#life with chronic pain

[crazycatsiren]

Opioid epidemic this, public health crisis that. What if everybody had access to quality healthcare and pain management so no one would have to resort to desperate and even illegal means for pain relief, imagine that.

[alynnl]

I went to the doctor about two weeks ago for worsening flare ups of my chronic illness symptoms and... (Personal rant, talk of finances and health issues ahead)

I was prescribed medicine for my IBS symptoms that made them noticeably worse

Technically against medical advice (the 24/7 nurse hotline) I stopped taking these meds because I can't be laid up with diarrhea and abdominal pain.

If I don't work, I don't get paid and I am terrified of falling behind on utilities because these companies don't cut anybody slack (I was threatened with an electric shut-off in 2019. The threat is real. They took every penny in my bank account back then. It feels like nothing short of extortion)

I had a complete abdomen ultrasound and it came back that all my organs (kidneys, liver, spleen, appendix, gallbladder etc) were normal

I just got billed for this ultrasound today and running the numbers in my head, I've been billed enough for half a day's wages

This is despite the receptionist at the front desk saying "Don't worry, your insurance will cover all of it! :)"

This is making me hesitant to get any more medical attention for my chronic illness at all because I'll definitely pay for it later

That feel when I still have to take matters into my own hands with Food Trial and Error and so many White Rice and Ginger Ale Days

I'm doing (relatively?) fine now only because of my own management of my illness and not the doctors'

What exactly was the point of it all?

[daddywarbats]

So, it's always fun when you hit a certain number of autoimmune and chronic pain conditions and doctors are like nah my guy we'd like a less complicated zebra please.

Oh well.

[blatterpussbunnyfromhell]

I know it's not the case but my feet/ankles hurt as if the bones were broken and my jaw is so tense from clenching in order not to cry or scream

[potsiepumpkin]

When the chronic fatigue is chronic

[colourmeastonished]

Body swap movie where one of them has invisible disabilities and when the other one lands in their body they immediately collapse catatonic on the floor from the pain and fatigue and the first one is like 'oh damn guess I don't have to worry that I'm faking it anymore'

[s-ccaam-era-crepe]

i think everyone who's ever had migraines should be financially compensated forever btw

[gentlyepigrams]

If you're taking other drugs that require regular blood draws to test liver function, please talk to your doctor(s) and/or a pharmacist before taking Tylenol/acetaminophen/paracetamol. It may be OK, but this is a case where knowledgeable advice from a professional is important. Your liver is important. Please take care of it and yourself!

PSA:

Acetaminophen/paracetamol has a hard stop upper dose limit, above which it becomes extremely toxic.

That limit is 4g (8 “extra strength” (500mg) tablets) in 24 hours (about 2 tablets every 6 hours).

A single dose of 22 extra strength tablets can kill you.

Taking 12 or more tablets per day for more than a week can also kill you (this is about 3 tablets every 6 hours).

Symptoms of overdose take up to 24 hours to manifest, and are fairly difficult to distinguish from other problems. They include abdominal pain (especially right upper quadrant), nausea, malaise, and confusion.

The antidote (n-acetylcystine) must be given within 8hours of ingestion in order to be useful.

After 10 hours the only thing that will work is a liver transplant.

You might think “why would I ever accidentally take so much?”

Well, acetaminophen is in almost everything in the cold/flu/pain aisle. Migraine combos like Excedrin, cold and flu combos like NyQuil, basically anything that says “non-aspirin pain relief”, and anything that’s branded as a fever reducer. It’s all probably acetaminophen/paracetamol.

So the goal of this post is to get you to read the labels on your medications. Because taking taking Tylenol and NyQuil together for a week (like you might if you had the flu) could kill you.

[crazycatsiren]

I'm truly sorry about how I behaved when I was in too much pain to think.

[alynnl]

My chronic migraines are still a problem unfortunately, and I’ve been dealing with a real doozy of a headache for three days now. I’ve tried medicine and home remedies but they only give me temporary relief. I guess my triggers are just too strong.

[daddywarbats]

Whoever decided that the weather can fuck with the human body so badly can fuck off into the sun, thanks.

[disabled-bug]

I’m so proud of people living with chronic health conditions. That shit is HARD. Idk who needs to hear this, but if no one else has said it: I’m proud of you. You’re sticking it out through so much pain and grief. That’s no small feat.

Every small thing you do for yourself health adds up. The grief is heavy and it comes from a place of love. The grief knows the pain is wronging you.

I’m proud of you. I hope on the good days you can be proud of yourself.

Keep going.

[justbreathe-it-out]

i want to take his hand and start running, do all the things i dreamed of doing once i met him(<3!!!) but chronic pain means most days he’s low functioning and low energy. i am someone who body doubles to get things done and i hate leaving anyone behind or alone that doesn’t want to be (from experience), and some days he get maybe 3 spoons and a partner with 17 spoons and 14 get spilled on the ground and to pick them up i need a spoon of his in action with one of mine or that’s 14 spoons wasted for the day. i’ve cried a lot about this guilt i feel when i know he’s in a bad flare up but i need to leave his side to take care of myself.

it sucks for both of us. he remembers a time before this, when he could be everything he wants to give me now, but can’t. we both mourn the time lost in bed and we both dream of what life will be like if he gets in remission (which is still years from now) anyways it sucks and ER doctors are patronizing and they just shrug it off as a post it note that read “stomach troubles”

abled people really act like if your illness or disability isn’t terminal then you’re not allowed to complain about it or grieve the life you thought you’d have and it’s so fucked up

[tumble-tv]

SAY IT WITH ME: MEDICAL GASLIGHTING IS MALPRACTICE

[justsomerandomgay]

something that isn’t talked about enough with chronic illness is knowing that going to your appointments and doing your exercises and all that will help but being in too much pain or too fatigued to go, so your just stuck in this constant cycle of knowing what you need to do to get better but not being able to do it because your sick

[eggings]

happy disability pride month to anyone who has a disability from a condition that “usually isn’t a disability”. happy disability pride month to people with disabilities that aren’t often understood by able-bodied people. happy disability pride month to people who don’t have any official diagnosis yet. happy disability to people whose “labs look completely fine”. wishing you peace this july.