Although I live with a chronic illness, I’ve always tried to shape my life with as much freedom and independence as possible. This was true long before anyone put a name to my condition: IgG4‑RD. The ability to make my own choices and decide for myself how a day…
Columns
Did you know that 1 in 6 people has a disability? Don’t worry if you didn’t, because about 80% of disabilities are invisible. Invisible or hidden disabilities are those that lack obvious or visible signs, such as using a cane or wheelchair, or having a noticeable physical difference.
My name is Silvia Borgers, and I live in the Netherlands with my husband, our dog, and our cat. Our children have left home, but thankfully, we still see them often. That is the advantage of living in a small country like the Netherlands. My lovely family has been my…
Sometimes, what lingers longest after a symptom flare-up isn’t the pain of my diseases, but the echo of words spoken by others. Words meant to spark positive conversations and encourage and comfort us can instead leave a heavy mark. I constantly remind those around me that living with IgG4-related…
In my childhood, productivity meant going to school, doing homework, getting some playtime in, and ending the day, only to restart the cycle the next day. As I grew older, productivity took on new meaning. It meant checking every box on my to-do list: excelling at work, keeping up with…
Thirteen years ago, I finally decided to confront the neck and lower back pain, fatigue, stiffness, and vertigo that had plagued me since childhood. Endless scans and specialist visits led to vague diagnoses, typically resulting in nothing more than a prescription for physical therapy. Over time, I accumulated a list…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Rituxan. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. In preparation for my upcoming Rituxan (rituximab) infusion, I revisited a symptom tracker journal I started four years ago following…
If I can offer some light in another person’s dark times, I believe I’ve turned my hardships into something meaningful. Once upon a time, things simply happened to me. Today, I understand and believe that those exhaustive hurdles and battles were necessary stepping stones on my path. They have brought…
One thing I am learning as an IgG4-related disease patient, advocate, writer, and the founder and CEO of the IgG4-RD Life Foundation is that patient insights about our experiences are crucial toward building a more accurate and inclusive picture of this disease. That’s why I’m writing here to…
Dear 16-year-old me, I chose to write to you instead of the 5- and 8-year-old versions of you because all I’d do is hold the younger versions and whisper that you’re loved. I know you’re tired. You’re angry, and you feel misunderstood. You’ve lived your whole life through pain and…
