Chiari Carnival #4: Summer 'Blog'buster
Topic: If My Life Were a Movie
For a month I've been thinking about who would play me in my movie. My first thought was Julia Roberts. I mean she's an amazing actress and the red hair. LOVE it. Then I was thinking about how my movie would play out. If I had Julia...she would play my older self. I don't know that part of my life yet. So I started focusing on who would play my younger self. I tried to think of someone who would fit me, could look like me, whose personality could fit mine. The best I came up with was Emma Watson or Alexis Bledel. They both have book nerd characters. But something about them still didn't fit. So I went to the internet and tried to find my celebrity look-a-like. Yeah I really did that. What were my results?
64% match with Charles Manson. Nice. So I picked a better picture and tried it again. I did get Alexis Bledel as a result along with Kristen Bell. I still don't feel it. Then I thought, well hell this is my movie, about me...who could play myself better than myself...? I was in a commercial as a zombie before. (It's the truth) I was also in a carpet commercial when I was little. I have experience. (HA.)
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Letter to Normals
Normally I would just post a link to an interesting article I found, or quote it. But I found this to be right on target. I am going to post the entire article and a link below. This site has a lot of great information and coping advice. It is the Fibromyalgia Network. I belive this relates to those with any invisible illness/disorder/disease.
Letter to Normals: Getting Others to See Your Symptoms
"These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me...
Please understand that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day flat on my back in bed and I might not seam like great company, but I'm still me stuck inside this body. I still worry about school and work and my family and friends, and most of the time I'd still like to hear you talk about yours too.
Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu you probably feel miserable with it, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable. So if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. That's all. I may be tired. I may be in pain. I may be sicker than ever. Please don't say, "Oh you're sounding better!" I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you're welome.
Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It's quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I'll need to recover - imagine an athlete after a race. They couldn't repeat that feat right away either. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed or you can't move. With this one it gets more confusing.
Please repeat the above paragraph subsituting, "sitting up", "walking", "thinking", "being sociable", and so on... it applies to everything. That's what a fatigue based illness does to you.
Please understand that chronic illnesses are variable. It's quite possible (for me, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the kitchen. Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!" If you want me to do something, ask if I can and I'll tell you. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please don't take it personally.
Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and an often make me seriously worse. Fibromyalgia may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed if you were stuck in bed for years on end?!) but it is not caused by depression. Telling me that I need some fresh air and exercise is not appreciated and not correct. - if I could do it, I would.
Please understand that I can't spend all of my energy trying to get well. With a short-term illness like the flu, you can afford to put life on hold for a week or two while you get well. But part of having a chronic illness is coming to the realization that you have to spend some energy on having a life now. This doesn't mean I'm not trying to get better. It doesn't mean I've given up. It's just how life is when you're dealing with a chonic illness.
If you want to suggest a cure to me, please don't. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't want to get well. It's because I have had almost every single one of my friends suggest one at on point or another. At first I tried them all, but then I realized that I was using up so much energy trying things that I was making myself sicker, not better. If there was something that cured, or even helped, all people with fibro then we'd know about it. This is not a drug company conspiracy, there is worldwide networking (both on and off the internet) between people with Fibro, if something worked we would know.
I depend on you - peple who are not sick - for many things.
But most importantly, I need you to understand me."
(I cut out a few paragraphs as they are more specific to Fibro)
Letter to Normals
As I said last post...It's hard to understand the unknown. It's hard to understand what you've never personally experienced.
I will be walking for the Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation's Unite@Nite Walk June 16th in my neighborhood. If you are walking Solo (as I am) or interested in joining a team, I have set up Team Chiari-Life feel free to join and help us reach our goal!!
To Donate, Register, or Sponsor please click here:
Team Chiari-Life
Check out DesignsByDayzi for Chiari Awareness items, proceeds go towards the walk!
-Alicia
Letter to Normals: Getting Others to See Your Symptoms
"These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me...
Please understand that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day flat on my back in bed and I might not seam like great company, but I'm still me stuck inside this body. I still worry about school and work and my family and friends, and most of the time I'd still like to hear you talk about yours too.
Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu you probably feel miserable with it, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable. So if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. That's all. I may be tired. I may be in pain. I may be sicker than ever. Please don't say, "Oh you're sounding better!" I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you're welome.
Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It's quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I'll need to recover - imagine an athlete after a race. They couldn't repeat that feat right away either. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed or you can't move. With this one it gets more confusing.
Please repeat the above paragraph subsituting, "sitting up", "walking", "thinking", "being sociable", and so on... it applies to everything. That's what a fatigue based illness does to you.
