Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

Chronic illness isn’t just tiring; it’s expensive. Medications, doctor appointments, pain remedies — all of it adds up, and quickly. In the United States, the average direct cost of healthcare for a person with…

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…

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…

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…