Dakota

[podencos]

[rigaya-deactivated20180901]

Well the FDA can kiss my left butt cheek

[bransonreese]

[speedlimit15]

what the fuck

[setheverman]

ad algorithms trying to understand your web history: fuckfuckfufkcfuk this person uhhhhhh in the market for upside down artificial christmas tree

[bendybitchesanonymous]

“You’ve got a very firm bum!”

“Thanks, it’s the muscle spasms.”

[thingsilikedotcom]

me: *minding my own damn business*

depressive episode/migraine/flashback/panic attack/hallucination/delusion/cramp in my foot:

[crpl-pnk]

hey if you’re disabled or chronically ill & have a hard time standing i want you to know that it’s ok to sit down when able bodied people wouldn’t or aren’t. not just in the context of using a wheelchair but just like. whenever. pull up a stool in front of the stove when you make mac & cheese. kneel on a chair in front of the sink when you’re washing the dishes. going outside to smoke/wait for a cab/whatever? pop a squat on the sidewalk/curb/stoop. get a shower chair. it’s not weird or shameful to minimize your pain & it’s not worth wasting spoons just because “normal people would do it standing up”

[crpl-pnk]

which isnt to say dont stand up if youre needing to get the exercise of standing when you can but if you’re working with a limited energy budget & dont need to cause yourself that extra pain. you dont have to

[trainthief]

me when i was in the 2nd grade and mrs. ammot tried to teach me long division 

[jazzsucks-deactivated20171223]

[shacklesburst]

you, a doctor: *handing me my new born baby* I’m sorry but your wife didn’t make it

me, an intellectual: *handing baby back to him* bring me the one my wife made

[smoofza]

2 birds, 1 stone!

I had to write a paper aimed to “challenge students to see the world like the (physically) disabled do” and include photos. Heh. I guess they assumed no students in the class would ever be physically disabled?

Anyway we worked on navigating a weird store with strange smells and unconventional employees! Go team!

[1spoonatatime]

The worst things I’ve been told as a chronically ill young woman

Some of this is prior to diagnoses, some after. These comments come from friends, family, doctors, and strangers. Brackets = implications not said aloud.

“You don’t LOOK sick??”

“C’mon, come with me and go out! [You felt fine yesterday why can’t you go out again today?]”

“[General remark about someone pretending to know my limits and my illnesses better than I do.]”

“If you pray hard you’ll be healed [from your incurable chronic conditions]!”

“When you’re ready to listen to me and my advice [even though I know nothing about your conditions], let me know.”

“Why don’t you try these antibiotics/probiotics/supplements?”I should probably get a cane but I REFUSE TO. [Why are you being weak and using a mobility aid if I can go without one and you’re way younger than me?]”

“Oh, have you watched that movie where the girl was sick but God healed her? [Maybe if you pray hard enough that’ll be you, too.]”

“High school is a difficult time. Maybe you should stop seeing doctors and trying to find answers. [You aren’t sick and your mom is enabling you.]”

“You said you’re having fevers every night, why don’t you have your mom take your temperature rectally? [I don’t believe that you’re having fevers and even though you’re 17, you don’t know how to take your own temperature.]”

“We’ve done all the tests we can do. [Even though I’ve done a whopping two tests.] You should see a behavioral therapist [because young women are always anxious, it’s all in your head].”

I would like to note that when I was diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a type of dysautonomia), the doctor at the Mayo Clinic said I was basically the poster child of POTS because I was the typical patient (young woman, type A, very driven, suddenly became sick after a virus with GI issues, tachycardia, fatigue, dizziness, etc.). 1 in 100 teens have POTS. I AM THE POSTER CHILD, and I was ignored by many doctors who were clueless and arrogant. Many friends, family members, and strangers knew nothing about this common condition.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve heard of the chronic illness your friend/family member has: believe them and trust that they know their body best. Strangers: don’t stare at someone with a mobility aid, don’t stare at a young person parking in a disabled spot who “seems healthy,” and know that no one owes you information about their personal health. If you’re close with the person who has a condition you don’t understand, look it up. While I am very open and willing to educate others, that is emotional labor disabled people aren’t obligated to perform, so if you’re curious, do some research. Most people will be appreciative that you have taken time to learn more about their condition(s).

Feel free to add on things you’ve been told about your chronic illness.

[pulseprophecy-blog]

Reminder!!

Not a reminder for anything specific. Just. If you forgot anything, here’s a reminder.

