Mirror image all the way!
Bother to lift us up and not tear us down
When I got fibromyalgia everyone told me it was in my head. I pushed myself physically to get through it but the emotional toll was so bad. Guilt. Failure. Self loathing. Exacerbation of it all. In the end it was all for nothing: fibromyalgia is real.
How one talks to a chronically ill person is important as often they can take those words and apply it to themself, even if that person really doesn't understand about their illness.
Quite often speaking erroneously and negatively can damage a person so much that they actually feel worse. Those words have the propensity to cause so much emotionally destructive thoughts that cripple a person worse than the disease or ailment they suffer does.
Unsolicited advice such as starting exercising, dieting, positive thinking, all sound great for most maladies, but alas, not so great for chronic illness such as heart failure, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, lupus and fibromyalgia.
Taking this on board for the person already grieving for their lost health can lead a person straight to the Pit of Despair. And it achieves nothing.
A little kindness would go a long way to helping the chronically ill retain self respect and accept their illness quicker. But most times those who give advice are anything but kind, sounding judgmental and arrogant. Which just expounds on how truly unhelpful they really are- or try to be.
Being kind and gentle to those suffering is Christ's way- so if you think you have enough knowledge and love to impart some wisdom and instruction to a chronically ill person- do so gently and kindly.
God Himself knows we have enough to contend with already as we walk the sad and lonely path of illness. We need less words and more acts that impart sympathy and compassion.
Pray for us and comfort us and be one of the few who bother to lift us up and not tear us down.
We just have to embrace it
Our fiver got to South Australia to its new owner and they rang us to tell us how pleased they were with it. So that's good.
We are taking our GMC Sierra to the mechanic for a good overhaul Monday and then we will decide what we will do with it. Over here they are seen as a luxury ute and we think a young buck would love it. That's what we are hoping.
My twin and son and granddaughter continue to recover from Covid but are still very much under the weather with it.
I am convinced that our prayers have helped keep my twin. She's so many serious health issues such as lupus and I was afraid for her.
I have done a load of washing, cleaned my kitchen and am about to make some lunch. I have a flare of fibromyalgia again and my spoons are nearly all gone. I will be taking a nana nap soon.
With an imminent move, I am not looking forward to the energy output, however I am looking forward to being nearer family.
I will miss the birds and our feral cat who is gradually becoming less timid as we feed him. We have named him Teddy Bear as his face is surrounded by bushy fur and he is gingery brown and looks like a teddy.
But I know in life that one rarely gets everything one wants and so we have weighed up staying or moving. We have decided that we want to be closer to family, particularly our daughter who has had leukaemia.
With a bird bath/feeder and garden swing to take with us, we will continue to feed the birds as we watch from the swing in the garden.
It's true what they say: nothing is sure except death and taxes. Life is full of change. We just have to embrace it.
Or should I say, how little!
I know how she feels
Big Brother has got us covered
My twin sister has lupus but she has no mental impairment with it. The other day, she received a letter from the Australian Government body called Aged Care. They informed her that she was to attend a meeting of a panel of health care professionals who would discuss her ability to stay in her own home. The final decision would be taken by them and not including her, and would involve her moving into a nursing home. This in spite of sharing a home with my son as her carer.
He's no hero!
Modifying the Proverbs 31 woman
I don’t sleep well and wake up in lots of pain and I find if I try to get into the Word the fibromyalgia/Lupus brain fog makes it impossible to focus. I don’t glean much from the Word and my prayers are disjointed. I put on some praise and worship music and just thank the LORD for giving some sleep and so on. After a hot shower and breakfast, I can study the Word and pray better.
Even if we can’t achieve all she has done (and you will notice that she achieved this over seasons of her life- not all at once!), still our hearts will be in the right place. If women look at the whole picture with the view of doing it all NOW or not modifying it for themselves, they will most likely give up and not even try to emulate her example.
Celebrities making Lupus known
I just finished watching your interview with Larry King on CNN. If you knew me, you would know that running to the computer and vocalizing my thoughts to family, friends and even to you is nothing unusual! I have chosen to step up and “out” (so to speak) about my life with Lupus. Sometimes my story of Lupus is positive and sometimes it is negative, but in the end it is my story. If by sharing my story, it means that at least one person does not feel alone, I feel blessed to have been given the chance to help.
Many times I have heard from readers of my website or my writing that I have typed words that they could not speak aloud. Some have sent email messages and letters telling me that I have given a language of understanding to their support circle. As wonderful as that is, I still am the same girl, and many times feel very alone as I write at my desk. It seems I can help others, but I find it hard to help myself.
