Float Like a Buttahfly – a Column by Kerry Wong

Menopause is something that affects just about half of the population eventually. But for many, it remains a giant question mark, or a whole bunch of questions. In that way, it resembles sarcoidosis. There are the basic questions about it: Am I currently going through it? What stage am…

When I received my Social Security Disability retro check after a two-year appeal, the first thing I purchased was a mobility scooter. I had rented one for a couple of advocacy trips and a vacation by then, and knew it would be best to have my own. Consequently, it seemed…

It’s beginning to look a lot like chaos! It never fails — no matter how much we plan, the end of the year always seems to sneak up on us, bringing a rush of madness. There’s too much to do, and never enough time to do it. While that’s surely…

Over the past two decades, I’ve gone from being an active, fit young woman to an overweight, disabled old lady dealing with a range of chronic illnesses. This transformation hasn’t been a straightforward journey; it has been filled with obstacles, detours, and dead ends. Some days, my sarcoidosis symptoms…

“This is a true story based on a lie.” That’s how each episode of “Apple Cider Vinegar,” a Netflix series released earlier this year, begins. The show tells the story of Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness influencer, app developer, and cookbook author. Through sharing her story about her…

I have a confession to make: I don’t read all my email. I try to, but it can be overwhelming. Instead, I skim through my inbox to see if I need to read anything right away, then bookmark things I’ll get back to later. Sometimes I’m too delete-happy with the…

Sitting at the infusion center for my intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, I opened up a Google Docs tab on my laptop. I’d just gotten an idea for a column, and wanted to jot down some notes before I forgot it. I had typed exactly eight words when another patient stopped…

I started writing this column a few weeks ago when I was angry. I was irate, it was festering, and I had to get it out. I started jotting down my thoughts, with the clickety-clack of my nails on the keyboard beating harder and faster than usual. If I were…

A few days ago, I saw a post on Bluesky that made me chuckle … and then it made me think. Originally posted by @ONeillJones on another platform and reshared by @chronicillness.bsky.social (known as Chronic Illness Humor), it posed a simple question: “Y’all think there are vampires that eat…

“When did the pain start?” That’s a fairly straightforward question with an uncomplicated answer for most people: “I fell last Thursday and hurt my knee.” “I was helping a friend move over the weekend and tweaked my back.” “I ate something funky last night, and my stomach’s been hurting ever…