sustainable systems & storytelling
The local hospital just called to schedule my PET/CT scan. On Friday, I'll have a bit of gallium pumped into my system and then spend three hours strapped down while a machine searches my entrails for biochemical anomalies. Since this is a nuclear radiology procedure, I will need to wait patiently for the results like anyone... Continue Reading →
Every year for our anniversary, my boyfriend and I spend a long weekend in a remote cabin devoid of technology, and then embark on a pre-dawn hike in order to enjoy a mountain-top sunrise. Though it's unlikely that I'll be up for our Year 5 hike next month, I'm anxiously anticipating the day I'll be... Continue Reading →
My health insurance carrier approved my full-body PET/CT scan. Thus, I have been looking up what the heck imaging entails and what the results might show. The scan for which I've been approved offers stunning detail. The PET scanner and CT scanner are superimposed into one image, showing both the 3-D anatomy and any metabolic... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, I received a call just moments before 5pm. An infectious disease doctor at a local hospital wanted to see to me. The medical assistant asked, "Can you come in tomorrow at 8am?" I did not hesitate for a moment in my response. I arrived and the doctor asked me to go over the entire... Continue Reading →
I just learned that September is self-care awareness month, and I'm taking it as a sign that it's time for to focus wholeheartedly on loving and caring for my body. Self-care is important for everyone, but I think it's especially beneficial for those navigating their ways through chronic illness, a difficult time, or even and... Continue Reading →
The most challenging part of my illness is not the hair loss, skin ulcers, or constant nausea. I'm starting to come to terms with the swollen joints and the forced sabbatical from lifting, hiking and cardio. I'm okay with the fact that I'll be on heavy-duty medication for at least ten more months and, quite possibly,... Continue Reading →
I spent thirty minutes talking with my infectious disease doctor and nurse practitioner this morning. How am I progressing (or not)? What are my prospects? How does my recovery compare to similar cases? Would a different diet, more sleep, or alternative medicine help? "I don't expect you to get worse," she offered. "Gradually, over the... Continue Reading →
How do you to live life to the fullest when your health limits everything you do? How do you cope with waiting for some relief when, in reality, there's no reprieve in sight? There are no easy answers to these questions. The mounting unknowns become overwhelming as symptoms worsen in spite of rest, medication, and... Continue Reading →
After completing my sixteen-week trial run on a high-dose anti-fungal medication with no improvement, I asked my infectious disease doctor what our treatment plan would be moving forward. I could hear a small sigh over the phone before she replied, "For every 100 people I diagnosis with valley fever, I encounter 100 different diseases. The... Continue Reading →
It's hard to start the day off productively when it takes all of your energy to simply roll out of bed. This is particularly true when you're dealing with chronic illness, or even just a pesky stomach bug. Building good habits can be hard, and maintaining those good habits through health struggles can be even... Continue Reading →
Rest is important. Yet we live in a world where the masses worship at the alter of busyness. We try to appear productive, so others will perceive us to be important. In a society where worth is tied closely to output, rest is often placed on the back burner, sometimes forgotten entirely. I'll be the... Continue Reading →
Over the last several months, my emotional state has been cycling through periods of relief, anticipation, dread, and hope. In the last nine months, doctors have presented me with the good, the bad, and the uncertain. However, it's only in the last week or so that I've been able to apply the wisdom I have... Continue Reading →
Five years ago, I admittedly had no idea what vegetarians ate or how they met their nutritional needs. When I met my boyfriend, he had been a vegetarian for over 13 years, so I immediately began my inquisition. What do you eat? Where do you get your protein? Do you feel satisfied after plant-based meals?... Continue Reading →
I began yoga at age 19 after a car accident caused some damage to the muscles around my scapula. After a year of physical therapy did nothing to resolve the muscle weakness, my mom suggested we try yoga. I reluctantly agreed. Together, we attended private lessons, where the instructor worked with our unique bodies and structural... Continue Reading →
"Do you want to watch, or do you get squeamish?" I didn't hesitate to respond when the doctor offered to let me watch the ultrasound of my heart. I curled up on my side and gazed up at the large screen as the doctor pressed a slippery wand against my chest so hard that it... Continue Reading →
existential ergonomics 
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