Category: chronic illness

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness9 Comments

Another week, another Monday!  Where does the time go?  Well….hospital visits have figured quite heavily for September and I have already clocked up orthopaedics and gastrointestinal, with urology, rheumatology and my GP all coming up in the next week.  What a thrilling social life I lead!!

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! 17 sept

There have been a couple of great trips out this week – I wrote about the ball at The Oval cricket ground hosted by my old school in my last post, but hubby and I also went to see the live cinema screening of the RSC production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.  Absolutely hilarious!  It wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, particularly if you are a Shakespeare purist – but it is set in current day Essex styled “Windsor” with lots of leopard skin, gold chains and botox!  The cast are superb and bring an old tale right up to date as the wives of Windsor show their strength as they turn the tables on Falstaff.  I haven’t laughed so much in a long time – and it isn’t often that it would be the Baird who I would say this of.

I want to do something a little different with Monday Magic Blogs this week.  Over the last year I have been nominated for various awards and tags by some lovely blogger pals, and i am very aware that I have failed to get my act together to join in the communal fun that these awards can bring.

Firstly a huge thanks for these nominations go to:

Wendy at Picnic with Ants and Michelle at Jumbled Brain for tagging me for the Three Day Quote

Tasha at Pain Warrior Code for the Mystery Blogger Award

Alyssa at Fight MS Daily and Tasha at Pain Warrior Code for the Liebster Award

Ali at Notebooks and Glasses for Behind the Illness

Terri at Reclaiming Hope for The Sunshine Blogger Award

Gary at Fiction is Food for The Blue Sky Tag

……and I really hope that I haven’t missed anyone out!  I have also added

Caz from Invisibly Me and Sheryl from A Chronic Voice – they may be pals I have forgotten on the nominations list, but they are definitely bloggers who have offered me a huge a amount of personal support, sharing and kindness!

I will try to combine some of the challenges in these posts to write a little about myself (at the risk of boring you all silly), but meanwhile I want to share some blog posts with you from these inspiring bloggers!  So without further ado grab a cuppa, turn your phone off and sit back to enjoy these posts….

https://picnicwithants.com/2018/09/13/i-dont-mean-to-fighting-depression/

https://www.jumbledbrain.com/2018/08/20/simple-bug-vs-brain-injury-disaster/

https://painwarriorcode.wordpress.com/2018/09/11/do-you-know-when-a-flare-is-about-to-happen-painwarriortalks/

https://painwarriorcode.wordpress.com/2018/07/11/hang-on-in-there/

https://fightmsdaily.com/2018/09/11/never-stop-believing-in-hope/

http://notebooksandglasses.com/2018/09/16/september-link-up-party-with-a-chronic-voice/

https://reclaiminghope.blog/2018/09/17/on-a-weather-break-be-back-soon/

https://fictionisfood.com/2018/09/06/are-you-a-writer-then-join-in-this-september-and-spin-us-a-yarn-blogbattle-is-back/

https://invisiblyme.com/2018/09/11/september-pain-awareness-month/

https://www.achronicvoice.com/2018/09/15/singapore-chronic-illnesses/

 

I hope that you enjoy these – Sheryl’s pictures of Singapore are wonderful!  Please like, comment and share these posts!

Have a great week,

Claire x

 

 

A Change in Season, a Change in Symptoms and Foodie Memories!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In chronic illness, chronic pain, Link Up4 Comments

The weather has turned – my joints and dodgy bits of body are telling me it is colder, even if the sun has been shining.  Last night we went to a posh do at The Oval cricket ground and there was a drinks reception on the roof terrace before the meal.  On arrival it was suggested to guests that they left their coats on the second floor before ascending to the fourth floor.  It was lovely looking over the stunning cricket green (it really was very green) as the sun went down – but it was freezing!!  There was a blustery breeze that left many of the ladies’ bare shoulders blue and goose pimpled in their strappy evening gowns.  I had kept my outer layers on – a cape that looks a bit posh due to a fur collar – but my spinal cord stimulator and chronic nerve pain were doing battle with each other as to which could out do the cold air!

