Helpful Hints
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What is Dysautonomia?
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am speaking from experience and my own research. If you have questions, please ask your physician or go to the Dysautonomia International website. A lot of people have to ask, “What is dysautonomia?” It’s a fair question. Dysautonomia is not something that is often addressed or explained. Whether you are diagnosed or had a family member diagnosed with dysautonomia, it’s important to understand what that means. In Spring 2019, I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. This is only one of the diseases or syndromes that falls under the umbrella of dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is a general term. It covers diagnoses that affect…
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Service Dog Etiquette
I’ve had Crush for a month now. It’s clear that there are some large pitfalls in the education system about service dogs. I haven’t had any intolerant or inconsiderate encounters. For that, I am grateful. That being said, people do not respect the sign, please don’t touch. So, I’m taking this time to set out a basic guideline for how to interact with a service dog. Don’t TouchThis should go without saying but apparently it needs to be said. Despite the sign that says, please don’t touch, I often have people ask to pet him. If Crush is working, you can not touch him. It’s that simple. I’m not being…
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A Chronic Illness How to Guide
So, you found out you have a chronic illness or you’re experiencing symptoms you can’t make sense of, fear not. I am here to give you my best tips and tricks for surviving chronic illness. This starts with talking about appointments. How to Advocate For YourselfThis is not something that came easy to me. It took about twenty appointments to get the hang of it but now I am confident going into 90% of my appointments. Be patient, you’ll get the hang of it. Start by listening and acknowledging when you’re getting defensive. Doctors will throw out ideas that may upset you. They can be frustrating or downright offensive. Most…
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What I Wish I Knew Before Surgery
A week ago, I got my tonsils removed. This was my second surgery, I had my gallbladder removed a year ago. People will warn you about a lot of things when going into surgery. Pain, recovery time, and the inherent risks you take when undergoing a procedure. I always feel like I’m signing my life away, I guess in some ways you are. Accepting the risks of surgery is terrifying to me. It’s terrifying for most people. Even though you sign that scary form and acknowledge that there is a laundry list of risks with fractions of a percent that everything could go horribly wrong, These are the things I…
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How to Love Your Body
Three years ago, I hit a serious fitness craze. I was working out daily, eating healthy, and focusing on my fitness goals. I was more confident than I had ever been. I loved my body and people knew it. Now, I wouldn’t say I was cocky or overly self confident. I was proud of the work that I put into my body and how that work showed. When I got sick, I lost all control over what my body looked like. If you’ve ever been on steroids long term you know what it means to have prednisone puff. I was the same weight but it looked like I gained twenty…
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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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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…
