Patient Contributor

Kirsten Schultz

Kirsten Schultz is a writer from Wisconsin who challenges sexual and gender norms.

Overview

Living With Condition
25 Years
Published
6 Articles
Location
Madison, Wisconsin

Introduction

Through her work as a chronic illness and disability activist, she has a reputation for tearing down barriers while mindfully causing constructive trouble. She recently founded Chronic Sex, which openly discusses how illness and disability affect our relationships with ourselves and others, including — you guessed it — sex! You can learn more about Kirsten and Chronic Sex at chronicsex.org and follow her on Twitter.

 

Brief history with the conditions

 

"My asthma was diagnosed in 1993 when I fell ill with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA). It has been mild for most of my life and only becomes a major issue when I'm exposed to certain triggers - especially heavy scents, cigarette smoke, and rapid temperature changes - or if I have an upper respiratory infection. Depression has been a nearly constant battle for me since childhood. I was seven the first time I began to contemplate suicide after struggling to get my SJIA diagnosed. For the bulk of my life, I assumed that death was close by. Because of that, I never really planned out a lot of my life. My husband - who also has depression - and I both struggle with planning, especially now that we're far older than the ages we assumed we'd live to be. Due to a lack of care in childhood, my depression wasn't diagnosed until I was out of college for a few years. 

 

In addition to asthma and depression, I also live with multiple chronic conditions, including: allergies, anterior basement membrane dystrophy, anxiety, chemical sensitivities, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, gluten intolerance, migraines, patellofemoral arthralgia, plaque psoriasis, PTSD, seborrheic keratosis, and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis/Still's Disease. I also struggle with a bulging disc at L5 S1, frozen shoulder, pelvic floor issues, and undiagnosed neurological issues."

Published Articles

5 Code Words We Use When We're Feeling Bleak
5 mins
article
Megan Potts

5 Code Words We Use When We're Feeling Bleak

Lockdown Helped with Migraines - Now They're Back with Force
5 mins
article
Ciara O'Rourke

Lockdown Helped with Migraines - Now They're Back with Force

How Chronic Back Pain Led to Self-Discovery and New Loves
4 mins
article
Megan Potts

How Chronic Back Pain Led to Self-Discovery and New Loves

My Sudden "Stroke" was Actually Hemiplegic Migraine
5 mins
article
Sarah Alexander-Georgeson

My Sudden "Stroke" was Actually Hemiplegic Migraine

Say What? How to Nip Unwanted Cancer Advice in the Bud
9 mins
article
Alice-May Purkiss

Say What? How to Nip Unwanted Cancer Advice in the Bud

4 Tips to Make Delegating Easier for Caregivers
9 mins
article
Susanne White

4 Tips to Make Delegating Easier for Caregivers

Why You Feel Hungover After a Migraine Attack
4 mins
article
Sarah Alexander-Georgeson

Why You Feel Hungover After a Migraine Attack

5 Tips for Trying to Conceive When You Have Asthma
3 mins
article
Michelle Rivas

5 Tips for Trying to Conceive When You Have Asthma

Facing Anger and Uncertainty as a Young Caregiver
7 mins
article

Facing Anger and Uncertainty as a Young Caregiver

3 Easy Ways to Combat Airplane Anxiety
5 mins
article
Claire Eastham

3 Easy Ways to Combat Airplane Anxiety

How to Let Go of Perfectionism as a Caregiver
4 mins
article
Susanne White

How to Let Go of Perfectionism as a Caregiver

How To Support A Loved One With Migraine
3 mins
article
Sarah Rathsack

How To Support A Loved One With Migraine

Why Asthma Has More Links to Emotion than You Think
4 mins
article
Cróna Tansey

Why Asthma Has More Links to Emotion than You Think

Finances, Fumes, and Frost: 3 Ways Asthma Affects My Life
6 mins
article
Cróna Tansey

Finances, Fumes, and Frost: 3 Ways Asthma Affects My Life

When You're a Caregiver with a Chronic Illness
6 mins
article
Trishna Bharadia

When You're a Caregiver with a Chronic Illness

4 Myths about Suicide - Debunked
9 mins
article
Megan Potts

4 Myths about Suicide - Debunked

Connect with Kirsten Schultz