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In: Chronic Illness, Guest Blogger, Invisible Illness/Disability, Profiles in Pain, Spoonie, Uncategorized

Profiles in Pain is a periodic guest column on the Tumor Blues Blog that highlights how individuals deal with pain and how it impacts the course of their lives. I first connected with Mia on Twitter of all places. We both had come to find other chronic illness sufferers who could understand the unique circumstances of living a life in pain (and do so in 140 characters or less!) and now, more than a year later, a friendship has blossomed. Mia is kind, funny and an exceptionally talented artist. She has a unique way of capturing what it is to be chronically ill and she’s takenRead More →

Pills.

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In: Chronic Illness, Cushing's, Invisible Illness/Disability, Spoonie, Symptoms & Side Effects

One pill makes you larger And one pill makes you small And the ones that mother gives you Don’t do anything at all Go ask Alice, when she’s ten feet tall –White Rabbit/Jefferson Airplane Some days being chronically ill is a merely a challenge, other days it’s a downright circus. Recently, life seems much more circus than challenge. Let’s start with the pills. On a good day, my pills are an absolute nightmare. On a bad day, well, hopefully there will be far less of them in the future (the terrible example here being the time I spoke to the cable company and completely blocked it from my memory.Read More →

Photo of Kelly Goodman

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In: Chronic Illness, Guest Blogger, Profiles in Pain, Spoonie

Profiles in Pain is a periodic guest column on the Tumor Blues Blog that highlights how individuals deal with pain and how it impacts the course of their lives. I met Kelly Goodman at a black box theater in Los Angeles, but I knew her before we had been introduced. And I was in awe. The woman has so much talent and boy does she make it look effortless. Improv is what started our friendship but over the years we have built a long-lasting bond and I continue to appreciate her warmth, caring and wise counsel. And she always brings the funny. You can check outRead More →

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In: Cushing's, Diagnosis, Invisible Illness/Disability, Spoonie, Uncategorized

Or, “Sorry you’re sick, you’re just not sick enough.” I was having a relatively good day, and by that I mean I made it downstairs to the couch. That all changed when the mail came. It seems I have been denied for disability again. This is my second application and my first appeal. That’s three denials for those keeping score at home.* According to the Social Security Administration I am not sick enough to not have full-time employment. This may prove problematic because, as I mentioned above, my good days lately mean I can make it from my bed to my couch. Perhaps it isRead More →

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In: Chronic Illness, Diagnosis, Spoonie, Uncategorized

So I managed to tweak my hip at the beginning of the week. Good thing I have my final pain clinic appointment tomorrow (right after the doctors conference on me, Dr. House style) where they will come up with my multi-disciplinary treatment plan. Aside from feeling lots of pain (not to mention very old), I can only lay in one position–flat on my back–and haven’t slept much in the past 3 days. Needless to day, the combo of not moving and minimal sleep have limited my ability to be very productive. So, while I have a few blog updates & essays percolating, I thought I’dRead More →