Welcome to the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge brought together by WEGO Health – a social network for all health activists. Again, I am participating in the annual Writer’s Month Challenge in which I will be writing about my health activism and health condition based upon prompts given.
The prompt reads as given:
“Health Tagline”…Give yourself, your blog, or your condition, or some aspect of your health a tagline. Make sure it’s catchy!
Again this is a prompt that has been involved in the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge during a previous year; so again I thought I would do the prompt a little differently than described.
What is in a name? Not only is it a very famous quote from Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ but it also has a significant value in everyday life; every person recognises themselves by their name. A name gives an identity and meaning whether it be a person, a book, or even a blog. A names enables us to be able to identify a person or an object, as well as being able to differentiate one thing from another. A name is powerful tool in language.
So to choose a blog name is important; it not only gives the blog its own identity but also gives the writer a voice. A name gives the audience an understanding of the subject matter of the blog, even before they start to read. So, what made me choose the name ‘My Brain Lesion and Me’? For starters, I thought the name was reminiscent of a book; of a story and in my opinion that is exactly what the blog is about – it is a story of my life and experiences with living with a neurological condition.
In a previous year, I had decided to come up with the tagline ‘Once upon a Dizzy Spell…A story of a girl living with a neurological condition’. What made me choose this particular tagline is because as a young girl I loved fairy tales, especially the classic tales of princesses and princes. I was an avid viewer of Disney films such as ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’ and loved the romantic stories and the promise of a happily ever after. Another reason for the chosen tagline is that my life living with a neurological condition all started with that very first dizzy spell all those years ago. And that dizzy spell was the beginning of the journey to where I am now…
And what if I were to give myself a tagline, what would I choose to give myself? I was thinking long and hard and decided in the end for:
Stumbling along the silver lining
I decided upon this particular tagline, as for starters my legs have been particularly bad recently, and often due to the trembling, walking becomes a lot more like stumbling! Furthermore, I would like to think that I am a positive person despite my neurological condition. For example, I keep a positivity board and scatter various items adorned with positive quotes as an attempt to look for the silver linings in life, as hard and difficult as living with a chronic illness can be, and so the above tagline for myself was born!,
If you had to create a tagline for yourself, what would yours be? As ever would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions so please feel free to add your comments below…
Welcome to the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge brought together by WEGO Health – a social network for all health activists. Again, I am participating in the annual Writer’s Month Challenge in which I will be writing about my health activism and health condition based upon prompts given.
Today’s prompt reads as follows:
Well, that’s just crazy!…What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve heard about your health condition? Was there any context? What did you think at the time you heard it – and what do you think of it now?
This prompt has actually been used a couple of times previously and so therefore I have decided to come at the prompt at a different angle.
When someone is living with a chronic illness, everyone seems to have an opinion. People will give advice on how to live and deal with said illness, advice on treatments and so forth. As well-meaning as that they may be, they are often extremely unhelpful. Therefore, this blog post will look at the more popular clichés that we chronically ill often hear:
“Well, it could be worse..” or “There are people much worse off…” – I think that everyone living with a chronic illness realises this; and as much as the statement is true, it however still does not help us feel any better regarding our own situation. The statement only really adds to the feelings of loneliness and isolation that already exists in our lives as a result of chronic illness. In addition, feelings of suffering and pain are entirely subjective, and therefore you cannot measure one person’s pain against another. We are still going to be in pain, and the thought of someone else being worse off is not a comfort to us.
“You need to get out more; that will make you feel better…” – This is another cliché that can be especially infuriating to hear when you are chronically ill. Especially as there is nothing that we would like more, than to be able to get out of the house and do everything that we enjoy such as shopping or socialising with friends as examples. However, we often feel too unwell to go out; and unfortunately there isn’t anything we can do about it. Stating that we need to get out more just makes us feel worse and more depressed than usual. So, please refrain from using such expressions.
