Columns

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 therapy. When I was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism and told to take calcium supplements, it was…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with acupuncture. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “Isn’t it funny? The truth just sounds different.” — Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) from the 2000 movie “Almost Famous” Monday morning…

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 been healthy. That one day in 2003 changed everything. As I prepared to write this column,…

“Bumpy roads often lead to beautiful places.” — MLB coach Dave Martinez Living with hypoparathyroidism has been quite the adventure. It’s shown me that life is full of twists and turns that don’t come with a road map. Symptoms can emerge without warning, leading to unexpected health…

As the summer solstice passes by and blazing temperatures roll in, the image of lounging by a pool or lake with a cold alcoholic beverage in hand crosses my mind frequently. In a life without hypoparathyroidism, I suspect that’s exactly what I’d be doing today, as we reach 90…

“Every silver lining’s got a touch of grey/ I will get by/ … I will survive.” — “Touch of Grey,” the Grateful Dead Some songs resonate with me, regardless of the genre. I enjoy all music, from Top 40 to classic rock, rap, and the Grateful Dead. The lyrics are…

Having a chronic illness feels a little like being a hostage negotiator. It’s my functionality and I trapped behind an unpredictable chronic illness that’s got a chip on its shoulder and is out for blood. The alarm has been tripped and the medics are outside, but it doesn’t change the…

“We can’t control the storms that come our way, but we can control how we navigate through them.” — Fernanda Melchor’s novel “Hurricane Season” It’s almost summer here in the Sunshine State of Florida! It’s hot, humid, and rains daily. Floridians know to bring an umbrella, SPF, and a water…

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” — George MacDonald Building trust takes years, yet it can shatter in moments. This fragility can be a heavy burden. As Brian Keigley, president of Bionews (the publisher of this site), recently wrote on LinkedIn, “Trust isn’t a…

When I was a teenager, adults used to tell me time sped up every year. I scoffed in that way kids do when they don’t believe an adult, but I swear these days that time is nonsensical. This week marks my two-year anniversary on Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide), the first and only…