Chronic illness schedule: • Day one: Rest • Day two: Rest • Day three: Flare anyway • Day four: Recover • Day five: Recover @CAROLINEEETHERIDGE #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds #LifeWithChronicIllness

Pretty much!

Chronic illness schedule:
• Day one: Rest
• Day two: Rest
• Day three: Flare anyway
• Day four: Recover
• Day five: Recover

@CAROLINEEETHERIDGE

#ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds #LifeWithChronicIllness

"I wish able bodied people understood that being forced to rest and lay around because of sickness isn't the same as them getting to rest. It's not enjoyable." Credit: Han @spoonfulofhan #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #pwME

"I wish able bodied people understood that being forced to rest and lay around because of sickness isn't the same as them getting to rest. It's not enjoyable."

Credit: Han @spoonfulofhan

#MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #pwME

every single day. How much of a fight it is to simply exist." Credit: Sarah_SC.10 #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #ChronicallyComplex #TheChronicLife

every single day. How much of a fight it is to simply exist."

Credit: Sarah_SC.10

#MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths
#ChronicallyComplex #TheChronicLife

"Often we push through illnesses, to simply feel part of life." Illustration of a woman falling over with a wind up key in her back by: Shantel Palmer #ChronicTruths #ChronicArt #MySeveralWorlds

"Often we push through illnesses, to simply feel part of life."

Illustration of a woman falling over with a wind up key in her back by: Shantel Palmer

#ChronicTruths #ChronicArt #MySeveralWorlds

"No, my illness is not my entire personality. It is what I talk about the most because it affects every second of every day. It is a part of everything I do. I am disabled. It's who I am. I have no choice in that matter." Credit @spoonfulofhan #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #ChronicRealness

"No, my illness is not my entire personality. It is what I talk about the most because it affects every second of every day. It is a part of everything I do. I am disabled. It's who I am.
I have no choice in that matter."

Credit @spoonfulofhan

#MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #ChronicRealness

"Sometimes the worst part of a chronic illness isn't the pain, it's all the time that's lost." @carriekellenberger, #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicIllness #ChronicTruths

"Sometimes the worst part of a chronic illness isn't the pain, it's all the time that's lost."

@carriekellenberger, #MySeveralWorlds

#ChronicIllness #ChronicTruths

"You are allowed to be disappointed that things didn't turn out differently. It doesn't mean you're not grateful for the life you have." Credit: Standing Up To POTS #POTSAwareness #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths

"You are allowed to be disappointed
that things didn't turn out
differently.

It doesn't mean you're not grateful for the life you have."

Credit: Standing Up To POTS

#POTSAwareness #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths

“So many people don’t know that this is my life. Weekly doctor visits and tests, being stuck with a needle so much my arms are black a blue… No matter what, just gotta smile through it… I’m happy just to finally have my diagnosis.” https://buff.ly/3GGd4VT #chronicillness #chronictruths

"Shoutout to everyone who has exactly two modes: 1) Doing all the things 2) Doing absolutely nothing while recovering from doing all the things." Image Credit: @PolydotLand Source: kixxarse1986 #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #TheChronicLife

"Shoutout to everyone who has exactly two modes:
1) Doing all the things
2) Doing absolutely nothing while recovering from doing all the things."

Image Credit: @PolydotLand
Source: kixxarse1986

#MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #TheChronicLife

Chronic fatigue: "Let's just keep sleeping." Chronic pain: "But, the pain will be so bad I won't let you sleep." Chronic anxiety: "Well, if you can't sleep, you should get shit. accomplished. My body: AHHHHHHHHHHHH Credit Unknown #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicHumor #ChronicTruths

Chronic fatigue: "Let's just keep sleeping."

Chronic pain: "But, the pain will be so bad I won't let you sleep."

Chronic anxiety: "Well, if you can't sleep, you should get shit. accomplished.

