Life with assorted ailments
Hello Spoonies!
Welcome to the eagerly awaited, ah, completely unexpected sequel to Fifty Shades of Brain Fog, Part One. I hope you will check out Part One too! (Don’t worry, this series does not go in any kind of real order, as I am way too foggy for that.) Since brain fog is the symptom that keeps on giving, there might be a part three and possibly also whatever number comes after three. Continue reading “Fifty Shades of Brain Fog, Part Two”
Lymies of the world, we still don’t have disease recognition, accurate testing, sufficient research dollars, Lyme awareness in every state and country, and full insurance coverage for treatment. We should at least get … proper spelling. Continue reading “Lyme-not-Lyme’s Disease Awareness Month”
I usually think about what I’ve lost from being chronically ill, which is pretty much everything. But it turns out I have also acquired many odd new talents. Continue reading “Skills I’ve Gained as a Lymie”
Remember when our biggest problems were doctors not taking us seriously and people’s lack of understanding about our health issues? Are you nostalgic for those days? Me too! Continue reading “How to #Resist Without Using All Your Spoons”
So most days your sex drive has been replaced by a raging headache, but sometimes you have your moments. Or maybe you’re headed towards remission and feel like giving it a go with your sweetie. Either way, here at Miss Diagnoses we I have some ideas. Continue reading “Lyme Sexy Tyme: Valentine’s Day Special”
Christmas is great, Hanukkah is great, but I really think Festivus has excellent potential as a holiday for the chronically ill. Hear me out. Continue reading “Festivus: A Holiday for Spoonies?”
The word “hypoallergenic,” like the word “natural,” is not regulated. Continue reading “The Myth of “Hypoallergenic””
Since Lyme awareness month is about to end, I thought I would tell a story about what can happen when there’s no Lyme awareness. Continue reading “Misdiagnosed Despite a CDC-Positive Test: My Lyme Disease Story”
Hello! It’s not only Lyme Awareness Month but also Fibromyalgia Awareness Month, Food Allergy Awareness Month, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) Awareness Month, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Awareness Month, and Asthma Awareness Month. Continue reading “Lyme Awareness Month: Lyme Myths”
Main Character, a woman with Lyme, fibromyalgia, allergies, thyroid disease, and a messed-up spine, is trying to get a doctor to authorize her brand-name Neurontin (a painkiller that works on nerve pain). She gets weird rashes and chills from using gabapentin, the generic version of the medicine. She got a threatening letter from her insurance carrier, saying that after April 1 they weren’t going to pay for the brand-name version without a doctor’s authorization. Continue reading “Two Days in Insurance Hell: A Play in Hopefully Only One Act”
1. You LOOK so healthy.
2. Have you tried (name of very basic, obvious remedy, like ibuprofen)?
3. Are you SURE you’re sick?
4. You mean you really can’t do that tiny, tiny, little motion? Just doing that little thing causes you pain? Aren’t you being dramatic? Continue reading “Things Not to Say to People With Chronic Illnesses”
The other day I was at the osteopath’s office, getting ready to pay for the visit. The secretary asked if they had my insurance information. I told them I had Medicare. Continue reading “Medicare is for Disabled People, Too”
