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When Illness Obliterates My Intentions
I am going to begin by apologizing but, please understand, I no longer do that frequently. I had hoped to have several examples of pain documentation tools on the site by the end of the weekend. It is now Tuesday and I am no closer to getting them posted. They are a work in progress. In addition to the pain in my head and body, I frequently have trouble with my vision. As I write this, it is blurry and coming in and out of focus. If I look too long, it becomes a blob of white on black. I thought that maybe taking a few days off might help,…
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Making Choices
I hope you understand that on some of my painful days, I need to make a choice about what I can and can’t realistically accomplish. Today is one of those days. I chose to spend the day, at home, with my husband. He has given me so much and taken great care of me. He deserves my attention and today was his day. I will do my best to continue tomorrow. Have a lovely evening. Continue to choose your way to healing with peace. Chris
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Keep Track of EVERYTHING!
Keeping track of your symptoms daily, is almost a requirement. It doesn’t matter how you do it. Use something that works for you and is the easiest thing you can manage. Here are a few ideas: It really doesn’t matter what it looks like. The main point is that you will use it and take it to each physician’s office visit with you. Don’t be afraid if you have personal information on your list as a trigger. Your doctor needs to know that as well. I am not able to post much more today because I am in the midst of a migraine cycle. I will do my best to…
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Define Your Pain
In my opinion, perhaps the most important part of your medical record is a daily log of your most important symptoms. Pain is my number one and is considered part of your vital signs (along with respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, etc) by medical personnel. I don’t know about you, but I tend to tolerate higher levels of pain than the average person. I’m sure it comes from being in almost constant pain for the past 10 – 12 years. However, when a physician’s office staff asks me for my pain level and I say “3,” my “3” isn’t equal to your “3” or the next person’s “3.” It…
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Through The Correct Looking Glass
Today, let’s look at helpful tips to help others see your true illness. Now, I know how difficult it is to go out without looking “presentable.” But I would challenge you to determine if “presentable” means to you. Don’t take into account what others will think. I’ve been doing just that and it isn’t working for me. Is it working for you? If it is, that’s great! I am truly happy for you. However, from what I’ve seen on social media, it doesn’t work for the majority of people. I would suggest being clean and having clean clothes on is presentable. I’m not saying this is a great example but…
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Always Put on Clean Underwear!
Did your parents tell you this as a child? There was a time when parents would tell their children, who were traveling ANYWHERE, to put on clean underwear. This was in preparation for a potential accident. Goodness knows you did not want the rescue squad to see you had on dirty underwear!! What does this have to do with chronic illness and pain? Let me explain. For the entire length of my illness, no matter how bad I feel, I have always walked out of my home as put together as I could manage. Now, again, you might be thinking, so what? That’s what we all do and you might…
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Rethinking
I have had trouble determining what I wanted to do with this site. As you all know, it can be very difficult when you can’t get out of bed. I have a headache, that may or may not become a migraine, daily and feel as if I have the flu. Some days, my limbs refuse to work properly, my skin hurts, my ears ring and my vision isn’t clear. In addition to that, I routinely have brain fog. I forget names of people I have known for years, can’t remember how to drive somewhere I go often, and get very confused with little stimulation. People, lights, heat, cold, noise, etc.,…
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Beginning a New Year!
I hope each of you began this New Year with less pain and more hope for recovery. Although this is my 12th year of this wicked dance with mold, I still have faith that one day it will just quietly become a non-issue for me. Small changes take place…some good and some bad, but changes none-the-less. Needless to say, my life certainly never gets dull. This site is my way of trying to help those suffering from unexpected life-changing circumstances. You may be a patient, a family member or a caretaker. You are so incredibly important! My goal is to help you understand exactly how much you matter. If you…