Columns

My physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor (PMR) explained to me that when one thing is off in the body, especially with an endocrine disease like hypoparathyroidism, it can cause a ripple effect. While my hypopara isn’t the direct cause of my myofascial pain syndrome, it is a contributing…

Chronic illness doesn’t come with a pause button or a manual. Having hypoparathyroidism and several comorbidities means my best-laid plans too often get turned on their head. After five weeks of stable occipital neuralgia symptoms, I was counting down the days to see one of my favorite…

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” — Popular proverb often attributed to Aristotle Because of hypoparathyroidism, my body struggles to keep my calcium levels stable, which can lead to a lot of anxiety. Waiting for test results fills me with dread. It’s like standing near…

After three more diagnoses and five weeks of recovery, I’m thrilled to be back writing columns. Over the past year, I’ve documented my journey to finding solutions to my increasing pain levels. At first, my medical team agreed that a large part of my pain stemmed from hypoparathyroidism…

Soft morning light spills through my windows as I power on my laptop. A gentle glow envelops the quiet room. I think about where I was a year ago, when hope felt uncertain and struggle was heavy. April marks the first anniversary of my column, “Brave Butterfly,” so I…

Editor’s note: This story includes a mention of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Internationally, find a suicide…

My world teetered as a calcium crash struck in 2016, leaving me breathless and confused. It was a scary time for my family, especially for my son Harrison, who was starting high school. It was also a pivotal moment for me, altering my path and propelling me into a desperate…

I’m often asked by fellow hypoparathyroidism patients how they can get an at-home calcium tester, and I’ve always had to explain that there wasn’t an option — until now. Finally, one is in development! Saturday is Rare Disease Day, and I wrote last year’s Rare Disease Day column…

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” — a popular saying often attributed to John Wayne Red lanterns shimmer above bustling Chinatown streets, their light flickering against a sea of red envelopes and golden paper dragons. The Chinese Lunar New Year began Feb. 17, symbolizing the…

It’s 4:30 a.m. and I’m staring at the wall, willing my brain and body to go back to sleep. I can’t tell what awakened me — a sound outside, a bad dream, the insistent pain in my hip and shoulder — but it doesn’t matter. With a sigh, I reach…