Tag Archives: invisible illness

Be Our Guest: Nobody Said It Was Easy

Posted on May 31, 2016 by leitis23

May is national neurofibromatosis (NF) month! What’s that? You ask.  Well, that is why it is really important we take note and learn about this devastating disease.  A friend of mine, who I have know since she was in diapers, … Continue reading →

Posted in anger, anxiety, Chronic Illness, conditions and diseases, grief, helping, humor, neurofibromatosis (NF), understanding | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Why People with Chronic Illness Rarely Take Your Advice Well

Posted on May 23, 2016 by leitis23

People with a chronic illness live with their illness like Olympic athletes live and breathe their events day in and day out.  Except for one major detail, we didn’t choose to be chronically ill and we don’t love it.  We … Continue reading →

Posted in anger, anxiety, caring, chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, compassion, conditions and diseases, depression, disability, fibromyalgia, friends, friendship, health, helping, hope, lupus, mystery diagnosis, Mystery Illness, pain management, rheumatoid arthitis, struggles, suicide, understanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Taking Back My Life, One Country at a Time

Posted on January 22, 2016 by leitis23

I did it!  I went to Scotland for two weeks, not only survived, but also had a good time.  Of course, it was different from traveling when I was healthy, but it was a giant triumph.  Traveling is one of … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lost in Grief

Posted on June 19, 2014 by leitis23

For the majority of people coping with chronic pain or illness it came on suddenly while we were innocently living normal lives.  Whether we were nine or fifty years old chronic pain brought about devastating changes in the life we … Continue reading →

Posted in caring, chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, compassion, coping, depression, fibromyalgia, health, invisible illness, Medicine, mystery diagnosis, Mystery Illness, pain management, rheumatoid arthitis, understanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

23 Tip For Men on Supporting a Partner with Chronic Pain

Posted on April 9, 2014 by leitis23

I know I have been posting other people’s writing lately. Don’t worry, I haven’t given up writing. The truth is that right now my doctors are futzing with my anti seizure and pain meds and to function successfully both mentally … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, caring, chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, compassion, conditions and diseases, coping, depression, Doctors, family, fibromyalgia, friends, friendship, health, helping, ilness, invisible illness, language, language barrier, love, Medicine, Mystery Illness, pain management, practicing medicine, rheumatoid arthitis, understanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Who Are You?

Posted on March 11, 2014 by leitis23

“Who are you?” asked the most likely stoned caterpillar of Alice in Wonderland.  She gave her name, but that wasn’t what he meant so he asked again.  Faced with the same question, talking caterpillar or not, we all have to … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, compassion, conditions and diseases, coping, depression, Doctors, family, fibromyalgia, friends, friendship, health, helping, ilness, invisible illness, lost, love, lupus, Medicine, mystery diagnosis, Mystery Illness, pain management, practicing medicine, rheumatoid arthitis, understanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Hidden Cost of Chronic Pain

Posted on February 4, 2014 by leitis23

Chronic pain turned my life upside down and inside out.  I had to give up my rock climbing, skydiving, and white water rafting.  I cried as I signed the paper work to sell my motorcycle.  Seeing anyone dancing is a … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, caring, Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, compassion, conditions and diseases, confused, coping, depression, family, fibromyalgia, friends, friendship, health, helping, invisible illness, lost, love, Medicine, pain management, understanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

It’s a lie! You aren’t Addicted.

Posted on January 24, 2014 by leitis23

The media, our friends, our family, even our doctors tell us that long term use of opioid pain killers causes addiction.  I bet there isn’t a single person with chronic pain who hasn’t been treated like some twitchy drug-seeking addict … Continue reading →

Posted in Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, conditions and diseases, coping, Doctors, family, fibromyalgia, health, helping, humor, ilness, invisible illness, language, Medicine, pain management, practicing medicine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Suicide is Not About You

Posted on January 13, 2014 by leitis23

Warning: This is a candid piece about a difficult subject.  Please understand I am not advocating suicide nor is this a cry for help.  I’m encouraging understanding and compassion. The chronically ill suffer from severe depression, grief, loss, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, compassion, conditions and diseases, coping, depression, family, friends, friendship, health, helping, invisible illness, lupus, Medicine, mystery diagnosis, Mystery Illness, pain management, practicing medicine, suicide | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 56 Comments

My Shoes Fit Funny

Posted on January 2, 2014 by leitis23

My alarm goes off a half hour before I actually need to get out of bed.  That probably isn’t that strange, everybody likes the snooze button, but that isn’t the reason I set mine early.  I need the extra time … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, caring, chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, compassion, confused, coping, depression, Doctors, funny, health, helping, humor, invisible illness, lost, lupus, Medicine, pain management, practicing medicine, rheumatoid arthitis, Uncategorized, understanding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments