Chronically Yours— Noura Costany

Since my diagnosis with Cushing’s disease in 2020, I’ve felt more alone than ever. My friends and family are very loving, and they want to understand, but I’ve needed to connect with people who have been through the same health challenges. Finding others who are chronically ill has been…

Cushing’s disease is known to cause osteoporosis, a condition that weakens the bones. For me, adjusting to this issue was devastating. It has defeated me over and over, forced me to take time off work, and required the most support of any of my conditions. I’ve currently stopped…

I’m currently not taking any of my medications for Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome to prepare for the first steps of in vitro fertilization. My husband and I are freezing embryos so that we’ll have choices if we eventually decide to have children. Stopping my medications…

My partner and I are knee-deep in the complicated and stressful process of freezing embryos. To have a successful procedure, I had to stop taking all of my medications for Cushing’s disease and other conditions two weeks before starting the fertility medication. Now I have to take fertility…

Having Cushing’s disease has changed me in a thousand ways. In some ways, I’m better off. I’m kinder, I have an amazing community full of chronically ill friends, and I’ve become an advocate for people with Cushing’s. In other ways, my life is worse. I’m in constant pain,…

Living with Cushing’s disease is a daily battle. With insomnia, weight gain, vision problems, and bone density issues, managing my symptoms takes up a large part of my day, every day. Cushing’s disease can be debilitating; it can take over both my physical and mental health if…

Slow-healing wounds have been one of the worst symptoms of Cushing’s disease for me. The situation hasn’t improved, even with medication. Every time I get a cut, bruise, or burn, it seems to linger forever. I have a scar from a minor burn on my finger that happened…

I’ve always had difficulty with taking up space. But after I became chronically ill with Cushing’s disease, it’s been even harder for me to simply exist without feeling like a burden. I often worry about how my illness affects others. I’m unable to go places without an elevator…

My partner and I have made the exciting but difficult decision to freeze embryos, which will allow us to preserve our fertility for when we’re ready to have children. Our reasons for this are simple. Both Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome affect my ovaries and my…

I love to travel. Seeing new places is inspiring, and getting a much-needed break from the city is refreshing. However, traveling is different for me now that I have Cushing’s disease. In the past, I could jump on a plane and go anywhere without a thought in the world.

One symptom of Cushing’s disease that really affected me was hair loss. My hair is my favorite feature; it’s curly like my mom’s, which always made me feel beautiful. Watching it fall out in clumps was traumatizing and scary, and it made me incredibly sad and self-conscious. I started…

Cushing’s disease survivors may experience myriad symptoms, including forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. These cognitive issues are often known as the infamous brain fog. For me, this symptom feels exactly as it sounds: a fog. I’m out of it, complacent, like I’m having an out-of-body experience. My memory…