Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

Last week was one of the worst weeks I’ve had in a long time. My husband and I were supposed to visit my brother and his family in Michigan. I looked forward to seeing…

The constant, overwhelming feeling starts in my stomach and spreads throughout my entire body. I have to take several deep breaths so that I can focus. My anxiety has been taking over several…

It took me over two years to receive my Cushing’s disease diagnosis, mostly because my doctors weren’t well-versed in Cushing’s and didn’t know what to look for. I know that so many…

Having Cushing’s disease is a full-time job. On many days, I just want to curl up in bed, pull a blanket over me, and sleep all day because my body is so tired…

I grew up in New York City, which has continued to be my home. My parents have a gorgeous house on Staten Island. I went to high school and college in Manhattan. I spent…

I’ve been living with Cushing’s disease since 2018. Over the years, I tried out multiple doctors until I formed my perfect care team, which includes endocrinologist Theodore Friedman, MD, PhD. He…

Choosing a doctor, or a team of them, is a personal decision. Finding them can be an intimidating process, and it’s exhausting when we have to deal with people who are dismissive, who engage…

Since my diagnosis with Cushing’s disease in 2020, I’ve felt more alone than ever. My friends and family are very loving, and they want to understand, but I’ve needed to connect with people…

Cushing’s disease is known to cause osteoporosis, a condition that weakens the bones. For me, adjusting to this issue was devastating. It has defeated me over and over, forced me to take…

I’m currently not taking any of my medications for Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome to prepare for the first steps of in vitro fertilization. My husband and I are freezing…

My partner and I are knee-deep in the complicated and stressful process of freezing embryos. To have a successful procedure, I had to stop taking all of my medications for Cushing’s disease…

Having Cushing’s disease has changed me in a thousand ways. In some ways, I’m better off. I’m kinder, I have an amazing community full of chronically ill friends, and I’ve become an…