Columns

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…

Hey, everyone! In last week’s column, I wrote a list of things that ease post-surgery anxieties. The aftermath of Cushing’s causes intense anxiety, and some of us develop new phobias. This is absolutely normal behavior when coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can develop from fighting a life-altering…

Hey, everyone! Hope this week was a good one for all of you. In this column, I want to touch on the subject of post-surgery anxieties and how to cope with them. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following Cushing’s disease is a real issue many of us face.

Hey, everyone! Let’s discuss the huge misconception that survivors only get better and better with each day after surgery. I’m about to drop a huge truth bomb on you: You’re going to have hellish days. Sorry for being blunt, but a realistic attitude is best. If you believe you’re…