Living

The Weight of Rare Disease Giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your interest! Living with a rare disease comes with daily challenges – both seen and unseen. The physical...

I don't remember what it's like not to be in pain. On a good day, I might say I'm "without pain." But honestly, I say that because I get tired...

Last week, I made the familiar journey from optometrist to optician, getting a new glasses prescription and ordering new frames. I have done this many times but always get excited...

When I was first diagnosed with narcolepsy, I felt like I was drowning. I floundered in confusion. All of these new symptoms were thrust upon me. I didn't know where...

Life with a rare disease can be unpredictable, and the mental health toll can be significant as we often grapple with loss and grief. Grief doesn't have to be for...

Due to short bowel syndrome (SBS), I've endured years of malnutrition, and even the years I've been well-nourished, I still have nutrient deficiencies that have significantly impacted my musculoskeletal system...

December 13th celebrates National Day of the Horse in the United States. On this day, people are encouraged to honor the economic, historical, and cultural contributions that horses have made...

In my experience and that of my family, with rare disease comes several additional health conditions. As a result, there is usually a lot of medications to manage. I really...

Have you noticed that your symptoms fluctuate or change, sometimes unexpectedly, as a person with a rare disease? I have type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy, and it feels like my...

Ever since I've been diagnosed with the first of my 3 rare diseases, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), I've tried to stay informed. It's been important to me because, as with most...

Don't get me wrong—I can sometimes be the queen of procrastination. I have my "lazy" moments. But I want people to understand that if, sometimes, well, often, I don't do...

There's been a big change this year in how I approach my rare disease, hemophilia A. I'm treating myself at home once a week. Until now, I have always treated...

More likely than not, if you're reading this, then you've likely experienced someone crossing your boundaries as a chronic illness/rare disease patient, telling you or implying that your condition isn't...

As a young mom raising a child with a rare disease, I've learned that feeling pressure from uncertainty and heartache is normal. My son's diagnosis of an ultra-rare disease turned...

Getting a new rare disease diagnosis can be a difficult undertaking. Some conditions, such as narcolepsy, are so misunderstood that it can take years to get an official diagnosis! The...

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a genetic condition that can affect people of any sex. This is a rare condition that can require lifelong treatment. If you or your partner...

I try to approach life by considering others' perspectives, not just mine. Sometimes, though, I fail at this. As a rare disease advocate, I'm not free of or above unintentional...

When living with a rare disease, how often do you disclose your needs? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Living with a rare disease usually means that other people aren't well-informed about my...

I have been fortunate to have my mother and grandfather to share my rare disease journey with me, as one of our shared rare diseases, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), is...

Recently, I thought I had found a group of friends who would stick by my side, who understood what I was going through, or at least tried to. I live...