Columns

News outlets have been abuzz over actress and comedian Amy Schumer’s recent announcement that she has Cushing’s syndrome, a disorder characterized by excess cortisol production. I was surprised to see the headlines and so many people commenting on the illness. As someone with Cushing’s disease — a…

Cushing’s disease has, over time, made me a very stressed-out individual. That’s no surprise, considering that Cushing’s raises levels of cortisol, which is the stress hormone. More stress creates more cortisol. And when my cortisol rises and I get the test results, that stresses me out, too.

Because of my Cushing’s disease diagnosis, I’ve often felt like a burden to my friends. Hangouts became long sessions of talking about my illness. My responses to “how are you?” went from “good” to “bad,” and eventually, I was no longer able to attend any events or gatherings. The…

Cushing’s disease can be hard to diagnose. But without treatment, the disease can progress rapidly, leading to osteoporosis, bone density issues, muscle deterioration, and more. That’s exactly what happened to me. It took me two years to get diagnosed after the symptom onset with my…

It took me two years to get diagnosed with Cushing’s disease. I suffered as I moved from doctor to doctor, begging them to figure out what was wrong with me. I was tested for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, thyroid issues, and cervical cancer.

My body has changed so much over the past few years due to both Cushing’s disease and its treatment. An excess production of cortisol can wreak havoc on the body in many ways, causing symptoms such as weight gain, hair loss, striae, buffalo humps, and bruising.

A rare illness like Cushing’s disease can be difficult to diagnose. When searching for a diagnosis back in 2018, I dealt with myriad dismissals: “You just have anxiety.” “Lose more weight and you’ll be fine.” “It’s all in your head.” I’ve…

I’m in bed, and it’s hours after I am supposed to have gotten up. The blanket feels heavier than usual and the burden of the day is overwhelming. I have things to do and work to finish, but pushing myself out of bed seems like the hardest thing I’ve ever…

When I first started to experience Cushing’s disease, I had no idea what was happening to my body. Doctors blamed my symptoms on depression, anxiety, polycystic ovary syndrome, eating issues, and more. I thought I was going crazy, until I finally learned about Cushing’s disease. After that,…

New Year’s brings a lot of pressure to change, revolutionize, and become a new version of yourself. Lose those 20 pounds. Run a marathon. Read a book every day. Get a new job. A lot of these resolutions feel so out of reach for me. I can’t run a marathon.