Amy Schumer has been very open about so many aspects of her life on social media, in her comedy, and in her work. She has regularly made jokes about the things that she’s going through, even when struggling with hard times. Over the years, Amy has been open about battling endometriosis and how it’s affected her body. Most recently, she also revealed she has Cushing syndrome.
Amy has clapped back at trolls who have pointed out that her face has looked “puffier” during recent media appearances. She admitted that it was due to “medical and hormonal” things happening for her, but she also shut down that she owed anyone an explanation for her appearance. Find out more about Amy’s battle with endometriosis and Cushing syndrome here.
Amy Schumer Diagnosed With Endometriosis
Amy went public with her diagnosis with endometriosis shortly after giving birth to her son Gene David Fischer, 4, in 2019. The Trainwreck star gave birth to Gene via a C-section, which lasted about three hours. She opened up about how the condition complicated her pregnancy during an appearance on the Informed Pregnancy and Parenting Podcast. “I was throwing up through the first hour of my c-section. It’s supposed to take about an hour and a half. Mine took over three hours because of my endometriosis,” she said. “That was really scary.”
She revealed that she had undergone surgery to treat her endometriosis in 2021. She had both her uterus and appendix removed to treat the condition. “The doctor found 30 spots of endometriosis that he removed. He removed my appendix because the endometriosis had attacked it,” she said in an Instagram video. “There was a lot, a lot of blood in my uterus and I’m, you know, sore and I have some, like, gas pains.”
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue that is typically inside the uterus grows outside of it, per the Mayo Clinic. It can grow along other pelvic area organs. The primary symptom of endometriosis is severe pelvic pain, especially during periods. It can also lead to fertility issues.
How Long Has Amy Schumer Had Endometriosis?
While it’s not clear when Amy was definitely diagnosed with endometriosis, she has shared her struggles with the condition since 2019. She also detailed many of her experiences with it in the 2022 docuseries The Checkup With Dr. David Agus.
Amy Schumer Diagnosed With Cushing Syndrome
Amy revealed she was diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome during an interview in Jessica Yellin‘s News Not Noise newsletter in February 2024.
“I feel reborn. There are a few types of Cushing. Some that can be fatal, require brain surgery or removal of adrenal glands,” she said in the interview. “While I was doing press on camera for my Hulu show, I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up.”
What Is Cushing Syndrome?
Cushing syndrome is “a disorder that occurs when your body makes too much of the hormone cortisol over a long period of time,” according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Cortisol is sometimes called the “stress hormone” because it helps your body respond to stress. It also helps to maintain blood pressure, regulate blood gluclose, reduce inflammation, and turn food you eat into energy.
Complications of Cushing syndrome can include a heart attack, blood clots, infections, bone loss and fractures, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, memory loss or difficulty concentrating, and diabetes. Cushing syndrome is mostly caused by the long-term, high-dose use of the cortisol-like glucocorticoids, the NIDDK also states. These medicines are used to treat various medical conditions, including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Certain types of tumors, such as pituitary tumors, can also cause a lot of cortisol in the body.
How Long Has Amy Schumer Had Cushing Syndrome?
Amy didn’t reveal how long she’s been battling Cushing syndrome, but she commented on it after fans pointed out she had “a puffier face,” which is one of the symptoms of the disorder. She also hinted that it may have been a few weeks before her February 2024 public admission, in her interview. “Finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I’m healthy was the greatest news imaginable. It has been a crazy couple weeks for me and my family,” she said.
How Is Amy Schumer Doing Today?
Amy opened up about how her battle with endometriosis in an Instagram post where she responded to trolls who pointed out that her face looked “puffier” than usual. “Thank you so much for everyone’s input about my face! I’ve enjoyed feedback and deliberation about my appearance as all women do for almost 20 years. And you’re right — it is puffier than normal right now,” she wrote.
She noted that it was puffier as a result of her endometriosis, and she encouraged her followers to read up on the disease. “There are some medical and hormonal things going on in my world right now but I’m okay. Historically women’s bodies have barely been studied medically compared to men,” she wrote.
The comedian continued and said she wanted to take the moment to try to put a positive spin on her outlook. “I also believe a woman doesn’t need any excuse for her physical appearance and owes no explanation. But I wanted to take the opportunity to advocate for self love and acceptance of the skin you’re in,” she said.
After revealing she has been battling Cushing syndrome, she also said it was the kind that would “work itself out,” indicating the disorder would improve over time.