Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

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,…

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…

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,…

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…

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:…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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,…

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…