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 …

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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 …

Be a mummy

I went on a quick camping trip. Planning for at least one hike a day and nights of stargazing, it wasn’t going to be a difficult mini vacation. I’m not prissy when it comes to being outdoors. I expect to get sweaty, buggy, grimy, smoky, and every other description that comes without indoor amenities. However, …

I owe you

Borrowing from one person to pay another is a way of life most of us are either currently in, or have experienced before. Is there a more fitting metaphor when it comes to living with a broken body? I know that I’m constantly navigating between which symptom or body part that I’m willing to trigger …

My bad

Things are relative. We are living in a world where even facts and ultimate truths are called into question. Those truths get messier the further down we go into the rabbit hole of examining perception and individual realities. One of my favorite punk lyrics goes, “That’s me inside your head”. Our complex human brains are …

Failed fluffy friend

I’m an animal person. I’ve been around pets and wild animals for most of my life. I know how to care for and interact with them. It’s all very natural for me. That being said, I haven’t had my own critter for a very long time. With a busy life, moving around, and travelling frequently, …

I’m just a girl – Diagnosing part 5 (Small Fiber Autonomic Neuropathy)

Numbness on the outside of my right leg. That was the starting point for my entire Small Fiber Autonomic Neuropathy journey. It’s a long one. Hold onto your hats and cozy up with a cup of tea. Here we go: I had recently come back to the United States after working overseas for a few …

Risk verses reward

Lately, #HighRiskCovid19 has been trending. It’s a small but effective way for those at high-risk of contracting Coronavirus to been seen as real. By posting a portrait and a quick rundown of their reasons for being vulnerable, social media users might absorb the reality that their world is full of physically compromised and invisibly ill …

Suffering with responsibility

A few times a year, one or two celebrities pop up in the media because of a chronic pain related medical diagnosis. This type of sharing seems to be on the rise. There are good and bad aspects to pointing a spotlight on under-explained conditions through a celebrity lens. Often, the headlines focus on how …