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March, which is Autoimmune Awareness Month, involves sliding into spring, a time of year that coincidentally reflects an autoimmune condition: shifting, transitional, and unpredictable. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks itself. The very organs that are supposed to keep the body safe become so overactive…

Imagine a college student who rarely goes to parties, never drinks to excess, and avoids virtually all risky behavior. Thanks to my health condition, that student was me. True, some young adults are laser-focused on their degree and future career and have an incredible amount of self-discipline. But for the…

There’s more to a chronic disease lifestyle than seeing a doctor and taking meds. I’m reminded of this on a daily basis, with dozens of small actions that have become so routine I don’t even think about them as having to do with vasculitis anymore. At first, adjusting to…

Among many health-support communities, there’s an ongoing discussion regarding pharmaceuticals versus natural healing. Once we patients have a diagnosis, the next step is to determine a treatment plan. But how do we know what’s the best route to keep our immune systems clean and functioning well, with the lowest…

There’s an intriguing dichotomy in the vasculitis community, and I believe it’s one to be thankful for. My journey with granulomatosis with polyangiitis began in relative isolation. I was unfamiliar with the medical terms and treatments, and overwhelmed by the new normal that stood in front of me like…

“Tell me about your disease.” This should be an uncomplicated request, but it’s not. Where do I start? What do I say that accurately encapsulates vasculitis but doesn’t confuse, mischaracterize, or bore? On the surface, describing my condition is simple: It’s an autoimmune disorder that causes inflamed blood vessels. But…

There’s a customary phrase in the vasculitis community: “We’re sorry that you’re here, but we’re very glad you found us.” Coined by Marilyn Sampson, the founder of what is now the Vasculitis Foundation, it’s a succinct reminder of the dual nature of living with chronic illness. After…

In the vasculitis community, patients often encounter uncomfortable situations. Disease symptoms plague us. Getting used to shifted routines takes some adjustment. And maybe worst of all, new medications can cause debilitating side effects. Among the various unpleasantries, one name makes even the seasoned autoimmune patient shudder with revulsion: prednisone.

A few weeks ago, Kansas City, Missouri, got several inches of heavy snow. It happened on a Friday night, so we locals braced ourselves for a long weekend of staying in and getting cozy. (I’m in the middle of my hibernation month, so I wasn’t planning to go out…

Young people like to ask each other, “If you were an animal, what animal would you be?” My answer is a grizzly bear. They’re powerful and majestic. They sit at the top of the food chain in their habitat. And most intriguingly, they eat for half…