The Cushing's Chronicles — Jessica Bracy

Hello! I hope this column finds you doing well. My name is Jessica, and I was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease at the age of 30. A year after that, I had transsphenoidal pituitary resection surgery to remove…

Before my Cushing’s disease diagnosis two years ago, I was not only fit, but also quite active. It felt so good to move my body. I worked out at a gym three to five times a week and…

I was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease two years ago, at age 30. Last year, I had surgery to remove a 3 mm pituitary tumor. The tumor was causing a host of symptoms, including weight gain,…

I opened my eyes and scanned the room. It was dark, so I knew it was late. I was in the neurosurgical intensive care unit and had just survived brain surgery. A nurse was standing nearby charting, and…

Last November, I had a transphenoidal pituitary resection surgery to remove a 3 mm tumor on my pituitary gland, in hopes of placing me in remission from Cushing’s disease. It’s laughable to say that having brain surgery…

Six months have passed since I had transsphenoidal pituitary surgery to remove a 3 mm tumor on my pituitary gland. Since then, I have taken time to reflect on things I’ve learned. Before surgery, I had many expectations…

To those who have a loved one with Cushing’s disease, Welcome. I’m glad you’re here. So a friend or family member has told you that they have Cushing’s. You might be unsure about how to support them, what…

The internet has proven to be one of the most fundamental tools I have utilized while navigating my Cushing’s disease journey. My body felt off, and I didn’t understand why. In the most traditional fashion, I presented my…

For Cushing’s disease patients with a pituitary tumor, transsphenoidal surgery can help them achieve remission. But as with many other diseases, there’s a chance of recurrence. Surgical remission rates currently range from 65% to 85%,…

I’ve been a social worker since 2018. Throughout this journey, I’ve found that working with a therapist was imperative for me. The social work field is both turbulent and relentless at times, and therapy helped me prevent burnout…

As social media has grown over the years, more users have started working as influencers — people who build a following based on their purported level of knowledge and expertise in a specific field. This includes health. Phrases like…