Columns

In the midst of my disease, I felt very alone. Invisible diseases like Cushing’s tend to make life harder, because one shows no outward signs of an illness. Those who haven’t been through something similar may have a hard time relating to the hardships. Therefore, I believe being friends with…

There’s more to people than meets the eye, although the first thing we often notice about someone is how large or small they are. When I was younger, I was always thin and in shape. I never had to try to maintain my weight, and well into college, I still…

Thinking back over the last few years following my recovery from Cushing’s disease, I still deal with some painful thoughts. To help process those thoughts, I wrote a letter to the person I was before my recovery, from the perspective of the person I currently am. In it,…

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…