**Woman Sheds 10 Stone After Battle With Rare Hormonal Disorder**
A 37-year-old woman has revealed how she managed to lose half her body weight after suffering a dramatic gain caused by a rare medical condition. Hannah Mai, from Coventry, struggled for years before finally receiving a diagnosis of Cushing’s disease in 2020. Her extraordinary journey—from unexplained weight gain to remarkable recovery—highlights both the physical and psychological toll of rare health conditions, as well as the resilience needed to overcome them.
Cushing’s disease is a hormonal disorder resulting from prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol, often caused by a tumour on the pituitary gland. For Hannah, the effects were swift and distressing. Prior to her thirtieth birthday, she weighed a healthy nine stone, but soon after, her weight began to spiral upwards. In a matter of months, her weight ballooned to 16 stone, eventually peaking at over 20 stone—more than twice her original size.
Frustration mounted as her repeated visits to GPs were met with dismissive responses. Physicians speculated about pregnancy and suggested hormonal changes, while Hannah insisted there was something more serious going on. “I was asked if I was pregnant several times. I knew it was not just lifestyle changes—something was wrong,” she recalled.
The turning point came in October 2020 when Hannah woke to find herself with a hunched back—a red flag prompting her to investigate further. Suspecting Cushing’s disease, she researched her symptoms, printed them out, and brought them to her GP, who then finally referred her to a specialist at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire. Blood tests and an MRI scan confirmed her suspicion, and Hannah was told she had a tumour affecting her pituitary gland.
Receiving a diagnosis brought both fear and relief. “I was scared, of course, but also relieved. I had been telling doctors for years that something was wrong,” she said. With diagnosis in hand, she underwent brain surgery in February 2021 to remove the tumour, followed by a lengthy period on steroids to manage her cortisol levels.
Even after surgery, losing the weight proved nearly impossible while she continued steroid medication. However, determination remained Hannah’s guiding force. By April 2023, with her medication gradually reduced and then stopped, she felt a new sense of hope—and a burning desire to reclaim her health. At her heaviest, Hannah wore size 26 clothes and tipped the scales at 20 stone 5 lbs.
The road to recovery was far from easy. Adopting a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet and cutting out sugar, dairy, and gluten—especially after also being diagnosed with coeliac disease—she committed to a daily pilates regimen. “Once I started, I just kept going. It wasn’t easy—you have to push yourself and focus on who you want to be,” she explained.
In two years, Hannah shed 10 stone and now comfortably fits into size 10 clothes. The transformation has been life-changing, both physically and emotionally. “I feel so much happier now. When I look back at old photos, it’s hard to believe what I went through—sometimes I feel sad, but mostly I’m proud,” she said.
Her journey underscores not only the importance of advocacy and persistence when facing persistent health problems, but also the transformative potential of lifestyle change supported by medical treatment. Hannah’s story stands as a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to overcome even the most daunting obstacles.
Now, Hannah is raising funds for The Pituitary Foundation, aiming to support others facing similar challenges and to raise awareness of this little-known but life-altering disease.
Her experience reminds us that for those battling rare conditions, both medical support and personal determination are vital on the road to recovery.