“Get well soon!” – As much as I realise that this popular expression is often used with the best intentions, it is especially hurtful for people like me living with a chronic health condition. As the term ‘chronic’ suggests our condition is not going to improve; and that these conditions are ones which we will have to live with for the rest of our lives. It makes us feel misunderstood. As much as this is a lovely phrase to use for someone with the flu or a broken leg for example, it just leaves us with the thought of “If only!”.
“But you look so GOOD!…” – This has to be the most popular cliché that us spoonies hear from others. It’s as if people cannot fathom that we are so unwell when we look so normal. However, it is said that approximately 96 per cent of all chronic health conditions are invisible. This suggests that the healthy population believe that a sick person should look a certain way and when we fail in living up to that expectation that they therefore do not believe we are sick. This phrase therefore can be particularly hurtful.
“Have you tried exercise? That can be very beneficial for illnesses…” – Yes, I understand that exercise can be beneficial for a number of different conditions; for example, mild depression can be alleviated by taking part in some form of exercise as ‘endorphins’, the happy chemical is released during exercise. However, with many chronic health conditions, it can be very difficult to undertake any form of exercise because of severe symptoms, such as fatigue. In my case, for example, not only fatigue that can stop me from doing some form of exercise but also the dizziness and the trembling in the legs can make it very difficult to exercise also.
“My friend’s aunt’s cousin has that. She tried _____ and it really worked for her. Maybe you should try it?” – As well-intentioned telling us other people’s experiences and although you are trying to help us in trying to find something to help, it is important to note that with a number of different chronic conditions and particularly neurological conditions, every person are unique and each case can be very different. What works for one person will not work for somebody else.
“I know exactly how you feel. I often feel like that…” – This is fine to hear from other friends who are also battling with chronic illnesses. however, it can be very hurtful and frustrating when other friends begin to compare their recent bout of flu or bad cold to your chronic health condition. Being in pain and tired for a week is not the same as battling these symptoms for years. So, please do not tell us that you know how we feel when you have not lived with or experienced chronic illness for yourself.
“I wish I could stay at home all day…” – I find this particular statement very hurtful indeed. We did not choose to be ill, and trust me when I say we would much rather be out living life, and working like you instead of being stuck at home all day feeling very unwell and tired.
“Are you sure, it’s not just in your head?” – Again, this is a really difficult and hurtful statement to hear when experiencing chronic illness. When doctors are unable to find an explanation for symptoms, it is automatically assumed that the person must be imagining, exaggerating or even faking symptoms to gain attention. We get asked this by doctors a lot of the time, so please as friends or family members refrain from suggesting that the problem is simply all in the mind.
“It can’t be that bad?” – The thing with chronic illness, is that it is an experience that you cannot possibly imagine, unless you have had personal experience with it, so again a statement like this can be very upsetting as it trivialises our whole medical condition. Like the statement above it also suggests that we are making the condition up, and can often make us feel that our own friend or close family member does not believe us, which can add to the feeling of loneliness, isolation and depression that can often be associated with chronic illness, even if it was said with the best intentions.
The best thing you can do for someone with a chronic illness is just to listen to them. Ask if there are anyways in which you can help them. Be a supportive friend or family member. We would really appreciate that more than hearing statements such as those above.
So, these are the few clichés that I have heard during my experience with chronic illness. What are the some of the statements that you have heard from friends and family? How did they make you feel?
As ever would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Please feel free to add your comments below…
Welcome to the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge brought together by WEGO Health – a social network for all health activists. Again, I am participating in the annual Writer’s Month Challenge in which I will be writing about my health activism and health condition based upon prompts given.
The prompt reads as given:
“These are a few of my favourite things”…It may not be brown paper packages wrapped up in string or warm woollen mittens, but what are some of the things you love? What couldn’t you live without?
I have a lot of things in my life which I love – my friends, family and my pet dog Honey are at the top of that list but as I have written about them numerous times already, I have decided to concentrate on the things that I love which provide me with comfort on the bad days and helps me to stay positive.