Earlier this week hubby and I were out shopping and again I was caught out by the sunshine!  Something that you don’t realise when you are up, mobile, walking and running is just how cold it can get sitting in a wheelchair.  My legs and feet were freezing and the cape (not the one from last night – one that Dad calls my “old lady blanket”) I usually tuck around me was safely in the car.  It is time to change the clothes, pack the summer shoes away and accept a different set of symptoms as the POTS faints decline as the temperature drops, and the chronic pain flares.

A change in season pin

 

This is the autumn term now and when I saw Lorna’s writing prompt (Autumnal food memories) on Gin & Lemonade it got me thinking to times in the past when I could go out without constant chronic pain.  I’m not moaning, looking for sympathy, just merely reminiscing!  My memories of autumnal food takes me back to the Halloween/Guy Fawkes nights of my primary school days and the bonfire celebration that we would attend as a family held by my brother’s school.  It was in the rugby field and the big treat would be toffee apples – hard, crunchy, golden toffee casing over soft red apples.  Dreadful for our teeth Mum would tell us every year!  But then as the evening temperature dropped and feet started to go numb inside wellie boots, there would be polystyrene cups of hot tomato soup – Heinz in those days of course! – and never has soup tasted so good.

appetizer bowls cream creamy
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Thinking back there were aches and pains in some of my joints even then, but all put down to me being bendy (correct!) or growing pains (wrong!).  But the memories of that tomato soup, sticky toffee apples and not forgetting the fireworks and bonfire, will always makes me smile.

heart shaped fireworks
Photo by Kartik Gupta on Pexels.com

 

Make your own toffee apples with this simple recipe from the BBC Good Food site

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness, Monday Blogs25 Comments

Good evening!  I haven’t been here for a whole week – well not actually writing on the page anyway.  It has been a busy week with several trips into central London and I am still hopeless at pacing myself – so a very long day for my son’s graduation, a theatre trip and a house full of youngsters has left me devoid of anything resembling a brain to write, comment on posts or do little other than sleep and eat, in that order!

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! 10 Sept

The graduation day gave my parents, hubby and me the opportunity to be those really embarrassing grandparents and parents.  Personally I don’t believe that we were anywhere near the top ten for winning those awards on the day, although I expect the young engineer would say otherwise.  I actually allowed him to choose which dress I would wear – between a bold floral number and a black and cream block symmetric piece – he chose what he described as the “boring” one, but I’m not sure that was quite the response I was looking for.  When my mum got in the car though, she was greeted with “Oh no,  you’ve worn a lairy dress, Grandma” (thoughts in the comments please!).  We actually looked quite understated compared to some of the other graduates and guests – some actually appeared to be going to weddings or balls – so I really don’t know what his lordship was worried about, but we managed to have some fun on the blustery terrace of the Royal Festival Hall with an impromptu photo shoot, with me on my feet!

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

Having a mum in a wheelchair (and remember this is still a relatively recent addition to our family transport) isn’t always the best way to fly under the radar, but sometimes it does have its advantages – particularly when the queue for the official photographers is snaking around the whole reception area of the RFH and those with disabilities are ushered to a much shorter queue and given every help required.  I am also delighted to report that the RFH staff ensured that I had a suitable spot for my wheelchair, were quick to find me alternative toilet facilities when the disabled loo on our floor was out of order, and brought out extra food when I had missed it due to said toilet issue!  All in all the accessibility in the Royal Festival Hall was great…..even if the strange singing lift was a bit creepy (the haunting “voice” sang up a scale as we ascended and ran back coming down, singing the level as the doors opened).

We were joined by our other young adults, including the young engineer’s better half in possession of a beautiful bouquet, and my brother for a celebratory dinner – although the politics student and lovely girl were only just leaving the house when they should have been arriving in London.  Oh the joy of youth, when the world is your oyster and time keeping so unimportant!!  A great day was had by all.

