Living a Life with a Demon of Stiffness
I was a free, flexible, budding twig
catching the breezy air.
One day you came knocking at my door,
a rugged, rigid tree trunk with rives, I became.
I was a nightingale singing the dawn chorus
with trills and whistles.
One day you came knocking at my door,
a worn-down piano with broken strings, I became.
I was a happy deer going for
a morning skip on the beach.
One day you came knocking at my door,
a stiffening and falling fainting goat, I became.
I was a little one rejoicing
the dragon yogic breathing.
One day you came knocking at my door,
a fish out of water, struggling to breathe, I became.
Afraid of unforeseeable spasms and falling,
an anxious soul, I became.
Avoiding the triggers of laughing and crying,
a stoic person, I became.
Stiff-person syndrome, as it is called,
causing pins and needles all over,
at times with anxiety,
and at times with needles.
Monthly immunotherapy
through my skin, they say.
To keep me up
and fight with this demon of stiffness.
Dr. Nithisha Thatikoda MD is 3rd year neurology resident at UTMB.
“The poem describes my experience of dealing with my clinic patient, who has been living with stiff person syndrome for 5 years. The poem stemmed from my conversations with my patient. I hope the poem may give an insight to the readers about how a diagnosis of stiff person syndrome can affect them and their perspective on life. This insight may help in building better interactions between physicians and patients and their families.”