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February 21-27 is National Eating Disorders Week

Eating disorders affect more than 10 million people in the United States.  Types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge or compulsive eating.   More recently, there has been an emergence of new disorders of diabulemia and orthorexia as well as the coming together of eati

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February 28th – Rare Disease Day

Today, Monday, February 28 is Rare Disease Day 2011.  A disease or disorder is defined as rare in the US if it affects less than 200,00 people.  The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the mobilizing force behind this day recognized around the globe. This year, their focus is on “

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What is Normal? Am I Normal?

What is Normal? Am I Normal?

Recently, it has been suggested to me that because I am receiving treatments regularly, the treatments mean that I’m not really sick. The assertion is that on treatment, I lead a “basically healthy” life and that I am “pretty normal”.  Well, let’s go ahead and examine this idea of norma

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“This is more then just being tired.” CBS correspondent Serene Branson knew something was wrong.

How many times have we all felt that we just KNEW something was wrong. We know our bodies, we listen to that little voice in our soul that tells us when something isn't right. But how many times do we ignore it? Unfortuntaly for Serene Branson this happened live on television as she experienced a se

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Top Ten Creature Comforts

Top Ten Creature Comforts

We’ve all been there - the nausea and vomiting that sometimes accompany a change in medication. My doctor recently changed some medicines over the past months, so I’ve been craving a lot of comfort items lately. Everyone's "comfort" items are different, however, here are a few of mine that possi

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Arm Yourself With Knowledge

Arm Yourself With Knowledge

I can't tell you how many times I've thought of a great idea only to forget it five minutes later. Then I get frustrated enough to pull my hair out because I can't remember what I was thinking about, and then five minutes after that wonder why I'm upset. The best part is when I completely forget the

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A Parent’s Love

A Parent’s Love

A thought occurred to me this morning, what is like for the parents of the chronically ill?  I have too many diagnoses to properly name, but the two prominent ones are Fibromyalgia and Lupus.  I first started showing symptoms of chronic pain around twelve years old, but did not actually have anyth

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Easing the Strain: Tips For Body & Mind

Easing the Strain: Tips For Body & Mind

As someone who has been chronically ill for 12 years, I could talk in excess about the number of things I have purchased to ease both body and mind.  I am almost entirely housebound, and as a result, I work diligently to make my home as disability-friendly as possible. If I had to pick ten thing

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Overcoming Cleopatra: Becoming More Than The Queen of Denial

Overcoming Cleopatra: Becoming More Than The Queen of Denial

With apologizes to Yogi Berra, chronic illness is 90% mental, and the other half physical. There are countless studies linking the physical pain to mental pain, and visa-versa. We all have experienced that stress can increase pain levels and that laughter can be a pain reliever. Often, chronic illne

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Not Tonight Honey, I Have Chemo: How To Rekindle That Spark

Not Tonight Honey, I Have Chemo: How To Rekindle That Spark

Heart racing.  Flushed face.  Can’t breathe.  Hot and sweaty.  On Valentine’s Day these phrases may conjure up images of feelings of love and desire to some. The way that certain someone makes the butterflies flutter around in a nervous stomach to most people means star crossed love is in th

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