My body:
AHHHHHHHHHHHH

Credit Unknown

#MySeveralWorlds #ChronicHumor #ChronicTruths

"The reality of life with #ChronicIllness is that the grief never stops. You will never 'get over' the loss of your former life, but you will learn to live with your new normal. You'll never be the same again, but you'll find joy in new things. ~Carrie. My Several Worlds aka @globetrotteri #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #Acceptance #Grief

"The reality of life with #ChronicIllness is that the #grief never stops. You will never 'get over' the loss of your former life, but you will learn to live with your new normal. You'll never be the same again, but you'll find joy in new things. ~Carrie

#MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #Acceptance

You start to become numb from all the diagnoses that roll in each year. 2009 - D2T and mostly med resistant Axial Spondyloarthritis (aka Ankylosing Spondylitis - a term we don't use anymore since it doesn't include folks who have non radiographic axSpA) 2010 - osteoarthritis 2011 - MCAS 2013 - Fibromyalgia and MECFS 2015 - Sjogren's 2016 - Chronic migraine 2018 - Chronic EBV. Finally an answer to all the rashes and infections 2019 - Psoriatic Arthritis 2021 - Recurring shingles starts 2022 - POTs gets way worse 2023 - APS (Antiphospholipid Syndrome) 2025 - PSVT (flagged in 2015 but they thought it was anxiety), EDS, cyst formation everywhere from anti TNF) I'm sure I've forgotten some. My brain starts blipping if I think about it too much. "After the first official diagnosis After the 7th diagnosis" Credit Unknown Ben Affleck smiling for the camera. Ben Affleck smoking and looking exhausted. #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #AutoimmuneDisease

You start to become numb from all the diagnoses that roll in each year.

"After the first official diagnosis
After the 7th diagnosis"

Credit Unknown
Ben Affleck smiling for the camera. Ben Affleck smoking and looking exhausted.

#MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #AutoimmuneDisease

condition called garbage body Credit: Unknown #MySeveralWorlds #TheChronicLife #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicTruths

condition called
garbage body

Credit: Unknown

#MySeveralWorlds #TheChronicLife #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicTruths

"You are not obligated to do everything a healthy person does. You are not obligated to be an inspiration. You are not obligated to hide your illness in order to make other people comfortable. You are allowed to know your limits. You are allowed to have bad days. You are allowed to stay in bed if you can't get up to do anything but go to the bathroom. It is not your fault if other people leave you because of your illness. It is not your fault that you are sick. You don't have to apologize for something that is out of your control." Credit: @holistic_henney #ChronicTruths #StopRestPace #ChronicReality #MySeveralWorlds

"You are not obligated to do everything a healthy person does... You are allowed to know your limits. You are allowed to have bad days. You are allowed to stay in bed if you can't get up to do anything but go to the bathroom."
@holistic_henney

#ChronicTruths #StopRestPace #MySeveralWorlds

"The grief of carrying all the years you've been sick on your shoulders." Credit: @MINDFULLYEVIE #ChronicIllness #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #DisabilityAwareness #SevereIllness

"The grief of carrying all the years you've been sick on your shoulders."

Credit:
@MINDFULLYEVIE

#ChronicIllness #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicTruths #DisabilityAwareness #SevereIllness

"Autoimmune diseases aka "why are you hitting yourself stop hitting yourself" diseases." Credit: it's babs @babs_zone #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicTruths #ButYouDontLookSick #MySeveralWorlds #TheChronicLife

"Autoimmune diseases aka "why are you hitting yourself stop hitting yourself" diseases."

Credit: it's babs @babs_zone

#AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicTruths #ButYouDontLookSick #MySeveralWorlds #TheChronicLife

Has anyone else been waiting years/decades for a tiny bit of health to come back? I have. I keep hoping if I get a tiny bit back, I can put my life back on track. "WAITING FOR SPOONS BE LIKE... Some day my Spoons will come" Description: Snow White waiting for her prince to come. Credit: Unknown #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicIllness #LifeWithME #FibromyalgiaAwareness #SpoonieLife

Has anyone else been waiting years/decades for a tiny bit of health to come back? I have. I keep hoping if I get a tiny bit back, I can put my life back on track.

"WAITING FOR SPOONS BE LIKE...
Some day my
Spoons will come"

Credit: Unknown
#ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds

6 CONFESSIONS OF LIVING WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS I always feel guilty. I always feel like I'm alone. I'm almost always in pain. I don't look sick. Not all doctors understand. I feel like a failure. #ChronicIllness #LifeWithIllness #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds #TheChronicLife

6 CONFESSIONS OF LIVING WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS

I always feel guilty.
I always feel like I'm alone.
I'm almost always in pain.
I don't look sick.
Not all doctors understand.
I feel like a failure.

