Tag: Blogging

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

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

Welcome back, pain pals, for another week and that means another Monday of inspiring blog posts that I have found for you.Monday Magic

I’m not going to write about the ups and downs of life in the Pain Pals house here this week – I still need to write a proper post about genetics, my lovely girl and i can now include our new family handbook….more of this later, I promise!

The dislocations have been fast, furious and very regular over the last week and severe gut pains after every meal have both left me fatigued and sofa bound……but the good news is that I have spent time finding and reading some great new blogs.  I have picked some posts here and they range from chronic illness depicted as sweets, to body image, to a review, to some delicious looking frozen treats – perfect for the summer holidays (if only the sun would come back!!).  If you are a mum of a daughter, or indeed an adolescent daughter, you must read Dear Little Girl With the Smart Mouth – it made me laugh and cry….and read it to my teen girl!

SmartMouthFeatured-768x514
Image from jthreeNMe blog

So….grab a cuppa, sit down and unwind with these great, inspiring blog posts.  Please, please make someone’s day with a like, a follow, a share or even better a comment!

http://www.healinghugsandhope.com/2017/07/my-chronic-illnesses-as-candy-bars.html

https://www.itsnottoocomplicated.com/home/2017/7/10/a-day-out-with-a-disabled-toddler

http://www.blessingmanifesting.com/2017/07/stop-verbally-abusing-your-body.html/

http://www.sublimemercies.com/2017/07/ableism-beaten-down-and-fighting-back.html

https://readbetweenthelyme.com/2017/07/22/celebrating-3-years-here-at-read-between-the-lyme

https://www.jthreenme.com/dear-little-girl-smart-mouth/

https://brokendownbody.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/but-one-of-my-best-friends-is-black/

http://www.smilesandsundays.com/imak-compression-gloves-review/

http://achysmile.com/index.php/2017/06/12/abdominal-migraine/

http://myfruitfulhome.com/2017/06/29/16-yummy-healthy-frozen-treats/

raspberry-frozen-treat
Image from My Fruitful Home website

 

Claire x

 

 

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome13 Comments

Another week, another Monday – so that means one thing here at PainPals!  Thank you so much for the feedback for this feature – I love to hear if you are enjoying it, but please do send other comments and suggestions for anything you would like to see!

Monday Magic

There have been two major events in our house over the last week.  The first was a long awaited appointment with a geneticist for the beautiful girl(BG).  I can’t remember if I have mentioned before that we were struggling to find a consultant of any specialism who would accept the kids – just for a consultation.  Unfortunately University College Hospital London Hypermobility/EDS unit no longer take referrals straight from a GP but instead it needs to be from another hospital – this has changed since my own diagnosis.  My GP tried 2 rheumatologists – one recommended by UCLH – and both turned the requests down as the A level student (soon to be known as the politics student – we hope!!) and the BG were then under 18.  So..we tried a local paediatrician and by the time the referral was churned out through the system, said A level student had turned 18!  Then the children’s department decided that they really weren’t the right people to see the BG.  Finally a fantastic lady in the hospital bookings found a genetics consultant from a London hospital who runs a satellite clinic monthly in our local hospital – and even better she specialises in children! Hurray.

Meanwhile the BG has become convinced that she is just making a fuss and doesn’t really need to have a confirmation of symptoms – her biggest concern was that using the Beighton scale she doesn’t have a high hypermobility rating.  Hmmm…..mother here keeps explaining, as her shoulder clunks out of joint for the umpteenth time and she can hardly walk due to hip and knee pain, that there are so many other elements to consider here, particularly a very strong generational family history.  The consultant was a lovely lady who listened to me, my history, the family history, the issues my boys have had and then to the BG herself.  No she isn’t the most hypermobile person she has ever seen, but can she can already see that the BG has hips that are out of alignment and the dislocations are causing the same with her shoulders, so this immediately puts her back at risk of scoliosis and future problems.  Ringing bells in my ears!!!  More of this in another post…..

