can be incredibly stressful, so I want to help…

Hey, everyone! This week, I want to get a little more personal. Many readers have asked how I dealt with Cushing’s disease. So, I want to share that part of my story with you. Me in 2014. (Photo by Catarina Louro-Matos) In some ways, dealing with Cushing’s…