Spoon Theory - On My Last Spoon
For an explanation of the Spoon Theory: butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-...
The Smile on Saturday theme for May 7th is BLUE FOR YOU - ME 2022 in honor of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day 2022, which is coming up on May 12. ME/CFS is a serious, long-term illness that affects multiple body systems. People with this illness suffer post-exertional malaise, sleep problems, and other problems with thinking and concentrating, pain, and dizziness. This theme means a lot to me, as I have been suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome for over 20 years. When I first developed symptoms I was very much alone and misunderstood, and the medical community has not recognized CFS or acknowledged it as a legitimate illness until very recently. When I first started to develop symptoms and complained to my doctor, he said “ All of your blood tests are normal. There is nothing wrong with you. You just need to exercise.” I left his office in tears, and promptly found another doctor. My new doctor acknowledged and understood my illness, but had no ability to help my symptoms. My late husband never really understood why I couldn’t just push through and do things anyway, and most of my family and friends just didn’t “get it.” I also had severe multiple chemical sensitivities, which are often a part of the ME/CFS complex. My reactions were so severe that an hour in church being exposed to everyone’s perfumes and fragrances left me with flu-like fatigue and brain fog that lasted 5 days. I became an involuntary hermit because, between the fatigue and sensitivities, I couldn’t go anywhere without getting sick. Fortunately my sensitivities have improved with alternative therapies and although I am still sensitive, I can go shopping and be around people in small doses. I have also been able to surround myself with friends who understand, accept, and encourage.
I have been living with this illness for over 20 years now, and I have adapted and accepted my illness as being part of my life. I can no longer sew, knit and participate in many of the hobbies I enjoyed before getting sick. I have learned to enjoy what I can, and to better manage my energy levels. Photography and the Flickr community have been a Godsend for me, as it allows me to participate with whatever energy level I have available.
Several years ago a young college student who suffers from Lupus came up with a way to explain our limited energy levels called the “spoon theory.” I have chosen my picture to reflect the limited energy that those of us who suffer from chronic illnesses have to deal with on a daily, even hourly, basis. Here is the link: butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-... If you or a friend or loved one suffers from a chronic illness, it is a MUST READ! It helped my late husband and family members to better understand what I am dealing with. “I’m on my last spoon” or “I’m out of spoons for the day” is a frequent saying in my household, and it gets the message across.
Thank you so much, Maria, for choosing this topic! It has been an enormous encouragement to me to realize that, after all of these years, my illness is finally being recognized, and that I am not alone!
Smile on Saturday - BLUE FOR YOU - ME 2022
CMWD
CMWD_blue
Spoon Theory - On My Last Spoon
For an explanation of the Spoon Theory: butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-...
The Smile on Saturday theme for May 7th is BLUE FOR YOU - ME 2022 in honor of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day 2022, which is coming up on May 12. ME/CFS is a serious, long-term illness that affects multiple body systems. People with this illness suffer post-exertional malaise, sleep problems, and other problems with thinking and concentrating, pain, and dizziness. This theme means a lot to me, as I have been suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome for over 20 years. When I first developed symptoms I was very much alone and misunderstood, and the medical community has not recognized CFS or acknowledged it as a legitimate illness until very recently. When I first started to develop symptoms and complained to my doctor, he said “ All of your blood tests are normal. There is nothing wrong with you. You just need to exercise.” I left his office in tears, and promptly found another doctor. My new doctor acknowledged and understood my illness, but had no ability to help my symptoms. My late husband never really understood why I couldn’t just push through and do things anyway, and most of my family and friends just didn’t “get it.” I also had severe multiple chemical sensitivities, which are often a part of the ME/CFS complex. My reactions were so severe that an hour in church being exposed to everyone’s perfumes and fragrances left me with flu-like fatigue and brain fog that lasted 5 days. I became an involuntary hermit because, between the fatigue and sensitivities, I couldn’t go anywhere without getting sick. Fortunately my sensitivities have improved with alternative therapies and although I am still sensitive, I can go shopping and be around people in small doses. I have also been able to surround myself with friends who understand, accept, and encourage.
I have been living with this illness for over 20 years now, and I have adapted and accepted my illness as being part of my life. I can no longer sew, knit and participate in many of the hobbies I enjoyed before getting sick. I have learned to enjoy what I can, and to better manage my energy levels. Photography and the Flickr community have been a Godsend for me, as it allows me to participate with whatever energy level I have available.
Several years ago a young college student who suffers from Lupus came up with a way to explain our limited energy levels called the “spoon theory.” I have chosen my picture to reflect the limited energy that those of us who suffer from chronic illnesses have to deal with on a daily, even hourly, basis. Here is the link: butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-... If you or a friend or loved one suffers from a chronic illness, it is a MUST READ! It helped my late husband and family members to better understand what I am dealing with. “I’m on my last spoon” or “I’m out of spoons for the day” is a frequent saying in my household, and it gets the message across.
Thank you so much, Maria, for choosing this topic! It has been an enormous encouragement to me to realize that, after all of these years, my illness is finally being recognized, and that I am not alone!
Smile on Saturday - BLUE FOR YOU - ME 2022
CMWD
CMWD_blue