The second major event was our old dog Sam having a massive haircut with our fantastic groomer.  Now I don’t wish to play down the wonderful care given to my girl, but Sam is about 15 (rescue dog so not entirely sure) and like his human mum, has a very dodgy lower back,  hips and rear legs.  He has YuMove pills daily and struggles to walk now, so getting into the doggy bath and being strapped in the harness before the Jacuzzi begins is no mean feat for an old boy!  He came home a couple of hours later smelling wonderful, looking fab as always but absolutely shattered – doggie spoonie here.

Sammy
Spoonie Sammy

Back to all of you and I have found yet more great inspiring blog posts by writers who I haven’t featured before.  Whilst the majority have some sort of chronic illness background, the posts aren’t necessarily about health!  Did you know that National Cheesecake Day approaches? Find out about it at This Auto Immune Life and about the design and sewing of beautiful clothes from a fellow zebra at Sew Pretty in Pink – I don’t even own a sewing machine!! I may be a bit late to the party, but have found the wonderful Youtube channel from the SleepySantosha website – Spoonie yoga…great!  If you only have time to check out one piece of writing the poem by Bethany Kays is inspiring and heartbreaking in her quest to survive abuse. In fact I struggled to pick just 10 posts this week, so I am featuring 15 with a couple from some of my pals at the Chronic Illness Bloggers who have been here before.

Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy some great posts – and hopefully make some new online friends!  The first post is a shout out award for all us spoonie bloggers!

http://www.balancedespitethechaos.com/blog/an-award

https://jamisonwrites.com/2017/07/12/this-is-why-i-hate-summer/

https://sewprettyinpink.wordpress.com/

http://www.thisautoimmunelife.com/2017/07/23/national-cheesecake-day/

https://whenwomeninspire.com/2017/07/22/mental-health-tips-for-women/

https://bethanykays.com/2017/07/24/poetry-45/

https://beingcharis.com/2017/07/20/qa-with-charis-about-her-journey-with-ankylosing-spondylitis/

https://sleepysantosha.com/how-to-start-yoga/   plus Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ROkm_8Bjk0qOQ13XYOebg/feed

https://carlyscrazychroniclife.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/alternative-therapies-or-not/

http://voiceathlete.co.uk/dystonia/

http://momssmallvictories.com/self-care-for-moms-with-chronic-pain/

https://www.my-ra-perspective.com/single-post/2017/04/24/Working-and-Disability-Advice-on-working-while-disabled-and-knowing-your-limits

https://edsjour.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/10-tips-for-coping-while-in-waiting-room.html

http://www.bloomingmindfulness.co.uk/?p=440

http://www.mesheacrysup.com/blog-living-a-fibrolife/re-visitedfibrosecretc-part-5-i-was-afraid-to-have-a-good-day

Funfetti-Cheesecake
Picture from “this autoimmune life” blog

Please make someone’s day with a follow, like and comment!

Claire x

I have shared this post with Honest Mum blog


Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.com

Currently….July 2017

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In About me, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness1 Comment

I found this link up party when visiting Roseann on This Autoimmune Life – she has written a lovely post for the party being co hosted by Stephanie on Wife, Mommy, Me blog.  It is a monthly link up where you are given 5 prompts to answer – Stephanie says it is the easiest blog to write…ever, and Roseann thought it looked like fun.

So here goes with what I am CURRENTLY doing…..

SONY DSC

Documenting – My daughter finally has an appointment with a genetics consultant tomorrow having been turned down by paediatrics and rheumatology for consultations.  So in the hope that she will be recognised as having hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome and have some more help at school, I am documenting her issues to date…mainly pain, dislocations, dizzy spells, lack of coordination….and on it goes along with the strong family history from yours truly and my mum before me.  Wish us luck!

Accomplishing – my initial response is very little, but then I look at my post on this blog “Magic Monday – Inspiring Blogs for You!” and can say that I am accomplishing a regular weekly feature…..thanks to all of your amazing blogs.

Enjoying – my daughter and I are currently enjoying the American teen TV series Awkward – it really has become a guilty pleasure.  The traditional teen drama is turned on its head with irony, role reversals and humour…..we laugh out loud!

Reading – I am currently reading The Devil’s Claw, a proof copy that I will review for author Lara Dearman, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari and The Versions of Us: The Number One bestseller by Laura Barnett (our monthly book club read).  I read masses and belong to a local group, Netgalley and the fantastic “The Book Club on Facebook” run by Tracy Fenton from Compulsive Readers blog.

