One of the best ideas I've come across about managing chronic pain/chronic illness is the Not To Do List. I read about it in one of Toni Bernhardt's books about living well with chronic conditions, but I can't remember which one. (You can view all her books here. They are all lovely.) The gist of… Continue reading Revisiting the NOT To Do List
I have had low- and mid-back issues since I was a teenager. Several years ago, a doctor helped me figure out that it all started when I was in a serious car accident when I was four. The accelerator in our car stuck. My mom was driving on a dirt road and drove into an… Continue reading B is for Back Pain and Learning to Live with (and around) It #AtoZChallenge
It's been another rough week. When my stomach and back issues both flare at the same time, I have a lot of trouble dealing, which in turn flares my depression. This was the first time I've had serious suicidal thoughts in about six weeks. Today is a bit better of a day. I took some… Continue reading Random Musings on Chronic Pain, Acute Flare-ups, and Quality of Life
Chronic pain has been on my mind a lot lately because I've been doing a second gabapentin trial, which is going quite poorly. Waiting to hear back from the doctor on her thoughts on the side effects I'm getting. In the meantime, an article about chronic pain was shared by one of my friends on… Continue reading “Toughing Out” Chronic Pain with a Side of Sarcasm
This isn't referring to marijuana. I'm talking about gabapentin again. After a few more days of merely 300 mg once a day, I became so stoned and tired I could barely function. Yesterday I was never awake more than a few hours at a time. I didn't take the medication last night and feel that… Continue reading Getting High
I went to an all-day conference yesterday. I was there about 9 hours. There was a long lunch break. I had time to walk around. The chairs in the rooms weren't the greatest, but I had my ergonomic kit designed to make it easier for me to sit without greatly aggravating my chronic pain condition.… Continue reading The Day a Conference Broke Me
Suicidal Tulip 