Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

People with chronic illnesses live differently than those without them. This was a hard reality for me to grasp. I wanted my life to stay the same as it was before I found out I had Cushing’s disease. As frustrating as it may be, that’s really not an option.

Dealing with Cushing’s disease can be hard, and recently I’ve had more bad days than good ones. My goal is to maintain a positive attitude, no matter how frustrating life gets. Recently, I’ve been working on routines for the days when my cortisol is low, which makes me…

I recently had to lower my dosage of ketoconazole, one of the medications I take to treat my Cushing’s disease, because of liver problems. It always takes me some time to adjust to changes in medication, especially when it comes to my Cushing’s treatment. Since my…

I’m not sure if this experience is universal, but my Cushing’s disease symptoms change with the weather. Maybe I’m not so alone in that; Georgetown University Medical System, for instance, lists heat and cold intolerance among possible symptoms. I’ve learned over the years to manage most of these…

Cushing’s disease can often feel isolating. When I received my diagnosis in 2020, I couldn’t find any communities online. As I went through my diagnosis, surgery, and recurrence, I almost always felt alone. Because of this pattern, I’ve worked consistently to chat with people, help them reach…

I’m out in public, trying to take public transportation. There aren’t any accessible stations nearby, so I decide to brave the stairs with my cane. As time goes by, my legs begin to ache, my knees start to twist, and my ankles feel like they’re giving out. By…

Summer is a time of celebration and contemplation for me. June is LGBTQIA+ Pride month, and July is Disability Pride Month. These are two identities I’m proud of, two communities I love dearly, but being queer and disabled has made my life very different from what I expected.

I am struggling right now due to a rough Cushing’s disease flare-up. That’s been clear in some of my recent columns and to those who are close to me. While I hope for better days, it’s not easy. I should’ve seen the signs as soon as I started…

I’ve spent many recent days wrapped up in blankets and trying to get out of my head. Cushing’s disease affects my cortisol, its levels fluctuating due to a teeny-tiny tumor. While my medication, for the most part, helps stabilize my cortisol, sometimes this disease grabs…

I usually try to stay hopeful through my Cushing’s disease — so much so that people often comment that they’re amazed I’m still happy and thriving despite all the hardships my condition has caused me. While I’m proud of my ability to overcome those challenges, a lot of those…

It hits me like a ton of bricks every single time. My stomach starts to knot together, I feel myself gagging, and I know that if I so much as breathe wrong, I’ll end up on my knees throwing up everything I’ve eaten in the past 24 hours. The nausea…

In the past year, as I’ve been dealing with a recurrence of Cushing’s disease, I’ve found myself needing a wheelchair for myriad reasons. My bones are brittle, my muscles are weak, I have vision issues, and I’m at risk of fainting. Furthermore, I have extreme fatigue, which will only…