Chronicpainwarrior

Please let's all share our blessings in life that we are thankful for. In
dark and trying times (like right now), I try to always remember the things I am grateful for and remind myself that without any/all of them my life could be much less manageable

I am grateful for:

-Being alive!
-Being able to walk, even if I need mobility devices
-Having a roof over my head
-Having food on the table
-Having great doctors, nurses, my therapist, my shrink, numerous specialists and my clinic - and having the insurance to pay for them - as well as insurance to pay for my many medications!
-Having a strong network of family and friends and always being able to know that I am loved and supported ...and
-Having my relative health - things could always be worse!

What are you thankful for?

Maybe thank someone who you are grateful for and let them know how helpful they are and how much it means to you to have their support. Sometimes people don’t know how much they impact other’s lives!

#Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Chronicpainwarrior #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder #Stigma #BipolarDepression
#ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Autism #Dementia #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #BrainInjury #LossOfAParent #Grief #SuicideSurvivors #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #MightyQuestions #DownSyndrome #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #Deaf #CongestiveHeartFailure #Migraine #COVID19 #PeripheralNeuropathy #LymeDisease #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #Headache #Stroke #help #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Fibromyalgia #thankful #grateful #EatingDisorders #CocaineDependence #drugaddict #PTSD #EmotionalHealth #physicalhealth #PainAcceptance #Acceptance #relief #Happiness #TheMighty #MightyMinute #MightyTogether #DistractMe #MightyTogether #mentalhealthwarrior #RareDisease #ChronicFatigue

It’s not all about survival, there is a lot of living to do along the way. Although at times I feel like I am just treating one ailment after another, all day every day (which is true right now) I’ve decided why take all the time and energy it takes to survive everything unless I don’t enjoy how the time given to me by surviving is ripe for good times too.

Recently I have mostly been homebound except to go to health appointments… doctors, PT & OT, clinics, therapy etc. and then only with a walker and the benefit of handicapped parking spots. But I try to continue to celebrate the gifts I have in life, be thankful for the blessings I have that make life just a little more bearable and remind myself of what I’ve been through, how I’ve survived and what I’ve learned from these experiences. If I consider all this, then I must be a very wise man 😉 I may have dropped out of college but I have a Masters degree from the School of Hard Knocks … the diploma is not needed, I know I have accomplished it and need no reminder…I’m still alive after all!

Tough times have given me the chance to tap into my inner strength and I’ve also grown along the way. I don’t have to wait to celebrate the good times when I am experiencing some right now despite what I’m going through!

Thank you all for the love, support, thoughts and prayers, I certainly couldn’t have done this alone!

#Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Chronicpainwarrior #Disability #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder #Stigma #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #RareDisease #AspergersSyndrome #ADHD #Autism #Dementia #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Cancer #TraumaticBrainInjury #BrainInjury #LossOfAParent #Grief #SuicideSurvivors #ChronicFatigue #DistractMe #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #MightyQuestions #DownSyndrome #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #Deafness #neckpain #BackPain #CongestiveHeartFailure #Migraine #COVID19 #PeripheralNeuropathy #LymeDisease #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #Headache #Stroke #help #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Fibromyalgia #thankful #grateful #EatingDisorders #CocaineDependence #drugaddict #PTSD #EmotionalHealth #physicalhealth #PainAcceptance #Acceptance #relief #Happiness #Selflove #Selfcare #MightyMinute #MentalHealthHero
#TheMighty #InsideTheMighty #MightyTogether #DistractMe

Sorry, I’ve been a bit absent recently! I hope you didn’t think I’d forgotten about you all? You’ll be glad to hear that my chiropractor fixed me so now I’m back (pun intended 🩻🤗🤣)!! My body may be held together by Kinesiology Tape but it helps when you can have some fun with it! 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 I’d be lost, in agony, and falling apart, without my amazing chiropractor!!
👏🏻😍😘💝
#functionneurologicaldisorder #FND #fndwarrior #fndaware #fndhope #fndhopeuk #fndaction #FNDAwareness #JointHypermobilitySyndrome #Hypermobility #HypermobilitySyndrome #HypermobilityWarrior #JointPainWarrior #Jointpain #JointPainRelief #JointHypermobilityAwareness #ChronicFatigue #EhlersDanlosSyndrome
#ChronicPain #Chronicpainwarrior #ChronicPainRelief #ChronicHeadaches #ChronicMigraines #chronic #ChronicIllness #Painrelief #chiropractic #chiropracticadjustment #dryneedling #dryneedlingtherapy #Acupuncture #kinesiologytape #kinesiology #kinesiologytaping #ktaping #ktaped #SpoonTheory #Spoonie #SpoonieProblems

youtu.be/ftDXuBEigEI
This is a video with my health update.