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I have managed some reading, despite a lack of writing, and have put together some more blog posts for your enjoyment.  Once again the posts are all very different and incorporate mental health, beauty, cookery, reading, and some comments on life!  Kicking you off this week is poetry from Inner Voice Actor and the title alone called out to me…”You ain’t giving up”.  Sit back and enjoy!

 

https://innervoiceactor.wordpress.com/2018/09/06/you-aint-giving-up/

https://www.sizzlingtowardssixty.com.au/putting-the-me-into-mental-health/

https://writeofthemiddle.com/beauty-make-up/

http://nextphaseinfitness.com.au/10-tips-to-ensure-you-exercise-consistently/

https://riverandquill.com/2018/09/interstitialcystitisawarenessmonth.html/

https://www.jumbledbrain.com/2018/09/06/guest-post-leanne-whitehouse-on-her-30-year-tbi-anniversary/

https://myyeka.com/what-is-the-right-kind-of-attraction/

https://libertyonthelighterside.com/3-cup-southern-african-cheese-puffs/

https://virtuallyallsorts.com/read-a-book-day-are-you-well-read/

http://angelanoelauthor.com/inspiration-motivation/relationships-when-a-run-is-not-about-running/

Please like, comment and share these posts – make a blogger’s day!

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness, Monday Blogs10 Comments

Good afternoon!  For many in the UK this is back to school week – today hubby and teachers across the country have school inset training days, whilst the kids enjoy their final days of summer.  The school uniform is bought, the pencil cases packed and soon the countdown will be on for Halloween.

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! Sept 3rd

This is the first year in about 18 years that school uniform hasn’t been bought in our house!  The lovely girl has a very loose, smart “own clothes” code for the sixth form – although mum has a feeling that this could prove a lot more problematic!!  The first line of the code made me both smile and sigh – “no underwear to be on show”……so no knicker skimming skirts, shorts need to be long and tailored, no bras or cleavages on show.  How times have changed since my day – the only concession we got in the sixth form was girls didn’t have to wear blazers or ties; the boys had no concessions.  Skirts above the knee….forget it! The girls have been out shopping – last week they visited the interesting God’s own Junkyard with its displays of neon lights amongst other places – and she did return with a skirt….it definitely doesn’t reach her knees!

 

God’s Own Junkyard
The skirt!

The young engineer has been away at a festival this weekend, but it is far removed from those visited by his brother this year.  I think an accurate description would be a “Geek” festival where like minded inquisitive souls meet up and CREATE!  Never will you attend a camp with such power, high speed wifi and every imaginable technological gadget – one comment on instagram said “You know you are at @emfcamp #emfcamp and not any other festival when the guy in the tent next to you is running a server from the porch of his tent :)”  It is based at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire and this year additional power and wifi had to be installed, so my bet is the local villages will have the fastest internet connections in the whole UK!

 

Last year the young engineer and his friend built a giant (8 feet) version of Guitar Hero – wires and lights were arriving at our house for weeks before (you can see it on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/AOU09T3l9Kg).  This year he has taken his better half who is a software engineer but frankly I’m not sure that he knows what he has let himself in for.  They are due back later today…..

This week the young engineer officially becomes a Master of Engineering & Software when he graduates at the Royal Festival Hall.  I am hoping that I will have some very embarrassing pictures to share of him wearing his gown and mortar board!

The first blog on today’s list is about the EMF camp, but if this doesn’t grab you then hopefully you can be inspired by the others on the list.  I have found a post about an artisan Mead brewery (having seen them featured on a BBC programme), some timely back to school views from a teacher, and a new blog from a cyclist touring through Kyrgyzstan to Nepal.  There are also some great life posts and my favourite title has to go to “The Special Stank of a Boy”!

