Cushing syndrome is a medical condition that can develop when the body has too much cortisol
Amy Schumer is sharing details about her health.
The comedian sparked attention earlier this month when people noticed changes in her appearance while promoting the new season of her show, “Life & Beth.” At the time, she acknowledged that her face seemed “puffier than usual.” Now, she’s disclosing that she has been diagnosed with Cushing syndrome.
Schumer clarified that she has exogenous Cushing syndrome, which occurs when an individual takes a significant amount of synthetic steroids over an extended period. She also mentioned having endometriosis, a condition that can be managed with these steroids.
Speaking to Jessica Yellin in her “News Not Noise” newsletter, Schumer expressed, “I feel like I’ve been given a new lease on life. There are several types of Cushing syndrome, some of which can be life-threatening, requiring brain surgery or removal of adrenal glands.”
She continued, “During the time I was doing on-camera press for my Hulu show, I was also spending four hours at a time in MRI machines, enduring numerous blood draws that caused my veins to shut down. I had moments where I feared I might not live to see my son grow up. Therefore, learning that I have a form of Cushing syndrome that will resolve on its own and that I am healthy was the best news I could have hoped for.”
The “Trainwreck” star acknowledged that it’s been “a tumultuous couple of weeks” for her, particularly because she’s had to navigate both critical comments and her health challenges.
However, she expressed gratitude for those critical remarks, stating, “Because of those comments, I realized that something was amiss.”
Schumer further emphasized her desire to disclose the specifics of her condition to “advocate for women’s health.”
“The shaming and criticism of our constantly evolving bodies is something I’ve experienced and witnessed for a long time,” she remarked. “I earnestly desire for women to embrace themselves and persistently advocate for their well-being within a system that often doubts them.”
“I aim to inform women that it’s not normal to endure excruciatingly painful periods and encourage them to seek out professionals with expertise in diagnosing and treating endometriosis… I want women suffering severe vomiting during their second and third trimesters to recognize that they may be experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum, as I did. I urge women to prioritize feeling strong, healthy, and comfortable in their bodies.”
She acknowledged her “extremely privileged” access to resources for her health, recognizing that this isn’t the case for many people. Expressing gratitude, she affirmed her commitment to leveraging her platform to advocate for women.
Schumer concluded her message by emphasizing, “This serves as a reminder that we never truly know what someone else is going through. Everyone is grappling with their challenges. Perhaps we can all strive to be a little more compassionate toward one another and ourselves.”