Thoughts Chronic Illness Fighters?

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nessabbyxo

Guest
So I made this thread to reach out to see if there are people on this site who battle with chronic illnesses or if you refer to yourself as a spoonie? I've met tons of people all over with chronic illnesses because I myself live with chronic illnesses and made a lot of great friendships and it's nice to find friends who can relate to you so you don't feel so alone. So go ahead and drop a hello because I feel everyone deserves a new friend at times. :) I will list the illnesses I deal with daily.

  • Endometriosis
  • Interstitial Cystitis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • IBS
  • CFS
  • Chronic migraines
  • Scoliosis of the lumbar and thoracic part of the spine
  • Chronic pain
  • Chronic gastritis
  • GERD
  • Arthritis
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Functional Dyspepsia
  • Chronic nausea
  • and it keeps growing

The spoon theory is a disability metaphor and neologism used to explain the reduced amount of energy available for activities of living and productive tasks that may result from disability or chronic illness.

Spoonie: This term can refer to any individual who suffers from a chronic illness, these illnesses are often invisible; to most people, spoonies may appear healthy and able-bodied, especially when they are young.

Read the story of how the spoon theory was created https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
 
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Hello.
Thank you for posting this and starting the thread. I'd not heard of the Spoon theory before, but now that I've read the article it sums up exactly what I've spent years trying, and failing, to explain to my friends and some of my family.
I suffer from M.E/CFS and Fybromyalgia. I used to be really fit and active when I was younger and the frustration of not being able to do everything anymore, or get people to understand why, drives me nuts.
Thank you again for having the courage to kick this off.
 
london60 said:
Hello.
Thank you for posting this and starting the thread. I'd not heard of the Spoon theory before, but now that I've read the article it sums up exactly what I've spent years trying, and failing, to explain to my friends and some of my family.
I suffer from M.E/CFS and Fybromyalgia. I used to be really fit and active when I was younger and the frustration of not being able to do everything anymore, or get people to understand why, drives me nuts.
Thank you again for having the courage to kick this off.
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Hello there I'm glad I could show someone something that they never knew before but yes hello fellow spoonie :) But I'm sorry to hear the things you struggle with it's very hard and not a lot of people in the world can relate or understand what we deal with on a daily basis. I should have mentioned what I struggle with so others can know but I do also have Fibromyalgia and CFS along with many other things as well. I'm glad to see someone saw this post but thanks for commenting. :)
 
I have been quite lucky in my life for my health
Although I was diagnosed quite early in life with perthes disease ( Which causes a lack of calcium in the body,) and at the age of 3 1/2, I went into hospital and was put in traction for 14 months.
When I came out I had to wear a calliper for a further year or so . After that I would consider my life as normal until I was about 10/11 when because I limped very slightly they checked me out and found out that I had 1 leg shorter than the other and I began to wear a built up shoe
I also had an under active thyroid and had to give a blood sample every 6 months to check my thyroxine levels but 1 time I had a bad experience and after that I had a hyper phobia of needles and syringes.
Although I would act like my friends my bones were still weak and broke much easier than my friend’s would.
The lack of calcium also meant my teeth grew in bad and because of my phobia I would not allow them to give me numbing injections so had to get my teeth drilled without any anaesthetic at a low speed. At 14 because I wanted more stylish shoes so I stopped wearing the built up shoes. ( by this time my leg was over 1and a half inches shorter than the other)
The rest of my life was ok until I was 45/6/7 when the price I would have to pay for trying to be the same as everyone else started to rear it’s head in the form of osteoarthritis in my knees, hips, and spine
Although I probably have more spoons than some I don’t have as many as others
If I stand still to long my knees and spine get sore if I walk too far my back and hips and spine get sore. So I try to work out what I can do.
 
witchygirl said:
Arthritis in both feet and lower spine. Cold wet days are horrible and i can't sit for to long (14 hrs on a plane next week is going to be fun) i don't like taking painkillers i use heat therapy and my circulation machine x
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awww well best of luck to you on that plane ride girl lol but yea I feel you though it's hell. Yea painkillers tear up my stomach and I'll vomit them so I turn to weed lol
 
to @nessabbyxo thank you for the link to the spoonie theory. Don’t know if I can consider myself as a spoonie but it certainly helped me of how I describe how I am unable to do much after work (Because I am in a great deal of pain and discomfort) so thanks
 
Alex_AD said:
Yeh, sometimes I just wake up and get stressed and nervous for no reason. I could be having a great day and then it could instantly hit. It's fucking horrible
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I hear you. Anxiety and depression are the worst things Ive had to deal with. My anxiety rears it's head when things don't go my way. I have OCD too.
So basically me and you Alex, we must rub each other up the wrong way lol
 
I've suffered with chronic depression all my life and every now and then it comes back and kicks my ass ....this is one of those times ...apart from work I'm not going out and not interacting not eating well and not sleeping well ..it sucks I know it will pass ..it always does ...sometimes quicker than other and the severity is always different to ..its been as bad as being hospitalised for my own safety after doing something stupid to feeling a bit blue for a few days ....this time if year doesn't help with the winter just round the corner as I get SaD. .I know it's only just autumn so thus winter might be a bad for me .... and after reading what some you guys are going through I feel like a fraud for basically feeling down but I thought I wiold post any ways even if it's to just let folks know why I I'm not very active atm .......
 
Hawkeye100 said:
I've suffered with chronic depression all my life and every now and then it comes back and kicks my ass ....this is one of those times ...apart from work I'm not going out and not interacting not eating well and not sleeping well ..it sucks I know it will pass ..it always does ...sometimes quicker than other and the severity is always different to ..its been as bad as being hospitalised for my own safety after doing something stupid to feeling a bit blue for a few days ....this time if year doesn't help with the winter just round the corner as I get SaD. .I know it's only just autumn so thus winter might be a bad for me .... and after reading what some you guys are going through I feel like a fraud for basically feeling down but I thought I wiold post any ways even if it's to just let folks know why I I'm not very active atm .......
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Sorry you are going through this. I've suffered bouts of depression, so can understand to an extent.
This place has it's faults at times, but there are good people here too. Let us/them help you as and when we can. Please don't ever feel a fraud, your problems are every bit as serious as anybody else's. There is no hierarchy of illness here.

Look after yourself. I hope things start to look up for you soon.
 
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