Spending – I seem to be spending more and more time visiting different hospital consultants.  I really have gone from being a medical professional to a professional patient!  Good job I don’t mind hospitals – can’t say the same for the waiting room times!

The school holidays have begun, which whilst it means that I have more mess in the house, less food in the cupboards and more stress, secretly I do enjoy having the kids about – even the 21 year old who is currently on a summer internship – but don’t tell them I said that!!

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness12 Comments

Good morning, it is a beautiful day here in South London and the beginning of the summer holidays.  The A level student – will have to change his name now – has been dog and house sitting for the last week, and the lovely girl is currently in her PJs painting…..she may be great at art, but she is so messy!!  There are paints, pencils and pencil shavings everywhere – the beginning of my lounge turning into an art studio for 8 weeks.

The rejected bull terrier!
At work….

She is currently working a matching picture of her grandparents’ other bull terrier (she didn’t like the first one that she started – pictured!!), has been asked to paint some canvases for the library in her old primary school (I think Harry Potter will figure!) and has a viking picture on the go for an instagram pal.  Oh, not forgetting the self portrait for her course work and the scrap book entitled “Blood, Flesh & Bones”.  She is taking some hideous pictures of family members hands, feet, elbows…..my dad told her she can’t afford his fee to strip off!!

Lucy self portrait
The start of a huge self portrait

As for me, well it has been a tricky week as you will have seen in my post about my benefits review, and I hate to complain about the lovely weather but it does send my circulation/POTS problems crazy.  I did manage a night out in London with Duncan though!  He told me we were going to a jazz concert in the Crypt of St Martins in the Field, Trafalgar Square – but when I saw some news feed that morning I had a sneaky feeling that I was actually being taken to the Formula One Live event in Trafalgar Square!  I wasn’t, but it did mean that the whole area was extremely busy and this was my first time in the wheelchair in a very crowded place which was quite intimidating.  The concert, with the wonderful Zena James, was fab though – a mixture of traditional and modern music jazzed up.  You should hear Zena’s version of Rag & Bone Man’s “Human”!!

Monday Magic

This week I have some posts on blogs that are all new to me and I have really enjoyed finding them.  I hope that you all enjoy exploring some new reads too…..so sit back with your cuppa and take some R&R with a new blog post!

https://needlintobenormal.com/2017/07/06/you-cant-go-back/

https://asecondlifeweb.blog/2017/04/11/idiocy/

https://headachehelper.wordpress.com/2017/07/16/the-what-not-to-do-if-you-have-chronic-pain-series-1-beat-yourself-up/

https://thelessonsoflyme.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/lizards-and-bunnies-and-cats-oh-my/

https://kathleenburkinshaw.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/why-did-i-choose-the-last-cherry-blossom-for-my-title/

http://www.bbhwithms.com/multiple-sclerosis-information-overload/

http://www.multipleexperiences.org/2017/07/15/what-i-would-have-done-differently-with-my-ms-diagnosis/

https://fromroopalismind.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/it-is-easier/

http://www.spinepainwarrior.co.uk/post/162956718101/coping-buying-equipment

http://www.lifeunplannedblog.com/how-to-be-less-of-a-hot-mess-and-rock-your-to-do-list/

Please like and post comments if you enjoy these posts – and for any C.I. bloggers who haven’t already, please check out The Chronic Illness Bloggers community, we are a very supportive bunch!

Claire x

 

 

 

 

Blog Book Tour: Review “Calling Major Tom” by David M. Barnett – Part 1

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Books! Reviews & chat..., Fiction, ReviewLeave a comment

This week has seen author David M Barnett on a book tour flying between the online world of blogs & social media and the real life world of book stores, as he publicizes his wonderful book “Calling Major Tom”.  You can meet David at The Grove Bookshop, Ilkley  gateway to the Yorkshire Dales on Thursday 13th July from 7pm, if you are in the area!

I first wrote a book review at the beginning of the year ahead of publication and later recommended the book to my local book club as our monthly read.  I would like to share my review with you again, before putting some questions from our book club to the author.

