Years ago, ferritin, which is our iron storage protein, was explained to me by a functional medicine doctor like this: Iron is the merchandise in the front of the store. Ferritin is what’s in the back storage room. Unfortunately, most doctors only check what’s on the shelves.

One morning in early June, I put my feet on the ground to get out of bed and it felt like I was walking on broken glass. I panicked. I sat back on the bed and thought…what in the fresh hell is this?

Everyone loves a “hack,” right? We all want a workaround or clever shortcut that saves time and solves a problem. But what happens when hacks meet chronic illness?