This Is A Jem That I Had To Screenshot

Some fun things for my chronic babes - keep all hospital bands from the year and use them as ornaments during Christmas time!

Bonus points if you can get like an x-ray as the tree topper.

So I just had blood drawn and it wasn't a lot taken. When I left the lab, it took mabie ten steps before I had the worst and scariest visual blackout I have ever had. It was so intense that I could hardly stand and I think if I had been up any longer, I would have passed out. I felt cold all over but was sweating and I couldn't see a thing. Instead of just seeing black, a cloud of white ended up appearing. I have no idea what happened, but I am really shaken.

beep boop bones go crunch

The Cha-cha Slide and Cupid Shuffle ain't have NOTHING on The Time Warp and you can't change my mind.

3 years ago today is when this shit show of health problems started.

I was at an event making hot coco for some kids and my hands stopped working. There was pain up to my elbows and I couldn't move my fingers. Local doctors had no idea what happened and they couldn't diagnose me correctly. I called the closest specialty clinic that is 2 1/2 hours away and had to wait until the end of the next month to even be seen.

The neurologist who saw me said "essential tremors" and sent me on my way to rheumatology who gave me no answers to my other problems. It was about seven months later when I found myself back in that hospital's ER due to having a worsting of my visual blackouts and pain. I was in that specialty ER for about six hours and only got an IV and was told to eat more salt and drink more water. My mom and I decided that that wasn't worth the hours spent there and headed to another specialty hospital's ER.

We were there for about seven more hours and that's where we were told about POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and were recommended to their movement disorder specialist.

When we saw him, everything changed. I was diagnosed right off the bat with POTS, EDS, Functional Weakness, and vestibular migraines. He recommended me to other doctors at that hospital and we fell in love with the care they took with everything. They got to know me before even looking at the chart and wanted to make sure that everything is just right.

I am still going back to that hospital for other reasons, but I am getting the help I need. The doctors talk to each other and that helps to move things along smoother. Just a month ago, I was invited to a Comfort Ability workshop with other teens my age to learn about how to manage our pain easier. We were separated from our parents, as they were having to talk together about how they can help us, and we were allowed to sit or lay down and had blankets and yoga mats to lay or sit on and the room was really welcoming as we talked about our experiences with our pain. We were given a 'goody bag' of sorts with reusable heat/cold packs, essential oils, and stress toys. And everything was provided by the hospital and was free to us.

All I can say is that my experience with chronic illness has definitely had it's ups and downs. I am both grateful and sad that December 7, 2019 happened - but it got me where I am today with these diagnosis and I have learned more about what I can do for myself and how to adapt to new situations.

With hope,

~ E

If you see me shivering while eating ice cream, mind your own fucking business. I'm living life how I want to and not even God can stop me from making poor decisions.

A fic where the main character has two best friends, who are fully aware they are in a story and that they are side characters, and they are constantly arguing about how the story should go.

The mc accidentally hits the love interest with her car and decides to treat his wounds herself instead of taking them to the hospital and friend A is not having it.

Friend A: What do you mean you can 'patch him up?' Bitch, take him to the hospital!

Friend B: Let it happen. It will bring them closer together when he ends up in the hospital with an infection because her medical skills suck.

I just clenched my butt cheeks and my back popped.

I hate having chronic pain. I was perfectly fine right up until I finished my lunch, then it went down hill. My joints started to stiffen and became hard to move and I thought it was because of the cold (which it could have been) so I warmed up my hands with a warm water bottle. It helped to let my fingers move easier, but then the pain started. It started in my hands and spread throughout my body. I took a bath and then just laid under my heated blanket. I am currently sitting on the floor crying because of the pain waiting for my pain meds to kick in.

The worst part about this is that if it was someone else who feels like I do, then they would be able to go to the ER to get relief. Or could go to sleep knowing that it would be better in the morning. I am worried that it will get worse and I will have to miss another day at school when just last week I missed 3 1/2 days.

I am exhausted and overwhelmed and ready to give up.

"Great minds think alike but the greater one says it first"

I thought of this to try and make myself sound wise in 5th grade and haven't stopped using this phrase.