https://hackaday.com/2018/08/14/looking-forward-to-electromagnetic-field-2018/

http://viking-mjod.no/apothecary-mead-legends-of-sherwood/

https://butismileanyway.com/2018/08/30/the-onset-of-inset-days-backtoschool-teacherslife/

https://inspiremystyle.com/2018/08/26/leading-a-fulfilled-and-healthy-life/

http://www.secondhand-life.com/2018/08/anxiety-storms-demons-on-the-boat/

http://janetgivens.com/at-seventy-seven-thoughts/

https://thewildreaderwithacat.wordpress.com/2018/09/02/beautiful-houses-%F0%9F%98%81/

https://woods-wanderer.com/2018/09/02/cycle-touring-chapter-7-osh-to-kunelek-kyrgyzstan-an-ode-to-kolbek/

https://butterflyinremission.com/2018/08/21/how-i-experienced-mindset-shift-motivation-life-change/

https://hotmessmemoir.com/2018/09/03/the-special-stank-of-a-boy/

I hope that you enjoy this great mixture of posts…..please like, comment and share!

Have a great week,

Claire x

 

 

Round and Round – My Zebra Journey #SoCS

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In chronic illness, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Stream of consciousness, zebra9 Comments

Round and Round - Pin

Round and round, up and down.  I seem to be moving along in my life but never getting anywhere!  When I look a bit closer I am travelling on a merry go round – round and round, up and down, a never ending circle that just doesn’t reach my final destination.  Others around me are on the travelator – the kind that you get in the airports or new supermarkets – and seem able to see their destination and even to jump on and off en route.

But my journey continues round and round, up and down as the ride continues relentlessly day in and day out.  When I look down I realise that I am not even seated on a brightly coloured galloping horse decorated in golds and silvers like the others accompanying me – yes there are others who seem to be at a stage in their journeys of being on a hamster wheel, unable to reach a destination.  Instead I am seated on a zebra – a stunning animal admittedly, and not so dissimilar to the horses around it in shape and size.  He has a mane, a tail, hooves and he can gallop at great speed.  To hear him coming you might mistake my trusty steed for a horse – but he is not, he has stripes and he is a zebra.

My companion on my life journey is different and I am unable to jump off the merry go round that he is firmly bolted to.  I raise my hand at fellow travellers passing by and the others joining me on my ride….every so often another zebra joins us and we continue our journey together. Up and down, round and round.

This is part of Linda G Hill’s Stream of Consciousness – pop over to her site, read the rules, take the prompt “Round” and start writing….then link up!

stream-of-consciousness-saturday-2018-19

Why the Zebra?

The Zebra has been adopted by the Ehlers Danlos Syndrome community as traditionally medical student have been taught throughout training that “when you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras” – think of the obvious conditions first, rather than the exotic and rare.  Thus in medical circles, the term “zebra” is used to describe a rare disease or condition and we EDSers are referred to as zebras!

EDS-random-fact-21-The-zebra-is-our-mascot-There-s

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness, Monday Blogs10 Comments

We are celebrating our final bank holiday weekend of the year and in true UK style it is raining!  The long, hot days of only a couple of weeks ago feel like a world away, whilst last night yours truly turned on the electric blanket and added a dressing gown to the bed clothes.  Now the fight will be on between husband and wife for changing to a warmer duvet (me) or sticking with the summer one (him).  I must look into these split weight duvets – have any of tried them? Anyway, the wife will win!!

Monday Magic - 27 aug

 

This week has felt a little surreal if I am honest with you.  The politics student called mid week to say that he could only sleep on his mate’s floor in Nottingham until Saturday – OK, so what do you expect me to do about it??  Well, my final exam isn’t until Tuesday……good old mum puts a shout out to a couple of Nottingham based school friends, but of course it is a BH weekend and guess what, my boy?!  A lot of people go away – and that is why my friends aren’t about but also why the B&B/hostels are all booked!!  He is fortunate that we found an Air BnB – affordable and in walking distance of uni; but arranging transport home was slightly trickier as he hadn’t told me his exam isn’t until 4.30 Tuesday afternoon.  But……with a bit of internet surfing, I was amazed to get him and his friend onto a coach on Tuesday evening, back to London for £15 for the two of them!  Bargain!!  It will probably cost as much to get back from London to home (30 mins on the train!).