[cryptidinpjs]

What it feels like to be hypermobile:

[hertzing]

having an invisible illness is like the worst hidden superpower ever. like oh yeah I’m constantly suffering and standing up is agonising but I’m not about to fuckin tell u about it mate

[insicknessinhealth]

Free EDS & POTS Workouts

Here is a collection of EDS and POTS (I have both) friendly workouts that require absolutely NO standing, but the workouts are also challenging. I always feel food after these because my vascular system gets rejuvenated instead of stressed. If you do not usually workout start with only doing a few minutes (for example start with 5 minutes) of the videos each day, and then add on a minute or a few minutes every week. I recommend keeping a journal and logging down your workout everyday. These workouts are targeted towards building the muscles in the legs and abs which is essential to POTS. 

Ballet Beautiful Leg and Butt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR3p1uVgCoo&index=1&list=PLkEzo3RZPe7afg46iJODq3sIIQARd0ijw&t=3s&spfreload=10

Ballet Beautiful Abs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd_Im5sO0AI&index=2&list=PLkEzo3RZPe7afg46iJODq3sIIQARd0ijw

Ballet Beautiful Legs and Buns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfP1OG7rs_o&index=3&list=PLkEzo3RZPe7afg46iJODq3sIIQARd0ijw

Ballet Beautiful Slim Thighs and Hips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXv8j3Lxtac&index=4&list=PLkEzo3RZPe7afg46iJODq3sIIQARd0ijw&t=18s

Ballet Beautiful Firm Inner Thighs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A3f_Gk0RsM&index=5&list=PLkEzo3RZPe7afg46iJODq3sIIQARd0ijw

Ballet Beautiful Lower Body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CleZelki_L8&index=6&list=PLkEzo3RZPe7afg46iJODq3sIIQARd0ijw&t=138s

Yoga Abs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xheQYqAGxQU&t=1231s&list=PLkEzo3RZPe7ZgdZ58JSQDb0OxctDAeLe0&index=1

Power Flow Yoga (Advanced): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp2rcl-PlkU&index=2&list=PLkEzo3RZPe7ZgdZ58JSQDb0OxctDAeLe0&t=263s

I am a nursing student with a yoga background so let me know if you have any questions or are stuck and need help!

[colourofoctober]

Chronic illness is not fair. It's okay to be upset. You don't have to be "strong" all the time.

A reminder to myself and anyone else who needs it. xxx

[ciaocasper]

Things I've learned since becoming ill...

• It’s nobody’s fault. It is genetic. It just happened.

• Do not be too proud or stubborn to ask for help. You need it.

• Brush your teeth and wash your face (even just with a baby wipe) everyday if you’re able to do so. It makes you feel more human.

• Shower or bathe whenever you are able to. Good personal hygiene is good for your mental health.

• Some people will leave. You don’t need those people. Others will stay and they are wonderful human beings.

• You are not a burden. You are not useless. Do not be guilty. Please. Guilt will eat your insides.

• You have not lost who you are. You just now have to make adjustments to accommodate this new thing.

• Accept the fact that you have an illness. Being in denial will only make your mental and physical health worse.

• Clean pyjamas are a divine gift. As are clean bedding and blankets.

• Self care is entirely subjective. If you want to do yoga then do it, if you wanna sit and eat takeout in front of the TV in a squirtle onesie then that’s fine too. Whatever makes you feel good, or at least better.

• If you are tired then rest. Do not burn yourself out. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, if you need a nap then you have one.

• Talk. Write. Sing. Paint. Draw. Dance. Do something to express your feelings. Don’t keep them inside. You’ll explode.

• Don’t worry if you can’t adjust right away. It takes time. A lot of time.

• Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed. Unfortunately illness often has embarrassing symptoms or such. It isn’t your fault. People who allow you to feel embarrassed about such things are terrible people.

• Keep your sense of humour. Some days it’s the only thing that gets you through.

• There will be good days. Grab them with both hands and enjoy them. Savour them. Spend them doing things you love, things that you can’t do on bad days.

• Prepare yourself to the best of your ability. Like…always have a hospital weekend bag packed for emergencies, keep a bed day drawer or bag near to where you sleep, have food or snacks close by, always have a water bottle…

• Take your meds. Please. If you have a serious illness for the love of god don’t listen to the “big pharma” conspiracy theorists. You need your meds. They keep you alive. They enable you to function.

• Research your illness. Keep yourself informed. But don’t dwell on what might happen. Please don’t scare yourself.

• It’s okay not to feel positive all the time. It’s okay to feel down. It’s perfectly natural. But try to be as positive as you can. For your own sake.

• Your own health comes first. It’s not selfishness it’s survival.

• Be kind to yourself.

• The bad days can be horrific but the good ones are beautiful, and so worth holding on for.

• Don’t give up on love. Just don’t.

• You are a badass warrior.