Many of us with chronic illness or disability have undergone or were born with physical scars or abnormalities of some kind. Hopefully we have learned not to obsess over this, but to accept and embrace our looks. I have a very large scar on my chest due to major surgery. At first I considered having cosmetic surgery to cover it up, but now I look at it as a badge of honor because without it, I may not be alive today.

Now I’d rather obsess over fashion than my physical appearance. One of my vices is buying shoes. Yes, they have to be comfortable, but there’s no problem finding gorgeous shoes like flats from Kate Spade. Although I’d only wear them a few times a year, Michael Kors boots would do me a world of good too. They’d have me strutting!

Simply put, buying shoes and feeling good about how I dress is a lot cheaper than getting cosmetic surgery. It’s taken time to accept the way my body has changed, but all women’s bodies change as we age. Focus on being positive, building up self-esteem, finding new interests and cultivating personal relationships. And, If looking good includes buying new shoes, go for it. And don’t forget to shop safely online.

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When you’ve got a cold, or are in a flare up, or recovering from surgery,  you need some fun time to forget your woes. You may be stuck in bed or even the hospital but you can still do somethings to amuse yourself. Here are the Top Five Ways To Have Fun When You’re Sick:

1. Color – Be sure that you get a brand new box of crayons and a new coloring book. There’s nothing like the smell of Crayolas to bring a smile to your face. Don’t worry about coloring in the lines. Just go at it!
2. YouTube Videos – If you’re able to use a laptop, then just go to YouTube and watch the videos that people make themselves. Keep clicking around and laugh at the stupidity of people and what they’re actually willing to put online for everyone to see.  No computer? Watch some form of funny videos on TV. There’s tons of them now.
3. Talk Radio -  Find a talk radio station that has the most outlandish ideas about conspiracy theories or zombies and call in. Pretend to agree with the host and carry on like you’re having a normal conversation. Blame it on the meds.
4. Play With Toys – Pull out those old race cars, Barbies, Legos and play in bed. (Not that way.)
5. Hair and Make Up – If you feel up to it, play with your hairstyle and do something wild. Try some new shades of make-up that you haven’t used in a while. You too guys. Lots of girls love it. If you’re not up to it, let someone you love, help you out. Now that’s fun!

This week, I’ll be attending a blogging conference, IzeaFest. The schedule is full of learning and networking experiences. Normally I’d be worried about being fatigued and not feeling well but after attending the Affiliate Summit I learned how to balance having a chronic illness and being a conference attendee.  Here are the Top Ten Tips To Get The Most Out of a Blog Conference When You Are Chronically Ill:

1. Rest Up the week before. Get yourself into a good sleeping pattern and even take some naps during the day so you can feel well rested before the conference.
2. Schedule Your Time at the conference. Go through the schedule provided including the speakers, events and parties. Prioritize what is most important for your needs. In case you need a break, you can take it during the least necessary events. Although being there in person is the perfect scenario, most conferences are available on video later so you can take advantage of viewing what you missed.
3. Eat Healthy Meals so that you are taking good care of yourself. If food is provided, take fruit or some other snacks with you. Also, remember to keep well hydrated.
4. Take Advantage of Breaks. If you are going to attend parties and other networking events, then use the allotted break times to either nap or just find a quiet place to close your eyes and it easy for a few minutes.
5. Take Your Medications on Time. Keep a timer to remind you to take your meds. I use the silent alarm clock on my cell phone. It can get so hectic that it’s easy to forget to take your prescriptions.
6. Find a Buddy. A buddy can take notes for you, pass out your business cards, let people know that you needed a break, etc.  There are many things that you can do in return – write a blog post about that person, mention their help on Social Networking forums, write a reference for them, etc.
7. Be Prepared to Miss Something. Even people who are healthy end up missing an event or even more. Sometimes it’s just too overwhelming. Travel problems may occur. Healthy people get sick too. There are many reasons. So don’t be disappointed if you don’t hear a speaker or attend an after party.
8. Take Lots of Photos. Keep your camera with you at all times and take photos of the people and happenings around you. Try to write down a short note about the photo so you’ll remember the details later. This will allow you to post about the conference later and create lots of memories.
9. Hand out Business Cards. Don’t push them on people, but after you start a conversation about the other person, ask them for their card, write down some notes on the back and then give them yours. If you can’t do a lot of networking, you can quickly introduce yourself, say that you need a break and really want to get to know them. Ask for theirs first again.
10. Relax and Enjoy! You’ve made it to the conference and that in itself is a big accomplishment. Have fun, meet new people, network and focus on the positives.

My advice for photos is to use an xshot so you can be in the photo too. Plus, using this camera extender will get people to notice you.

I just joined a group to help us prepare for Christmas. We are going to share idea on how to have a stress free holiday season. Last year Christmas was very rushed and things were done at the last minute. I ended up getting very sick because of feeling so uneasy. For the first time in years I didn’t have a home made Christmas Eve dinner and I didn’t send out Christmas cards.

Cards are very important to me because I only have my mother and aunt living close by. Finding just the right photo holiday cards tops off my Christmas to do list. At 123print.com there are so many bright and cheery cards to chose from. I was able to find both religious and Santa cards, my favorites. It’s easy to upload your photo and find what you want by category as well as folded or flat cards.

I’ll be sharing this with the group so we can get one of our to do items checked off the list and feel the stress release too.

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It often takes a long time to diagnose a chronic illness because symptoms may overlap into many disease categories, because symptoms may be vague (such as fatigue, brain fog, stomach upset) and because there may not be any definitive medical tests outcomes. This is where Organic Acid Testing comes in. Organic acids are compounds produced within the body in the course of metabolism. Metabolism determines state of health and is the result of a combination of: genes, nutrition, lifestyle, attitude and other environmental factors.

The urine is tested overnight to determine what metabolic problems are present and what can be done to improve the condition. The specifics that organic acids testing look for are:

• Vitamin and mineral insufficiencies
• Amino acid insufficiencies like carnitine and NAC
• Oxidative damage and anti-oxidant sufficiency markers
• Indicators to assess detoxification sufficiency
• The best functional markers of B-complex deficiency
• Neurotransmitter metabolites to assess CNS function
• Mitochondrial energy production assessment via citric acid cycle components
• Methylation sufficiency status
• Lipoic acid and CoQ10 sufficiency markers
• Specific dysbiosis markers for bacterial and yeast overgrowth

These cannot be found in blood tests; therefore, organic acids testing is done at home and read by clinical consultants who can also recommend nutrients, vitamins and dietary changes. Although this type of testing does not provide a diagnosis, it enables you to reduce harmful chemicals that may be causing your symptoms, increase specific vitamins and minerals based on your unique metabolic profile.

Invisible Illness Week begins on Monday, September 14th at 9 AM. It’s a virtual conference and the schedule is for the whole week, ending on September 20th. This conference supports those of us who are chronically ill but don’t have outward signs of our illness. There has never been more of an important time, in my opinion to take part in National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week than now. Thank you to Lisa Copen who coordinates this event every year.

Since congress is making a decision on Health Care Reform, let our voices be heard! We are often the ones who pay high prescription costs, get denied Social Security Disability even though we cannot work so we go without insurance, and/or get denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

Please watch Marianne Hoynes, who has Sjogren’s Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis as she attempts to speak at a town hall meeting on Health Care Reform:

It was noted that many people could not see that Marianne was not in a wheelchair. So even those of us who have “visible traits” of a sickness are not given the right to speak out on issues that matter to us all.

We all matter.