chronic-chronic

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silly little comic about chronic pain

[image id: an 8 panel comic

the first panel has a conversation between two people. the one on the right is a light gray, and facing away from the viewer. they are meant to represent a generic person. they are saying, "wow, chronic pain sounds like it sucks." sucks is written in a dark pink. the person on the right has tan skin, a pink shirt, and pink hair. he responds "haha yeah."

the second panel shows the same two people, with the first person saying "how do you tolerate it? i'd go crazy!" tolerate is written in a dark pink. the second person responsed "um..." and trails off

the third panel shifts to a drawing of the second person sitting curled into himself. it is entirely grayscale, except for his pink hair, which is a little more muted. the text around him reads "i tolerate it because not doing so isn't an option". 'isn't an option' is written in dark pink.

the fourth panel shows him sitting and leaning against the left edge of the frame, with his legs stretched out. it reads "because what else am i supposed to do?" supposed is in all caps and written in dark pink.

the fifth panel shows a torso up drawing of him in the bottom right corner. the text reads "i can't hope for a day i'll wake up and be better." better is written in dark pink and all caps on the left half of the panel.

the sixth panel shows him sleeping, with a brown dog near his head. the text above him reads "all i can do is make sure i wake up." wake up is written in dark pink.

the seventh panel is all text, reading "i tolerate it because it needs to be tolerable". tolerable is written in dark pink.

the eighth panel shifts back to the conversation between the two people. the man finishes his response to the other person's question with "i don't know".

end image id]

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do you usually use a top sheet? (a thin flat sheet underneath a duvet, separating the person from it) (curious because it seems common in australia and europe but nonexistent in the usa)

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Okay, I think I didn't post this edit of Dungeon Meshi manga here.

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weight talk weight loss talk

So I think I am in a flare again. I have lost in couple months like 5-8 kilos like up to 17 pounds.

I didn't notice bc I don't use a scale at home.

I am still fat but I'm concerned and I'm trying to contact the health center on Monday to get an appointment. I am going to be firm and ask for the gastroparesis test.

I simply can't eat enough to maintain my weight. This was not a choice of mine. The constant nausea and feeling of fullness makes it terrible to eat. Not to mention losing the feeling of hunger.

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People think cats are small. Buddy wait til you find out about kittens. They're even smaller

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Today hasn't been very good. Reblog to cover prev in blankets and tell them everything is going to be okay and they're loved.

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Every time I see one

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shoutout to disabled people who don’t have a diagnosis.

shoutout to disabled people who don’t seem to fit any one disorder and so they’re continually dismissed by doctors.

shoutout to disabled people who feel like they’re faking, who have some level of control over their symptoms, who don’t know if it’s real or not.

shoutout to disabled people who are in pain and don’t know why.

shoutout to disabled people who can’t tell if they’re in pain.

shoutout to disabled people who feel like a mystery.

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Sometimes flare-ups have an obvious cause which I can then avoid for the most part, and other times it feels like anything can set me off and I think that's so unfair.

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chronic fatigue is just a never ending cycle of “maybe I just need to push myself harder” -> flare up -> recovery -> “oh now that I can do stuff again I need to make up for all the time I spent resting” -> flare up

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tongue in cheek art about weird bodies and waiting for a diagnosis

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on the topic of mobility aids i just want to throw out a non-comprehensive list of tips from someone who's been using mobility aids for 10 years

everyone has different needs and responds differently to certain mobility aids

if a cane isn't right for you, it doesn't mean you shouldn't look into other aids to see if they help

neurological conditions and things like strokes and brain aneurysms can cause someone to struggle with balance for life and are more than welcome to try out mobility aids

it doesn't matter if it's a genetic condition or an injury- consider an aid

wearing braces and using walkers, canes, and so on is very normal after injuries. please use them if you are in pain for a long time after an injury. injuries are serious too

if you buy a cane and it didn't work out for you, you're hurting no one

folding canes are helpful but have a lower weight limit generally speaking

crutches may be a good idea for you if you really struggle with balance and stability

your mileage will vary with each type of aid. you may benefit more from one aid at one time, and more from another in other situations. you may need several different kinds

if you need a rollator, wheelchair or scooter, it really is okay to get or try one. if your insurance won't cover it it's okay to buy or crowdfund one

walkers and rollators require low upper body strength, unless they need to be lifted up on to a curb in which case the user may need assistance

even the lightest and most well constructed wheelchairs are still heavy. they require a lot of upper body strength and mass to propel if you are doing it completely by yourself. you may also need assistance transporting them, getting them up or down hills, on to curbs, and so on

if you struggle to walk for extended periods of time (30+ minutes uninterrupted) you probably need some type of aid. if you have poor balance you may need some type of aid.

you're not hurting anyone if you end up not needing the aids. it's fine to try them

it doesn't matter if the pain or exhaustion or bad balance is related to your weight. you deserve to be as mobile as you want to and can be. its okay for fat people to use mobility aids. it's not embarrassing. being a fat person using a mobility aid in public isn't embarrassing. the people insinuating that are. fat people deserve quality of life

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it should be illegal to take a nap and still have a headache when you wake up. like no i shut it off and back on again why are you still here

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I’m back from my hibernation (resting during a flare) maybe this time I’ll learn my lesson on not overdoing things (I won’t)

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me: you literally have a disorder. this is symptoms

me: no perhaps my soul is rotten

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I luckily haven't had to deal with much chronic pain or hand pain yet, especially with regards to baking (crochet is another story). That said, these look like some pretty solid tips! There's also some in the comments section.

[chronic-chronic]