Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

I’ve always known that I wanted to have children. However, because of the economy and my current work situation, my husband and I don’t have enough money to have kids right now. Therefore, we’ve made the difficult but exciting…

Practicing self-care has always been difficult for me, as I’m constantly moving, working, reading, or writing in an effort to better myself. I find it difficult to take time out of my day to care for my body, but…

Weak. Pathetic. Useless. Worthless. I’ve found myself staring in the mirror, calling myself all of those names. Coming to terms with Cushing’s disease and its effects on my body is an ongoing battle, especially because the disease is…

Managing an illness while living a normal life can be draining. To keep up with both, I keep a backpack full of helpful items with me at all times. Some of these tools simply help me feel better, while…

Because Cushing’s disease is characterized by excessive production of cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone, stress is a huge, overwhelming part of my life. While medications have helped me tremendously, I still deal with the…

Dear Noura, I know how scared you feel right now after being diagnosed with Cushing’s disease. I know you hid in the bathroom night after night and cried yourself to sleep. You thought your life was over and…

I’ve always known that I wanted kids. I was a nanny for several years and fell in love with every child I worked with. When I got married at 25, I assembled a timeline: We’d pursue our careers, buy…

I’m sure many of us have experienced doctor’s appointment anxiety, especially ahead of a diagnosis. I’ve found myself staring blankly at doctors when they’ve asked me what my symptoms are. It’s not that I don’t have any;…

Cushing’s disease, which falls under the umbrella of Cushing’s syndrome, is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland. Its patients have excess cortisol, which is often referred to as the stress hormone. It affects our…

Cushing’s disease is known to cause weight gain, among other symptoms. While dealing with my first pituitary tumor, which was surgically removed in 2020, I gained 70 pounds. In the first few months after my…

This column describes the author’s own experiences with some alternative therapies. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “Alternative medicine” is a bit of a buzz-term. Acupuncture,…

As a Cushing’s disease survivor, I rely on my friends and family more than I would like to. There are days when I need help cooking, showering, or getting other simple tasks done. It can be frustrating and…