Eggs and equinox: How this CAD patient is seeking balance

“Stop where you are. Wait until I tell you and then move slowly,” I yelled at my husband and daughter, who were watching my efforts. I held my breath and, with excruciating slowness, removed my hands from around the egg. It was 2021, the day of the autumnal equinox. I try this trick every now and then just to demonstrate that it can be done.

Legend has it that during an equinox — the two days each year when the sun appears directly above the equator — it’s possible to stand a raw egg on its end. The theory is that because the sun is exerting an even gravitational pull on the Earth, it enables an equal gravitational pull within an eggshell. (Scientists dismiss this as a myth.)

Lately, I’ve found that I must work to find balance in life. Like balancing an egg on its end, that equilibrium is becoming challenging to maintain. I have cold agglutinin disease (CAD), which seems to throw everything out of whack.

CAD is an autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by the exposure of red blood cells to cold temperatures. These blood cells start to clump together and are perceived as invaders by the body’s immune system, which then destroys them in a process called hemolysis.

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A summer without equilibrium

My main goal recently has been to find equilibrium after I had a significant hemolysis event last February. I’ve been dealing with the effects of that for the past seven months. Although I was in warm weather all summer long, I still struggled. Every breath was accompanied by tightness in my chest and occasional aching in the middle of my back.

I managed to balance this raw egg on its end during the 2021 autumnal equinox. (Photo by Mary Lott)

I have these symptoms after nearly every hemolytic event I experience. I’ve also been having daily coughing episodes, and I’ve barely had enough energy to leave my home. As August wore on, the symptoms lessened, but they haven’t completely disappeared.

This summer was an exercise in nonequilibrium. Everything I tried seemed to make no difference. I had expected to return home to Papua, Indonesia, from my other home in Alabama, shortly after July 4. But my doctor believed a bone marrow biopsy was warranted due to my ongoing symptoms.

I decided to visit my daughter in south Texas while I waited for the biopsy results. But I had car problems on the journey west, so I returned home to Auburn. That caused me additional stress, which exacerbated my symptoms.

Back to balance

I had intended to return to my home in Indonesia, which is near the equator, before the seasons in Alabama changed. My theory was that the stable weather in Indonesia and a change in responsibilities would help me manage my symptoms. I finally accomplished that goal on Sept. 7 and am now immersed in my usual routines.

Like the silly egg in my opening paragraph, I’m currently approaching equilibrium in life. The responsibilities I have here are well within my capabilities. I have a helper to take care of many of the mundane tasks around the house that I dislike. While the weather in Alabama was starting to get colder, the weather here is stable, in the mid-80s F, which is perfect for me and my CAD.

The first Monday after I landed here, I stayed in bed the entire day, watching old movies and talking over matters with my dog, Pokey. Tuesday was the first day since February that I haven’t had pain when I breathe. I did have a slight setback due to internalizing certain events, but I expect those will eventually dissipate.

I think equilibrium can be obtained, particularly if I focus on managing my CAD symptoms. Although everything I’ve read tells me that eggs can be balanced on days that aren’t an equinox, I haven’t managed to do it. I have done it, however, on the autumnal equinox before. This year, I’ll try again, just for fun, on Sept. 22.

Note: Cold Agglutinin Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cold Agglutinin Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cold agglutinin disease.