An online health support forum can be a blessing for people who can’t get out to attend support group meetings. If you have serious health problems finding support from a health forum can provide peace of mind. Just knowing that there are other people like you, going through the same things as you is a way to ease your mind.

For those diagnosed with cancer a cancer forum provides information about treatments and a means to feel positive and optimistic. Many people feel more comfortable opening up online than in person so they may let down their guard and discuss their true feelings. For people working on their health and eating healthy a nutrition forum is worthwhile. You can learn new recipes and even feel more accountable about what you’re eating.

Many people with health issues want to learn how to save money on their medications and treatments, so a health insurance forum can offer the information they need. Getting involved in an online health support forum can offer friendships, information and encouragement.

With everything in life being prepared will help when things get harder to deal with. Health Insurance for individuals with pre existing conditions can be hard to find, but still having insurance will make sure you are ready no matter what happens!

Elizabeth Norton is known for founding the Cape May Moms and is also an inspiration to many. She is born, raised and “blissfully stuck” in Cape May, NJ where she is working to connect people locally. She is an inspiration because she could easily sit back and feel sorry for herself with her multiple health problems, instead she is a positive force to be reckoned with.

Elizabeth is married to “one hunk of a man” @drivesmecrazy. “Make no judgment about it, he is the one that drives ME crazy.”  She has 2 sons and is “also the mom to 21 others that have left my home through foster care but never my heart.”

My 1st boy was a surprise after getting pregnant after being married only 1 month my second was not a surprise but surprises me every day because he is the complete opposite from my 1st. I never know what to expect from my little burst of endless energy.

Elizabeth had a delayed traumatic brain injury that caused her to have POTs – Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome – Gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach), detached retinas, and many more health issues. It was diagnosed in October of 2007,  but she believes that it began much earlier when she fell off her horse freshman year of high school.  She’s always had problems eating and with fainting since 8th grade.  After going through numerous tests, Elizabeth has come to believe that only God knows why this has happened to her.

She has  good days and bad days – “Days when I can swing on swings with my kids and days I lay in bed for hours. I live day by day and so do my boys and my hubby.”  Her immune system is weak and even common colds can keep her down for a long time.  She has begun to take care of her own health and uses vegetable juicing, the liquid form of acai and other things that she knows works for her.

Elizabeth used to be foster mom and owned a thriving party planning business but had to give both of them up. “In a way it has been a blessing though because I have learned/am learning a new trade as we figure real time media (a.k.a. Social Media) and it’s effects and uses in our society.”

She’s lost many friends because of her invisible illnesses. Elizabeth accepts this by recognizing that, “My friends are human and made judgments. Many of those judgments I will not understand but one day will hope to forgive.”  Elizabeth does maintain relationships with good friends who understand, some in real life and some online. Losing friends and the judgment that came along with this has been difficult for Elizabeth, but she is “… learning that strength comes in what you can find in yourself spiritually and with those that really love you.”

Elizabeth talks about support:

My husband and I have been through a lot but he keeps me grounded, gives me a swift kick if I start feeling sorry for myself. My mom is slowly understanding the chaos of the last two years. In the moment there was so much I could feel but not explain. Things were happening but people couldn’t see them. My boys have been amazing and I think my 7 year old is one of the most amazing human beings that I know. He loves his brother and dad and without a doubt knew something was wrong with his mom. He didn’t ask questions like others. He just let me read him stories and hugged me a lot. I will always respect him and am so happy to see him enjoy his life as a kid a lot more now that I am out and about a lot more. I have had an amazing friend Tanya, that I think at many points has saved my life, my marriage, and my dreams. She was an angel through the toughest part of my life yet (and I have been through lots of heart break).

Her relationship with God is based on being able to accept God’s plan for her and feeling that she can be open and honest, even being angry when praying. She hopes to find a church home where she can fit in, where there members who love her as she is.  “I believe in God’s ultimate plan and feel he is using me as a tool.”

I am limited but I choose to replace the world limitation with placement. God knows where he wants me and needs me. He can bring a positive out of a negative. I strongly believe that he can take my life and pain and use it for the greater good. Am I “limited” yes….you could say that but I also am forced to listen and be still. With that combination I can learn many things.

Right now Elizabeth has three major business projects going on. I am planning (with the help of some awesome moms the 1st Ever Mom and Baby Expo, a tweet-up on the beaches of Avalon and to jump start the summer and an effort with local hair salons to ship salon cut hair locally to New Orleans to help with the recent oil spill.

Get to know Elizabeth Norton better online and if you’re lucky enough, connect with her in Cape May, New Jersey. If you have a business that needs guidance working online, she’s someone you should talk to. If you have any type of health issue or disability or are going through a rough time in your life, look to Elizabeth for inspiration. Her words and her giving spirit are sure to get you on the right track to thinking positively.

You can find Elizabeth Norton here:

@Elizabeth_N
Cape May Moms
Golden Inn Resort
Party Planning Professor
Professor Of Play
ElizabethNorton.com
Www.beeclicked.com

This is an ongoing effort to spotlight people with chronic illness, health issues and disabilities who are making a contribution in some way despite their pain, sickness, etc.

I just learned that I have Narrow Angle Glaucoma. My Opthamologist has been testing my eye pressure and angles for about a year now. As I mentioned earlier, I missed a few check-up appointments because I was not taking good care of myself.

When I went for my recent check-up, my angles had worsened. So I’m scheduled for laser surgery on both of my eyes called peripheral iridectomy. This will create a new opening in my iris to allow the aqueous fluid to move more easily to the drainage site.

What is Narrow Angle Glaucoma? The drainage canals get blocked or covered over because the iris is not as wide and open as it should be. The outer edge of the iris bunches up over the drainage canals, when the pupil enlarges too much or too quickly.

Symptoms of Narrow Angle Glaucoma: Headaches, eye pain, nausea, rainbows around lights at night, and very blurred vision.

Treatment: Laser surgery (as described above) can fully treat Narrow Angle Glaucoma, but continued check ups are needed.

Any of you have Narrow Angle Glaucoma? I’d love to hear about your experiences.