Warning: whilst the review does not contain spoilers, the subsequent questions might!

Book Review for Calling Major Tom by David M. Barnett

I was given a copy of this book(ARC) from Netgalley via The Book Club on Facebook in exchange for a fair & honest review.  All views are my own.calling-major-tom

I challenge you, whether Bowie fan or not, to read this book without constantly having Space Oddity going round your head!  Thomas Major is a lowly scientist working at the British Space Agency when he finds himself in a position to be the first man to visit Mars.  The only thing is that it is a one way mission, but Thomas has his own reasons for wishing to leave his life behind & entering a self imposed solitude.  Back on earth the Ormerod family are struggling to survive – teenager Ellie & younger brother James living with grandmother Gladys whilst their father is in jail. Ellie should be having the time of her life shopping & partying with her friends, but instead her mother has died, she is working 3 jobs, caring for her brother & worrying that social services will split them if they realise that Gladys has dementia.

It was difficult to see how these two very separate story lines could interlink and work, but they dovetail together beautifully from the day that major Tom tries to call his ex-wife from space and Gladys answers the telephone.  Their lives are linked through the most unusual series of events which see Thomas Major helping the Ormerod family overcome financial and social issues…and even come to terms with a few of his own demons.

I loved this book – it made me laugh and cry.  The view from the space ship window is described so vividly that I could see it, and the personalities of the individual main characters brim with life.  The comedy that the writer incorporated into the character of Gladys turns a sensitive situation into a human one.  She made me laugh out loud.  The back story for Thomas Major unfolds and he is surprised to find himself changing as his relationship with the family on Earth develops and makes him re evaluate.  These people were very easy to identify with and I wanted to know what life had in store for them.  Mr Barnett makes the reader care.

A feel good story showing the best in human nature without over sentimentality, and how communities can come together.  An uplifting read that I give 5 stars.

Review also on goodreads, Netgalley & Amazon

Questions for the author

Who was the inspiration for the Thomas Major character?
Why space? And specifically Mars?
If Calling Major Tom were to be made into a film, who would you like to play Thomas Major? Matt Damon of The Martian fame?
The family dynamics between Gladys and her grandchildren are tangible – has David had first hand experience of dementia and if not where did he gain his insight for Gladys’s actions that made us laugh and cry?
Did Thomas see in the Ormerod family what had been missing from his own upbringing? Could he have ever moved forward from this if he had stayed on Earth?
When you started the book, did you intend that it would be so humorous?
 I remember that at the end I felt it wasn’t particularly heartwarming because I didn’t see how Major Tom was going to survive on Mars. What did the author think would happen next – or is there a sequel?
And finally….the obvious – are you a Bowie fan?
Some of the comments from my book club included:
Just finished the book, laughed out load, and cried, loved it!
 
Not finding this easy and it is because I am not liking using the iPad to read. (Book club read it – at my suggestion – before available as a  paperback book)
 
very quick read after the initial few pages…very funny..
General consensus was that we all really enjoyed it!

Answers to follow in Part 2

The book is published by Trapeze Orion Books UK
 
Available from 29 June in paperback, currently £5.59 and ebook £1.99 on Amazon

Calling Major Tom and also from your local bookstore (prices vary).

This contains an affiliate link.

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness7 Comments

Good Morning!

I hope that you are all ready for another week – tennis at Wimbledon, more sun, heat and BBQs, and for many the end of the school term and for some the beginning of the long summer holidays.  So I really shouldn’t moan about this heat wave that we have in the south of the UK, but it is really sending my POTS/dysautonomia off the scale.  Please send me all your top tips and I will put a post together – funny tips too please!

Anyway I bought a big straw hat – not easy when you have inherited the family huge head! – and have been away for a couple of days with my parents to visit my brother at his new house.  We are talking brand new – living on a building site would aptly describe the estate at the moment – and my sister-in-law still has a lot of boxes to unpack.  Think I would be correct in saying mainly make up and bling…..she won’t be offended!  We were taken to the school play and end of year prize giving on Thursday, which was an incredibly hot day.  The children, aged 5 – 11, did a fantastic job of an interesting amalgamation of Romeo & Juliet, Peter Pan and the Cow who wanted to grow Sunflowers – beautiful costumes!  The whole event took place in a marquee – small Oxfordshire private school – and the heat during the afternoon was horrendous.  I think maybe the head should have adjusted her speech….shortened it!!

