One of the most devastating ways that having scleroderma has changed my life is that I have had to stop working. Pain and profound fatigue required me to close my successful counseling practice. It was an extremely difficult decision, and one I didn’t take…
It’s unchallenging for most people to look back on life and instantly recall a singular, traumatic moment when they experienced emotional or physical pain. Whether it’s breaking an arm or losing a loved one, the moment is unforgettable due to the psychological impact. For those with a chronic…
This week, I had a review appointment with my rheumatologist. She is my primary medical professional and manages the other doctors in my specialist team ― the commander-in-chief, if you will. It is an important meeting, generally once every year. We go…
2018 is looking to be a very busy and exciting year for scleroderma patients. Before I discuss some of the many events scheduled for the year: Thank you to those who contacted me during my time away from my column. I am slowly recovering from post-traumatic…
Living with scleroderma has been interesting lately, to say the least. Expletives, curses, profanities, call them what you will … my week has been full of them, right to the brim! I’ve been so full of nastiness that it has been overflowing from my mouth at any…
A veteran soldier wounded in action. A firefighter crawling through a cascade of flames to save a baby. A husband suggesting his wife go to the gym for her New Year’s resolution. These are examples of different forms of bravery. Bravery can be defined in many ways, depending…
Again on this New Year’s Eve, I found myself with the same thought as every other year: “Well, I survived another year living with scleroderma. I wonder how the next one will go.” I am certain that living with chronic…
Stress to a sick person is like adding gasoline to a burning flame to put it out — it just doesn’t work. When living with a life-changing illness, one tends to forget how things were before the disease took over. Inflammation is the root of many diseases, but…
The human body is lined with more than 100,000 miles of veins, capillaries, and blood vessels. These intricate pathways carry blood throughout the body to filter it, heal wounds, and oxygenate our cells. With scleroderma, the overproduction of collagen significantly damages the blood vessels, making it an obstacle…
The other weekend, Max and I went away and I made a brave step regarding my struggle to stay active (or not) while living with scleroderma. There are many people who have instructed me to try things that I knew wouldn’t work for me…
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