Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

I recently had to lower my dosage of ketoconazole, one of the medications I take to treat my Cushing’s disease, because of liver problems. It always takes me some time to…

I’m not sure if this experience is universal, but my Cushing’s disease symptoms change with the weather. Maybe I’m not so alone in that; Georgetown University Medical System, for instance, lists heat…

Cushing’s disease can often feel isolating. When I received my diagnosis in 2020, I couldn’t find any communities online. As I went through my diagnosis, surgery, and recurrence, I almost always felt…

I’m out in public, trying to take public transportation. There aren’t any accessible stations nearby, so I decide to brave the stairs with my cane. As time goes by, my legs begin…

Summer is a time of celebration and contemplation for me. June is LGBTQIA+ Pride month, and July is Disability Pride Month. These are two identities I’m proud of, two communities I love…

I am struggling right now due to a rough Cushing’s disease flare-up. That’s been clear in some of my recent columns and to those who are close to me. While I hope…

I’ve spent many recent days wrapped up in blankets and trying to get out of my head. Cushing’s disease affects my cortisol, its levels fluctuating due to a teeny-tiny tumor.