Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

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…

I’ve been there a thousand times. Since I’m open about my illness online, people are acutely aware that I’m sick with cyclic Cushing’s disease. When I haven’t seen someone for a long time, they cock their head at…

Living with Cushing’s disease can feel very different from living a healthy life. With Cushing’s, we patients often have flare-ups, which are moments when our condition acts up and we experience more symptoms. For me,…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with ketoconazole, spironolactone, tirzepatide, and several supplements. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Cushing’s disease…

This column is dedicated to something that most Cushing’s disease patients have experienced: the dreaded MRI. I’d almost forgotten what an anxiety-inducing experience it can be until I had another scan done last week. Cushing’s disease is…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with ketoconazole, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), spironolactone, and supplements. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I was…

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.

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…