The beholden

I’m over on Substack now and I wrote a piece on being in a love hate relationship with pharmaceuticals. Give it a read: https://bentcolumn.substack.com/p/the-beholden

Don’t pass go

I'm over on Substack now and I wrote a piece on not listening to my body during an early spring adventure. Give it a read: https://bentcolumn.substack.com/p/dont-pass-go

Asking Mr. Roboto

I'm over on Substack now and I wrote a piece on Artificial Intelligence answering some questions about chronic illnesses. Give it a read: https://bentcolumn.substack.com/p/asking-mr-roboto

IJAG – Diagnosing part 7 (Restless Leg Syndrome)

I'm over on Substack now and I wrote a piece on being diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). Give it a read: https://bentcolumn.substack.com/p/im-just-a-girl-diagnosing-part-7

I’m moving platforms

I've moved my column over to Substack! It seems to be a better resource and platform for both the writer and the reader. Still free and still interactive, just a different location. I hope you'll join me over there! You can find me at bentcolumn.substack.com and either subscribe not to miss anything or just check …

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Vogue vomit

I wouldn’t wish _______ on my worst enemy. That common, certainly overused, phrase fits how I feel about my health challenges. Unstoppable pain, ever-changing symptoms, dramatic physical changes, life altering daily struggles, etc. My broken body is my burden. My unfathomable new existence. Even after nearly a decade of trying to find a normal, I …

Spruce ter-let

My frustrations with ablism around most outdoor adventures are numerous. One of the most glaring shortcomings we face on the daily is a lack of access to bathroom facilities. This complaint runs across the board. For all genders, all types of disability, all ages, etc. Every person needs and deserves access to clean functional toilets.  …

Entitled rollers

Most of us who struggle with chronic medical conditions are quite empathetic. We know pain. We know invisibility. We know that everyone has their own struggles. There comes a point where kindness and understanding become traits which get taken advantage of in the larger world.  A new phenomenon called “trans ableism” had begun to simmer …

Vampire hike

We headed out on a hike around noon. While I typically try to avoid the hottest time of the day for physical exertion, it was a day that skewed cooler. Wearing shorts, a shirt and a hat, I lathered on sunscreen and sprayed a thick cloud of skin-friendly yet reliable bug repellent. There were a …

It’s still raining

I don’t know how long it takes for something to be obvious. How many individual accounts of the same story? How frequently do we need to see the same symptoms? When do they, the people and institutions in power, connect the dots or follow the strings? More and more often, journalists and celebrities are publicly …