IMG_20170706_125802603_HDR
Well earned picnic at nephew’s school – featuring Grandad!

Anyway,  despite being armed with said hat, water and the salt grinder from my brother’s kitchen, Auntie Claire had already fainted on leaving the portaloo.  But I completely stole the show at the end of the day with a fantastic backwards faint when standing up from my wheelchair to get into the car.  I came round on the gravel carpark floor surrounded by faces….not just those of my family!  There was a parent who is a doctor, the school nurse, a teacher……and my mum trying to explain POTS, my spinal cord stimulator etc etc…..and please don’t call an ambulance!!  The school nurse was quite excited, having come to these events for years and having nothing to do.  As a fellow nurse I loved this

!

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The stunning Hornbeam Walk at the Aston Pottery

Like many of you, I have spent the weekend feeling constantly giddy and last night managed to pop a hip and dislocate the knee and ankle on the same leg – the joys of EDS.  So whilst I should be at a governors’ visit day at our local primary school – Duncan would not let me go unless I could weight bear – I am instead sitting with leg up and finding some great posts for you.  The final You tube video comes from a young vlogger who appeared on the BBC yesterday morning to discuss organ donation in the UK – he has cystic fibrosis and is awaiting a lung transplant.  This post is about living with a chronic illness as a teen.

Time for your cuppa and relaxation time with some inspiring posts! Enjoy!Monday Magic

http://alifewellred.com/embrace-the-years-with-dignity-and-beauty/

http://xofaith.com/boost-your-confidence-beyonce-edition/

http://www.fromthispointforward.com/2017/07/facing-forward-jayne.html?m=1

http://www.thepaincompanion.com/blog/dancing-through-pain-to-freedom

http://bladder-help.com/role-hormones-bladder-health/

https://itrippedoverastone.com/2017/07/07/what-my-husband-said-to-me/

https://neurodivergentrebel.com/2017/07/07/lets-talk-take-a-break/

https://picnicwithants.com/2017/07/05/floaters-and-flashers/

https://theedschronicles.com/2017/07/06/model-with-eds-uses-her-condition-to-stand-out/

 

Please remember to like posts and follow these great bloggers!

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspirational Blogs for You!

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

Happy Monday, Pain Pals!

A levels finished last week for the sixth form student and that meant another end to an era marked by Prom hosted at the Queen’s Stand, Epsom Downs.  The preparations weren’t quite as intricate in our house as they were in those of friends with daughters – hair, false nails, spray tans, pencilling the eyebrows just right, different dresses for every girl…the list goes on!  A new suit was purchased along with matching tie and shoes……and he did have a haircut the day before which he says was coincidence, but I do wonder!  Anyway he scrubbed up pretty well and the Charlie’s Angel style pics are typical – the girls and the boys posed in very different ways.  I don’t understand the sticking out the bum thing that seems to have the replaced the fish pout.  Must be getting old….

Charlie's Angels
Charlie’s Angels – really?!

So only one child left at school now, and she is gutted that the student engineer is coming to live back at home for his 4th year – “I thought I was going to have the house to myself, Mum!”.  He is currently balancing the cost of living in London with the savings of moving home but living with us….not to mention us having to cope with having him back again full time.  We love him dearly, but the mess, the fussy eating, the mood swings – he is such a drama queen!!  I am well aware that I seem to be describing a toddler, who is actually 21!!

