The post Here We Go Again appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Last Wednesday night marked the beginning of Passover, when we always host the first seder for our extended family. Al’s first cousins always host the second seder. This is a family tradition that dates back to Al’s mother and her youngest sister, who alternated hosting the two festive meals every year, when we join Jews […]

The post Until Next Year appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but at the end of December, I wrote my 700th post on this site. I launched Living with Scleroderma on January 3, 2012, and have been posting nearly every week since, with time off for good behavior when on vacation. That’s a lot of posts. While there always […]

The post 700-plus appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

A few weeks ago, I ordered new glasses. It’s been a few years since I’ve updated my prescription, mainly because I’ve had so much trouble with dry eyes from Sjogrens that it’s very challenging to get an accurate eye exam. My eyesight is often blurred due to lack of tears, and when I put in […]

The post It’s Never Simple appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Nights here have been clear and cold, and the moon is waxing brightly. As I write on Monday morning, I’m anticipating tonight’s stunning view, when the moon will be full, a huge silver plate in the sky—that is, until 12:44 a.m. Tuesday morning, when a two-hour total lunar eclipse will begin. As the moon passes […]

The post Spring Beckons appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

As of midday Monday, as I write, we are immersed in white. Al shoveled a foot-and-a-half of snow for two hours this morning, then fell asleep in his armchair for a while. At some point this afternoon he’ll go back outside and finish clearing our drive. We’re expecting up to another three inches by nightfall. […]

The post Storm Watch appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Prepping vegetables for meals is one of those tasks that I often find challenging. I need to wear latex gloves when I cook so I don’t infect my finger ulcers, and this makes handling food difficult, because my fingers have been shortened by both resorption and surgery, so the tips of the gloves always flop […]

The post A-Peeling appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Over the past year, I have been seeing a nurse practitioner at the Wound Center at our local hospital. She is absolutely brilliant, creative, and a great, empathetic listener—as are other members of her team. And she has introduced me to a number of wound care products that have made a significant difference in how […]

The post Second Skin appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

Every morning, I try to spend a few minutes meditating. I use an app, which is helpful and instructive. My mind wanders as minds do, but I am, over time, getting more adept at slowing down and focusing on my breath. This came in very handy on Monday, when I found myself back in my […]

The post Try, Try Again appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.

For years, our younger daughter has been asking me to document how I bandage my fingers. What if you can’t do it and need help? she asks. What do I need to know? So, last week, while she was visiting for the holidays, we finally got down to the nitty gritty. I reviewed all my dressings, what […]

The post What If? appeared first on Living with Scleroderma.