My Chronic Life

How do you feel when you release stress? Is your mind clearer? Are your muscles less tense? Do you have a feeling of peace within yourself? After I’ve done something to get rid of my anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed I not only have a better mental outlook, I also feel better physically.

Whatever means you use to relax, whether it be prayer, meditation, massage, deep breathing, exercise, journaling, blogging, knitting, talking to a friend, seeing a counselor, taking medication, using biofeedback, reading the Bible, positive thinking, affirmations, yoga,  spending time with your pet, laughter, listening to music, doing crossword puzzles, etc. the basic idea is to feel less less frustrated and more peaceful.

When I use any of the tools above I picture kitchen faucets with water flowing from them. The water is the feelings I want to release. The faucet is my tool to release it.

This is a type of visualization that works for me. I also imagine the sound of the water too. I used to have a small fountain that I sat next to when I was reading. I may get another one as that helped me also.

Try out different things to see what works for you. Then keep at it, especially when you don’t feel like it! Stress can trick us and make us think we can’t use the tools that worked previously. If you do feel too anxious though, please speak to your doctor.

I posted about the hot flashes I’m going through lately and how much fun they are. Another symptom I’ve been having is acne. I’m thinking to myself, I’m old and going through “The Change” how can I have something that I had when I was a teenager?

I’ve learned that acne doesn’t just happen to teens. When you are going through menopause your hormones get messed up. I’m not producing enough estradiol which causes acne, hot flashes, thinning hair and osteporosis or osteopenia (which I also have) among other things.
Also the hormones testosterone and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) cause the glands to produce more oil which can cause pimples.

Gee, this is such a fun time of life! I can’t wait to get over it and then be done with this stuff. I’ll be sure to wear a red hat and a purple dress when I no no longer need to find an acne cure and carry an electric fan with me. I’ll be celebrating for sure!

I just hope this all happens way before I’m able to join AARP.

I was in Physical Therapy for the fourth time in about 18 months. I’d have pain in my hip, then my knee and ankle, my back, etc. I’d end up either unable to finish or finish PT without improvement. It was getting to be quite annoying to me.

This time the Physical Therapist I met with looked over my chart very well. He did a good examination and asked me a lot of questions. When I told him about my frustration with the whole process he looked directly in my eyes and said that he understood. He explained that it was going to be difficult to learn the best way to treat me, but that was what he and his team were gong to do.

I felt a bit more at ease after that first day. When I met with my Therapy Aide, she knew she couldn’t use heat because of the Myasthenia Gravis. Heat would weaken my muscles. She knew to not do repetitive movements for the same reason. They were paying attention to my needs and I was pleased.

As I got to know the Physical Therapist who saw me every two weeks, we were able to joke around as he determined if the therapy was helping me or not. One day he told me that I was a “Fruit Salad”. What? He explained that when someone has multiple chronic illnesses it makes diagnosis of what causes pain and how to treat it complicated.

We had a good laugh over his description. I knew he wasn’t being demeaning. As a matter of fact I liked what he said. It explains a lot of things about me and I believe other people like me. When we have more than one one chronic illness our symptoms can overlap. We, as well as our doctors and other medical personnel can have trouble determining what illness is causing what problem on what day.

It’s a puzzle at times. It can be aggravating and frustrating. But we can choose to take it in stride. We can work with our doctors, have a positive outlook and even laugh about it. Fruit salad anyone?

While I have too many autoimmune diseases to want to count and having my sense of humor, I call myself the Autoimmune Queen. I’ve been bestowed another title now, Frugal Diva from the Bilssfullly Domestic gang.

How can I keep all these awards and titles in order? My brain fog can’t handle it all. I’ll have to get me some business memory cards to help me out! My life is a mixed up but oh so fun jumble of things. I’m trying to keep my mind busy so it doesn’t get stagnant.

Why not do things to keep your mind working too? There’s video games, crossword puzzles, word searches and Brain Games: Try the Lumosity Brain Training Program. Only $6.60 a month.
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And while you’re trying new things out, check out my article, Saving Money with Frugal Movie Tickets over at Blissfully Domestic. Enjoy!

We all do it. It’s part of our human nature. It’s easy and helps us let off steam. I’m guilty of it. And I do it way too often. Complaining or venting is a normal part of our lives and bloggers do it quite often. You may even see them word their posts with “vent” when there’s going to a lot of whining or grumbling going on.

*Vent* I get so annoyed with people who weigh about 100 pounds soaking wet who complain about their weight, out loud, in front of me. You see I used to be underweight and unable to put on those extra pounds I so desired. Now that I look back, I’d kill for that body!

When I hit 40 though the weight I didn’t want just kept comin’ on! I was used to eating whatever I wanted so I had to stop all that. Then getting sick and being unable to be as active as I’d like really put more weight on.

So if I hear some tiny slip of a woman saying she needs to find herself the best diet pills, needs to exercise more or can’t eat a slice of cake because she’s watching her weight, I may just muster up enough strength to kick her in the shins.

Since becoming disabled I am learning about how strong the desire to work is even though it is often difficult. I have found that working from home part time my solution and it can be yours too.

Some people who have a physical disability were born with medical problems that may have led to a worse degree of disability or were born with that disability. Others have had some kind of accident or medical problem that led to a disability.

Whether from birth or later in life people with disabilities cannot be put into one group. There are so many differences in functioning, in how people cope mentally, in support systems, etc. There is also a difference in the ability to work.

Some people with disabilities are able to work full time outside the home. Some can work part time. Some are able to work from home only. The factors that go into these decisions depend on the person’s medical condition, their doctors and the type of work the person wants to do.

In almost all occasions, adaptations must be made. That’s where the ADA comes in. People wishing to work have the right to work!

Keep dreaming your dreams and working toward them. Use the help available to you through the government, through non-profit groups such as the Disabled Online Users Association and bloggers like me. Yes blogging is my work at home job. There are many others, such as being a virtual assistant, becoming an affiliate, selling items online and more.

Don’t be scammed into paying for work though. Be careful about taking part in something that you may not be able to do, for example taking part in truck driving school if your vision is very poor, or learning to make jewelery if you have arthritis.