Monday MagicMy writing has been a bit non existent this week, but I have found another 10 blogs that are new to Monday Magic and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I have.  It never fails to surprise me just how many wonderful writers there are out there in the chronic community and how we all support each other.  But these posts are equally inspiring for everyone, ill or not – I love to find inspiring blogs, about different subjects, through link up parties that I might never ordinarily find.  So sit down with a cuppa and enjoy getting to know some new bloggers!

http://www.balancedespitethechaos.com/blog/new-dr

https://achronicspoonful.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/on-being-functional/

https://lennaesworld.com/2017/07/03/goal-kicking-4-years-on/

http://katethealmostgreat.com/30-things-about-living-with-pots/

https://janaowlfdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/when-your-brain-decides-to-shutdown.html

http://herviewfromhome.com/lets-admit-that-marriage-isnt-a-fairy-tale/

http://www.bbhwithms.com/married-disease-relationship-multiple-sclerosis/

http://chronicmomlife.com/overcome-depression/

http://www.trippingonair.com/2017/06/ms-relapse-9-ways-to-survive-steroids.html

https://highrisk1.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/my-first-mania-rash/

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Image from Kate the {almost} Great blog

Hope you enjoy these posts and comment/follow for these great writers.  If you have a suggestion for an Inspiring post to be included in Monday Magic, send me a line!

Enjoy

Claire x

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You

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

It has been a sun drenched week with temperatures reaching 35 degrees in London – too hot for us POTSIEs!!  I have been absent from the blog and social twitter as the heat has given me some pretty grotty days, but thank goodness for midodrine – this has kept the faints under control.  Up to now I have had to get my midodrine prescribed monthly by my cardiologist and then dispensed by the hospital pharmacy, a hassle for everyone, but this month my GP has been allowed to prescribe. Hurray!!Monday Magic

Something that the weather has played havoc with has been my icing!!  I planned to make a cake for our friends’ Silver wedding anniversary and it was all going well until Wednesday night when I came to ice with fondant.  Who has ever tried to ice a 24 ounce, 12 inch heart shaped cake in 34 degrees humid heat??  Three of us were doing it – I can’t roll it out any more due to dodgy wrists/hands/shoulders! – and if we tried to lift the wretched stuff once, we did it at least five times and each attempt the sheet of icing split.  Eventually the cake went back in the fridge, the fondant into its tub and me in front of the TV with a glass (large) of wine.  Panic not, yours truly was up bright and very early the next morning and icing the cake at 7 am before a rheumatology appointment at 9 am.  Very pleased with the finished product and I even made it to the party on Saturday for a couple of hours (in the wheelchair with a dislocated shoulder in a sling – colour co ordinated with my dress naturally) where the A level student got his sister tipsy on cocktails. Enough said!!

SONY DSC
SONY DSC

I’m rather later in the day getting some inspiring blog published, so I suggest that it could be time to sit down with a large glass of vino or a cold beer or even a Pimms, and enjoy some great posts & a vlog.  Think I need to take a close look at the sunburn one and I am intrigued by the Spoonie pin up……

https://confessionsofafibromama.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/a-tricky-parenting-secret/

http://hope-health-healing.net/blog/2017/6/19/how-can-i-prevent-sunburn-naturally/

http://chronicallywhole.com/dear-doctors-may-always-use-powers-good/

https://chronicallystrong.com/7-lessons-orange-is-the-new-black-teaches-society-about-mental-illness/

Image Source: http://bit.ly/2sf6PV7
Image Source: http://bit.ly/2sf6PV7 – Orange is the New Black – from Chronically Strong

https://thezebramom.wordpress.com/2017/06/19/autonomic-testing-what-you-need-to-know/

https://theinvisiblef.com/2017/06/20/swim-classes-lessons-confronting-anxiety-self-doubt-whole-shebang/

https://tipsforme.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/spoonie-pinup/

https://thedisableddivablog.com/2017/06/21/my-body-failed-to-meet-my-expectations/

http://livewithcfs.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/weekly-inspiration-restorative-power-of.html

 

Hope you enjoy these and take time to leave a “like” or comment – and share some great bloggers’ work.

Claire x

 

 

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blogging, chronic illness8 Comments

The start of a new week and I wake up to yet another terrorist attack in London – following a dreadful week for our capital with the fire in Grenfell tower, west London.  My thoughts go out to all involved.

