(AKA a short selection of my grievances, organised by syllable.) A Tanka is a form of short poetry that originated in Japan and is often likened to an extended Haiku (a three line poem with a syllable pattern of 5,7,5). When it comes to life with chronic illness, we often experience both beautiful and devastating…
A Comprehensive Review of the CycleSoother
Content Warning: descriptions of medical symptoms, blood. ATTENTION Do you have a uterus? Do you sometimes wish that you didn’t!? Well then, this is the article for you my friend! (If you do NOT have a uterus, I suggest you pause for a small moment of gratitude, then keep reading anyway so you can potentially…
Freedom
Freedom Walking’s never something that I thought that I would lack,I’m sick of spending so much time just flat upon my back. Freedom comes in many forms, can’t always choose our own.These limbs are unreliable, so I’ll be rolling home. Freedom comes in many forms, and sometimes it’s a choice,Today I chose to hop on…
The F Word
Content warning: suicidal ideation, medical negligence, medical gaslighting, trauma, grief, depression, depictions of medical symptoms. Please note: This post will make reference to the pros and cons of certain treatments for Fibromyalgia. However, this is not medical advice. Please speak to your doctor. Why do so many of us refer to Fibromyalgia as "The F…
I Spent Three Days in Hospital Covered in Electrodes
I recently completed a three day study at my local hospital. This involved a spirometry, ECG, ENT exam, overnight sleep monitoring and a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). There were multiple reasons for this, the primary one being that I have been having frightening episodes of partial paralysis, accompanied by some other odd symptoms, and…
PMDD – The Insatiable Monster That Won’t Stop Chasing Me
Content warning: suicidal ideation, self-harm, violence, dissociative episodes, intrusive thoughts, trauma. Please note: In today’s post I will be sharing my personal experience with Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD. Part of me has been dreading sharing the details of some of my pre-treatment thoughts and behaviours, but I believe it is important to talk about…
The ER Veteran’s Guide to an “Efficient Emergency”
I have been to the emergency room more times than I can count. Appendicitis, abdominal tear, fainting, partial paralysis, abnormal migraine, undetectable cortisol levels, multiple bouts of anaphylaxis, and that time my eye swelled closed for no apparent reason. There has been a recent uptick in these visits for me over the past year (hurray!)…
What It’s Really Like to Be in “Full-Time” Rehabilitation
I am sick. To a certain extent, I have always been sick, but over the past 3 years my health has detiorated considerably. I went from balancing work, study, training for my first 12km run and learning German in my spare time, to bed bound and unable to make my own breakfast. This was (obviously)…
Adora – My Accidental Migraine and Paralysis “Support Kitten”
Content Warning: potentially distressing descriptions of medical symptoms, death anxiety. Six months ago I had the absolute fright of my life. I awoke abruptly in the middle of the night, extremely dizzy and in need of one of those pesky, middle-of-the-night bathroom trips. As I stood up I felt all the blood rushing away from…
“Did I Ask?” and Other Appropriate Responses to “You Don’t Look Sick”
If you’ve ever been sick for more than a fortnight or had some kind of invisible illness or disability, you will no doubt be familiar with this scenario: you mention taking a day off school or work, missing an event, or going home early due to a medical problem...and someone is overcome with the urge…