Stroke

I just joined the Mighty to seek support in #mildcp #CerebralPalsy #Anxiety #Stroke #EatingDisorder

There’s a lot more to me than that but that’s what brought me here. Hope to find some people who can relate. Thanks for reading :)

Idk if I’m a terrible person but my GMA is in the hospital (with a broken leg) they have confirmed that she feel due to a trip by a mother person and not due to any heart or stroke problems, however people are rushing to the hospital and my dad and uncle are very cranky because of it and I just don’t seem to care because it’s a broken leg. Am I a terrible person for feeling this way, I don’t feel she requires all the attention she’s been getting but maybe all these feelings/ lack thereof is due to my #BPD so idk I hate emotions!!

Dealing with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and other chronic muscle and joint conditions has taught me a lot about how the body works under stress. One key takeaway is that when muscles are overworked or injured, they tighten up as a defense mechanism. This process takes up a lot of energy, so to conserve resources, the body smartly creates scar tissue to bind everything in place. It’s a clever form of resource management, designed to prioritize immediate survival needs. But the trade-off? Long-term function gets compromised.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that getting those tight, restricted tissues moving again is the critical first step in recovery. Over the past decade, tools like foam rollers and massage balls have become mainstream. But while they’re great for some people, they don’t always work for bendy bodies. Our muscles overlap differently, and areas like joints require special care. Plus, when you add issues like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), dysautonomia, and fragile lymphatic systems into the mix, direct compression often does more harm than good for many of us.

For people with hypermobility, it’s all about balancing the release of bound-up tissue and restoring healthy function—without irritating the body further. Once the soft tissues regain mobility and inflammation calms down, the body stops compensating and is ready to rebuild strength and proper function and with even better body-mind awareness. Proprioception (the body's ability to know where it is in space, e.g. how you can touch your nose with your eyes closed) can improve, and daily tasks can start to become less burdensome.

It's all incremental though, hypermobile bodies deserve and need gentle progress.

I'm so thankful to the Muscle and Joint Clinic for their diverse and gentle approach to healing. Focused shockwave therapy brings instant relief to my tired muscles and red light therapy down regulates my nervous system. Getting myself into the rest and digest mode has been so vital to my healing.

While my symptoms can flare up in sudden and unpredictable ways, my recovery time is dramatically shortened. I most recently had a migraine with a brainstem aura that had me 1. worried I was having a stroke and 2. asleep for close to twelve hours and sensitive to light for more. I was worried about what that much bed rest would do to my recovery. Luckily, I have some more wiggle room when it comes to full bed rest. My strength and function have been rebuilt enough that I get a day off from physical therapy. A year ago, one day off would cause a cascade of debilitating subluxations and autonomic dysfunction. So while these days feel scary and like there's no end in sight, I'm sitting at my desk two days later amazed that I'm back at 80% function, and not the 20% I would be a year ago.

I’ve focused here on the physical aspects, there's also the emotional layers of healing. Underneath a lot of this body pain, there's definitely the younger version of me, ignored by doctors, teachers, and even childhood friends. I also have to look after her and remind her to not minimize the pain, to acknowledge it, talk about it, and seek the treatment I know I deserve.

#EhlersDanlosSociety #EDS #POTS #HypermobilitySyndrome #DegenerativeDiscDisease #AutonomicDysfunction #ADHD #neuro #Fibromyalgia #MastCellActivationDisorder #MentalHealth

I read Brianna’s story about when friends get tired of hearing about your chronic illness, and then a “friend “ texted me and asked how I’m feeling and I said “the same”… but this is
What I really wanted to say…

l have better days and then really bad days where I can’t do anything at all because the pain is so bad or the symptoms are in full force- it depends on the day.
It’s like one day I can pick my leg up instead of dragging it and then the next day I can’t. The pain is horrible and constant- the muscle spasms are constant and my neurologist is talking about a pump for the muscle relaxer medication.
I’m learning a lot about syringomyelia though and trying not to get depressed or discouraged but it’s really hard because it’s a very rare and Besides doctors appointments or being in the hospital I haven’t been out of the house since august 13. I literally can’t go anywhere because I can’t walk. My right leg doesn’t work-I have to drag it more or less. A friend of ours offered a wheelchair but dave hasn’t gone and picked it up.

I have a form for the Secretary of State to get a handicapped placard for parking but I have to find out how to get it. the police department here in WC doesn’t do them but —city—- does but i think i have to be a —-city—- resident. I don’t know how to get it.

