I remember it like it was yesterday. The diagnosis of dementia had changed my life forever. I was in a state of shock, unable to comprehend the news I had just been told. I had noticed a few changes in my behavior, but I was convinced it was just a sign of aging. Little did …
Diabetes has been a major part of my life since childhood, when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. During the initial diagnosis I was overwhelmed, feeling scared and uncertain about my future. I questioned how I would manage my diabetes as I navigated through adolescence. After some intensive education from my endocrinologist and my …
I felt the searing pain in my veins, a burning, aching desire to do something, anything that would stop the pain. I knew the cause: syphilis. I’d been warned about the consequences, the damage it can do, but I hadn’t heeded the warnings. Now, I was living with the results. I felt more and more …
I could never have imagined that a simple trip to the emergency room would lead to my diagnosis of septic shock. Everything happened so quickly; one moment I was feeling fine and the next I was in a fight for my life. I felt exhausted and I was too weak to do anything but lay …
From the moment I woke up in the morning, my heart would start to beat rapidly. I felt my chest tighten and a wave of intense fear would wash over me. I knew I was having a panic attack and I had no idea what to do about it. My panic disorder had started a …
I started noticing something about a year ago. I felt a dull, constant pain in my forehead, like an invisible pressure was pushing down on my face. I tried to ignore it but it kept coming back. I thought it was just stress, but it kept getting worse. One day I finally decided to take …
It started with pain in my left knee. I thought nothing of it at first, but as it spread to both of my ankles, I knew something was wrong. I went to the doctor, and heard the words I dreaded: reactive arthritis. My life was put on hold for a few months as I adjusted …
