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An Urgent Surgery
If you keep up to date with my blog, you know now that I need hip surgery to repair a tear. Well, that is not the only surgery I need. Last week I had another angioedema attack. This is the most severe attack I’ve had to date. For the past eighteen months I’ve been dealing with random swellings of my tonsils, tongue and uvula. This problem has perplexed most doctors and it has yet to be controlled by medications. During my last attack, I was prepped for intubation. They went through the protocol, numbed my airway but I turned a corner at the last moment. My throat swelled so much…
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I Need Surgery
Anyone with chronic illness can tell you that you’re not immune to normal issues. When I first started to get in shape after getting diagnosed, I took to running pretty fast. This was soon after my physical therapists had taught me how to walk again with a normal gait. I set off with the goal that I was going to run a marathon. My plan was to run a 5k every month for eleven months. Then on the twelve month, exactly a year after my first 5k, I would run a half marathon. After my half marathon, I would take a year to train for a full blown marathon. With…
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Merry Christmas Spoonies!
Today, I’m celebrating Christmas. Whether you celebrate Christmas, another religious holiday, or no holiday at all, I hope you have a wonderful day. I hope that you feel joy on this day and everyday. I hope that you take time to be grateful. I hope you take time to share your gratitude. I hope that you look around you today and acknowledge the good in the world. I’m so grateful for your presence. No matter what you are struggling with, I want you to know that everything will be okay. It might not feel that way but I promise it will. I wanted to take a second and say thank…
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My First Week With My Service Dog
It’s been a little over a week since I brought my service dog, Crush, home from the facility that gifted him to me. As I’m writing this, Crush is trying to insist I play tug with him. It’s cute but not very productive. Having Crush home has been like no other experience I’ve ever had. Unlike our family dog, Crush is well trained and responds to most of the commands he’s given. He’s focused and attentive. We’ve been on several outings. Here’s an overview of our first week together. Our First Outings Crush and I went out together before the scheduled time. Due to some driving inconveniences, he went out…
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Finding Tools for Relaxation
Although, I’ve already written articles about relaxation and recharging. It’s important to talk about tools for relaxation. It’s difficult for some of us to let go of what’s on our minds to meditate or breathe. Sometimes buying relaxation aids can be the first step in our relaxation journey. Here are some of the best tools for relaxation. A Coloring Book Coloring can be very relaxing. It can often allow us to shut off our brain and think about something less taxing. For me, buying coloring books that are specifically for relaxation didn’t help me. I like coloring books geared towards topics I enjoy, my favorite is my Bob’s Burgers coloring…
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Tips for Going Vegan
Going vegan is a very extreme life choice. It’s a difficult transition for anyone. Especially if you’re going from a normal diet to vegan it will be challenging. I’ve been vegan now for several months and I transitioned from a vegetarian diet. I had a lot of thoughts and meaning behind my decision but that didn’t make the lifestyle shift any easier. Here are some of my top tips for going vegan. Discover Why You’re Doing It People are going to ask you questions. Going out to eat will take lots more thought and effort. There will be judgement and an interrogation from at least one person. I’m not trying…
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Gift Ideas for the Spoonie in Your Life
Getting the perfect gift for anyone is difficult. I’ve been told that since getting sick, I’m more difficult to buy for. I don’t believe that to be true but I suppose I’m not usually buying gifts for myself. Often, the things that us spoonies want is not something that can be bought. It’s always best to get a gift that speaks to someone’s soul. Here are some great gift options for the spoonie in your life. Oil Diffuser and Essential Oils I love my oil diffuser. I often use it at night with some relaxation oils but it’s a great option for anyone who isn’t sensitive to smells. This is…
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How To Recharge
Recharging is something that I do often. Unlike relaxing, recharging is something that is energizing to me. If I have several doctors appointments in one day, or a long to-do list, recharging is a way I stay motivated and get it done. There are tons of ways to recharge. Everyone is different but here are some of my favorite ways to recharge throughout the day. Listen to Showtunes When I need something to pick up my spirit, I turn on showtunes. Unlike my normal playlist, these are upbeat songs from shows that make me dance and sing. Although, let’s be honest, I’m usually singing in my car. My favorite songs…
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Getting My Service Dog
Getting a service dog is a big decision. There is a lot of thought and logistics that go into making such a large lifestyle change but for me this was worth it. First, I want to address why I came to the conclusion this was right for me and my lifestyle. Then, I’m going to talk about the process and getting accepted into a program. Finally, I’m going to talk about meeting my dog and starting to train. As of right now, my dog hasn’t moved in yet. It is going to happen this week and I couldn’t be more excited. I will give a more in depth review about…
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Creating a Morning Routine
Having routines is something that I’ve found to be very helpful. My body is often ready when I need it to be because I’ve allowed it time and space to rest and recharge. I’m type A and I understand that making schedules is not everyone’s strong suit. So here are some great tips for creating your own morning schedule. Write Down your Intentions for the day This is something I actually do at night. I write down the bullet points of what I’d like to get done for the next day. I try to write them in order of importance, that way when I’m going through my day, I know…
