Chronic Illness Sheryl Chan

What's it Like to be on a High Dose of Steroids? (And the First Question You Will Definitely Ask)

*Content Warning: Mentions of suicide, anxiety and depression in relation to being on a high dose of steroids. *Disclaimer: This article is meant for educational purposes, and is based on my personal experiences as a patient. I am not a doctor, and nothing in this article should be substituted for
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Blogging & Writing Sheryl Chan

A Quarterly Reflection: 12 Important Life Lessons I’ve Learned

Who Would Have Thought That Blogging Could Teach Me Important Life Lessons? It has only been 4 months since the launch of A Chronic Voice, but I have learned so much over that short span of time from the increased amount of reading and writing done. As such I figured
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Antiphospholipid Syndrome Sheryl Chan

An Experience from Hell: Pulmonary Embolism, DVTs & Antiphospholipid Syndrome

A Careless Misdiagnosis: “Muscular Cramps” Instead of Pulmonary Embolism “It’s just a muscular cramp”. The general practitioner I saw dismissed my intense pains with a swift diagnosis. He gave me some muscle relaxants and sent me limping off. Meanwhile, a monstrous pulmonary embolism gathered in size and strength, as
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Mental Health Sheryl Chan

Clinical Depression: Diagnosed 10 Years Late

*Content Warning: Mentions of severe depression and suicidal ideation. Clinical Depression in the Spotlight Depression has been in the headlines a lot these days. It is good to see the rise in awareness for mental health, and the increase in the number of people stepping up and speaking out. Every
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Community Sheryl Chan

Advice That Could, Quite Literally, Kill

One Size Does Not Fit All — Doctor's Perspective When it comes to chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases, one size does not fit all. Even our doctors deal with us on a case by case basis: “This drug works for him, but can she tolerate it?” “It isn’t
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Chronic Illness Sheryl Chan

An Open Letter to Death, and One Simple Plea

An open letter to death that I wrote, with just one simple plea – please, no more pain. Content Warning: This post contains mentions of death, depression and suicidal thoughts. *Disclaimer: This article is meant for educational purposes, and is based on my personal experiences as a patient. I am not
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Chronic Illness Sheryl Chan

Appearances – the First Layer of Defense

Why I Care So Much About My Appearances Whilst I don’t spend hours applying makeup in front of the mirror, I do ensure that I look somewhat presentable before stepping out of the house. This can be a struggle on bad days, but still I try. Why? I have
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Relationships Sheryl Chan

We Shouldn't Expect People to Understand

We Shouldn't Expect People to Understand – Anyone Who Says They Do, Doesn't Really The topic of this post might sound controversial but do hear me out. In all seriousness, how can anyone understand something that they've never experienced, even if they tried to? Anyone
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Creativity Sheryl Chan

An Inspirational Poem on Miracles, by Thuli Zuma

A Poem on Miracles by Thuli Zuma, and How It Inspires Me Whenever I need a good dose of inspiration, this poem on miracles by Thuli Zuma never fails. It reminds me that I am a human being just like anyone else, and that we are all living miracles. *Disclaimer:
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Healthcare Sheryl Chan

Is My Doctor Right for Me?

The Many Questions with a New Chronic Illness Diagnosis How do you differentiate between a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ doctor? How do you know if the diagnosis presented is accurate, or if the treatment options presented are the best ones? How do you know if your doctor or surgeon suits your
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Chronic Illness Sheryl Chan

So This is What a Tonic Clonic Seizure Feels Like

What is a Tonic Clonic Seizure? (Formerly Known as a Grand Mal Seizure) A generalised tonic clonic seizure, formerly known as a grand mal seizure, is the stereotypical type of seizure that you see on TV (of course, it has to be the most ‘dramatic’ form). You know the scene
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Home & Lifestyle Sheryl Chan

The Superpowers of the Average Human Being

My ‘Normal’ is Not the Same ‘Normal’ as the Average Human Being ‘Normal’ is a most fascinating word, because no two people's ‘normal’ is ever the same. For example, feeling some sort of ailment every day is normal to me, and not feeling any pain makes it an
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