I’d like to take this opportunity to discuss something important to me. An assumption, more along the lines of an uneducated opinion, has turned into a war of sorts that is tearing apart my country right now. That something being: not all people who use opioids are drug addicts. The problem with those who…
This article was originally published on The Unchargeables. The First Signs I’ve always had an uncanny knack for remembering dates. Don’t ask me why I still remember that my 6th grade orientation was on August 26, 1997. But the date February 25th always makes me think back to 2016. That was the day I…
I enjoy when a new year rolls around. I feel free to try new things and get myself back on track with life in general. But to be honest, I’m quite apprehensive about 2018. We watched the ball drop in Times Square at midnight (from the comfort of our 68°F house instead of the…
I’ve been trying to write a blog post for the past few weeks. I’ve started at least five posts, gotten a paragraph or two in, and then stopped. My brain just won’t work long enough to keep going. So since I can’t think of anything creative to write, I’ll just write the facts regarding…
Pituitary tumors are not uncommon. In fact, up to 1/4 of brain tumors are pituitary tumors. These tumors are almost always benign, but can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on whether they are functioning (secrete hormones) or nonfunctioning (don’t secrete hormones). Symptoms depend on which hormone is being oversecreted and/or what structure(s)…
A year ago today, a tumor was removed from my head. The four-hour brain surgery itself was uneventful. I woke up pretty crabby afterwards. But when you go into the OR feeling fine and wake up with the world’s worst headache and sore throat and you can’t breathe through your nose or smell anything? Not…
“But you don’t look sick.” A statement so many people with chronic illness are tired of hearing. Say that to someone with a chronic illness and what they’ll really want to do is slap you upside the head and say, “That’s because I spent 20 minutes perfecting my face this morning!” Honestly, we all…
“What do sick people think about? How do you know when you start to be a sick person?” This statement by author Nina Riggs in her memoir, The Bright Hour, was spoken when she woke up one morning shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. When I read it, it gave me pause….
I was recently provided with a very well-written article about POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) by a fellow POTSie who sees the same specialist I do. The article was written by the specialist, his nurse, and some of his patients who are in the healthcare field. Please feel free to share the article with…
I have to go there today. That place. That hospital of which I am deeply afraid. For a follow-up visit with my endocrinologist to check my prolactin to make sure my tumor is still in check, even though my MRI from two months ago (7 months post-op) was clear. I can already smell the smells. Starbucks,…
