Tag: chronicillness

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The Sinking Ship and the Whistling Chef: Sarcoidosis, Chronic Illness, and the Petty Art of Staying Afloat

Someone decided my take on living with sarcoidosis was “too upbeat,” like I’m out here harmonizing with woodland creatures while my body runs a nonstop group project I didn’t sign up for. But if you’ve ever tried to stay afloat in chronic illness while strangers critique your coping skills, you already know the real story isn’t about pretending—it’s about refusing to let misery run the whole kitchen…

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When Your Heart Breaks the Rules: My Sarcoidosis Stress Test Plot Twist

I showed up for a stress test expecting the usual treadmill humiliation—just me, some wires, and the subtle reminder that sarcoidosis doesn’t care about my plans. Instead, the numbers went rogue, the tech started bargaining with the screen, and I walked out with the kind of plot twist that makes you stare at your own body like, “Excuse me, who authorized this?”

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Respect My Air: A Chef’s Rant on Smokers, Scents, and Secondhand Stupidity

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but cigarette smoke is not an air freshener. For those of us living with sarcoidosis or any lung condition, your “right to smoke” feels like my right to suffocate. Here’s one chef’s not-so-gentle reminder that public air is shared property—so stop blowing toxins in my direction and pretending it’s perfume.

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When Your Brain Dreams in Seconds: Micro-Sleep, Chronic Illness Fatigue, and the Strange Art of Rest

Living with chronic illness fatigue from sarcoidosis and heart failure can trigger strange micro-dreams that appear in just seconds. As a private chef, debut novelist, husband, and pet parent, I’ve learned to see these surreal mental snapshots as my body’s way of processing stress and restoring energy. Here’s how micro-sleep, creative imagination, and humor can help you survive fatigue and find meaning in the chaos.

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