When you feel as if you are always getting instead of giving, it is a wonderful feeling to be able to give back. I was able to do this recently when I got an email from someone newly diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome. The woman also had other chronic illnesses but her rheumatologist and opthamologist were not up to date on her new dx. She also lives in a rural area where there are not a lot of doctors to choose from.

I answered her questions to the best of my abilities and provided links to her for the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation and an online support group. She replied that just knowing someone who had the same disease as her was helpful. She had felt alone until our email exchange. It felt better than getting gift cards to her favorite stores. It wasn’t that I was able to answer all of her questions, but be there for her. I felt worthwhile and like I had accomplished something.

Reach out to others in some way. It can be the perfect gift for the two of you.

I have a lot of chronic illnesses, too many to even mention here without boring you to tears. But, suffice it to say that I am not able to work outside the home, I have seven specialists that I see regularly and I take over 10 prescription medications.

Being unable to work caused me to be very depressed. I was used to working hard. But finding something that I was able to do that didn’t make me feel sicker was very difficult. Paid blogging has been the answer for me though. I can work when I am able. If I am too sick, I just don’t work. I can set my own hours. I can write about what I enjoy. And I can earn money!

It’s not enough money to buy diamond rings but it’s enough to add to my family’s income and help out with bills. Please see Earn $ Blogging to learn more.

I think I figured out why I’ve been having so many emotional issues recently, along with my unusual sleep patterns. I got a phone message on Friday from my primary doctor telling me that I had to call the office back because of my blood test results. By the time I got the message and called the office was closed.

Today I learned that my Potassium level is low again. It’s 3.3, which usually isn’t bad since 3.5 is the normal range. But, since I have chronic illnesses especially Myasthenia Gravis this can cause me problems.

It’s a long story about how it took so long to get my blood test results over to my Nephrologist (Kidney Dr.) but I didn’t hear anything by late afternoon. So I called that office. They didn’t call me back until after 5 PM. By then, as is usual for me, the MG symptoms were kicking in. But it was really bad today.

The nurse I spoke to told me to go to the ER because she could hear my slurred speech and shaky voice. I was so upset that I had my husband get on the phone and tell them that I know how to control my symptoms and that I was ready for my medication when they called. He went back and forth with them.

Finally they understood that I wasn’t going to the ER. It then took 3 more phone calls to tell me how to increase my medications and to go for more blood work on Monday. Sheesh! I do feel very fatigued, am having leg cramps and all over muscle cramps. The MG symptoms are also causing my muscles to twitch. But I know to rest, take my meds on time and if I feel that the symptoms are getting worse to go to the ER.

It’s funny, it’s either doctors don’t know about Myasthenia Gravis or they overreact.  Even though this ordeal was annoying, I had to laugh about it. I’m thinking positively that now that I know what’s wrong I’ll be feeling better soon.

Before I was diagnosed with a chronic illness I wanted to own my own business. But when you’re young and trying to make the bills it’s hard to think of something that is so far out of reach. Then I became a mom, then a single mom and that dream become harder to reach.

When I became sick and wasn’t able to work, my husband and I needed extra money. We were used to living on two incomes. With two children and a lot of bills to pay, we began to sell on eBay. In a way it was like having my own business. Since I was very limited in what I could do, I was like the boss.

One thing I did was chose what to sell on eBay. I looked for things around our home that we didn’t use any more. As I got better, someone would drive me to local stores to look at clearance items.

I’d keep a list of things that people were buying like Slimquick Cleanse and Tickle Me Elmo, etc. Although selling on eBay was fun and we do it once in a while, my own business now is blogging.

As I continue on this road of life with multiple chronic illnesses, I am learning more about myself than I may have if I wasn’t sick. The lessons at first were too difficult to face. Sometimes even now I feel like I’ve had enough learning, but the lessons continue. Most of them when things are going badly.

For example each new diagnosis, almost every flare up, and some setbacks have had me sad, depressed at times and angry. The anger is the worst. That anything can trigger me to have an outburst feeling.

Yes it’s been that bad. I recently wrote about working on my bad attitude toward my family. But this anger issue is even worse. I find myself getting frustrated easily and just blow up. Usually I’m alone when this happens. This is so unlike me and it scares me too.

So next on my list of things to work on is finding out why I am easily angered and what to do about this. I’ve been praying about this and am going to talk to someone about it if it continues to be a problem. I haven’t been feeling stressed, so I’m wondering if it is the sleeping problem I’ve been having. I hope so as I don’t like being this way at all.