“Trick or treat?”
It’s the question that’s really a code word meaning one thing in kid-speak: candy.
But for children who manage medical conditions such as cancer, celiac disease, diabetes and food allergies, for example, candy is a code word for caution. The Curse of Candy. Candy is lots of fun (and it should be!), but it can also be incredibly stressful for millions of kids. In the United States, an estimated 5.6 million children live with severe, life-threatening food allergies; 283,000 children have type 1 diabetes; one in 300 children have Celiac disease; one in 36 children have Autism spectrum disorder; and nearly 15,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer every year. [More]

I was sitting in the carline one day after school waiting to pick up my kids like I always do when a text message from their school nurse jolted me back to the moment.
"Are you in the carline? If so, pull up to the lot and come straight in. I've got a possible allergic reaction in progress."
I don't remember how I got from my car to the nurse's station, but I do remember the way my stomach lurched when I saw the nurse perched over my daughter, stethoscope on, emergency medicines laid out and ready. She was listening to her chest and laser-focused on her vitals.
She was all business, but had a tender, confident manner, and I could see that my little girl trusted her. I quickly realized, so did I. [More]

In our efforts to raise awareness, IG Living is supporting the PANDAS Network's initiative to recognize Oct. 9 as National PANDAS/PANS Awareness Day. We encourage everyone to visit the network's website at PandasNetwork.org to learn more about this devastating disease. [More]

Today, I want to talk about the art of balance for those of us with chronic illnesses. Living with chronic conditions can be challenging. But with some humor and practical tips, we can navigate life gracefully and avoid overextending ourselves. [More]

I don’t follow celebrity gossip, but headlines splash across my screen all the time so I’m somewhat in-the-know, and I’ve noticed an uptick in reports of celebrities being diagnosed with chronic diseases. Have you noticed it too? I don’t pay much attention to the reports, mostly because nearly half of the American population has some sort of chronic disease, and 25 to 30 million have a rare one. In other words, lots of people struggle with some sort of disease. Why should I pay attention when celebrities have one?

I usually just keep scrolling because, perhaps unfairly, I usually assume celebrities are out to snag another piece of the limelight with their news. But last December when Celine Dion [More]

My daughter plopped down on the couch after her fifth-grade promotion party and said, "You owe me."
"For what?" I asked.
"There were super fancy cookies at the party today, but my teacher said I couldn't eat them because of my food allergies."
Drat.
"Didn't they serve something different for you?" I asked. She said they also served popsicles, and everyone was allowed to eat as many as they wanted — but she doesn't like popsicles.
Double drat.
The look on her face reminded me of the day she graduated from preschool: Another mom brought in cute little cupcakes decorated with a graduation cap made from a peanut butter cup. My girl couldn't have those either due to her food allergies, so her teacher gave her a handful of gummy bears instead. [More]

A few months ago, my hair stylist asked me if I was dating anyone. I've been single for the last five years because I've found, like many of you, dating with a chronic illness is no easy task. I was upfront in my dating app profiles about being disabled due to multiple chronic illnesses. It turns out having a complex medical history is not seen as an attractive quality among men searching for a mate. Also, it goes without saying that having a stockpile of pharmaceuticals in my house made me very cautious about bringing anyone new into my life. I certainly didn't advertise to the single dating pool that I suffer from chronic pain. According to the current statistics from the National Center for Drug Abuse, 22 percent of males and 17 percent of females used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year. So, the risk of attracting a person with the worst of intentions is real when chronically ill. [More]

I really don’t like spending my money on things I don’t use (do you?), so I cancelled my gym membership. Back when time and money was my own, spending them both at the gym was easy. But after getting married and starting a family, and especially now that I work full time and juggle older kids with expensive activities and crazy schedules, I am busier than ever, and time and money are not my own and are both stretched very thin. It wasn’t an easy decision. I know how important exercise is for good health, and moving my body consistently is a great stress reliever that helps me keep my autoimmune disease in check. [More]