Amidst the dramas of the “middle” child, came the exam results of the youngest – the lovely girl.  I did mention a little about this in yesterday’s post.  Needless to say it was mum here who didn’t sleep well the night before and had strange dreams – we knew she would have got the requirements for 6th form, bar a complete disaster, but as the exams have been new this year and she was taking a mixture of the new levels 1-9 and the old grades A*-G, anything was possible.  Thursday morning came, she got up and did her paper round, and I was awoken to squeals as she opened the email – oh my goodness!  I am not allowed to say any more, but if your follow me on twitter of facebook you will know that she didn’t need to worry about me posting her results and picture all over social media – the school did it!! (here!!)).  As I said I’m not allowed to say anything – but delight, surreal, shocked, unbelievable….you get the picture!!

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The young engineer has been a bit put out that his little sister beat him – in fact beat both her brothers – but secretly he is very proud.  In fact on Friday evening he and his partner were going to the theatre with the lovely girl and her friend (who did just as well) – and he took them out for dinner beforehand to celebrate.  Now this is a huge deal as he has always been the “tight” kid of the 3!!!

So moving on from the act of sibling love in my household to the first blog that I’m sharing with you this week – it comes from Rachna and she describes a beautiful festival that traditionally recognises and honours sibling love.  I particularly like the post on ClockWorkClouds that discussed the uses of certain words – how does using “should” rather than”would” change the feel of a situation?  I hope that you will also enjoy some culture with an artist’s exhibition, a book review, flash fiction story and do read the Trolls’ poem, it is funny!  There are also some life posts here too that would benefit everyone.

So grab a cuppa, put your feet up and enjoy some great blog posts!

https://www.rachnaparmar.com/2018/08/raksha-bandhan-a-beautiful-festival-of-sibling-love.html

https://clockworkclouds.wordpress.com/2018/08/27/5945/

https://bootsshoesandfashion.com/a-visit-to-the-orla-kiely-exhibition/poster_2500_1

http://zooloobookblog.co.uk/bookreview-her-final-hour-bookouture/

https://www.mollytotoro.com/2018/08/the-artists-way-for-midlife-vitality/

https://thedarknetizen.wordpress.com/2018/08/26/flash-fiction-the-inn/

http://allthatjazmin.com/mental-health/getting-a-late-autism-diagnosis/

https://teaandcakeforthesoul.wordpress.com/2018/08/27/beware-of-the-trolls-poems-from-simply-modern-life-by-claire-baldry-bookexcerpt/

simply-modern-life-poems-claire-baldry1

https://www.funasagran.co.uk/2018/08/5-essentials-to-improve-your-pets-life.html

https://www.sizzlingtowardssixty.com.au/5-ways-to-start-appreciating-yourself-start-thriving/

As always , please share some love for these bloggers!

Have a great week,

Claire x

 

 

 

To My Future Self – taking notice & learning life skills #SoCS

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In chronic illness, Life, Stream of consciousness9 Comments

The long awaited exam results finally arrived for many this week.  There have been tears of joy and despair up and down the country – for some the exultation of achieving that 6th form place in the desired school or college, for others the disappointment of being unable to move on with friends and the upset of starting somewhere different.

To my future self

This morning the post brought hand written envelopes to a particular group of 16 year olds.  For most the plop of this missive onto the mat was unexpected, a letter that was completely forgotten.  At the beginning of their GCSE studies, the school had added Mindfulness to the timetable – a concept completely lost on many of the 15 year olds particularly the sitting quietly and not letting their minds wander.  In an effort to give them some skills to deal with the stresses that might lie ahead during the 2 year course, they were encouraged to learn about emotions, feelings and how to help themselves.