Please understand that chronic illnesses are variable. It's quite possible (for me, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the kitchen. Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!" If you want me to do something, ask if I can and I'll tell you. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please don't take it personally.
Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and an often make me seriously worse. Fibromyalgia may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed if you were stuck in bed for years on end?!) but it is not caused by depression. Telling me that I need some fresh air and exercise is not appreciated and not correct. - if I could do it, I would.
Please understand that I can't spend all of my energy trying to get well. With a short-term illness like the flu, you can afford to put life on hold for a week or two while you get well. But part of having a chronic illness is coming to the realization that you have to spend some energy on having a life now. This doesn't mean I'm not trying to get better. It doesn't mean I've given up. It's just how life is when you're dealing with a chonic illness.
If you want to suggest a cure to me, please don't. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't want to get well. It's because I have had almost every single one of my friends suggest one at on point or another. At first I tried them all, but then I realized that I was using up so much energy trying things that I was making myself sicker, not better. If there was something that cured, or even helped, all people with fibro then we'd know about it. This is not a drug company conspiracy, there is worldwide networking (both on and off the internet) between people with Fibro, if something worked we would know.
I depend on you - peple who are not sick - for many things.
But most importantly, I need you to understand me."
(I cut out a few paragraphs as they are more specific to Fibro)
Letter to Normals
As I said last post...It's hard to understand the unknown. It's hard to understand what you've never personally experienced.
I will be walking for the Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation's Unite@Nite Walk June 16th in my neighborhood. If you are walking Solo (as I am) or interested in joining a team, I have set up Team Chiari-Life feel free to join and help us reach our goal!!
To Donate, Register, or Sponsor please click here:
Team Chiari-Life
Check out DesignsByDayzi for Chiari Awareness items, proceeds go towards the walk!
-Alicia
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
When it rains, it pours
Chiari Blog Carnival #3: When it rains, it pours.
Topic: Dealing with difficult people in addition to dealing with a difficult illness.
The first thing that comes to my mind is "But you don't look sick!?" Yeah, we get that alot. Chiari Malformation is considered an invisible illness because you don't usually see the symptoms on the outside.
Of course I look normal.
You can't see the pressure in my head.
You can't see that it feels like my head could explode at any minute.
You can't see that my hands and feet are numb and tingling.
I may stumble or walk into something, but I just look clumsy to you...You don't see my balance and depth perception problems.
You don't hear the ringing in my ears.
You hear my speech slurr or I trip over my words. You laugh, I laugh. But do you know why it happens? Does that come to mind when you hear it?
You don't see me almost black out from getting dizzy and lightheaded if I drive too fast over a hill.
(I know why I can't ride rollercoasters.)
I could continue to go on and on with the list.
I have tried looking at things from the opposite point of view. The other person can never fully understand what you are going through. They may try to relate by sympathizing with you over something they have gone through. "I've had surgery once. I went in to get my tonsils taken out"
Oh ok...not quite on the same plane as brain surgery. "So you're cured now that you've had surgery right?" No surgery is not a cure, just a form of treatment. "Oh."
People do not understand why surgery if its not a cure. What is the point of surgery?
When I first had major problems I went back to my family doctor a few times for "migraines". Each time I was given a different medicine or something to try. Finally he ordered an MRI after I went in and couldn't turn my head at all. I was lucky enough to be referred to a NS who knew of Chiari and wasn't afraid to work with it. He has followed up ever since. I was diagnosed in 2003.
A lot of people go through several doctors, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and other specialists before they are diagnosed.
After dignosis its a mixed feeling. You're relieved because you finally have an answer for what you're going through. But on the other hand....what do you do with it?
You barely understand it, how will anyone else? So you begin to tell your family and then your closest friends. Again...they don't really experience what you're going through. They know what you're saying. They don't feel the pain. It's hard to sympathize with the unknown.
This topic fits well with what happened two weekends ago. We had the bachelorette party for my best friend, Abby, on April 20th. We all took her out to dinner. Then we were off to the bar across the street from her house. We had a limo scheduled to pick us up about an hour into that as surprise. The limo would drive us around town to various bars for the night. Now let me first say I was the only female in the bridal party aside from the bride. Abby and I have a lot more male friends. She had me (her maid of honor) and 3 boys her bridesmen/maids. The bachelorette party was mostly men. haha.
