Deciding when to seek medical attention is hard with a chronic illness

I’ve been sick with Cushing’s disease for so long that being unhealthy is basically my status quo. I don’t blink at headaches or go to the doctor when my bones are aching. If I had every single issue checked out, I’d never leave the hospital. Simply going about my daily life hurts, and I’m used to it.

The problem, however, is that every once in a while, I will ignore an issue that should be addressed. It’s hard to tell which ones to seek medical attention for, and lately, I’ve gotten a bit complacent.

Often, there is no solution for a symptom. For example, despite how often I get excruciating headaches, I’ve only been prescribed light pain medication. It can be disheartening to take time out of my day to go to the doctor and ask for help, only for nothing to come of it.

Recently, I encountered another issue. My period lasted longer than usual, but I shrugged it off because Cushing’s disease and ketoconazole can both mess with my cycle. After 15 days, I started clotting. I considered reaching out, but the clots were small, so I didn’t bother. But after 25 days of bleeding, I realized something was very wrong.

Recommended Reading

April 6, 2026 Columns by Noura Costany

Before meds, Cushing’s disease resulted in the loss of my period

A wake-up call

Toward the end of my month-long period, I became sick and was dizzy, fatigued, and fighting to sleep. I curled up in bed for several days and realized I had waited too long to ask for help. I’d lost a lot of blood, and everything hurt.

After doing blood work and talking with my doctor, we realized the problem was that my testosterone level was elevated. The normal range of bioavailable testosterone for women is 1-19 ng/dL. Mine was 46.6.

This required immediate intervention. I have to go back on several medications that I had previously been able to stop taking, including progesterone. This will help regulate my period and lower my testosterone level. I’m currently waiting for insurance approval, but hopefully I can start taking it as soon as possible. I’m not sure when my next period will be, but hopefully I can regulate my cycle before it arrives.

It’s hard to examine every symptom and complication when I’m used to being sick, but this was a wake-up call for me. It’s not OK to wait as long as I did to seek medical attention.

You can also follow my journey on TikTok and YouTube.

Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s.