#ChronicIllness #LifeWithIllness #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds #TheChronicLife

"Chronic illness can cause angry mood swings where you're just pissed off at the whole fact that your sick, you're pissed off that you can't do everything you want, you're pissed off that some doctors and people are idiots about your illness and you're pissed off basically at the world and everything in it. Then there are the needy mood swings where you just desperately need someone to listen to you talk and to tell you they care about you and to coddle you and just be lovey with you. These mood swings happen partly because of lots of medication but mostly just from fighting to survive." Credit: @LupieLinda #ChronicTruths #ChronicIllness #MentalHealth #anxiety #depression #MentalHealthMatters

" #ChronicIllness can cause angry mood swings where you're just pissed off at the whole fact that your sick Then there are the needy mood swings where you just need someone to listen and to tell you they care."
@LupieLinda
#ChronicTruths #MentalHealth #anxiety #depression #MentalHealthMatters

HERE'S WHAT LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS HAS TAUGHT ME You can't always predict your limits. Some days you'll crash after a five-minute walk, other days you'll do more than you thought possible. Guilt is inevitable, but it doesn't have to control you. Canceling plans doesn't make you unreliable- it makes you human. People will misunderstand or judge. That's on them, not you. Learning who deserves your explanation and who doesn't is key. Rest isn't a luxury or a punishment. It's a necessary part of the care plan. No one's advice or opinion is more important than your own experience with your body. Trust it. Credit @ARTHRITISMEGGIE #ChronicIllness #ChronicTruths #LifeWithArthritis #MySeveralWorlds #FibroNerds #ASWarrior #PsoriaticArthritis

HERE'S WHAT LIVING WITH #ChronicIllness HAS TAUGHT ME

Some days you'll crash after a 5 min walk, other days you'll do more
People will misunderstand
Rest is part of care
No one's opinion is more important than your own
Credit @ARTHRITISMEGGIE

#ChronicTruths #LifeWithArthritis #MySeveralWorlds

"People talk about budgeting for rent, groceries, travel. #ChronicIllness budgeting looks like: meds, doctor copays, emergency appointments, delivery food on flare days, heating pads, supplements, backup plans. All of it just to function." Credit @chronic.resources #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicPainWarrior #ChronicLife

"People talk about budgeting for rent, groceries, travel. #ChronicIllness budgeting looks like: meds, doctor copays, emergency appointments, delivery food on flare days, heating pads, supplements, backup plans. All of it just to function."

Credit @chronic.resources
#ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds

Chronic illness life is a never-ending cycle of: I just need to get through this flare. I just need to see this specialist. I just need to get through this appointment. I just need to try this new med. I just need to cut out this food. I just need to... Credit: @bendybunny #ChronicIllness #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds #LifeWithIllness

#ChronicIllness life is a never-ending cycle of:
I just need to get through this flare
I just need to see this specialist
I just need to get through this appt
I just need to try this new med
I just need to cut out this food
I just need to...
@bendybunny.bsky.social
#ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds

CHRONICALLY OVER IT 🥱 Waiting months for an appointment only to be told you need more tests. 🙄 Medications that give you more symptoms than you had before you took it. 🫩 Wasting an entire day resting only to be exhausted still. 😲 The thrilling game of "Which symptom will surprise me today?" 😀 The daily act of pretending you're okay when you're not. 😔 Having your energy run out halfway through a simple task. 🫤 Explaining the same thing over and over again to people who don't quite get it. 🫨 Seeing doctor after doctor and only leaving with more frustrations. Credit: Dear Chronic Pain #LifeWithPain #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain

CHRONICALLY OVER IT

🥱 Waiting months for an appt only to be told you need more tests.

🙄 Medications that give you more symptoms than you had before you took it.

😀 The daily act of pretending you're okay when you're not.

