Be a mummy

I went on a quick camping trip. Planning for at least one hike a day and nights of stargazing, it wasn’t going to be a difficult mini vacation. I’m not prissy when it comes to being outdoors. I expect to get sweaty, buggy, grimy, smoky, and every other description that comes without indoor amenities. However, …

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Happy-ish feet

Feet. The often ultra-divisive body parts that allow us to stand. I never understood the love or hate for feet. They were considered simply functional in my culture. Heavily worn, toughened, and critical to mobility… feet were used and not thought of unless they had a problem. With age and travel, I learned that many …

I owe you

Borrowing from one person to pay another is a way of life most of us are either currently in, or have experienced before. Is there a more fitting metaphor when it comes to living with a broken body? I know that I’m constantly navigating between which symptom or body part that I’m willing to trigger …

Getting dirty

I drone on endlessly about being in nature. The scientifically proven benefits are well-known. The personal stories are countless. While much hasn’t been said about how people with chronic medical conditions and pain can easily incorporate nature-based activities into their daily lives, we should be an important part of the conversation. I’ve touched on the …

Eight legged monster

I’m that person who typically ushers creepy crawlers and wayward fliers gently back outside. The major exceptions being wasps/hornets and some spiders. I keep a clean home and there isn’t much in the way of clutter. But, we all know how it is with bugs… they always find a way. One night recently, right before …

My bad

Things are relative. We are living in a world where even facts and ultimate truths are called into question. Those truths get messier the further down we go into the rabbit hole of examining perception and individual realities. One of my favorite punk lyrics goes, “That’s me inside your head”. Our complex human brains are …

Don’t get left behind

Every few weeks, an article will pop up declaring scientific breakthroughs in the medical community. They will herald new and promising treatments for the afflicted. There will be vague explanations of technology driven research and claims that THIS! THIS ONE! is the beginning of the end of suffering for thousands, millions of people around the …

Can I eat this?

No fiber. No fat. My diet is pretty much the antithesis of commonly practiced healthy guidelines. Gastroparesis is an up and down condition. It flares and wanes depending on many things, some of which you have no control over. Pain, nausea, and vomiting are often relentless. Since gastroparesis is basically a paralyzed stomach, learning major …

Bringer of the medical zen

I have a family member who needs fairly intensive surgery. They are healthy besides the one impediment of a feisty heart that just wont stay out of afib. They have had procedures before. Ablations and cauterizations done through veins that worked for short amounts of time. At this point, the next surgery has to happen …

The end isn’t near

I moved again! Not far this time, but the arduous process of packing, unpacking, and settling in doesn’t seem to fluctuation depending on distance. It’s always time consuming and energy zapping. As I’ve written about before, I have moving down to a bit of a science. This was no different, with one major exception: My …