Monday Magic

Duncan has been away this week with 60 year 6 children, aged 10 & 11, on the annual French trip to Paris.  I gather it was very hot and very busy.  This has meant that the adult kids have had to be my carers – not sure who it is worse for.  As anyone suffering with dysautonomia – malfunctioning of the autonomic nervous system – knows, this heat plays havoc with us.  My breathing has been worse and the pooling of blood has turned my hands and feet to a delightful shade of blue/red every day.  So yours truly managed a truly spectacular faint in the shower cubicle, from which I had to extracted by the student engineer and lovely girl.  Not really what any mum wants her 21 year old son to have to do!!  The bruises are stunning – Ehlers Danlos skin combined with steroids gives great results for all injuries!

Today is my birthday…we won’t count the years….and I can’t quite believe that another year has passed.  I would write more but I am being called to get ready – my lovely parents are taking Duncan and me out for lunch.  So in my usual Monday fashion, I invite you to make a cuppa, kick off your shoes, sit back and enjoy some more inspiring blog posts from my friends over at Chronic Illness Bloggers!

miles-for-migraine-logo-small-89x120

 

https://mymigrainelife.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/mile-for-migraine-charity-walkrun-2017/

http://blog.mighty-well.com/spoonie-community-self-love

https://letsfeelbetter.com/anger-management-garbage-people-that-time-i-went-ballistic-on-tech-support-my-bad/

http://gettingclosertomyself.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/the-storm-after-years-of-calm.html?m=1

https://themartianprincesschronicles.com/2017/06/16/someone-snatched-my-security-blanket-chronic-illness-and-motivational-tools/

http://invisiblyme.com/2017/06/17/mini-me-update/

https://wheelchairvista.life/2017/06/10/5-more-ways-to-survive-being-disabled/

http://thethyroiddamsel.com/autoimmune-diseases/sickness-health/

http://lifesapolyp.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/a-caregiving-father.html

http://www.travelbreatherepeat.com/lam-community-support/

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Please remember to like, comment and share!

Claire x

 

 

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You

On By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blogging, chronic illness2 Comments

Monday Magic

The children of the UK have returned to school after half term, which should have been a week of fun and rest (and revision for the older ones!) – sadly it ended with another devastating terrorist attack which has seen more innocent lives destroyed, and yet more fighting for life across our capital’s major hospitals.

As a professional patient, and in a previous life a medical professional, I have been both a patient and worked in some of these hospitals – I was born in south London and lived in central London during my early nursing days.  My most recent in patient stays have been in Guys hospital, situated next to London bridge the site of the attack on Saturday night.  Being able to picture the streets where an atrocity has happened makes it so much more real – I am sure Mancunians will understand this too.  We spent a day in London last week whilst our 18 and 14 year old went to see the Harry Potter show.  Security was tight at the theatre, as you would expect, but it was lovely to see so many families out and enjoying a beautiful day on the South Bank – it is easy to say that we won’t allow terrorists to stop our normal life, but to actually make sure that we carry on is not always so easy.

Last night the young American singer, Ariana Grande, hosted a benefits concert in Manchester, watched by approx 14 million on the television.  I knew very little about this young lady, but I take my hat off to her for what she and her management team have achieved in the last week.  She was criticised in some parts of the press for “running away”, and then for arranging a benefit too quickly – I think that whatever she did she would be damned by someone.  But having been in an awful situation along with her fans, she used her fame and contacts to do something good…..there were lots of tears in Old Trafford last night, but lots of laughter, fun and inspiration too.

Speaking of inspiration, I am still finding fantastic different blogs from the Chronic Illness Bloggers community to share with you.  If you have followed this regular feature, you know the drill….make yourself a cuppa, settle down and enjoy some great posts from some inspirational people!

https://itpainsmeblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/21/using-distraction-to-heal/

https://medicallyodd.com/blogbreathemia/

https://primaryimmunepatientsunited.com/orphans-of-the-ahca/

https://charlottedebs.com/2017/06/02/footwear-friday-week-1/

http://www.nataliemabbott.com/choose-kind-kinda/

https://treasuresonthesand.com/2017/05/29/stress-a-chronic-pain-warriors-worst-enemy/

https://arkaysthoughts.com/2017/05/23/different-weird-alien/

http://oneticktobesick.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/lyme-disease-awareness-month-check.html

http://www.whentaniatalks.com/browhaus-classic-brow-lead-review/

http://www.chronicandblessed.com/ditching-sugar/

Enjoy and please like or comment on the posts!

Claire x