Peaceful Chaos – a Column by Allison Ross

I remember the early days of my vasculitis diagnosis, when high dosages of steroids and chemotherapy robbed me of joy. My physical self was suffering to the extent that my mind and spirit broke with it. For several months, I woke up in the morning and had to sit…

The first week of February, I turned 35. It was a typical, uneventful adult birthday — especially because it fell on a Monday. I happened to be traveling back from a weekend of out-of-state work, so besides some good wishes from family and friends, there wasn’t a huge celebration. (At…

When the world outside of your head becomes overwhelming and you need to cling to something for support, where do you find your center? With vasculitis, that world is an unfamiliar one. It’s full of new challenges, new details a patient is obligated to learn for their own…

Those of you who have followed my column for at least a year might recall my annual January tradition, called Hibernation. I treat it as a mental and physical reset, and eagerly look forward to it after the bustle of the holiday season. I began Hibernating in 2016…

Body image involves more than vanity. Though we often think of cosmetics and fitness as superficial, the reality is that they help us feel good about ourselves. We want to appeal to a mate, impress friends, and come off as professional to work colleagues. But everything about the physical body…

Sometimes the simplest things turn out to have an enormous impact. Vasculitis patients know the value in life’s beautiful details that others may take for granted, such as a stable routine, supportive friends, or a day of the week when our symptoms are quiet. Even though I’ve been…

Once you’ve lived many years with a disorder as stressful as vasculitis, it’s both harder and easier to endure routine medical procedures. A couple weeks ago, I encountered severe dental issues. I never had my wisdom teeth taken out as a young adult, and they were enacting their revenge.

You know the song. The obnoxious, catchy song that rings in your ears incessantly. “This is the song that doesn’t end, Yes, it goes on and on, my friend, Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, And they’ll continue singing it forever just because.” (Repeat…

Brandon Hudgins and Ben Wilson are two longtime friends of mine, both with a similar vasculitis diagnosis. We met while volunteering for the Vasculitis Foundation as young adult leaders. Obviously, life looks very different when you’re sick at such an early age. Now in our 30s, we remain…

Though a new diagnosis can be overwhelming, there’s no doubt it’s educational. Even after years of living with vasculitis, there’s still more to research and experience. Once the immediate danger has passed, there’s more luxury of time to relax into a chronic illness lifestyle. As we learn about…