Whimsy Wednesday

Now that 2016 election season has kicked off, SNL has stepped up to shine a funny light on it. Here is a great clip from last weekend's episode.

Have a great day!

There Is No Typical Day In My #ChronicLife

A couple months ago I did a 48 hour #ChronicLife, live-tweeting experiment. The experience has stuck with me. As I continue to reflect on that time, I've been thinking a lot about how my chronic migraines and fibromyalgia manifest in such varied ways from day to day. 

The variables are too numerous to count. I experience several different types of migraines and all can occur with varied levels of intensity. I experience fibro pain in different parts of my body on different days and with varied levels of intensity. I experience a whole bunch of other symptoms associated with both conditions at varied time and varied intensity. Then, there are times when the symptoms compound during a long stretch of intense pain. Sometime the migraines and the fibromyalgia team up against me. 

Basically, there is no typical day.

You know, part of me was thinking that this 48 glimpse into my life would be a great way to show people what it's like to be me. What I learned is that while the 48 hours was an honest and open look at those 48 hours, it certainly didn't tell the whole story. There is no way any 48 hour period of time could do that because it just isn't enough time for me to experience all the vast number of scenarios that make up my chronic life. 

I guess this is why I have such a hard time answering the question I always get from doctors - tell me about your migraines. Well, where do I even begin and where does it end. Most doctors are only going to pay attention to the first couple of things you say. But that's a whole separate issue, isn't it? 

5 Tips to Discourage Others From Talking to You in a Waiting Room

While I'm still sick I thought it might be fun to republish an old post. Sort of a blogging throwback Thursday. This post was from March 15, 2012. I offer up some tips to discourage strangers from trying to strike up a conversation with me while in a waiting room.

The Waiting Room Game

Waiting rooms come in all shapes and sizes. Some have old magazines. Some have dirty toys for kids to play with. Some have TVs. Some always seem to be over crowded. Some have comfortable seating and others not so much. Some have medical brochures. Some are decorated in a soothing fashion. Some are quite plain and cold. They are ALL overly lit. You get the picture - heck, much like me, you've probably seen more than your fair share of waiting rooms too.

The thing is, no matter how much or how little thought has been put into patient comfort, the most annoying thing about a waiting room are the other people. I don't want to be stared at. I don't want to listen to kids screaming. I don't want to sit anywhere near someone who has a cold or flu. I don't want to listen to some rude person talking loudly on their cell phone. I don't want to smell cigarette smoke wafting off the hair and clothes of others. I don't want to worry about what the crazy person, who is talking to him/herself, will do next. And I certainly don't want to talk to ANYBODY.

I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?

Here are some of the things I try to remember whenever I go to a doctor's office to encourage those around me to leave me alone:

1. Pretend to sleep
2. Pretend to read (I often can't concentrate in a waiting room enough to actually read)
3. Pretend to listen to music (this only works for short times as earphones become painful)
4. Look annoyed and unfriendly
5. Try to never look anyone in the eye

How do you feel about waiting rooms? Do you have any tricks to help you cope with them?

Whimsy Wednesday

We are big fans of the show Veep. Here's a scene to entertain you on this Wednesday.

Have a good one.

The Flu Is Coming

Hubby and I attended an Easter gathering yesterday with his rather large family. His family is all very nice - they're outgoing - they love to laugh - just good people. As much as I like them these big gatherings are always a challenge. As the only vegetarians, we can't really partake in much of the food. Plus, the crowd is big enough to create a din that is both uncomfortable and distracting. We tried to escape it by going out onto the porch but every time we did that someone would come out and light a cigarette sending us back inside. 

Having survived the holiday and returned home, hubby realized he was getting sick. We think he caught this flu while traveling for work this past week. As rare as is it, hubby is pretty sick. I'm doing what I can to make him comfortable but I don't have the heart to tell him, I'm now beginning to feel early signs of it too. 

This could be the beginning of a very long week around here. 

Tired vs.Sleepy

If you were to look up the word "tired" in a thesaurus you would find sleepy as one of the synonyms. Heck, even the dictionary uses the word sleepy as part of the definition. I don't disagree that they are similar but I find myself compelled to clarify whenever encountering the word tired.

People ask, "Are you tired?" and the answer is "yes". Always "yes". But not sleepy" because, for me, tired doesn't mean sleepy. In fact, I can be exhausted and still not be sleepy.

Sleepy, can be an elusive sensation. Far too often I struggle to fall asleep at night or find myself waking up in the wee hours decidedly not sleepy. When the sleepiness finally sets in, I try to take full advantage. But it's a delicate state that easily subsides. I must be careful to not interrupt or jar it in any way or it will be gone.

Then there are days when sleepy is the prevailing sensation, as if the flood gates have been opened. The entire body is weighed down by inescapable sleepiness. On these days I may take 2 or 3 naps and still sleep through the night.

This back and forth sort of makes me long for pre-chronic pain days when I was awake during the day and sleepy at night. Regularly.

Whimsy Wednesday

Here are some news bloopers to lighten your Wednesday.

Have a good one!