Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had some great conversations in person and online with other spoonies about illness, particularly invisible illness, and interacting in public. What’s normal?
I’ve noticed the reactions when I go out since I’ve had the broken foot. I feel like I take up a considerable amount of space and time Continue reading “Making it “Normal””
Lately I’ve invited strange men over while my husband is at work. They always leave with a payment in hand and a smile on their faces.
No, it’s not quite what you think. Since I got sick, my Ms. Fix It routine has gone on hold indefinitely.
Continue reading “On Paying Strange Men”
I blame a wish: I sighed to myself how nice it would be to take a week off and sit on the couch watching tv. Then I had a little fall in the house three weeks ago and hurt my right foot. I thought maybe RICE ( Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) would take care of the issue, but as the day progressed, that seemed less and less likely. Finally, I drove myself to urgent care (since of course it was on a Sunday.)
After x-rays, the doctor came back into the exam room with a diagnosis and a fresh Ace bandage. “We think it’s just sprained, but you may want to have it rechecked in five days.” I limped out, filled my prescription for pain meds at the pharmacy next door, and drove home. It looked like I’d take a few days off work after all, but this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. Enter Netflix, no chill. Continue reading “Up With the Good: Five Lessons From a Medical Leave’”
It’s finally spring, and my lawn (particularly the front lawn) is about half dead. It’s particularly jarring since I live right in the middle of several retired gardeners with lush green everywhere.
The crappy lawn really got to me last week. I’ve become That Neighbor. I remember living next to That Neighbor. Yuck. Despite friends telling me not to worry, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It took me a few days to figure out why this bothered me so.
The lawn is a visual reminder of how drastically my life has changed in the last year. Continue reading “Lessons from The Dead Lawn”
My kids started tee ball last month and absolutely love it. Last week, though, the coach was out of town and asked for a volunteer to help organize the game and team pictures.
I said No. I have no experience with tee ball (or any other ball for that matter.) Another parent stepped in.
A few hours before the game, I managed to sprain my foot. I iced it, wrapped it, and hobbled off to watch my boys. The parent who took over asked me, limping and grimacing in pain and all, to help out. Continue reading “The Power of No and Spoon Preservation”
People will often ask me, “How are you?” For a spoonie on the kidney transplant list, that’s a loaded question. How do I answer?
I could spew the whole unvarnished truth. “Well, you know, I’m exhausted. I’m short of breath, various parts hurt, I’m worried about how my health is impacting my marriage/kids/finances/career, I have to choose my wardrobe based on what the day’s symptoms are, the meds cause wild weight fluctuations, and sometimes the renal diet is a regular bummer. Potatoes, amirite? How are you?”
Yeah, no one wants to hear that.
The alternative is, “Fine, and you?” That’s not very truthful. I’m not fine.
I’m learning that as I get sicker and navigate what my new normal is, not being everyone else’s version of okay is really okay. Continue reading “I’m Okay, You’re Okay”
