Getting Back on Your Feet

A friend of mine was having a lot trouble keeping on her feet after a divorce. She fought to keep her house during the divorce, but she had to let the house go because she could not afford to take care of the house and her son. She lost her job and it took her over 6 months to find a job. Meanwhile, she put in over 50 applications for a job. During the time she lived off her credit cards and living with a friend. She had to turn off her water and electricity because of not having enough money to pay the bills. She lived on her friend’s sofa bed while her son stayed with a family member. It was a rough time in her life. She had to use her credit card to pay her car payment which has caused her to be in debt. I have talked to her about calling a debt consolidation firm, but her pride just will not let her. I have tried telling her it is not the same as filing bankruptcy. I told her at least give them a call and she might be surprised how helpful the company will be for her. I have had to deal with a debt consolation company to get me out of debt. I was pleased with the help.

Bull Ride Anyone?

It is not every day that you go to a rodeo let alone get NFR Tickets cheap for one. It is bad enough having to stay on a bull without an arena full of people yelling and watching you ride a bull. In the past, I have watched rodeos on television and it scares me when the person falls off the bull and runs as fast as the can. I can honestly say you will not find me on a bull at any point. The closest I have been to a bull rider is in a country dancing place where people paid to ride the bull operated by an electrical cord. It was interesting see who could stay on the bull the longest. Some of the people stayed on for the whole time, while others would fall off the bull and get right back on. I know you are supposed to get right back on the horse, but no one said anything about a bull. But I can sympathize with the guys and gals who get on the bull and ride it. I do feel for them when they are soothing their ailments after being beat up by a 2000 pound bull full of too caffeine and sugar. I have to say pain is not something I would go looking for anytime soon. The craziest thing I have ever seen is the running of the bulls in Spain. I would not go looking for any bulls anytime soon. I will stick to being a spectator for anything that involves any large animal.

Time to Follow Your Dreams in Tough Times

So many people are finding their selves in a long line at the unemployment center and feel like the floor is falling out from underneath them. An online college degree just might be the advancement they need today. A Online Colleges would be an excellent way to be competitive at work. It might be the time to get the online colleges degrees you have been dreaming of for years. But you will still need to find that job to feed your family, but you will have something to look forward to when you get up in the morning to search for a job. The great thing about an online college degree is the class time is flexible. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason even though I have yet to figure out what the reason is for getting sick. It has taken a lot of soul searching, but I have learned a lot about myself. While I was in school the teacher’s criticized my stories and writing. By being sick I have found a new found love in writing, although I have yet to figure out what kind of online college degree I would like to pursue. It just might be what I need to follow my own dream, but I always go back to, but I am sick. I will always have lupus, but I am working on not letting lupus have me.

I Want it Wednesday

This weeks question is:

What do you want to be able to do on your computer?

Finishing my writings before midnight without being discouraged like I have been the last couple of days


What else do you want this week? Share it all.

I am waiting for a big delievery and I cannnot contain myself waiting for its arrival. I have to remember patience is a virtual even if it hard to do. I want to stay warm and not fall in the snow and ice while it is melting. That’s about it for now. Have a great day.

30 Things About My Illness

1. The illness I live with is: Lupus, Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2001 (not totally sure.)

3. But I had symptoms since: I was a child

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: having to stop working and the constant fatigue

5. Most people assume: I’m not telling the truth

6. The hardest part about mornings is: being so stiff and sore.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: ER and Strong Medicine (hard to choose just one.)

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my rice heating pad.

9. The hardest part about nights is: tossing and turning in pain and the silence.

10. Each day I take 12 or more pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: have tried many things, but wish something would help.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: visible (but, it depends)

13. Regarding working and career: I miss it a lot and wish I could have it back.

14. People would be surprised to know: I’m not as strong as people think.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: not being the kind of Mom I dreamed of being.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: don’t know

17. The commercials about my illness: make me cringe, Lyrica over and over….. Like I need reminder of the pain.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: being able to run errands without loss of energy.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: my memory not being what it used to be.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: writing

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: visit an amusement park.

22. My illness has taught me: to slow down.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: people not acknowledging my sickness and being treated like I’m broken.

