Living The Dream - Nicola Whitehill

The festive holiday season is here. To mark the occasion, check out my little “dream team” Christmas jumper video. Christmas jumper day. (All photos courtesy of Nicole Whitehill) As patients living with a chronic, debilitating, and rare autoimmune disease, we know all too well…

This week, I am celebrating my 20th year since first dragging my “tin-man” body to the Scleroderma Unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London. September 2017. (Courtesy of Nicola Whitehill) The previous year, at the time of my initial diagnosis in September 1997,…

At the start of December, I will be celebrating my 20th year since first dragging my “tin-man” body to the Scleroderma Unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London. September 2017. (Courtesy of Nicola Whitehill) The previous year, at the time of my…

The skin is the largest organ in the body and is affected in most scleroderma patients. At the time of my diffuse scleroderma diagnosis in 1997, I had extremely tight skin across my chest, arms, hands, face, legs — all over my body. My…

Invisible Disabilities Week took place from Oct. 14-20. The Invisible Disabilities Association explains how those with invisible disabilities can be misunderstood: “People often ask us to define invisible disability. To define invisible disability in simple terms is a physical, mental or neurological condition that…

October is Raynaud’s Awareness Month. It is also the month when the beautiful autumnal shades over here in the U.K. remind me that my winter “full-time hibernation” is looming. My 50 shades of blue “party trick,” where my hands and feet change color…

Here in the U.K., autumn has arrived. The color changes of the natural landscape at this time of the year are stunningly beautiful. This annual display of nature showing off its true colors provides a reminder that winter is on its way. And winter is the nemesis season for…

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer holidays have finished. However, as scleroderma patients, we know all too well that we do not have a holiday from this diagnosis. More often than not, the management of the multi-complex symptoms makes for a full-time job. I have previously…

August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month. In this column, I highlight some of the tests carried out to determine stomach damage levels and the overall productivity of the digestive system process. Gastroparesis occurs when the stomach cannot pass food down to the small intestine, thereby…

August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month. Gastroparesis occurs when the stomach can’t pass food down to the small intestine, thereby affecting the digestion process. Gastroparesis is an unwelcome and debilitating symptom to most scleroderma patients, myself included. Symptoms include bloating, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, feeling full after…

At the start of this year, I delightedly joined the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) as a patient research ambassador (PRA) for the dermatology and musculoskeletal departments at The Royal Free Hospital, London. (Courtesy of Nicola Whitehill) According to their…