Since it ls -SPORT- season everyone is busy doing that and with everything that happened to- husbands NAME- he’s not much help which i totally understand. He gets up at 3:30 in the morning every day. Then goes to SPORT practice right after work and comes home and eats dinner and goes to bed at 8:30. On Saturday they have practice and go over film and he and YOUNGEST SON get home at 12:30 then he takes DAUGHTER to the grocery stores and there’s a few hours but he has to do stuff around the house like the garden, yard etc. they do a zoom meeting on Sundays for SPORT too so literally he has no time and I understand. This is what life is always like due SPORT season but usually I’m included in it. I want to go to the games but can’t. It was such a big part of my life and now that’s gone too.

Someone literally told me if I imagine myself walking my brain will make it happen- Nobody understands or gets this. If I had a stroke or broken leg I think people would understand it better but because it’s so rare some doctors don’t even understand it. My primary care doctor said “but aren’t you glad it’s not MS?” Well of course but this is an awful thing in and of itself.

In addition to my degenerative disc disease (I have multiple herniated and bulging discs in my neck and lower back which is painful and causes sciatica in my legs) and I have multiple hemangiomas (blood vessel filled benign tumors on the spine) in my neck, thoracic and lumbar spine which can cause pain too- and now the Syrinx is located at C7 to T1, it’s 5mm wide (your spinal cord is around 6mm wide) so it’s blocking the normal flow of cerebral spinal fluid which is what is causing all the symptoms. (Pain, numbness and pins & needles that travels over my whole body: arms legs chest face back etc , the inability to use my right leg, incontinence and constipation, migraines, dizziness and vertigo,

There’s literally nothing they can do for the syrinx in my spinal cord other than treat the symptoms. It is interrupting the flow of cerebral spinal fluid and also putting pressure on my spinal cord from the inside out - and causing all of my symptoms. I may have had it since 2021 based on MRIs but it was much smaller and since recently it’s swelled and grown in size (see the MRI image) .

In some cases they can put a shunt in to drain the fluid but it literally fills right back up so they drain the spinal fluid into your body- but my team at HOSPITAL NAME said I’m not a candidate for that because of my degenerative disc disease and in some cases it doesn’t help or makes symptoms worse- it’s not a very successful thing either- sometimes they can do a “decompression “ surgery but they usually do it only for syringes that are really big - but they want to monitor it to be sure it doesn’t grow bigger since it has recently swelled and grown. Sometimes syrinxes have a rapid onset and growth period. They keep asking me if I’ve had a recent trauma like falling down stairs etc and the only thing that I can think of is just repetitive motion at work that one day with all the customers in a row but other than that … nothing has happened. They said that could have flared it up but I truly thought at the time it was my degenerative disc disease and associated symptoms.

I want to use my neurologist appointment in October as a second opinion- and I found a doctor in TOWN NAME that has experience with syringomyelia
but his wait list of 12-18 months out.

As for work- I have no idea if I qualify for social security, I haven’t filed yet for it but I’d rather make money other ways- and not depend on that- sooo…
I’ve been doing BUSINESS NAME because it’s all online and I am trying to keep it going because it’s the only way for me to make money. I’m also joining some brands to be an affiliate/ambassador trying to earn commission on sales (also since it’s online) in a nutshell , I’m trying to make the best out of a crappy situation. It’s just hard because one day I might feel ok like I can manage the pain and the other symptoms and the next day might be awful where all I can do is lay on the couch because of the pain or a migraine or can’t feel my arm or hands. Every day is different and I have no idea until I wake up what it’s going to be like.

I’m really sorry to dump all that on you but I’m so not in a good place at all. I’m not saying it to be a “poor me” person but honestly my life sucks right now.
#Syrinx #Syringomyelia #chromic #PainManagement #Loneliness #Depression #cps #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #DegenerativeDiscDisease #DDD #spine #Chiari #ArnoldChiariMalformation #myelin

Here’s another story for you all.

Once upon a time in a vibrant kingdom known as Valorwood, there was a legendary team of sword-fighting heroes known as the Blade Guardians. Among them were fierce warriors, each possessing unique skills and characteristics. However, the most unusual member of the team was a fun-loving, goofy cat named Whiskers. Whiskers, with his fluffy orange fur and mischievous green eyes, was known for getting into trouble and lightening the mood during stressful times.

