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A few months ago, I enrolled in two online courses: a naturopath nutritional course and a master herbalist course. I hoped to gain knowledge about living a more holistic lifestyle. I’ve always believed that adopting a more healthy lifestyle can provide long-lasting benefits for anyone living with chronic…

It has been over a month since I first came down with the virus. I slept through the first week and a half, but was eventually able to get out of bed. I started with at least half of the day and progressed from there. The virus isn’t completely…

I used to be a notoriously late holiday shopper, scrambling in stores on Christmas Eve to complete my gift list to the amusement of my family. But life with sarcoidosis and my other chronic health conditions can be unpredictable. The holiday season adds to the challenges. That’s why this…

The Thanksgiving holiday is fast approaching here in the United States. It’s a time when many of us think about the aspects of our lives for which we are thankful. In the early years following my diagnosis, I wouldn’t have placed the words “thankful” and “sarcoidosis” in the same sentence.

More than 55 million people plan to travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving this year, according to AAA. But I won’t be among them. After two exhausting trips to Cleveland, all within a month, this self-proclaimed worst traveler is staying home. I love to travel, but trips wear…

My daughter celebrated her 20th birthday last week. She kept saying she wanted to take a trip. Initially, the destination was the Dominican Republic. Then she mentioned Miami and a few other places. As it turns out, she booked a trip to Los Angeles … using my “50 and…

Before my diagnosis, I thought of myself as a traditionalist, at least when it came to the holidays. I baked cookies, decorated the house, and shopped for the perfect gift for everyone on my list. I planned get-togethers for family and friends and went to great lengths to pull off…

I’m often my own worst enemy. Last year, I decided to add some variety to my usual cardio workout. When I started a cardiac rehabilitation program to manage my postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the goal was to gradually progress from exercising on a semi-recumbent cycle to upright workouts…

I recently took a short weekend trip about 40 miles outside Philadelphia to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, to visit my brother-in-law. I try to get out to “the country” where he lives about twice a month. We do the “guy” thing: sit around, drink beers, and do nothing. He…

It was my initial desire to explain my sarcoidosis diagnosis to the people around me. Whether they were individuals I have known for years or those I had recently met, I wanted to be honest and open. But one day I stopped doing that. It’s not that I don’t…