Oh Crap, It's ME Again!
Ganked from kaninchenzero because I'm avoiding baking more cake which I now have to because one layer bit the dust nastily #&(&^$%*&#.
I skipped some questions. Nyer. 70 points if you spotted the pun in the title of this post.
For Invisible Illness Week
1. The illnesses I live with are: Fibromyalgia, CFIDS, depression, hypothyroidism, possible PCOS.
2. I was diagnosed with [them] in the year(s): Fibro/CFIDS: 2006, depression: 2001, thyroid: 2003.
3. But I've had symptoms since: probably lifelong for all of them, although the fibro/CFIDS got serious in 1998.
4. The biggest adjustment I've had to make is: Having to say "I can't" when my mantra used to be "No problem".
6. The hardest part about mornings is: Getting up, if I have to. Or wanting to, but needing more sleep, and not being able to get it. Also needing to turn over - my back hurts so severely when I wake up that the slightest movement hurts - but continuing to lie there will make it worse.
8. A gadget I couldn't live without is: The phone. I love to talk to people, and this way I can do it while lying down at home.
9. The hardest part about nights is: Not being able to sleep, and being in so much pain that I contemplate suicide.
10. Each day I take: Celexa and Synthroid or Eltroxin, plus painkillers as necessary. I use minimal painkillers because they increase my fatigue levels, and I don't have much life to spare.
11. Regarding alternative treatments, I: Would like to do more of them, if I had the time, money and energy to try them out.
13. Regarding working and career: I deeply miss my lost life in which I would have had a satisfying job to work at, which would also get me my own money and respect from other people. I became seriously ill so young I don't even have memories of what I had, because I hadn't gotten there yet.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality is: I will likely never be better.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed: Moving without hurting. Dancing, walking, swimming, bending over, reaching - those kinds of things.
19. It was really hard to give up: Everything?
20. A new hobby I've taken up since my diagnosis is: Playing an on-line game - something I would have considered a waste of time when I had the brainpower and body for more creative and active choices.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again, I would: Get some housework done, then go outside and run around.
22. My illness has taught me: It's possible to live with pretty much anything, but a sense of humour is deeply valuable. And happiness is a choice.
23. One thing people say (about my illness) that gets under my skin is: "That's caused by X", or "what you do for that is...". You have not a fucking clue, please go away and shut up.
24. But I love it when people: Accept me as I am without wanting to theorize/fix/cross-examine, but do take into account my special needs, and don't act like there's anything unusual or unreasonable about them.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: I ain't dead yet.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: It can be interesting, and even inspirational. Not in the Hallmark sense, but in the creative sense.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn't feeling well was: Turn up at my door with a hot lemon drink, enough homemade mac and cheese for two nights and some sweet treats as well. That was done by someone who now hates me with a passion. Kind of funny when you think about it.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: I'm really pleased if anyone read the whole thing.
I skipped some questions. Nyer. 70 points if you spotted the pun in the title of this post.
For Invisible Illness Week
1. The illnesses I live with are: Fibromyalgia, CFIDS, depression, hypothyroidism, possible PCOS.
2. I was diagnosed with [them] in the year(s): Fibro/CFIDS: 2006, depression: 2001, thyroid: 2003.
3. But I've had symptoms since: probably lifelong for all of them, although the fibro/CFIDS got serious in 1998.
4. The biggest adjustment I've had to make is: Having to say "I can't" when my mantra used to be "No problem".
6. The hardest part about mornings is: Getting up, if I have to. Or wanting to, but needing more sleep, and not being able to get it. Also needing to turn over - my back hurts so severely when I wake up that the slightest movement hurts - but continuing to lie there will make it worse.
8. A gadget I couldn't live without is: The phone. I love to talk to people, and this way I can do it while lying down at home.
9. The hardest part about nights is: Not being able to sleep, and being in so much pain that I contemplate suicide.
10. Each day I take: Celexa and Synthroid or Eltroxin, plus painkillers as necessary. I use minimal painkillers because they increase my fatigue levels, and I don't have much life to spare.
11. Regarding alternative treatments, I: Would like to do more of them, if I had the time, money and energy to try them out.
13. Regarding working and career: I deeply miss my lost life in which I would have had a satisfying job to work at, which would also get me my own money and respect from other people. I became seriously ill so young I don't even have memories of what I had, because I hadn't gotten there yet.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality is: I will likely never be better.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed: Moving without hurting. Dancing, walking, swimming, bending over, reaching - those kinds of things.
19. It was really hard to give up: Everything?
20. A new hobby I've taken up since my diagnosis is: Playing an on-line game - something I would have considered a waste of time when I had the brainpower and body for more creative and active choices.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again, I would: Get some housework done, then go outside and run around.
22. My illness has taught me: It's possible to live with pretty much anything, but a sense of humour is deeply valuable. And happiness is a choice.
23. One thing people say (about my illness) that gets under my skin is: "That's caused by X", or "what you do for that is...". You have not a fucking clue, please go away and shut up.
24. But I love it when people: Accept me as I am without wanting to theorize/fix/cross-examine, but do take into account my special needs, and don't act like there's anything unusual or unreasonable about them.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: I ain't dead yet.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: It can be interesting, and even inspirational. Not in the Hallmark sense, but in the creative sense.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn't feeling well was: Turn up at my door with a hot lemon drink, enough homemade mac and cheese for two nights and some sweet treats as well. That was done by someone who now hates me with a passion. Kind of funny when you think about it.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: I'm really pleased if anyone read the whole thing.