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…
PSA: Hypermobility and Flexibility Are NOT the Same Thing
Content warning: chronic pain, medical negligence I limp down to my regular spot by the school canteen as my friend Michelle comes bounding over to me. "You missed P.E AGAIN today!" She exclaimed. "Everything ok?" "Yeah, I just rolled my ankle again." I say, with a defeated sigh. "Again!? Wow, you’ve been so unlucky this…
I’m Proud to be Rocking Mobility Aids at 27 Years old
I sit, staring across the desk at my doctor. We’ve already finished discussing all my other concerns for the day and I can’t delay any longer. I take a deep breath. “I’ve been talking to my physio about using elbow crutches…” I start nervously. “I’ve been using a cane on and off for some time…
10 Non-Pharmaceutical Things That Have Helped Me With Chronic Pain
Content warning: description of medical symptoms One of the hardest things about being in chronic pain is the sheer amount of time we are expected to spend waiting around without adequate relief. We wait for a doctor’s appointment, to get a referral, to wait for a specialist appointment, to wait for test results, to wait…
Misconceptions About Cortisol That Keep Me up at Night
Content warning: potentially distressing descriptions of medical procedures and symptoms, medical negligence. You may or may not have already read that I used to suffer from a condition called "Hypoadrenalism," an illness which prevents your adrenal glands from properly producing the hormone cortisol. This can have many different causes which we will discuss in greater…