Nyxks Musings

Welcome to the My Health section of Nyxks Musings — a space where I speak openly and honestly about life with multiple chronic illnesses, disabilities, allergies, and the realities of navigating health systems from both sides of the equation: as someone who lives with complex medical needs and as someone who has spent decades in a caregiving role.

I live with a long list of medical conditions, including Type 1 Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Spinal and Knee Osteoarthritis, Generalized Dystonia, Fibromyalgia, Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP), Celiac Disease, and a Functional Movement Disorder (FMD) complicated by overlapping diagnoses. I also have a learning disability that includes dyslexia, as well as allergies to dairy and latex, and severe intolerances to coconut, avocado, banana, kiwi, and eggplant. Mental health also plays a role in this picture — my experience with depression has been shaped by personal and family trauma, including witnessing my father’s Alzheimer’s journey and being dismissed by the system at a time I needed support most.

For much of my life, I was the one doing the caregiving — first for my mom from 2003 until her passing in 2015, then for my dad until his passing in 2019. I also became a caregiver to my husband when we got engaged in 2008 and married in 2009. He lives with epilepsy (grand mal, nocturnal, and absence seizures), arthritis, and depression, and I’ve learned how caregiving evolves when both partners have health challenges. We’re both service dog handlers, and our dogs are more than companions — they’re essential medical supports, part of our everyday lives and our care plans.

Here in this section, and in the posts that follow, you’ll find:

  • Personal reflections on being diagnosed, adapting, and coping.
  • Accessible breakdowns of overlapping chronic conditions.
  • Tools, treatments, and strategies I’ve used — from insulin pumps and adaptive tech to pain management and alternative therapies.
  • Tips for caregivers, especially those balancing their own health needs.
  • Hard truths about health systems, accessibility, and falling through the cracks.
  • Supportive, honest storytelling meant to connect — whether you’re newly diagnosed, deep into managing your health, or caring for someone else.

This space is a mix of lived experience and informed advocacy.
It’s for you — whether you’re navigating your own health, supporting a loved one, or trying to understand what disability really looks like behind the labels.

Thanks for being here. You’re not alone.

I’m A Diabetic

I Have Dystonia

Living Well

A person using a manual wheelchair sits beside a service dog in a forest clearing, facing the Toronto skyline in the distance. A small Canadian flag is attached to their backpack. The sky above glows with soft light, subtly tinted with the colors of the Disability Pride flag. The scene conveys empowerment, inclusion, and pride, with text that reads Being Canadian and Disabled, It's Complicated, but Powerful!
Disability & Accessibility | My Health | Site News

Being Canadian and Disabled: It’s Complicated

ByNyx

It’s July 1st—Canada Day, and also the first day of Disability Pride Month. I can appreciate what’s good about where I live and still advocate for what needs to change. Because the reality is: access isn’t universal. Disabled Canadians are still waiting on promises, still navigating broken systems, still too often left behind. Disability Pride […]

Diabetes | Writings

Commonly Asked Questions About Ozempic From T1s and T2 Diabetics

ByNyx

What is Ozempic, and how does it work?Answer: Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production when blood sugar is high, reducing the amount of sugar released by the liver, and slowing down the movement of food through the stomach. It also aids in weight loss […]

My Health | Writings

Celebrating Disability Pride Month

ByNyx

July is Disability Pride Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the achievements, history, and culture of the disability community. It’s an important period for raising awareness about the challenges that people with disabilities face and promoting their rights and inclusion. Disability Pride Month was first celebrated in 1990, coinciding with the passage of the Americans […]

Welcome to the My Health section of Nyxks Musings — a space where I speak openly and honestly about life with multiple chronic illnesses, disabilities, allergies, and the realities of navigating health systems from both sides of the equation: as someone who lives with complex medical needs and as someone who has spent decades in a caregiving role.

I live with a long list of medical conditions, including Type 1 Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Spinal and Knee Osteoarthritis, Generalized Dystonia, Fibromyalgia, Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP), Celiac Disease, and a Functional Movement Disorder (FMD) complicated by overlapping diagnoses. I also have a learning disability that includes dyslexia, as well as allergies to dairy and latex, and severe intolerances to coconut, avocado, banana, kiwi, and eggplant. Mental health also plays a role in this picture — my experience with depression has been shaped by personal and family trauma, including witnessing my father’s Alzheimer’s journey and being dismissed by the system at a time I needed support most.

For much of my life, I was the one doing the caregiving — first for my mom from 2003 until her passing in 2015, then for my dad until his passing in 2019. I also became a caregiver to my husband when we got engaged in 2008 and married in 2009. He lives with epilepsy (grand mal, nocturnal, and absence seizures), arthritis, and depression, and I’ve learned how caregiving evolves when both partners have health challenges. We’re both service dog handlers, and our dogs are more than companions — they’re essential medical supports, part of our everyday lives and our care plans.

Here in this section, and in the posts that follow, you’ll find:

  • Personal reflections on being diagnosed, adapting, and coping.
  • Accessible breakdowns of overlapping chronic conditions.
  • Tools, treatments, and strategies I’ve used — from insulin pumps and adaptive tech to pain management and alternative therapies.
  • Tips for caregivers, especially those balancing their own health needs.
  • Hard truths about health systems, accessibility, and falling through the cracks.
  • Supportive, honest storytelling meant to connect — whether you’re newly diagnosed, deep into managing your health, or caring for someone else.

This space is a mix of lived experience and informed advocacy.
It’s for you — whether you’re navigating your own health, supporting a loved one, or trying to understand what disability really looks like behind the labels.

Thanks for being here. You’re not alone.

I’m A Diabetic

I Have Dystonia

Living Well

A person using a manual wheelchair sits beside a service dog in a forest clearing, facing the Toronto skyline in the distance. A small Canadian flag is attached to their backpack. The sky above glows with soft light, subtly tinted with the colors of the Disability Pride flag. The scene conveys empowerment, inclusion, and pride, with text that reads Being Canadian and Disabled, It's Complicated, but Powerful!
Disability & Accessibility | My Health | Site News

Being Canadian and Disabled: It’s Complicated

ByNyx

It’s July 1st—Canada Day, and also the first day of Disability Pride Month. I can appreciate what’s good about where I live and still advocate for what needs to change. Because the reality is: access isn’t universal. Disabled Canadians are still waiting on promises, still navigating broken systems, still too often left behind. Disability Pride […]

Diabetes | Writings

Commonly Asked Questions About Ozempic From T1s and T2 Diabetics

ByNyx

What is Ozempic, and how does it work?Answer: Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production when blood sugar is high, reducing the amount of sugar released by the liver, and slowing down the movement of food through the stomach. It also aids in weight loss […]

My Health | Writings

Celebrating Disability Pride Month

ByNyx

July is Disability Pride Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the achievements, history, and culture of the disability community. It’s an important period for raising awareness about the challenges that people with disabilities face and promoting their rights and inclusion. Disability Pride Month was first celebrated in 1990, coinciding with the passage of the Americans […]