Anways. We went throughout the night all was well. I was mostly pain-free all day. As it got closer to the end of the night...my head started. (I do not drink and did not.) It was about 12:30AM and we had about 2 hours to go. I couldn't crap out and leave. We went for 4th meal at taco bell. I didn't get anyting as I felt nauseous. I thought I was going to puke from the smell when the food got into the limo. But I was ok. Everyone was offering medicine or alcohol (lol thanks but that won't help?) and what they could do? My head continued to get worse and the pressure in the back of my head grew. We parked across from Abby's house and thanked the driver. We walked over and I knew I was about to vomit. I whipped my hair up in my hand out of my face. I projectile vomitied on the sidewalk. It was like some kind of Exorcist move. It was a good thing no one was in front of me. Abby said something like "you puked like a rock star" Everyone was like "WHOA" because it came out of nowhere. They were all trying to help hold my hair and rub my back and ask if I was ok. At that point I to be left alone for a second in case there was more.
The good thing about it...I made it to the end of the night, Abby had a great time. And my friends actually got to see something that Chiari does to me. They were able to see a bit of the pain I was in. If they couldn't see the pain on my face...they saw it when the vomit shot out of nowhere.
Don't forget to check out the rest of the Carnival!
Topic: Dealing with difficult people in addition to dealing with a difficult illness.
 |
| "But you don't look sick?" (Photo provided by Eliza Jayne Photography) |
Of course I look normal.
You can't see the pressure in my head.
You can't see that it feels like my head could explode at any minute.
You can't see that my hands and feet are numb and tingling.
I may stumble or walk into something, but I just look clumsy to you...You don't see my balance and depth perception problems.
You don't hear the ringing in my ears.
You hear my speech slurr or I trip over my words. You laugh, I laugh. But do you know why it happens? Does that come to mind when you hear it?
You don't see me almost black out from getting dizzy and lightheaded if I drive too fast over a hill.
(I know why I can't ride rollercoasters.)
I could continue to go on and on with the list.
I have tried looking at things from the opposite point of view. The other person can never fully understand what you are going through. They may try to relate by sympathizing with you over something they have gone through. "I've had surgery once. I went in to get my tonsils taken out"
Oh ok...not quite on the same plane as brain surgery. "So you're cured now that you've had surgery right?" No surgery is not a cure, just a form of treatment. "Oh."
People do not understand why surgery if its not a cure. What is the point of surgery?
When I first had major problems I went back to my family doctor a few times for "migraines". Each time I was given a different medicine or something to try. Finally he ordered an MRI after I went in and couldn't turn my head at all. I was lucky enough to be referred to a NS who knew of Chiari and wasn't afraid to work with it. He has followed up ever since. I was diagnosed in 2003.
A lot of people go through several doctors, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and other specialists before they are diagnosed.
After dignosis its a mixed feeling. You're relieved because you finally have an answer for what you're going through. But on the other hand....what do you do with it?
You barely understand it, how will anyone else? So you begin to tell your family and then your closest friends. Again...they don't really experience what you're going through. They know what you're saying. They don't feel the pain. It's hard to sympathize with the unknown.
This topic fits well with what happened two weekends ago. We had the bachelorette party for my best friend, Abby, on April 20th. We all took her out to dinner. Then we were off to the bar across the street from her house. We had a limo scheduled to pick us up about an hour into that as surprise. The limo would drive us around town to various bars for the night. Now let me first say I was the only female in the bridal party aside from the bride. Abby and I have a lot more male friends. She had me (her maid of honor) and 3 boys her bridesmen/maids. The bachelorette party was mostly men. haha.
Anways. We went throughout the night all was well. I was mostly pain-free all day. As it got closer to the end of the night...my head started. (I do not drink and did not.) It was about 12:30AM and we had about 2 hours to go. I couldn't crap out and leave. We went for 4th meal at taco bell. I didn't get anyting as I felt nauseous. I thought I was going to puke from the smell when the food got into the limo. But I was ok. Everyone was offering medicine or alcohol (lol thanks but that won't help?) and what they could do? My head continued to get worse and the pressure in the back of my head grew. We parked across from Abby's house and thanked the driver. We walked over and I knew I was about to vomit. I whipped my hair up in my hand out of my face. I projectile vomitied on the sidewalk. It was like some kind of Exorcist move. It was a good thing no one was in front of me. Abby said something like "you puked like a rock star" Everyone was like "WHOA" because it came out of nowhere. They were all trying to help hold my hair and rub my back and ask if I was ok. At that point I to be left alone for a second in case there was more.
 |
| Bridesmaids L to R: Mike, John, Abby (Bride), Me, Brad |
Don't forget to check out the rest of the Carnival!
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