Healthy Obsessions The Adventures of a Mild Obsessive Compulsive

About me

Writer-geek, academic deserter. Taking control of my health.

This is me.

I have Celiac Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. And, like anyone else with those conditions, I’m at risk for a dozen other problems.

In lots of ways, I was lucky. Still am. My dad’s a pediatrician, so I grew up around medicine. I grew up expecting my doctors to know their stuff and expecting that it was the right of a patient to ask questions. To know what was wrong with them and make decisions about their own health.

It doesn’t always work out that way.

I spent decades feeling like crap when I didn’t have to. I watched one uncle die of what was probably undiagnosed sleep apnea, and another nearly follow him down that same road. I’ve seen a friend I’ve known since we were sixteen nearly suicide because of a doctor’s completely idiotic decision to put him on bi-polar meds instead of continuing the ritalin prescription he’d been on since childhood. I’ve seen my mother nearly paralyzed for life because of an insurance company’s refusal to cover a surgery (the doctor did it anyway, though not in time to prevent permanent nerve damage).

I’m no doctor. And I’m no incredibly wealthy philanthropist who can donate money to found research centers (though, man, I really wish I were). All I’ve got is my OCD, my years teaching analysis and research, and the ability to talk. A lot.

Which all adds up to Healthy Obsessions.

I research health issues obsessively. I read the research articles, pore over online forums, abuse inter-library loan to get my hands on hard to find books, track my own health data (and that of anyone else who will let me), and have way too personal conversations with people in line at the pharmacy. I try to find answers.

I’m not going to find the cure to cancer. Nor am I going to find the cure to Celiac Disease or Sleep Apnea, but you can bet that when someone else does, I’m going to know about it and I’m going to talk about it to everyone who will listen. And probably a lot of folks who won’t, too.

There’s no point to saving myself if I can’t save the world, too. Or at least make a damn good try.

If you want to know more about my professional life (freelance writer) check out www.dianasherman.com.

If you’d like to reach me, you can leave a comment here or email me directly at: diana@healthyobsessions.net

2 Thoughts on “About me

  1. Cherie on August 23, 2011 at 4:41 pm said:

    I really enjoy your blog. I just found you while searching for pictures of intestines…lol!! Love the pictures, by the way. Are you on FB as well? I have a page on FB, Our Gluten Free Life. I am going to go see if I can find you. My 3 year old daughter and I both have Celiac and my 5 year old son just had his biopsy today. Thanks for all the great info you are sharing!!

    ~Cherie

  2. Stephanie Makowski on February 12, 2014 at 7:49 am said:

    Good Morning!

    My name is Stephanie and I am reaching out on behalf of The Dr. Oz Show. We are doing an upcoming segment on polycystic ovary syndrome and my producer loves your photo of the “string of pearls” ultrasound found here:

    https://www.healthyobsessions.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gr11a-midi.jpg

    Can we please use this photo in our show on FRIDAY, 2/14? This is very time sensitive, so I’d love a response ASAP!

    Please email or call me with any questions.

    Thank you!

    Best,
    Steph

    Stephanie Makowski | Production Assistant | The Dr. Oz Show
    O: 212-259-1696 | smakowski@zoco.com
    30 Rockefeller Plaza | New York, NY 10112

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