Does anyone have advice on how to explain to a potential employer why I have not worked in 9 months?

From a HR standpoint, a bland health related explaination would be the best option. You do not have to provide details of any kind, and most companys will send you for a physical exam as part of protocol, so any residual worries about your ability to work will be cleared up by the exam results.

A couple of solutions here:

1. Just say it was 'chronic' health issues. No company can compel you to divulge what the issue is. It would be good to say that - although you were out of work you did the following things to maintain your 'edge' in the corpoate world. blah, blah, blah

2. Deliver a resume that shows your 'relavent' experience. Not necessarily a job application where you have to account for every month. Just include what you want to do... and how you did it.

3. I have been out of work 'just plain unemployed' for 6 months. Why can't you say that you have been job searching that time?

good luck

You explain that there were extended health issues, but they have cleared up and the doctor has given you a clean bill of health

I would say that you have been either:

A) Stay at home Dad

B) Overseas

C) Health problems relating to a "damaged back" or something

simply state health issues that have cleared up

Have tryed to pursure Self-Employment but decided not to take that risk

You could say you were doing freelance consulting or working on a book.

pregnancy???!??!?! :))