Columns

What a Difference VA Medical Care Has Made!

“Will my insurance cover it?” That’s a question I thankfully don’t have to ask when discussing various treatments with my care team at Veterans Affairs (VA). Its healthcare clinics have definitely gotten some bad press due to their care of our veterans, and I’ve been on the receiving end of…

IVIG and Me: How Having a Port Has Improved My Treatments

One common treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG) is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). I was initially treated with IVIG for my symptom flares and exacerbations. Thanks to detailed notes kept by my infusion nurses at the Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Maine, where I received those infusions, and because of…

My Dinner Plate Theory Helps Explain Daily Energy Levels

“Stick a fork in me, I’m done!” “I don’t have enough spoons for this.” We’ve all heard various quips involving silverware. When one becomes part of the chronic illness family, they may adopt the term “spoonie,” based on the spoon theory, a metaphor coined by lupus patient Christine Miserandino. Essentially,…

What to Look For in a Neurologist

When I was 6 years old, I had a pair of brown leather fisherman sandals I was obsessed with. I wore them with every outfit, regardless of the event or time of year. But by the time I turned 7, it was clear that I had outgrown them. This…

A New Home Base Despite an Old Set of Woes

We made it! Seven states, 35 hours, and five weather types later, we arrived at our destination. Moving cross-country is not for the faint of heart, but with a little planning and a level head when problems crop up, it’s doable. Our home sale in Maine had some hiccups…

Here’s to Breathing Easier, Eventually

LOL. Some days all you can do is laugh out loud. In January I got very sick with COVID-19. As I mentioned in a February column, it took a lot out of me, but at the time I was slowly beginning to recover. It’s now the end of March,…