First of all is a pair of comfortable pyjamas. I have a pair in which the bottoms are chequered and a simple pain black top. It is great to have a comfortable pair of clothing to keep near the bed, as whenever I am stuck in bed due to my condition I still am able to change into something clean as an alternative to staying in the pair of pyjamas that you have had on all night! It is also convenient for those days in which you have no energy to be able to pick out an outfit and are planning to stay at home anyway. The pyjamas that I have kept for those many bad days, look more like lounge wear than conventional pyjamas so is less embarrassing if the postman knocks on the door to sign for a parcel!
Another favourite of mine to keep next to my bed is definitely my iPad. When stuck in bed, it can be extremely monotonous and dull. Therefore, I love my iPad as it keeps me entertained with a variety of different apps to use to suit my mood. For instance, there is the Kindle app for when I fancy to lose myself in a book, or even Netflix when spoons are nonexistent that all I have the energy for is to watch a television programme or film that requires little thought involved to enjoy, or sometimes watching videos of cute and adorable dogs on YouTube to cheer myself up when stormy clouds appear, blocking all sunshine and positivity in my life. I am even able to stream the many number of films and television programmes that I own from iTunes which can keep me entertained for hours. Then there a number of games that I have downloaded to the tablet computer; a great distraction from pain and dizziness that seems to plague my life so much. In my opinion, tablet computers are a must-have gadget for spoonies – it is easy and light to carry and can easily be used in bed, and the features that are available on tablets such as the iPad mean that you never have to be bored whilst stuck in bed again!
One thing I have learnt about living with a chronic illness is how important it is to have a relaxing place to recuperate. These not only brighten my bedroom but also puts a smile on my face
Above my bed, I have just placed some butterfly LED lights, which is now another one of my favourite things. As many of you know, I love butterflies and have many accessories and pieces of clothing which has butterflies all over them. When I saw these in a local shop, I thought they would make a lovely addition to my butterfly themed sanctuary. Not only do they brighten my room and provide light, for when I am awake with painsomnia (for explanation of term see my series of the ‘A to Z of Chronic Illness‘) but they just put a smile on my face when recuperating in my quiet, relaxing space at home.
Some of my favourite letters and cards 🙂
I treasure all of the cards and mail that I have received from numerous friends. Their beautiful words and lovely sentiments never fail to bring a smile to my face and cheer me up when feeling low. These are perfect to read again and again, especially when suffering a relapse or flare in your condition. Letters from friends, or relatives remind you that you are not alone and that there are people who care when it can often feel that you are alone. One of my favourite letters is one I received from the extraordinary young woman ,Jodi Ann Bickley, who after suffering from ill-health herself established ‘One Million Lovely Letters‘; a project in which she writes letters to those who need a lift, whether it be because of illness, a breakup or bereavement. The letter is gorgeous; with beautiful meaningful words and complete with glitter and sparkle. The letter means so much as it is a reminder that I am so much more than my condition, and how I am not alone in the fight against my condition. It is a perfect antidote to a bad day due to my neurological condition.
Some goodies from ‘The Itty Bitty Book Company’
Another item that brings me comfort is the little items that I have bought from the wonderfully positive company ‘The Itty Bitty Book Company‘. This small and ethical company promotes positivity through using inspirational and motivational quotes in little books, prints, cards and even badges. The quotes are all ones which I love and find helpful during times of struggle; I often take them to hospital appointments to help give me strength and positivity. The designs are also truly beautiful and the bright colours makes me instantly smile.
Positivity Board – full of hope and inspiration
Another favourite thing of mine, is actually something that I created and that is my positivity board. It has everything that inspires me and keeps me positive despite chronic illness – letters from friends as well as cards that I have bought with inspirational and positive quotes on such as “Life isn’t about waiting for storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain” and “Everyone wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but if you want a rainbow you need a little rain”. It is these quotes and the idea of the positivity board which really helps in keeping me inspired and positive despite all the trials and tribulations that comes with the symptoms associated with my neurological condition. Recently, I have found some ceramic shapes that also has lovely and positive quotes on them and as I have not go much space in my bedroom to hang them, I have therefore decided to place them in my comfort box and get them out when I am having a rough day because of how I am feeling or stuck in bed due to the weakness in legs. These items are a great reminder that no matter how life may be tough in the present, there are still many more good moments to come; they inspire and uplift me when life with chronic illness becomes too hard to bear. They help me remain a positive person and that are why they are part of my favourite things and carefully placed in my comfort box.
