Columns

October 1, 2019September 27, 2019

Finding the Glimmer of Gold Amid the Sludge of Scleroderma

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

It has been a long few weeks of dealing with recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo while trying to maintain some sense of routine in between my need for sleep. ... Read more

September 10, 2019September 5, 2019

Grappling with My Identity as a Scleroderma Patient

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

It’s been an eventful couple of weeks.   I am currently dealing with several crises at the same time, all of which include seriously unwell significant others. My mother has ... Read more

August 20, 2019August 16, 2019

When Choosing My Medical Team, It’s All About Attitude

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

In my last column, I promised to share my experience with a new cardiologist, as well as his ideas about the likely cause of my heart issues. I had ... Read more

August 6, 2019August 2, 2019

Finding Hope in the Hospital Despite Adversity

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

Last week began like any other. I usually play catch-up on Monday, my favorite day of the week. It gives me a chance to recover from the weekend, which ... Read more

July 23, 2019July 19, 2019

Puzzles Enable Me to ‘Armchair Travel’ with Scleroderma

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

I complete many jigsaw puzzles as I rest in my recliner. I find puzzles to be an excellent way to pass the time and keep my mind occupied. I ... Read more

July 16, 2019July 12, 2019

Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Scleroderma

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

I like to read online about how other patients experience systemic scleroderma, especially when I encounter unusual symptoms that don’t seem to have any relevance to the disease. So ... Read more

July 2, 2019June 28, 2019

Is a ‘Normal Life’ Possible with Scleroderma?

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

This morning I went for a walk. I’m trying to introduce this daily activity into my self-care program in an attempt to claw back some semblance of a “normal” ... Read more

June 18, 2019June 14, 2019

How I’m Surviving My Worst Waiting Room

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

I’ve had a rough run lately. Three separate kidney infections, medications to treat them, and additional medicines to deal with the side effects of the first lot have left ... Read more

May 28, 2019May 24, 2019

My Scleroderma Seminar Trip Was Just What the Doctor Ordered

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

The last two weeks have been extremely challenging. Living the scleroderma lifestyle means I never know what is around the next corner. Waking up brings a daily surprise, sometimes ... Read more

May 7, 2019May 3, 2019

Being Labeled a Fraud Is My Most Pressing Scleroderma Fear

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

I have been feeling strangely unsettled as of late. My unease is not due to the current state of the world or a nasty flare-up. It is scarier than ... Read more