During one session, they were told to sit back and take notice of their current thoughts and feelings – and then to a write a letter to their future 16 year old self to be received just after exam results.  I wonder how many of them where accurate in their predictions about their future selves…..not their results, but their mindset, organisation, preparation and plans for the future?  If only I had written a letter to my future middle aged self……

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This post is part of Linda G Hill’s Stream of Consciousness and was written on Saturday (I promise) with the prompt “notice” – to find out more visit Linda and more SoCS posts here

 

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In art, Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness10 Comments

Another week has passed, the heat wave in the UK has broken and students across the country have either just received exam results or are awaiting them this week.  In our house, the lovely girl will receive her GCSE results this week and remains very calm and level headed.  But she can’t get her head around the year group chat that is full of anxiety about grade boundaries and count downs to the “big day” – I agree with her that there is no point worrying about the grade boundaries when you have no idea what grades you have received yet!

board chalk chalkboard exam
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The national press is of course feeding this anxiety with articles about the new exams – both GCSE and A level – are they harder, are the grade boundaries higher/lower, have more students done better?  I’m not sure we will be able to make head or tail of her results though as half will be the old style A-C grades, with the remainder bearing the new numerical grades 1-9!!

 

Pin for later

Monday Magic Inspiring Blogs for You! 20 Aug

 

The politics student is currently taking exams – he was unwell earlier this year with chronic migraines so the university deferred exams until now.  I actually received a text after his first exam earlier!  Maybe it has finally dawned on him that although these first year exams don’t count towards the final degree, he does need to pass them all to go back for the second year……his sister would be horrified to find that both brothers were back home permanently! I’m not sure that my kitchen would cope either…..

I have spent another dislocated week vaping on my Medipen – I feel a review coming on – and adding to my “surgical appliances”.  Firstly I bought some physio kinesiology tape after reading Ali’s article last week – I thought that hubby might be able to learn how to tape my arm back in place, but the family consensus seems to be to mummify me in it! Hmmmm……..Then I sent hubby out to Lidl to buy some chicken and he came home with ankle supports.  Those of you who are Lidl or Aldi fans will know that the middle rows in the store are always very exciting and you never know what you might find nestling alongside the crisps and fruit juice!  This week it was various medical appliances from heat pads to raised loo seats seated next to petrol powered jet washers and lawn mowers.  I came home with a garden table on one occasion….

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So whilst sitting here watching youtube videos about applying sticky tape to my body (we will get our physio to teach us) and adding more velcro straps to my wardrobe, I have been perusing the blogosphere to find some more fab posts for you to read.  Who has heard of #BlogBattle:Moon?  Have a look at Gary’s post for this writing challenge. I’m excited to introduce you to Anna, a local artist who also happens to be a part of the We All Send Cards community (where my girl’s art can also be found on greetings cards).  She has been featured on the Women Talking website and discusses her career as an artist alongside her diagnoses of dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD.  Lily provides pointers for US residents navigating the benefits system at How To Get On blog.  The lovely girl is very pleased that I have included a post about “period poverty” – something that hasn’t been spoken about in the past.

So grab a glass of something nice, turn off the phone and sit back to indulge in some great reads…

https://fictionisfood.com/2018/08/09/blogbattle-moon/

https://writeintolife.com/2018/08/17/motivation-why-do-older-bloggers-blog/

https://kerrylifeandloves.com/2018/08/16/experience-boa-vista-cape-verde-choose-happy/

https://sarahsbrandnewchapter.com/2018/08/17/memories-of-my-grandma/

http://www.womentalking.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/intuitive-oils

https://www.meriahnichols.com/lorna-duff-howie/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare

https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/about-the-artist/social-security-disability/

www.lifeofpippa.co.uk/2018/08/16/periods-poverty-and-perceiving-empathy-walker-ya-blog-tour/

http://katethealmostgreat.com/is-chronic-illness-a-disability/

https://prettycouchpotato.com/2018/08/16/diy-tpn-backpack/

Please share, comment and like these posts!

