Caregiving

It helps me sleep, with my kicking, cramping legs, and anxiety.

Dedicated to my dear, late friend Marcia, who got hooked on opioids trying to escape MS-related pain.

#multiplesclerosis #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #autoimmune #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #Pain

Thinking about you today, and wishing those who celebrate, a very happy Easter and/or happy Passover 💜
#MentalHealth
#Anxiety
#AnkylosingSpondylitis
#Arthritis
#Caregiving
#ChronicFatigue
#Depression
#Migraine
#PTSDSupportAndRecovery
#DistractMe

Chronic illness made me tough. But there's one friend breakup that still messes with my head, 20+ years later.

"Losing friends during illness is a painful and often unexpected experience. When you're struggling with chronic illness, disability, or long-term recovery, the people you once counted on may disappear. But why do friends abandon you when you're sick? Is it discomfort, avoidance, or something deeper?"

Why Friends Abandon You During Illness | Chronic Illness & Friendship

#multiplesclerosis #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #autoimmune #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving

Chronic illness made me tough. But there's one friend breakup that still messes with my head, 20+ years later.

"Losing friends during illness is a painful and often unexpected experience. When you're struggling with chronic illness, disability, or long-term recovery, the people you once counted on may disappear. But why do friends abandon you when you're sick? Is it discomfort, avoidance, or something deeper?"

Why Friends Abandon You During Illness | Chronic Illness & Friendship

#multiplesclerosis #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #autoimmune #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving

I have so many feelings today. My life is equal parts peace and chaos right now.

I am currently one of five caretakers to a dying elder. She’s my friend, adopted mom in Ohio, since my own is in Texas. Technically, she’s my daughter in laws grandmother but my heart doesn’t care or know the difference. She’s family, and I love her.

She was diagnosed with cancer in August of last year. She started hospice last week. Small cell lung cancer which has metastasized to her brain, bones, etc. We thought we were going to lose her last week after she contracted a stomach bug, but she made her way back.

I don’t know if this is her “rally” or if she’s just bouncing back for a rally later down the line. All I know is we don’t have much more time. I just want her to make it to her birthday weekend in ten days, so she can see her sister who’s flying in and be with all her family in the nice weather. That’s my final wish for her.

I’ve never actively been involved in a human’s dying process, but as a widow, I am a close personal friend of death and grief. I’ve had so much practice it’s almost funny. Almost.

I’ve been reading a book by Suzanne O’Brien (former oncology, hospice nurse turned author and creator of Doulagivers Institute) called The Good Death. Hoping it will help support me and help me navigate uncharted territory while offering support to both her and her family. It’s been helpful and eye opening. Practical and comforting.

In the meantime, a friend of mine posted about watching a show (based on a true story) called “Dying for Sex” on Hulu. I actually had it on my playlist to watch. When she posed the questions about sharing what we thought after watching it, that prompted me to bump it up on my watch list.

Last night after a twelve-hour sitting, (while working my regular day job, remotely) I was struggling with winding down. I decided it was a good time to watch the show. Of course I binged it until the wee hours, because it’s that good. Seriously.

This is what I wrote her as my “feedback” about the show.

“I don't know if I even have proper adjectives available to explain the profoundness of this show. The million taboo and raging topics it slashed through or the generations of emotions I am still going through but, Wow! As I am in the middle of taking care of my “Ohio” momma & friend who is currently in hospice with bone cancer, just Wow! I'm healing and being broken and angry and sad and joyful and contracted and expanded all at once. It wasn't a show. It was my life....so many of our lives... crashing together against the stars.” - I will never be the same.

Watch it., so you'll never be the same either. #Cancer #Caregiver #Death #Therapy #Grief

Rory's sells frozen treats for pickup and ships Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies nationwide. Kandel shared her challenges and her love of baking on Christina Applegate's and Jamie-Lynn Sigler's podcast. Since then, people have been reaching out to her with their own MS stories and she feels “much less alone” in her battle with the disease.

“I had the decision to make whether I was going to hide or be open (about MS),” she said. “I worried about how it was going to affect my business, and all it’s done is create a sense of support I never could have imagined I would have."

Excerpts and story from The Press Democrat (Sonoma), photo Emma K Creative, Local baker appears on celebrity podcast to talk about living with MS

MeSsy podcast with Rory Kandel, podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-beauty-of-the-invisible-di...

#multiplesclerosis #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #autoimmune #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving

#MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #autoimmune #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving

But diagnosis times are generally decreasing and treatments getting more effective.

#multiplesclerosis #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #autoimmune #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving

Here's a quick overview video from the MS Society showing some of the questions they're uncovering: Who gets affected by it? Plus ways to manage life with #MultipleSclerosis: probiotics/gut biome, diet, & more.

www.youtube.com/watch

#multiplesclerosis #MightyTogether #ChronicIllness #autoimmune #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving