Brave Butterfly: A Hypoparathyroidism Journey - a Column by Bari Vapnek

Reflecting on my experience in a clinical trial during the pandemic

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with TransCon PTH, now called Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and…

I feel grateful to be surrounded by love on Thanksgiving

“What if today, we were just grateful for everything?” — Charlie Brown Life with hypoparathyroidism is a journey marked by uncertainty, where we can swiftly shift from elated to exhausted. Yet I navigate it with unwavering resilience and determination, my constant companions. It’s hard to make plans, work,…

With hypopara, the good days are won one yard at a time

“And isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?” — “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette With hypoparathyroidism, every good day is a triumph over bad days. But that doesn’t mean the good days come easy. I spent a recent day with a friend in New York watching the San Francisco 49ers…

Going from patient to caregiver is helping me accept my own needs

“Independence is happiness.” — Susan B. Anthony I have learned that if I want something done correctly, I should do it myself. I am independent. I’ve been this way my whole life, and it has helped me manage my hypoparathyroidism. Hypopara casts a shadow over my life, dictating the…

Even when hypopara is challenging, ‘just keep swimming’

“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.” — Dory from “Finding Nemo”  Hypoparathyroidism consumes me; it’s a constant battle, a full-time job. My life revolves around the condition, whether it’s supporting fellow patients, sharing my experiences with researchers, going to the…

The silent struggle of hiding my hypoparathyroidism

“I’m used to being judged. I know what that feels like.” — NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip Hypoparathyroidism is an invisible illness. I appear healthy, but I struggle to exercise and become dizzy from low blood pressure. I easily forget things and sometimes can’t remember what I was saying…