Don’t spill my medical secrets - that is my job!

Do you have black lung disease? Every time I have an appointment at the hospital clinic, they ask me that. At first, I thought I must look a lot sicker than I feel.

They never ask me if I have diabetes or lupus or tennis elbow, just black lung disease. I asked the nurse if anyone had ever answered "yes" to the black lung question. She said "no." Since my hospital is several states away from the nea…