One sunny afternoon, while the other members of the Blade Guardians were busy sharpening their swords and honing their skills, Whiskers decided to take a break. He found a cozy hammock suspended between two sturdy trees just outside the team’s home. The gentle sway of the hammock and the warm sun above lulled him into a deep, peaceful sleep, completely oblivious to the world around him.

Meanwhile, one of the team’s most serious members, a young man named Kael, was grappling with a heavy weight on his shoulders. Kael had golden blonde hair that was styled into a spiky, wavy mess, giving him a cocky yet disciplined appearance. He was known for his stoicism and toughness, but today was different. Anxiety washed over him like a tide, and despite his attempts to calm himself through meditation and sword drills, nothing seemed to work. In a moment of desperation, he rummaged through the team’s library and stumbled upon a manual titled "Understanding Your Emotions: A Guide for Heroes."

As he flipped through the pages, he found a section on "Caring for a Friend in Distress." His eyes landed on a suggestion that caught his attention—checking on someone who seemed out of sorts. He felt a spark of inspiration, and in his mind, he thought of Whiskers. The cat’s carefree spirit might just provide the distraction he needed.

Without another thought, Kael made his way outside to the hammock. There lay Whiskers, curled up and fast asleep, his paws twitching as if he were dreaming of grand adventures. Kael smiled softly, his heart lightening at the sight. He gently lifted the cat from the hammock, cradling him in his arms as he took him back inside to his room.

Once inside, Kael carefully placed Whiskers on his bed, ensuring the cat was comfortable. He took a deep breath, feeling a bit silly but also determined. Kael placed his hand gently on Whiskers’ chest, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his breathing, along with the steady beat of his heart. The rhythmic sound soothed him, and he found himself lost in thought, staring at the ceiling while his mind wandered.

“What am I doing?” he pondered. “I’m not a caretaker; I’m a warrior. But maybe caring for someone, even a cat, is a type of bravery too.” He thought about the responsibility that came with being a hero and how sometimes, it meant being vulnerable—allowing himself to feel emotions and show affection. He glanced around his room, taking in the swords hung on the walls, the training dummies, and the trophies of past victories. Yet, in that moment, they felt distant and unimportant.

After a while, he decided to place his other hand on Whiskers’ chest, feeling an overwhelming sense of warmth and connection. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was what he needed, a moment of peace and companionship.

Kael then remembered the manual and glanced back at it. He flipped through the pages, scanning for anything that might aid him in this unusual task. The book mentioned the importance of hydration, so he quietly slipped out of the room to fetch a small bowl of water. Returning, he gently placed the bowl near Whiskers and, while the cat was still asleep, he brought the water close to his mouth.

“Here you go, buddy,” Kael murmured softly, carefully tilting the bowl so that a few drops touched Whiskers’ lips. He wanted to ensure the cat was well cared for, even while he dreamed. His hand returned to rest on Whiskers’ chest, feeling the comforting heartbeat beneath his palm.

As he settled back into his thoughts, Kael picked up the book once more. This time, he found a section about monitoring vital signs and setting a timer to check pulses. Curiosity piqued, he decided to give it a try. He set a timer for thirty seconds and placed his fingers delicately on Whiskers' wrist, counting the beats he felt beneath his fingertips. “One… two… three…” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

When the timer buzzed, he realized he had counted a total of twenty beats. A smile crept onto his face, feeling relieved that Whiskers was healthy and sound. Then, taking it a step further, Kael leaned down and placed his ear against the soft fur of Whiskers' chest, listening closely to the gentle rhythm of his heart. The sound was like a calming melody, and he closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

Time slipped away as he listened, lost in the serenity. He stayed there for nearly three hours, feeling the weight of his anxiety lift with each heartbeat. He felt a profound sense of connection to the little creature who was always getting into mischief.

After a while, Kael finally left the room to gather his thoughts and take a break. In his absence, Whiskers began to stir. Slowly blinking his eyes open, he looked around, confused about how he ended up in Kael’s room. “Did I oversleep?” he thought, brushing off the sensation of being cared for.

Just then, Kael returned, holding a small pouch in his hands. “Whiskers!” he exclaimed, noticing the cat was awake. “I was just about to pamper you!”

The item in his hands was a small pouch filled with catnip. Kael had learned from the manual that sometimes, a little indulgence could go a long way in brightening someone’s day. He sprinkled the catnip around Whiskers, who immediately perked up, his eyes widening in delight.

