Coping...I'm newly diagnosed and my steroids We're reduced to soon which caused a flare up. Been advised to up steroids which I have . I'm still have bad pain ...Reactions0reactionsComments1 repliesNewly DiagnosedCoping
Romantic Partnerships...Has your rare disease impacted your romantic relationships? What challenges or successes have you encountered?...Reactions0reactionsComments18 replies
Have you ever seen your rare disease represented in the media? ...How did it make you feel? Did you feel it was an accurate depiction? Tell us more about what you would like to see and what effect you hope it...Reactions0reactionsComments3 repliesAwareness
How to Advocate for Yourself in Social Situations With a Rare Disease...Learning how to advocate for yourself can be challenging. It's certainly a learning process, and it is often difficult to stick up for oneself in social situations. Here are a...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
The Career Debacle...Managing a career with a rare disease can be challenging, especially if you have just learned about the condition, like my ultra-rare Gillespie syndrome. Though I wouldn’t quite call it...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Rare Blood Cancer: Waldemstroms Macglobanemia...Living with a rare blood cancer is challenging. On a BTK Inhibitor has to be careful of side effects. Trips to Boston from North Carolina at least every three months...Reactions0reactionsComments1 replies
How to Deal With Letdowns in Your Awareness Efforts...As I shared in a previous article, rare disease advocacy can include writing and requesting proclamations. Proclamations can be made by organizations and at various levels of government. In my...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Job-Seeking as a Caregiver for a Child With a Rare Disease...Finding a job with a supportive and understanding employer can be an ongoing challenge for those of us raising a child with a rare disease. Complex situations and unique challenges...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
help: Persistent Sensation of Heaviness from Clothing on Chest! – ruining my life!...I'm a 19-year-old who’s been dealing with a frustrating issue since I was around 8 years old, and it's really starting to wear on me, especially because I'm big on...Reactions0reactionsComments3 repliesSymptomsTips & Advice
When Living With a Rare Disease Negatively Affects Sex Life...Sigh… I hesitated writing about this topic out of the initial shame I felt in even having gone through any of what I am about to share here. But I...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Jake Marrazzo...Jake Marrazzo is a writer, author, and patient advocate living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He was diagnosed at 8-years-old, and was in a wheelchair by age 12. Since then, he...
The Power of Friendship in the Rare Disease Community: 3 Reasons to Connect...Living with a rare disease can often make individuals feel isolated and misunderstood. However, in this vast and interconnected world, nobody should have to face these challenges alone. The rare...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Reach for the STARS! Why Media Representation Matters...Recently, I had the privilege of attending Portland Pride. The weekend was jam-packed with all sorts of events and parties celebrating the beautiful and diverse LGBTQIA+ community. As a queer...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Managing Overwhelm: Giving Ourselves Permission to Take a Moment...Reacting versus responding. There's a difference between them that can be ignored or forgotten. Reacting is that gut punch reflex that tells us we must act now, not later —...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Dear Caregiver......As the sounds settle down for the night and your child falls asleep, your night is just beginning. You ensure that everything that needs to get done gets done –...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Fertility Preservation for Rare Disease Warriors...In a time marked by heightened awareness and discord surrounding reproductive health, caregivers of children with rare diseases carry a unique burden – the preservation of their child's fertility. As...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Recognizing the Symptoms of Eye Conditions...Understanding the symptoms of various eye conditions can help in early detection and treatment, preserving vision and eye health. Common symptoms such as blurred vision, eye pain, redness, floaters, and...Reactions0reactionsComments3 repliesSymptoms
Exploring Non-Drug Pain Management Options...Chronic pain, unfortunately, seems to accompany rare diseases too often. I began having chronic pain early on with my rare disease, and it is what led to my diagnosis of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Mystery...No doctor over many years can diagnosis my skin condition. Hospitals and physicians have no idea what it is. Doesn’t show in blood work. I have researched for many years...Reactions0reactionsComments4 replies
Undiagnosed with neurological symptoms and multiple misdiagnoses...Hi folks! I'm currently seeing a neurologist, who is giving me multiple tests to see what rare disease I may have. About a year ago, I started randomly slurring my...Reactions0reactionsComments4 repliesSymptomsDiagnosis