Have a great week,

Claire x

intuitive oils

Stream of Consciousness – Becoming Chronic #SoCS #Chronic

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In chronic illness, chronic pain, Stream of consciousness11 Comments

There should be a Saturday on that title, but I am a day late which just about sums it up!!  But I had to join in this week, no matter how late, as the prompt was clearly written just for me.  I spotted Linda’s Friday prompt and it seemed to call out to me…..”Claire, Claire this is for you”, but the very thing relating to the prompt has been the same thing stopping me from typing, from letting my brain and my body work together, cohesively.

The prompt “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “-ic or -ical.” Find a word that uses the suffix “-ic” or “-ical.” Bonus points if you use both. Have fun!”

How many times do I use the suffix “ic” in the course of my blogging?  Just about every post.  Let me see – chronIC pain, chronIC illness, chronIC fatigue, chronIC bloggers, chronIC community.  But when does pain or illness become CHRONIC?  In fact what is it before this?

lit red and white candle lot on person s back
Photo by Ferdinand Studio on Pexels.com

The definition of chronic is “persisting for a long time or constantly recurring” – so how long is a long time? When does pain cease to be acute and cross into the chronic stage? How does a chronic illness earn that tag?

In a previous life, I was taught that a general rule is that when an illness has persisted constantly for 3 months or more, it can be thought to be chronic.  The illness may have slowly crept up on the individual, or gradually worsened increasing symptoms and disability.  With chronic pain, the pain itself often takes over and actually becomes the “illness” as the individual lives with it day in and day out.  Acute illness and pain is sudden and dramatic, but usually short lived in contrast to the never ending spiral of chronic conditions.

When does it become chronic.jpg

My own chronic dislocations, chronic pain and chronic brain fog have seen what can only be described as some comical situations over the last 48 hours (yes got the ical in too!!)……having literally gone down a rabbit hole in true Alice style, I shot out of my wheelchair and dislocated the shoulder(again…groan) and the opposite ankle.  In my bedroom that evening my ever helpful kids were taking a long time coming, so yours truly decided that hopping on the good leg was the obvious solution to get to the top of the stairs.  One failure of knee joint later had the young engineer, lovely girl and yours truly all collapsed in a rather strange heap……but why was I crying with laughter??? Strange things happen with these chronic problems!! Got to laugh though….

But did you know that Chronic can mean something else entirely?  I discovered quite by chance that it is the name given to a particular strain of cannabis……ironic or fitting I wonder, with the increased debate over the use of cannabis and CBD (cannabidiol – THC psychoactive element removed) for chronic pain and illness?

shallow focus photography of cannabis plant
Photo by Michael Fischer on Pexels.com

Answers welcome!

This post is part of Linda G Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click on the link to find all the other awesome posts in the comment section, and join in! https://lindaghill.com/2018/08/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-18-18/18d9a-post-comment-love-badge

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness4 Comments

Very little preamble today PainPals – I’ve been battling the onset of a migraine all weekend and it finally broke free this morning, leaving me moribund on the sofa.  My surrogate furbaby Chester apparently kept me company for a couple of hours snuggled up next to me – although I had no idea!  You’ve had my post about books and reviewing already today so I will plunge straight in with some blogs for you.

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https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2018/08/13/5-ways-you-can-save-time-when-blogging/

https://imsickandsoareyou.com/2018/08/09/six-and-a-half-ways-to-cure-writers-block/

https://www.healthyeatingexperts.com/spoonie-secrets/

https://butismileanyway.com/2018/08/10/living-life-keto-style-kindaketo/

https://www.shallowreflections.com/taking-drastic-steps-to-protect-my-noggin/

https://clockworkclouds.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/cracks-in-the-porcelain/

https://ellenbest24.wordpress.com/2018/07/29/watch-right-of-passage-on-youtube-fgm/

https://dreamingandreading.com/2018/08/07/ttt-top-ten-tuesday-sequels-i-am-dying-in-my-tbr-read/

https://sv3dprinter.com/?p=7400 – 3D printing for spinal cord injuries

https://topladytalks.com/2018/08/13/playing-odd-man-out-not-today-reminiscences-of-an-accessible-holiday/

Please like, comment and share!

Have a great week,

Claire x