“Look at you! You’re the best little troublemaker!” Kael laughed, his heart brimming with affection. He started to stroke Whiskers’ fur, gently scratching behind his ears and rubbing his chin. “I love you, you know? You make everything better.”

Kael continued to shower Whiskers with love and attention, repeating those words over and over again. “I love you, buddy. You’re the best. You’re my favorite.” Each phrase was filled with sincerity, and he felt his heart swell with warmth.

Whiskers, feeling the affection, purred loudly, nuzzling into Kael’s hands. “You know, I don’t mind being the goofy cat of the team,” he purred playfully. “It’s nice to have someone like you to care for me.”

Kael chuckled. “You have no idea how much you help me, Whiskers. With all this stress, I sometimes forget to enjoy life. You remind me to take a break, to play, and to not take everything so seriously.”

As they continued to bond, the door opened, and the other members of the Blade Guardians peeked in. “What’s going on in here?” asked Mira, a fierce warrior with fiery red hair.

“Kael’s just pampering our favorite kitty!” laughed Jax, a hulking brute with a heart of gold.

The room filled with laughter and warmth as the team gathered around, joining in the fun. Kael realized that it was moments like these, filled with love, laughter, and friendship, that truly defined their adventures as heroes.

From that day on, Whiskers became the unofficial morale officer of the Blade Guardians, reminding them that even the toughest of warriors needed to pause, love, and care for one another. And Kael learned that vulnerability was a strength, not a weakness, and that allowing oneself to love and be loved could truly heal a troubled heart.

In the heart of Valorwood, they continued their adventures, united by their bond and the joy that Whiskers brought to their lives, proving that sometimes, the greatest heroes come in the smallest, fluffiest packages.

Hi, my name is CoolDamselfish734. I'm here because I have PTSD, depression, panic, sleep disorders, migraines, and fibromyalgia. I am looking to understand myself better and cope with my PTSD and associated problems. These problems are pervasive. Friends tell me to focus on other things but it's not necessarily my choice. I am haunted. The Mighty articles are spot-on and super helpful. The implication that I could live a normal, happy life if I wanted to is heartbreaking and devastating. It furthers my sense of isolation.

Because of my PTSD, I avoid people as much as possible. I live like a hermit and try to improve myself. I can tell that I will never get over the trauma. Another thing is that people seem to think that everyone has PTSD because we're all traumatized. We are all traumatized but that doesn't explain PTSD, which leads to depression, panic, nightmares, dissociation, rumination, OCD (which I also have), and other kinds of atypical behavior as the brain tries to absorb and react to repressed feelings and denied memories.

The other thing is that my mom had a stroke several months ago and is now in a nursing home. I am trying to be there for her without abandoning myself, which is challenging.
#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression #PTSD #Migraine #Fibromyalgia

No change on the dark front—I'm still in the dark, lost, and struggling with depression. But I recently came across an article about Pure Obsessional OCD (Pure O) on The Mighty, and it made me realize that not many people are aware of this, let alone another subtype called The Thinking Ritualizer.

Somebody asked what Pure Obsessional OCD is. My answer was generally along these lines. Both of these are symptom clusters of OCD that I suffer from, and I wanted to share a bit about them to give you some insight into my daily struggle.

Pure O, or Pure Obsessional OCD, is a subtype where the individual experiences intrusive thoughts that are deeply disturbing, even to themselves. These thoughts can trigger intense mental rumination, where the person becomes stuck in a cycle of trying to counteract the bad thoughts with good ones. For example, I often find myself questioning if people care about me, overanalyzing interactions, or even obsessively questioning my own identity or morality based on fleeting thoughts. These thoughts are not reflective of my true self but are part of the constant internal struggle I face.

The Thinking Ritualizer is another type of OCD that I experience. It involves repetitive mental rituals that I feel compelled to perform, even though there isn’t always a clear reason or logic behind them. is a subtype of OCD that involves repetitive mental rituals rather than physical actions. Unlike more typical OCD behaviors where someone might repeat a physical action to prevent something bad from happening, thinking ritualization revolves around internal, often nonsensical, mental processes that the person feels compelled to perform. These rituals are not connected to logical outcomes but are performed to reduce anxiety or to feel "correct" or "balanced."

