Re: coping with chronic illness...

[Guest guest]

Ebony, Thank you for sharing this article. It brought tears to my dry eyes,

something that hasn't happened for a long time. There are many good points

that are made and I've been in a state of depression, thoughts of " not going

on " , don't want to use the S word.

When I was 17 years old I had a stroke that left my right side weak and

spastic. That was in 1975 and no diagnosis was found. It is surmised now

that I have a chemical in my blood that thickens it, leading to blood

clotting. It wasn't until I was 25 or so that I was diagnosed with RA/SLE.

Over the years, the left side of my body was compensating for the right side

that is not operating properly, and developed permanent damage in my hand,

wrist, knee, foot and who knows where else. Still, I was stubborn and

pushed myself to work 40-70 hours at times while raising 2 kids without a

father (another story). I refused to believe that I am disabled. But my

body had it's own ideas and refused to keep going. That was the year 2000.

I applied for, and received SSI benefits within 6 months, without a lawyer.

I just thought I was fooling everyone. Sure, I could push more, but I'll

just take this time out while I can... 6 years later I still believed I was

" fooling " the system into thinking I couldn't work. I tried to do some

consulting for my old company, create web sites for new ones. The reality

of that is I can't function some days. And the flares are not letting up.

And the meds or the disease itself, break my concentration. Until I found

this board, I seriously believed that I was not disabled, despite all of my

pain. What a shock to learn that I am disabled. I don't like that word,

but that is the proper term.

I try to keep a good attitude, and realize others are far worse off than me,

but now I have sores and nodules on the front and back of both hands.

Anything I touch, putting socks and shoes on, cooking, etc. brings pain if I

hit one of those many spots. On top of the other ailments that I already

deal with day to day. When I start thinking like this, I yell at myself not

be wallow in self-pity. The article you posted brought it all into

perspective.

Thanks for sharing. I really needed that today.

Joanne, IL

[ ] coping with chronic illness...

>I found this little article doing a search on anger and chronic

> illness. This is an excerpt but she goes on to talk about crisis,

> anger, renewal, reconstruction, etc.... I wanted to share. The web

> site is:

>

> http://www.alpineguild.com/COPING%20WITH%20CHRONIC%20ILLNESS.html

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for sharing this. I have saved it, to re-read later as the need

occurs. Also, I think it will be worth sharing with my family.

On 10/27/06, Ebony <stillbreathing29@...> wrote:

>

> I found this little article doing a search on anger and chronic

> illness. This is an excerpt but she goes on to talk about crisis,

> anger, renewal, reconstruction, etc.... I wanted to share. The web

> site is:

>

> http://www.alpineguild.com/COPING%20WITH%20CHRONIC%20ILLNESS.html

>

>

>

--

South Pasadena, CA

See my galleries! - http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I have to say- I found this article very useful.

Thanks for sending it to us. It came at a great time for me.

Dawn

Re: [ ] coping with chronic illness...

Thank you for sharing this. I have saved it, to re-read later as the need

occurs. Also, I think it will be worth sharing with my family.

On 10/27/06, Ebony <stillbreathing29@...> wrote:

>

> I found this little article doing a search on anger and chronic

> illness. This is an excerpt but she goes on to talk about crisis,

> anger, renewal, reconstruction, etc.... I wanted to share. The web

> site is:

>

> http://www.alpineguild.com/COPING%20WITH%20CHRONIC%20ILLNESS.html

>

>

>

--

South Pasadena, CA

See my galleries! - http://www.pbase.com/arenared986