I want to thank you because tonight you put a “face” to something that I try to give a “voice” to. I watched your interview and waited anxiously for what I had heard might be a discussion involving you and lupus. Well, to my delight, Mr. King wasted no time and jumped right to the million dollar question.
Note: For my readers who might not have seen or heard the interview here is the transcript:
Gaga: I’m okay. Thank you, Larry. How are YOU?
Larry: I’m okay. You look great… there was a story about lupus or something. Do you have lupus?
Gaga: You know, lupus is in my family. It’s genetic and… um… and the truth is I don’t show any signs, any symptoms of lupus but I have tested borderline positive for the disease. As of right now I do not have it, but I have to take good care of myself.”
Miss Gaga (or should I call you Lady?), I have written countless paragraphs on the topic of lupus, but in your three sentences, you sent the world abuzz about Lupus. You immediately got people talking. Finally, I was the one who felt heard, validated and not so alone. Now, I “get it” when I think of the people who have thanked me, and now it is my turn to thank you.
To date, there has not been one celebrity to bring as much discussion, focus, and awareness on lupus as you have. Most celebrities want to “look” perfect and do not want to have their name associated with a specific health issue. In the interview, you answered the question with grace and a bit of “personal respect”, and I appreciated that. The world doesn’t need to know your business, but addressing the issue rather than side-stepping it helped more then you will ever know. You spoke on a huge media platform about a disease that I struggle with constantly. You are glamorous, creative and a showstopper, but for a few minutes you were right alongside me and I was not alone in my Lupus fight. I love you for that.
Your openness about the disease is good for whoever tunes in to the interview.
Those who knew nothing about Lupus will now at the very least Google the word Lupus out of curiosity and hopefully read some informative and accurate information.
* Your fans (little monsters) can also become educated about this cause and be a dynamic and enthusiastic group to champion lupus awareness.
* For me and for millions who live with lupus you validated a very “unknown” and sometimes un-believed disease. Unfortunately in this world, some people don’t acknowledge things that don’t impact their immediate existence, until they hear about it on television.
* Lastly, for those like me who have Lupus, you have become a beacon of light for this dark disease called lupus that is often misunderstood, and is in desperate need of attention.
I will now admit that I am one of your “closet” fans. I listen to your music when it comes on the radio and sing along as if there was a stadium full of screaming fans in my car. I dance around the kitchen with my 2 year old daughter as she giggles the words “baby gaga”, and I smile. I watch the award shows and admire and envy your ability to be yourself, push boundaries, and most of all have fun doing something that you love. I admit I had never purchased an album or concert ticket previously, but after seeing this side of you, I immediately went online and bought your cd– I even passed on the temptation of searching for free downloads! I want to support any celebrity who supports those with lupus.
I didn’t realize, until I started reading about you tonight, that we have more in common then I would ever think – me a stay at home mom and writer, and you, a superstar. I am from a good Catholic New York Italian family and we both went to New York City High Schools. (I went to LaGuardia Performing Arts). Your Aunt Joanne died of Lupus; my Aunt Margret Anne is living with lupus for years. Both of our Aunt’s have obviously touched us deeply as my aunt helped me get diagnosed. Even before you became a signed musician or worldwide star, you acted like one.
Even before I was an “official” writer, speaker and lupus advocate, I acted like one, starting with one article, and one follower (who happened to be my mom). You are known for saying “I want to change the world one sequin at a time” and I make my personal mantra to change the world one person, one word at a time.
I hope you never have lupus, but if you do, I want you to know that you have a new fan, and a Lupus friend to talk to. You can contact me anytime!
Love,
Christine
PS- I would love to interview you about you, this lupus scare, your Aunt Joanne, or anything else you would like to talk about when you are in NYC. from But You Don't Look Sick
Blessings, Glenys
I am in a hard place!
These last few weeks have been difficult to say the least and as I sit here this Tuesday morning my body's aching and my fingers are throbbing with arthritis, plus, I have the usual fibromyalgia flare.
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
Why yes, I do wear dresses only
Regarding covering my hair, Chris was not happy with head coverings, hair bands or scarves but encouraged me to grow my hair, which I have done. As I said, I keep it up. I am saving to buy some Lilla Rose Flexi clips... I love those but they are a bit pricey!
Lupus: a hard one to call
In spite of getting repeated highly suspect blood results, I am still waiting for a diagnosis. Two years ago I went to a local rheumatologist to get a second opinion. He told me he thought I may have it and asked what my original rheumatologist Dr H thought. I told him she said she wasn't sure and therefore diagnosed me with non-specific connective tissue disorder.
