Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

I have Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), both of which cause fertility issues. With Cushing’s, my periods stopped entirely and my hormones are obviously completely messed up. With PCOS, I had cysts and calcified fibroids on my ovaries. I was told I had a chance to…

I’ve been open about my current journey with in vitro fertilization (IVF). A few months ago, my husband and I went through the first part of it, freezing our embryos, and now we’re at the beginning stages of an embryo transfer. I, somewhat naively, thought that was going to…

I turned 29 last week, and for the first time, I no longer feel like I’m waiting for life to happen. In the past, Cushing’s disease took over every aspect of my life. I was diagnosed in 2020, though I’d been experiencing symptoms for years. After undergoing…

Cushing’s disease takes a toll on the body, sometimes including osteoporosis and bone loss. People often forget that those symptoms might mean that teeth are affected. Unfortunately for me, my teeth have lost some calcium, which caused dental issues. My dentist pointed out that when parts of teeth are…

Nobody likes getting MRIs. You’re shoved into a giant clanging machine where you’re supposed to remain completely still. I go through this nightmare every six months to check on my pituitary tumor. After I was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, I had surgery in 2020 to remove my first tumor.

I’ve had a lot of awkward interactions recently. I’ve made some new friends and reconnected with old ones, yet I never know when to bring up where my Cushing’s disease is at. Is it strange if I tell them? Is it weird if I keep it to myself? Am…

I’m a huge anime fan. It’s one of the only things that pulls me up when I’m feeling especially down. I recently started watching a new anime show called “A Sign of Affection.” I was hesitant to watch it at first because the main character, Yuki, is deaf,…

I’ve talked a lot about how my Cushing’s disease causes severe anxiety. It raises cortisol, which is the stress hormone, so even on medication, I’m in a perpetual state of nervousness and anxiety that’s hard to shrug off. I’m sure every single person with Cushing’s knows exactly how it…

As someone with Cushing’s disease, one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made is trying to have the same type of day that healthy people have, following the same schedules as my friends. Quotes along those lines, such as “We all have the same 24 hours in our day,” left…

I crave the summer and often find myself thinking of the waves — the ups and downs, the gorgeous sun hitting my face as the water moves high and then low, the beautiful, salty smell filling my nose. This winter, my health, compromised by my Cushing’s disease, has…

I never knew that Cushing’s disease could lead to fainting — until it happened to me. Fainting can be an incredibly overwhelming experience. For me, it starts in the stomach. I’ll feel awfully nauseous, like my stomach is flipping and turning. Then the dizziness hits, and all the…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with tirzepatide. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. There have been many conversations about Ozempic (semaglutide), developed to treat type 2 diabetes, and similar medications that are used by…