Columns

When I hear the word “trauma,” I think about car accidents, fires, military deployments, and abuse. I think of movies with sad music and loud explosions, not the quiet hours at night trying to fall asleep despite the pain. Trauma has affected my mental health in a major way, but…

During the years I dealt with Cushing’s disease symptoms, I increasingly became unlike myself. Before that, although I had always been shy, I usually felt comfortable around my closest friends and family. While I generally had been a quiet person, I also was bubbly at times, and I was…

I started developing Cushing’s syndrome at a very young age, though I wasn’t diagnosed until age 22. My doctor believes the tumor in my adrenal gland began growing when I was a child. I had common Cushing’s symptoms when I was 10, but no weight gain. I’ve…

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…