24. But I love it when people: listen and try to understand what I’m going through.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: the serenity prayer.

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: find out as much as you can about the illness and don’t take doctors word as gospel truth.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how frustrating it really is to be in pain day and night.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: helping me on bad days.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want to speak awareness of chronic illnesses

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: good and glad I could share my story.

Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com

How to Build Character in Kids

My daughter has been volunteering at library for over a year. I’m so proud of how hard she’s been working there. Its funny she didn’t like in the beginning. Now she loves it so much that she can’t wait to work again. She helps sort books, file books, color papers for the little kids and a lot of other things. I think it’s important to teach your kids to volunteer because it builds character and teaches responsibility. It helps her work with the community, which teaches her a lot of things. It helps her do something she enjoys away from dealing with my lupus.

Help Get Access to Affordable Medication

Can you pass this along via your blog, and to all your contacts?

Lupus Foundation of America Needs Your Help — Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor S. 1630, the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act

Go to Lupus Foundation website link to help with access to affordable medication

Click on the link “Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor S. 1630, the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act,” enter your zip code in the box called “Call Now” and click on the “go” button. You’ll then be presented with the contact information for your senators, as well as get talking points for what to say when you call.

Please ask your family, friends and coworkers to call on your behalf as well.

Thank You For Your Help, It only takes a minute to make a world of difference to a lot of people and maybe your one of those people that needs help with medications.

The Importance of Speaking to Your Doctor

I’ve been dealing with gaining quite a bit of weight partly because of the pain and medication side effects. . A lot of it comes with the amount of prednisone I have to take everyday. Lately, I’ve been checking into Diet pills because I cannot seem to lose the weight. It’s not been an easy battle trying to lose the weight. It’s become very frustrating especially when a lot of movements cause me so much pain. I’ve been trying to do some kind of exercise, when I can tolerate it. Right now I’m only able to do a few things when I’m exercising. I’ve checked out tai chi as it looks like its low impact and I can adjust it for a wheelchair. I’ve been checking into slimming pills to lose at least 10 pounds of the weight, but it’s really hard to speak to my doctor. One doctor told me its part of the side effects of the medicine, but doesn’t give me any suggestions on how to lose weight. Trying to lose weight wasn’t an issue for me until I was sick. I’ve thought about talking to an online doctor about my weight gain to see if taking Xenical would be an option for me. I was surprised that you have the option of seeing the online doctor in person.

Why Not Me?

Finding some peace with your chronic illness is not easy. It took me literally years to come to terms with the pain I deal with day after day. I went through the why me’s and being in plain old denial. It took a while just to look myself in the face as I only saw the illness, not what’s below the surface. I guess it hit me harder because I had so many plans for my life. Recently, I heard something on TV that really got me to thinking about my illness. The man said instead of saying why me, we need to say why not me. And then you need to figure out what you’re going to do with the illness. Ya, it’s easier to roll around in my own misery instead of picking up my boot straps and dealing with the illness. I’m now in the process of putting myself back together after years of depression and denial. This is something hard to share, but if it helps one person to cope with a chronic illness or any other obstacle that comes their way I’ve achieved something. So I’m off to stay away from the Why Me’s, what are you going to do?

Finding the Perfect Place to Relax

Deciding where to go on vacation when you live with a chronic illness takes a little more consideration then just booking a place with a pool. You have to research that you can find the proper accommodations for your visit. Many of us need an elevator to get up to the second floor. If we have an elevator it saves us the energy we could use to enjoy fun with family and friends. I know myself a pool would be an advantage because the water gives me a lot relief. I especially like a whirlpool or Jacuzzi to enjoy the benefits of warm water. The outer banks north carolina are a nice place to sit back and relax. If you’re looking for a quiet vacation you need to check that the place is not close to the main drag. The more time you can relax while living with a chronic illness the easier it is to function. Sometimes it’s just great to get away from people around you to regroup your mind and find some inner peace. I enjoy listening to the surf from the oceans and enjoying quiet times around the ocean. I love picking up sea shells along the sea shore to add to my collection. Making sure the vacation home is handicapped accessible makes it easier for a lot of us chronic illness survivors to get around. Even if you’re not in a wheelchair it helps to have some of the home handicap accessible.