My puppies say “hi! Happy Winter Solstice”!

#Abunchofrarediseases
#AddisonsDisease #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #Migraine #Asthma #CeliacDisease #MitochondrialDisease #Trauma #raynauds #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Disability #DistractMe #dying #Chronicpainwarrior #grateful

I think I am entering into the endgame at this point. Heart failure seems like the most likely cause. Tomorrow is my youngest‘s ninth birthday, so I need to make sure I hold on a few more days. It sucks that it’s the holidays right now, and no matter what I am going to pass close to special days for people. I just hope that they can remember the good and not have it be something that reduces their enjoyment. That would be very sad because I absolutely love the holidays! I am excited to celebrate his birthday with him tomorrow.

Health Update
youtu.be/nb1X_Hir7nI

#Abunchofrarediseases
#AddisonsDisease #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome
#PTSD #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #Migraine #Asthma #CeliacDisease #MitochondrialDisease #MastCellActivationDisorder #Trauma
#RaynaudsDisease #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety
#ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Disability #DistractMe #dying
#Chronicpainwarrior

I post a lot about the positives and those are very important, but I think it is also valuable for me to share some of the struggles as well, as that is a part of this journey. I have carefully cut out all supplements and 3 prescription medications, working towards a medication re-set. These pictures show how my body is breaking down; my skin tears and my vessels in my eyes burst, I just have to brush my skin against something for bruising/petechiae or cuts to occur and pain levels are very high. I have doubled my Tylenol arthritis. I am exhausted all the time. My heart and lungs are struggling and I have been going into shock if I try to do too much physically. That said, I am so grateful for all the people, pets and tools I have to make this easier. I am going to be in pain regardless of what I am doing, or where I am, and life is still overwhelmingly more good than bad, so I am enjoying all of the adventures that I am going on, big and small. They may not look the same as they would five years ago, or even five weeks ago, but they are amazing and life is still so good.

#Abunchofrarediseases
#AddisonsDisease #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome
#PTSD #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #Migraine
#Asthma
#CeliacDisease #MitochondrialDisease #MastCellActivationDisorder #Trauma
#raynauds #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Disability #dying #RareDisease
#Chronicpainwarrior #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #grateful

We are currently looking for a new Co-Leader for the Multiple Health Challenges group. We have grown quite a bit and just passed 1,500 members. In the past co-leaders have been golden, really helpful for me when I got sick or burnt out and had to step away for a few days. I am looking for someone to welcome new members, comment or respond to most posts or other comments, make new posts to the group every once and a while, and preferably someone who has physical and emotional health challenges so they can best relate to and understand where other members are coming from when they post or comment.

It is important for the group to have two distinctly different voices to support people because people might relate more to one of us. What is a really good situation is if we both respond to the same posts, welcome new members from different perspectives and provide voices for people that are accessible and relatable. There is a commitment needed that you monitor activities on the group regularly and can respond pretty quickly.

Offering your own posts provides more content for the group…and when posts pose a question they keep things moving forward. I can assist and support by offering to look at your new posts for feedback and editing before you post if you would like it, comment on your posts to get the responses going to best support your efforts, help finding memes or images, and support you if we are dealing with someone struggling …. Like sounding suicidal or being manic…and I will check in to make sure you are happy and comfortable!

I look at potential leaders' history of posts and/or comments that have helped and supported others in the past. Willingness to be honest and open about your own health challenges is crucial to best support people. A co-leader works together with me for some new posts and drafting new questions and is concerned about the well being of all members and can empathize with their paths.

