Columns

How to Cope on Bad Days (Part 1)

Bad days. There are more of them than there are good when it comes to dealing with the chronic issues Cushing’s disease brings. It’s a rollercoaster of mental and physical pain, each day bringing on something new after you thought it just couldn’t possibly get any worse than it already…

What to Do If You Suspect Cushing’s

Since I began my support community, Crush Cushing’s, I’ve gotten a lot of messages from individuals asking what they can do to ensure a doctor takes them seriously enough to test for Cushing’s disease. Sometimes meeting with several endocrinologists is necessary before you meet one who believes Cushing’s is…

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone (Part 2)

Second in a series. Read part one. The day I met my endocrinologist, in June 2016, I showed up prepared with all of my research about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). I was ready to do whatever it took to get better. Within two minutes of our appointment, he asked, “Have you…

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone (Part 1)

First in a series. On Oct. 17, 2014, my legs were covered in hives. It was the day before I was supposed to meet P.K. Subban, a hockey player, in Montreal. Little did I know that this would foreshadow my health’s future. I’m Catarina, and I’m a 24-year-old Cushing’s disease survivor.