Straight away, he announced that he too thought I didn't have it: after all he had gone to school with Dr H and she was an honours student- if she wouldn't call it Lupus, he wouldn't. I left totally frustrated! And not helped at all. It was an expensive and futile visit.
For anyone who has a diagnosis of lupus or who cares to read further, here are the reasons I believe I have it. Posts are written by myself on But You Don't Look Sick Board.........
Hi. I have been to a rheumatologist and was told that I have Unspecified Connective Tissue Disease and she is not ruling out lupus.
My symptoms are:
extreme fatigue
fibromyalgia
dry eyes and skin
+ANA- has tripled in 12 months
constantly elevated ESR (mild)
diabetes 2
hypothyroidism
cardiovascular disease- 3 stents inserted in Oct this year thrombosed radial artery after angiogram
antiphospholipid syndrome
polymyalgia rheumatica
worsening fatigue
sunburnt look across my nose and cheeks
maddeningly itchy raised rash on my back and spreading out to shoulders, and now going up nape of neck and into my scalp- scalp is bleeding from scratching it
severe muscular pains and sore finger joints
swollen glands at back of neck and behind ears
difficulty focusing on things
one lot of eye styes after the other
Mesenteric panniculitis
Dermagraphia
Grape like blood filled sores in back of roof of mouth that burst and ulcerate- no injury, just happen
Painful fingers- one cant extend straight- wrists and neck and toes ache but not positive for RA
Butterfly shaped MILD transient rash like sunburn after being outside or tired
Extreme fatigue like fibro flare but lasting a month now with mesenteric panniculitis symptoms again
I am not anaemic though. Does this mean I don't have lupus? does it sound like I do have it? I dont want the disease per se, but maybe if I finally got a diagnosis, they could treat it.
Last year I had a return visit to Dr H and she scarcely looked at the results but seemed obsessed with the fact that I have had 3 stents put in my heart and am obese. She said she would put me on Plaquinel if I continued to have pain. I do not intend to consult her again. She diagnosed my identical twin as just fibro, and she now has full blown lupus SLE. My cousin has it also and one cousin has a granddaughter with it... so there is a very strong family history.
Fast forward to today and nothing has changed except I am losing my hair at a rapid rate. My left leg is visibly swollen and painful. My ANA and ESR are even more elevated. I have antiphosphilipid syndrome but most other tests seem OK. Though one with a River Viper serum (?) was abnormal.
The ANA+ was 1:80 in 2005 then 1:323 in 2015 and this latest one last month is 1:600 . There seems to be a lot of inflammation but he doesn't know what is inflamed. Tomorrow night I am going to see my doctor and Chris is coming with me. There are now issues with my bleeding too easily. Blood thinners are too potent for me I think. I am a mass of bruises! I cry with joint and muscle pain.
I know lupus is a hard one to call but I want an answer and am requesting more tests and a new rheumatologist. This time I won't tell him about Dr H! Any thoughts and prayers are always most welcome. I just want to be without hurting!
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Psalm 103:2-3
Going against nature: androgeny
Why is it so? I believe that God has decreed that all things should be natural. I believe that God has decreed that all things should be natural.It is natural to see a definition of gender, from clothes to hair length to deportment.
When I was ill (under active thyroid/lupus) and losing my hair, I cut my hair really really short in an effort to save it, (which I did) But I remember the reaction of shock and horror of my family when they first saw it! My step-father in particular remarked to my mother that he didn't know how any woman could do that to herself! I later told him of my hair loss problem, and he could see my point.
So strongly did my mother feel about it, that she told me if I ever cut my hair like that again , she would never speak to me! Going against the natural order definitely rattles most people because we instinctively know that God has provided definition of the sexes and is very explicit about gender differences and keeping those differences. In fact, He calls cross-dressing etc an abomination.
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 22:5
I believe that we should dress in a manner that is not only modest, but that preserves the differences of the genders. Whilst there are many opinions on what that dress consists of, I will make a generalisation here, and say simply that our dress should emphasis our God-given gender in whatever culture we live in. I say this because in some countries, a woman can wear pants and still retain her femininity, and a man can wear skirts or kilts and still be distinguishable as masculine. However, there should be no doubt whatsoever in distinguishing our gender.
If it is important enough for God to mention this in scripture, then we should take it to heart and avoid unisex clothing that tries to negate gender differences through total androgeny
So let us rejoice in our femininity and teach that to our daughters and granddaughters, and let us encourage masculine dressing of our sons and grandsons. Not only will society benefit, but it will please God.