Welcome to the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge brought together by WEGO Health – a social network for all health activists. Again, I am participating in the annual Writer’s Month Challenge in which I will be writing about my health activism and health condition based upon prompts given.
The prompt reads as given:
Health Activist Choice Day 1…Write about what whatever you want today!
I thought long and hard about what I wanted to write about for today’s post. As we all know living with chronic illness is like riding a rollercoaster with a number of highs and lows; and unfortunately many of these are lows. However as much as I struggle living with my neurological condition, I try my best to remain positive despite it, and so therefore I would like to write about an achievement that I have finally managed to accomplish. As most of you may know, due to my neurological condition (a long-standing brain stem lesion) one of the main symptoms that accompany the said condition is severe and constant dizziness.
The dizziness, as we have found out is triggered by certain visual stimuli, such as large stores with its open spaces, high ceilings and fluorescent lighting. This therefore, restricts me into where I am able to shop, for example the clothing store Next, which also happens to be my favourite clothing store. A few years ago, a Next opened up in a local retail store near to where I live, however, I was unable to shop in there because the store itself would trigger the dizziness and vertigo, and as a result make me feel very unwell. When my carer started working for me, approximately fifteen months ago, we made one of my goals to be able to go into the store that was one of my favourite retailers. Over the months we have tried and tried to no avail; sometimes we got as far as the door but the dizziness became so intense that we had to go straight back to the car.
However, last Thursday on a whim I decided that we should give it another try. As we are due to go on holiday soon, I still need some new clothes to take away with me and seen some clothes that I liked whilst browsing their website. I have to admit, I love browsing their website and their delivery options are fantastic, for example you are able to order certain products by 9 PM and have them delivered the very next day. However, there is a delivery charge, and when you order as much as I have done over the years, it really adds up.
I did it! I managed to go into store, and what’s even more is that I managed to shop and browse their lovely clothing and accessories for nearly an hour! And even managed to buy a couple of items! I cannot describe the sense of accomplishment that I felt when I paid for my items! I actually did it! I defeated the dizziness and vertigo; pushed through and won. I admit, there were a couple of moments that I nearly collapsed, and even went back to the car at one stage; and apparently at one point I even went green when the dizziness became so severe it made me feel very sick. The trembling in my legs was also quite severe, but I took along my wheelchair which made it much easier; and even when I was just pushing the wheelchair it have me a sense of stability, and at least I didn’t have to contend with the worry of my legs collapsing beneath me.
A gorgeous top that I fancied whilst browsing the Next website
The style of hat that is most effective in lessening the severity of the dizziness
I really have to thank the entire staff of Next at the Talbot Green Retail Store, who really made the experience much easier and were very helpful towards me and my situation. One staff member noticed how unsteady I looked and offered to open up one of the cash registers to save me from queueing. And the members of staff who diligently looked for items that I was looking for; going up to the stockroom to show me some of the options that were in stock. It is fantastic customer service that really helps when suffering from a chronic illness or disability and more than makes us more likely to return.
So, I managed to conquer a very debilitating symptom and managed to physically shop in a store which I love. Now, I have done it once, I look forward to many more visits to Next…
I hope you have enjoyed the new blog post! Have you conquered any fears or battled through severe and debilitating symptoms to accomplish something that you have wanted to for so long? As ever I would love to hear your comments and stories of triumph over our symptoms and conditions!! Feel free to share below in the comment section…
Welcome to the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge brought together by WEGO Health – a social network for all health activists. Again, I am participating in the annual Writer’s Month Challenge in which I will be writing about my health activism and health condition based upon prompts given.