Via Dear Chronic Pain
#LifeWithPain #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds

I created this for a loved one in mind who is struggling with a new diagnosis. Sometimes the hardest part about being sick for so long has nothing to do with you. Sometimes the hardest part is watching others start their journey, seeing these signs, and knowing you can't help. They either want to work on themselves or they don't. ❤️🫂 Psychologocal Complications of Living With a Chronic Illness - Symptoms Include: 😣 Feelings of being helpless or useless 🫩 Exhaustion and fatigue 🫥 Detachment & depersonalization 😶‍🌫️ Isolation 😐 Lack/loss of motivation in treatment or care plan 😮‍💨 Procrastinating especially when making important appointments 🙄 Cynicism towards doctors and medical professionals Credit: MySeveralWorlds.com #ChronicIllnessLife #ChronicTruths #ChronicIllness #MySeveralWorlds #MentalHealthSupport #MentalHealthMatters

Psychologocal Complications of Living With a #ChronicIllness

😣 Feeling helpless/useless
🫩 Exhaustion/fatigue
🫥 Detachment & depersonalization
😶‍🌫️ Isolation
😐 Lack/loss of motivation in treatment or care plan
😮‍💨 Procrastinating esp with important appts
🙄 Cynicism towards docs/med pros
#ChronicTruths

"Absence of a diagnosis does not guarantee the absence of an illness. If someone you know has been suffering yet a doctor says nothing is wrong, which has happened to a majority of chronically ill people at some point, you have a choice. You can either believe the doctor that you probably never met, or believe the person suffering. And I cannot emphasize enough how absolutely damaging it is for a sick person to not be believed." Credit: 4.leif.clover #ChronicTruths #ChronicIllness #MySeveralWorlds #MyChronicLife

"Absence of a diagnosis does not guarantee the absence of an illness. If someone you know has been suffering yet a doctor says nothing is wrong, you have a choice. You can believe the doc you never met, or believe the person suffering."
Credit: 4.leif.clover

#ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds

"For anyone who thinks sitting at home is a vacation, try being too sick to work and not having enough money to be sick." Credit & image: @nomadichealingmatt Chronically Mindful Matt #ChronicTruths #ChronicIllness #MySeveralWorlds #PainBloggers #DisabilityAwareness

"For anyone who thinks sitting at home is a vacation, try being too sick to work and not having enough money to be sick."

Credit & image:
Chronically Mindful Matt

#ChronicTruths #ChronicIllness #MySeveralWorlds #PainBloggers #DisabilityAwareness

Demonizing journalism is a classic fascist tactic. The corporatist leadership grasps that the #climate crisis is going to cause massive dislocation and has decided to respond with fascists rather than conservation.

#ChronicTruths #TruthInTheMargins #AskBetterQuestions #resist #unite #AntiFascist

Having your medical experience validated is powerful medicine. ~Carrie Kellenberger, MySeveralWorlds.com #ChronicallyIconic #ChronicIllness #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds

Having your medical experience validated is powerful medicine.
~Carrie Kellenberger, MySeveralWorlds.com

#ChronicallyIconic #ChronicIllness #ChronicTruths #MySeveralWorlds

You don't have to see it to believe it, but sometimes it's good to see it, right? "Severe and disabling #ChronicIllness is extreme highs and lows all the time. I'm always trying to find that space in between. (Where 'pacing' pays off.) The truth is I really find it! Left: a really bad and extreme flare aka an extreme low for me. I can barely sit up. Sometimes I can't even manage sitting up. The constant edema and swelling in my body is very alarming and nothing seems to help it. On rare days it goes away in my face and I have no idea why. 🤷‍♀️ It never vacates my arms and legs though. Right: Feeling 'well enough' to sit on my patio for a bit, but not well enough to leave my home. #ChronicTruths #fibromyalgia #MECFS #AxSpA #ButYouDontLookSick

"Severe & disabling #ChronicIllness is extreme highs and lows all the time. I'm always trying to find that space in between. (Where 'pacing' pays off.) The truth is I really find it!

Left: an extreme flare

Right: Feeling 'well enough' to sit on my patio

#ChronicTruths #fibromyalgia #MECFS #AxSpA

#ChronicIllnessHumor with a dash of truth! Doctor: Have you been exercising? Me: Does writhing in pain count? Credit: Someecards

#ChronicIllnessHumor with a dash of truth!

Doctor: Have you been exercising?
Me: Does writhing in pain count?

Credit: Someecards

#chronicillnessfunny #ChronicPain #ChronicTruths