Iron deficiency has always been a part of my life as a woman with the bleeding disorders hemophilia B and von Willebrand disease. Iron is essential for your body to function, I have learned. One cause of iron deficiency is bleeding. When I am anemic, or my…
Dust off those backpacks, girls, it’s time for the school year to begin! When your daughter has hemophilia or another type of bleeding disorder, sending her to school can be overwhelming. But we’ve come a long way since my school days. Children today are fortunate to have access to…
As a person with multiple bleeding disorders, I’m an expert at removing blood from many materials, including carpet, clothing, and furniture. Sometimes the blood wins and will ruin a new shirt. Although I’m in my 50s, a blood stain can still get the best of me, as happened last…
Hemophilia B and experimental gene therapy have been in the news lately. I was even surprised to hear a story on the topic while listening to my local NPR station. Hemophilia BÂ is the less common form of the disorder that arises when a…
In February, I wrote about hemophilia’s effects on bone health after attending a webinar sponsored by Factor My Way, a patient support program. It featured bleeding disorders expert Claudio Sandoval, MD, who explained that everyone with hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) is at an increased risk of…
Living with any chronic illness comes with a financial burden. Hemophilia, in particular, is extremely rare and extremely expensive. What follows is a summary of the expenses, insurance, and savings that I’ve encountered in my journey with bleeding disorders. Expenses Most years, I’m sure to hit the $7,000+…
Last week, I gave in to my 79-year-old mother’s pleas to travel from Florida to the Midwest for a family gathering in Illinois. She is immunocompromised, and I am her caregiver. The pandemic has kept us off public transportation, as she is vulnerable to COVID-19 and any other infection from…
Most women of childbearing age have normal monthly periods. For women like me with bleeding disorders, monthly periods are a “shark week event” with horrific bleeding and pain. The pain made me sweat, shake, and vomit. The severe bleeding had other consequences: I was iron-deficient, anemic, and exhausted. After work,…
Dear Newly Diagnosed Sister, Welcome! You are now part of a supportive community full of love, courage, and inspirational superheroes. Always remember that you are not alone. I was diagnosed with von Willebrand disease and hemophilia B in 1975, at age 10. Your diagnosis Diagnosis of…
As my COVID-19 recovery continues, I have questions. So I called public health expert Frank James, MD, to help. James is active in teaching, research, and medical practice. He is the health officer for San Juan County and the Nooksack Indian Nation in Washington state. He is…
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