For example, I don’t usually grow a beard because if I do, I’m compelled to constantly check in the mirror to ensure both sides and the middle are even. I’ll use a mirror to look at another mirror, repeating phrases like 'This side is even' followed by a series of numbers—'This side is even, 33 (left)', 'This side is even 34 (middle)', 'This side is even 35 (right)'—the ritual has to be done twice in this particular case because my number series runs from 3-8. So the second round is 36, 37, and 38. Then I keep going until it feels right. If one side feels less full than the other, the ritual becomes overwhelming, and I’ll usually end up shaving because maintaining it is exhausting because I'll have to start a new cycle. For instance, I'll say, 'More full on the left, but people probably won't notice' followed by the numbers from each angle. Another example is with my socks. I have to put the smaller sock on my left foot because it looks 'better' or 'correct' to me. I’ll spend time examining both socks to determine which one is smaller and then put it on the left. When I apply deodorant, I follow a strict pattern—9 strokes in 3 sets of 3 (1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3). If I go down a stroke to 8 one day, I have to change the pattern to 4 sets of 2 (1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2). If I go down another stroke to 7, it changes again to a different pattern, such as (1-2-3, 1-2-3-4). These rituals don’t have a specific reason behind them, unlike more common OCD behaviors where the actions are tied to preventing accidents or ensuring safety. In my case, it’s just something I feel compelled to do to alleviate the discomfort of not doing it 'right.'This is just a glimpse into what I deal with on a daily basis. Hopefully, it gives you some insight into the struggles that come with these less-known aspects of OCD. #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder

Apparently it was the hottest day of the summer in the UK yesterday and don't I know it (heat stroke when sorting out the firewood delivery).

Hi. I don’t know how to talk about this….I think I should talk about this, because I am losing my mind…..I spend all my days now thinking about dying, isolating myself, desperate…..and I don’t know what to do……I look back at my life around a year ago and it was great…I was happy with my life, happy with myself…..have you ever looked back in your life and seeing this and wondering if you would ever be that person again? how is it possible that you are this……someone you don’t recognise? I was happy, I was working a lovely job as a teacher, I loved socialising with my friends, I volunteered in amazing programs….damn, I was happy……i’m writing this crying and remembering it like a story that’s not mine…… a year ago I met this man. Yes, the perfect man that you wait for a lifetime and then you wonder what you’ve done to deserve him….handsome, smart, a great lover…….we began the story of my dreams. we made plans together, of a living, of a family……one year ago I was the happiest in the world……he had had a car accident before knowing me and he wasn’t working at that time, but he had worked in IT, he appeared to be ok with his life. we moved in together. he met my grandmother, my parents, my friends…… and we were always talking about our family together. he said he wanted us to have a house together, so we should borrow money from the bank to buy one. we waited until he was back on his feet regarding his health and he got a job. he got hired in a good company, in IT, earning almost 3000 euros monthly. as he hadn’t been working for long enough, he proposed that I should be the one to borrow the money for the house. and I did. he said that with his salary we would pay for the house and with mine, which was smaller (around 600), we would eat and stuff. I borrowed money from 3 banks and financial institutions , one after another, to sum up the necessary sum for the house. we had the money in the house and we were about to buy a house a month ago. and he disappeared with the money. he disappeared. he disappeared!!!!!! I don’t live in America, I don’t live in the country of movies and unbelievable life stories. I live in a small european country where nothing out of the ordinary happens. and then…..i find myself home alone, with the man i love gone with all the money. for one of the loans I guaranteed with my parents house. both my parents are retired based on medical situations. i’ve been trying to reach him since. i went to the police, they told me that there is nothing to do, as i did this myself. they told me that i was not forced, coerced, threatened….so i cannot even make a complain, as he can come back and complain of wrongly accusing him, as i have no proof for anything….i have been living a nightmare for some weeks…. i have 2700 euros debt to pay every month and i cannot pay this….i am about to lose my sick parents’ house and leave them on the streets…..i have almost 100,000 debts with risking to lose my parents house and i feel like i’m losing it……i don’t know how to get out of this…..my father had a stroke a few years back……i can’t do this to them……..i cannot get out of the house……..i have …….writing it makes it so real and i am so scared……i wish i could die…….but i will leave my parents on the street…and in a lot of debt as the house would only pay for one of the loans…….oh, i thought of it……i’m thinking about it every second of hour of every day……i don’t know what to do…….i don’t know what to do…….i look back at the nice life i had and i look at myself now……..how can someone’s life can become so bad……how could he do this? how is it possible that i am also concerned for him after all this? how stupid am i???????