You will get access to the Community Leaders group and your name will have a “Group Leader” tab next to it up top on your comments and responses so I think people pay attention especially to your activity and wisdom shared from personal experience. Would you consider joining me on this journey? Let’s have a DM chat to discuss this! Thanks for considering taking on this role!

#Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #ChronicPain #Chronicpainwarrior #Disability #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder
#Stigma #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Autism #Dementia #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Cancer #TraumaticBrainInjury #BrainInjury #LossOfAParent #Grief #SuicideSurvivors #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #DistractMe #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #MightyQuestions #DownSyndrome #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #Deafness #neckpain #BackPain #CongestiveHeartFailure #Migraine #COVID19 #PeripheralNeuropathy #LymeDisease #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #Headache #Stroke #help #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Disability #thankful #grateful #EatingDisorders #CocaineDependence #drugaddict #alcoholic #PTSD #EmotionalHealth #physicalhealth PainAcceptance #Acceptance #relief #Selflove #MightyMinute #MentalHealthHero #TheMighty #RareDisease #MightyTogether

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Yesterday was a really mixed day, I had a great time chatting with and slowly working on stuff on the other side of the house (I just moved in to my new duplex, where I live on one side and my family the other) with my amazing partner and two friends. I am truly blessed to have such great people in my life. 💜

I have been pushing very hard with both getting my new house ready and getting my old house ready to go on the market to sell it. After my friends left though, my body decided it was time to shut down and I had a pretty scary medical crisis; luckily, my partner is very good under pressure and we were able to handle it. I don’t know though what would have happened had I continued to push today as I have been. 18 hour work days for a healthy person is a lot, never mind in this body. It is hard to accept dying, but dying by wasting away is harder than I thought. My muscles are eating themselves and my bone mass is going as well; my ankle foot orthotics, knee braces and ring splints don’t fit anymore because I am literally wasting away. I just touch something and my skin bruises and tears. My parts don’t stay in place (Ehlers Danlos); my fingers/toes/ribs/knees/hips sublux daily. My bloating is so bad that my skin/tissue is tearing on the inside. My pain is chronic and getting more intense. My heart and lungs are struggling and declining in function. That is just a sampling of all that my body is serving up. My body is saying no thank you and that sucks. I am stubborn and still want to do all of the things that I used to be able to do, but I can’t, and when I try, the consequences are very real. Deadly real. I want to enjoy this beautiful new home I have for as long as I can get. Years, not days. So I have set out a plan to use timers to take breaks and have people holding me accountable.

As always, life is more good than bad. Despite all of the challenges, I consider myself incredibly lucky. I have amazing people in my life, awesome dogs, I am surrounded by beautiful nature, good food, great books, and new adventures to be had.

Thank you to all of you have chosen to follow me on this difficult journey, I know it’s not easy. I feel so blessed and loved. 💜

#Abunchofrarediseases #AddisonsDisease #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #Migraine
#Asthma
#CeliacDisease #MitochondrialDisease #MastCellActivationDisorder #Trauma
#RaynaudsDisease #MentalHealth #Depression
#Anxiety #ChronicPain
#ChronicIllness #Disability #dying #RareDisease #rarediseaseawareness #Chronicpainwarrior #ConnectiveTissueDisorder
#deathanddying

Being gentle with ourselves can be really tough especially when we reflect back and judge ourselves. It is so easy to be mad at ourselves for not knowing things when we were younger. But it has to be that way. If we already knew everything, there would be no room for us to grow in this life. Please share something helpful or useful you have learned along the way. We can learn so much from each other!

Thanks to you all. Thanks for how you have been working to support each other!

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below in this post and others. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment or new post a simple ❤️or reply I’m sure they would really appreciate your support.

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #PTSD #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Selflove #Selfcare #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder #BipolarDepression #ADHD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #RareDisease #COVID19 #Migraine #Headache #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #PeripheralNeuropathy #Neuropathy #BackPain #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Fibromyalgia #Chronicpainwarrior #MentalHealthHero #Stigma #Grief #LossOfAParent #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #thankful #grateful #relief #Happiness #Acceptance #PainAcceptance #strength #CheckInWithMe #TheMighty #MightyTogether #MightyMinute #DistractMe