I have been in a lot more weird situations than your average teenager. Why? My health, sillies! Just tonight I had one such example. It's something that I'm not going to mention, because it is so far beyond TMI that not even my mom wanted to know.
SO. I just wanted to write about how people with chronic illnesses don't just lay in bed all day eating soup and going on the computer. Okay, that is a lot of what happens. But it's not all. What everyone fails to realize is all the medications we have to take, the therapies we have to try, the tests we have to get. Lets just say that I am experienced in giving myself enemas. That's even probably a bit too much information, but I'm leaving it there.
Because even before I was diagnosed with a chronic illness and was told that I "more than likely" have several other chronic illnesses I was sick and having test after test after test after test.
I first got my blood drawn for routine tests at the age of 6. Of course most kids go through shots and such, but I mean I was having my thyroid checked regularly from the age of 6 and on. Since then I've been a human pin cushion. Because of the regularity of me being stuck with needles, I was afraid once, maybe twice, but since then I have developed a sense of apathy towards needles and most other medical devices. My best friend is terrified of needles and will purposefully either make herself black out or just make her arm go dead and recite bible verses in her head. I sit down, roll up my sleeve, and show the phlebotomist where my good vein is and where is the best point to put the needle in. Does your average 16 year old know all this? Probably not. Of course I don't LIKE needles, but I really don't care. My last phlebotomist was shocked that I was so cool about having 10 tubes of blood taken and kept asking if I wanted to sit on my dad's lap or anything. It's like, been there, done that.
But at the same time, I am an absolute wuss. I haven't had half the stuff done to me that a lot of spoonies have to have. I haven't ever had the "invasive" tests done. I've had several CT scans, EKG's, X-rays, ultrasounds, and exams up and down every hole on my body(Sorry, you probably didn't need to know that...). But I haven't had to endure things like spinal taps, colonoscopies, or biopsies. A lot of people have to have a lot of scary tests. So for all my talk, I really am not a wuss.
Saying all that, I believe we are ALL strong in our own ways. Everybody has something that they have to overcome that is difficult for them. Because that's the thing, God won't give us anything that we can't handle. That is the amazing thing.
So I know that this is a nonsensical post, but I just felt I had to say that we spoonies are not as "lazy" as we may come across. We have been fighting a long and hard fight, and it leaves us exhausted. So think before you judge somebody with a disability pass in their car who can walk, or somebody getting up out of a wheelchair and walking by themselves, or somebody sitting on the floor of Walmart.
P.S., for those that don't know what I mean by "spoonies", click here.
Peace, love, and extra spoons to all,
Laura
SO. I just wanted to write about how people with chronic illnesses don't just lay in bed all day eating soup and going on the computer. Okay, that is a lot of what happens. But it's not all. What everyone fails to realize is all the medications we have to take, the therapies we have to try, the tests we have to get. Lets just say that I am experienced in giving myself enemas. That's even probably a bit too much information, but I'm leaving it there.
Because even before I was diagnosed with a chronic illness and was told that I "more than likely" have several other chronic illnesses I was sick and having test after test after test after test.
I first got my blood drawn for routine tests at the age of 6. Of course most kids go through shots and such, but I mean I was having my thyroid checked regularly from the age of 6 and on. Since then I've been a human pin cushion. Because of the regularity of me being stuck with needles, I was afraid once, maybe twice, but since then I have developed a sense of apathy towards needles and most other medical devices. My best friend is terrified of needles and will purposefully either make herself black out or just make her arm go dead and recite bible verses in her head. I sit down, roll up my sleeve, and show the phlebotomist where my good vein is and where is the best point to put the needle in. Does your average 16 year old know all this? Probably not. Of course I don't LIKE needles, but I really don't care. My last phlebotomist was shocked that I was so cool about having 10 tubes of blood taken and kept asking if I wanted to sit on my dad's lap or anything. It's like, been there, done that.
But at the same time, I am an absolute wuss. I haven't had half the stuff done to me that a lot of spoonies have to have. I haven't ever had the "invasive" tests done. I've had several CT scans, EKG's, X-rays, ultrasounds, and exams up and down every hole on my body(Sorry, you probably didn't need to know that...). But I haven't had to endure things like spinal taps, colonoscopies, or biopsies. A lot of people have to have a lot of scary tests. So for all my talk, I really am not a wuss.
Saying all that, I believe we are ALL strong in our own ways. Everybody has something that they have to overcome that is difficult for them. Because that's the thing, God won't give us anything that we can't handle. That is the amazing thing.
So I know that this is a nonsensical post, but I just felt I had to say that we spoonies are not as "lazy" as we may come across. We have been fighting a long and hard fight, and it leaves us exhausted. So think before you judge somebody with a disability pass in their car who can walk, or somebody getting up out of a wheelchair and walking by themselves, or somebody sitting on the floor of Walmart.
P.S., for those that don't know what I mean by "spoonies", click here.
Peace, love, and extra spoons to all,
Laura
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