Columns

My hair loss has reminded me of the importance of vitamins

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various vitamin supplements. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. My hair has been falling out. It’s most obvious in the shower, when I’m rinsing away shampoo and conditioner…

How to hurt someone with chronic illness by a few choice words

I’m so tired of some people’s responses to my suffering. I understand that some people might not get what I’m going through if they don’t have personal experience living with chronic illness. But I’d think they wouldn’t voice an opinion on something they know nothing about. Unfortunately, that’s not the…

What I look for when I’m on a search for doctors

I have a love-hate relationship with doctors. Being born with cystic fibrosis (CF) has afforded me the opportunity to have experiences with several doctors throughout my life. Having a double-lung transplant seven years ago further opened a plethora of doctors’ doors. Both health circumstances have given me profound…

Why staying hydrated is at the top of my to-do list

The power of water is underrated. If you Google it, you’ll see you can delve into multiple aspects of water’s properties, including how it supports thermal energy, hydropower, transportation, and anti-erosion efforts. It’s a universal solvent (because of its molecular structure), it’s often symbolic (as in the Bible), and…

There are plenty of reasons why my life is rare

Several pieces of my life puzzle happen to be rare. First thing’s first: I have cystic fibrosis (CF), a rare disease that affects about 40,000 people in the United States. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers a disease rare if it affects fewer than 200,000 people.)…