30 Random Things about Living With Chronic Illness
1. I live with cervical dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes intense muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders, head rotation, head tremors and constant pain.
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2010
3. But I had slight symptoms since: 2010. I know I’m really fortunate it got diagnosed right away.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Limited driving when I have kids under 18 who need me.
5. Most people assume: I am strong. If I am, it’s because I have to make that conscious choice every single day.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Getting out of bed and knowing the pain is going to start.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Haven’t watched medical shows in a long time. But I love Mad Men! I usually save it for when I’m completely down.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Do I have to choose? Love Apple products and my Cuisinart. I hate chopping.
9. The hardest part about nights are: Insomnia, but I had that before I had dystonia
10. My daily routine: Devotions. Yoga. Lots of rest. Homeschooling. Blogging. Cooking. Anything else depends on how many spoons are left.
11. Regarding treatments: I get Xeomin injections every 3 months to be able to help keep my head straight and reduce tremors. I use essential oils and muscle relaxers to help with pain relief. Lots of yoga and exercise. I’m on a never ending journey to learn more about positively living with chronic illness
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Don’t know. They both stink.
13. Regarding chronic illness and working: I’m unemployable in the corporate world now. I’m working on building up my blog and freelance writing. I also have lots of ideas that I don’t have the time to get to right now!
14. People would be surprised to know: 1. Anxiety is a big part of this disorder 2. What my trapezius muscle feels like most of the time.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: dependence on other people and being patient with them when they don’t understand.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: have somewhat of a normal life. I was incapacitated for nearly a year.
17. The commercials about my illness: There aren’t any for dystonia. We don’t have a celebrity spokesman although the Michael J. Fox Foundation has added dystonia to their research since it can co-exist with Parkinson’s for many people.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Jumping in the car with my kids and taking them anywhere I wanted. Now it’s got to be planned with someone else driving.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: see 18.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Yoga
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Be incredibly happy.
22. My illness has taught me: God is in control and to trust Him even when things are not going the way I hope. To be thankful for small things.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.”
24. But I love it when people: Ask me what dystonia is, because it is so misunderstood.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: It’s hard to pick but this is a favorite. 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody. Welcome to the world this difficult and unpredictable disorder. You’ll learn what works best for you as time goes on. Life is still worth living.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: Life goes on and the time passes. It’s up to me to make them most of it.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me: Shoutout to my family who patiently pick up the slack for me. I know this affects them every single day.
29. Why I advocate: We need more awareness and more treatment options. Dystonia needs to become as easily recognized as other chronic illness conditions such as Fibromyalgia Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and countless others.
30. The fact that you read this list about living with chronic illness makes me feel: thankful that you took the time to read it! Many people don’t know about cervical dystonia, even though it’s the third most common movement disorder after Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor.
Great explanation of an unexplainably weird disorder that I also have. Many of your “30 things” are also part of mine. Especially the anxiety. I can go from 0 – 100 in about half a second, but one thing that helps me is an anti-depressant that fights the anxiety. Sleep also helps–I fight for my sleep. I usually take 2 TYpm & maybe a half a xanex before bed. What happens if I don’t go to sleep pretty soon after I go to bed is that creates anxiety. I will be so tired but mentally sort of hyper-alert. When I’m like this, it feels like my head is going to drill a hole into the pillow it’s pushing so hard. & my chin twists toward my shoulder or vice versa. That’s why I take meds before I go to sleep. My neuro knows about it and he’s so watchful of my meds that he would not allow me to take the TYpm if he didn’t think it were safe,……..but sleep is really my magic pill so to speak. You are a brave lady Marya,—-I always enjoy reading what you write.
I had heard of dystonia before, but I didn’t know much about. Thanks for sharing how it affects you.
Thanks for reading!
Wow, I had never heard of this before, thank you for sharing!