Precious, Not Fragile
— Heather Novak

When I was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism at age 18, knowing where to go to find information or how to connect with other patients was a big problem. My general practitioners often didn’t have…

It’s easy to forget that not every medical practitioner understands how hypoparathyroidism affects my life. My rare disease is just a footnote at my biannual or annual appointments; unless it’s actively causing a…

I often wonder how many hours a year I spend in waiting rooms. I’ve been avoiding doing the math, but part of me wants to know. Because of my hypoparathyroidism and multiple comorbidities,…

Whenever I get together with my chronic illness friends — especially fellow hypoparathyroidism warriors — we always end up sharing horror stories about the times we needed treatment and couldn’t get it. Some…

Since my diagnosis with hypoparathyroidism, also known as hypopara, it’s been easy to blame a lot of things on my disease. That pain in my arm? Probably a muscle spasm. That headache? Might…

On a recent episode of the “New Heights” podcast, singer Taylor Swift said, “Think of your energy … as if it’s like a luxury item.” I repeat this phrase every day. Over…

Recently, I was asked how I maintain a writing career with a chronic illness. My answer was that I ignore a lot of writing advice. Writing every day, maintaining a strict routine, and putting…

I recently shared that I wrote a book for my late grandma while she was in hospice. She was able to read it before she passed, and she cheered me on when I took…

There’s a quote by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich that was later popularized by one of my favorite film directors, Baz Luhrmann, and that repeats in my head during shocking moments:…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with calcium supplements as well as general supplement brands. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a…

On July 2, my surgical hypoparathyroidism turned 22 years old. It’s wild to think that I’ve had this disease for over half of my life, and that I’ve been sick longer than I’ve…