Today’s prompt reads as follows:
Date Night…We’ve seen some posts from Health Activists on dating tips when you have a chronic illness. What tips do you have for those looking for the one fish in the big pond?
This, I have to admit is another difficult topic for me to write about. Dating isn’t an area which I have a lot of experience in. Due to the neurological condition that I live with, and the symptoms such as the severe dizziness, weakness and trembling in legs and the many falls that is a daily occurrence, it therefore, means that I am unable to go out on my own. As a result, this can make it very difficult to be able to meet anyone, especially as I very rarely go out in the evenings or on nights out because of the crippling fatigue that accompanies my illness. How on earth are we able to date when dealing with such intrusive symptoms? Let’s face it, dating is a difficult subject no matter what your personal circumstances are, but factor in a chronic illness and it compounds the situation further.
Since the age of the internet, I suppose it has made dating easier when you are housebound a lot of the time, with the large number of internet dating sites out there. However, with them comes a whole host of different problems such as when to divulge information regarding diagnosis, as well as not knowing exactly who you are talking to online. Attending groups based on a specific interest such as a local book group, for example, can also be a great ways to meet other people who share the same interest and may even find the one.
So, when we do eventually find that perfect someone to date; what are some options for low-key dates for when fatigue and other symptoms are particularly bad? Here are some lovely options that I have stumbled upon whilst researching this very topic:
Indoor Picnic: Going out for dinner is something that I love to do; however, on occasion I have had to cancel because I have felt too unwell, weak or even been bed bound to attend. So, how about having a picnic with your date inside the house, or even the garden if you have one. It also means that you can wear comfortable clothes, or even pyjamas and do not have to be self-conscious about your appearance; as well as enjoying quiet conversation in a relaxed environment
Early Dinner: I always find that my energy levels significantly drop just after 7 in the evening, so therefore, going out for a late dinner date, would not be very feasible for me, and much prefer going out earlier in the evening where it is often much quieter and you can even arrive back home in time for your favourite shows! And another benefit that you may even save money by going for a meal early by taking advantage of early-bird menu options!
Movie Night: As regular readers of the blog know, I find it difficult being in large open spaces, with high ceilings. This therefore restricts where I am able to go, and am often unable to go to cinema to see the latest releases as they often make me feel very nauseous and increases the severity of the dizziness and vertigo that I experience. So, how about making a movie date night right in the comfort of our living rooms? As an alternative, each could pick their favourite movie and then share them with the other, discussing what makes that particular film so brilliant. Enjoy with ice-cream and popcorn and settle beneath a warm comfortable blanket. And as a bonus, you don’t have to be disturbed by the rustling packets of other people’s snacks or be blocked by the head of another movie-goer!
Game Night: They may have am unfair reputation for being old-fashioned and dull but games may be a great distraction from chronic pain and other severe symptoms that you may be suffering from. It can also prove a unique bonding experience and you may be surprised what you can learn about each other by playing games, specifically those which require tactics. My personal favourite is Trivial Pursuit! Or you can always complete a jigsaw puzzle together and time how long it takes you to finish it.
Personal Book Club: If like me you love books, you could always rope your partner into reading a particular book that either one of you love, and then spend time discussing that particular book. I love discussing books with others as often you find a new perspective on a loved book that you might not have even considered before, but what is also great, that you also gain and insight into another person’s insights and views of a variety of different topics depending on the book choice.
What is important, however, is no matter how you meet your potential partner, is that they except you for who you are. Chronic illness can be extremely difficult to live with, and not just for the person living with the condition. Finding a person who accepts just that, are very special. And the person has to deal with not just the condition but also understands the limitations and restrictions that it places on our lives, so our prospective partners needs to understand and accept that our date nights may not constitute the conventional and clichéd dates, but the need that we sometimes have to be alternative in our choices and find creative and low-key dates for when we are experiencing a flare in our conditions.
I would love to hear all of your thoughts! What are your experiences of dating with chronic illness? How did you meet your partner? How are some of the ways you spend date nights when you are feeling particularly bad and unable to go out? Feel free to share your stories in the comments section below!
