Beth Ruffin on Balancing Work Life With Health Challenges

Beth Ruffin owns a consulting business that teaches diversity, equity and inclusion in professional spaces. She focuses on self-empowerment, helping people learn to include themselves. Although Beth is extremely passionate about her work, finding the right work-life balance has been challenging since she lives with three chronic health conditions: fibromyalgia, Read more…

Can Fibromyalgia and Fitness Coexist? An Interview with Coach Ki

After being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, Kiera (AKA Coach Ki) did some online research to see if she would be able to continue her fitness journey. She was disheartened to find several accounts of people unable to continue training with this disease. Kiera has been passionate about fitness since she was Read more…

Lupus Nephritis Inspired Marimee Toya Jules to Found the Village Tree Health Support Network

In her early 20s, Marimee (who goes by Toya) was diagnosed with lupus nephritis. This is a complication found in people with systemic lupus, in which lupus autoantibodies damage the kidneys, causing impaired function or even kidney failure. At first, Toya was horrified to discover she had this disease, being Read more…

Pancreatitis, Small Fiber Neuropathy, MCAS, Sjogren’s and More: Jo’s Health Journey So Far

In 2017, Jo began experiencing intense pain under her rib cage that traveled to her back, as if she was being impaled. She had complained of various pains throughout her life that doctors always brushed off, so at first she had no desire to seek professional help. But after two Read more…

Living with Multiple Autoimmune Diseases

According to the National Library of Medicine, about 25 percent of patients with an autoimmune disease will develop additional autoimmune diseases. That is definitely true of this week’s podcast guest, Vicky. Her first diagnosis of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis came during high school, and she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome a Read more…

Living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Joey Torre lives with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a painful, chronic skin condition that affects up to 2% of the population. The disease causes the formation of bumps, lesions, or boils in sweat gland areas, such as the armpits and groin. Joey also experiences extreme fatigue, which can sometimes accompany HS, Read more…

Andi and Jesse’s Health and Travel Updates!

Andi and Jesse share updates from their recent travels to New York and Florida, plus both of their health situations including Andi’s vocal injury and Jesse’s continued quest for a diagnosis. Jesse has seen significant improvements in his mobility, while being evaluated for mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and small Read more…

Her Laundry List of Diagnoses Inspired a Children’s Book About Autoimmune Disease

Heather has accumulated an overwhelming number of medical diagnoses, including Sjogren’s disease, vasculitis, SLE lupus, new daily persistent headache disorder, small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and endometriosis. At 20 years old her boyfriend (who is now her husband) sat her down to say she was sick and needed to go Read more…

A Diagnosis from Every Category: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Vestibular Migraines, Bipolar Disorder and More

Kevin has been on a diagnostic roller coaster over the past few years. He was working in a management position at a museum when he started having trouble walking, difficulty straightening up and intense pain in his feet. He also developed uveitis in his eyes, a painful inflammatory condition that Read more…

Pauline’s Quest for an MCAS Diagnosis

Everybody has mast cells in their body, as they play a critical role in allergic response. Mast cells release mediators to attack allergens, but can sometimes overreact when no allergen is present. This is the case for Pauline, who was recently diagnosed with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Though her Read more…