#spoonie life

[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.

[tumble-tv]

"You're always so chipper and excited even though you're in pain, I could never."

Bethany, if I wasn't chipper and excited about the most mundane things like bees and dice, then I would literally be bedrotting all day every day, sobbing because my entire life is falling apart because I have no answers or relief to pain that doctors think is fake. So I will take joy in my trinkets and rollerskating while my body allows because one day I won't be able to.

[somniphobicfox]

This month, shoutout to new mobility aid users. People who've just recently bought a cane or a wheelchair or a rollator or any other mobility aids and are just getting used to them. People who are still figuring out how to navigate in them. It's alright if the aid that you thought would help you actually turned out to be useless/more destructive. Its alright if on some days even your aid cannot give you support. You are still valid, your struggle still real, and I hope you find what's right for you really soon <3

[doresworld]

It is so fucked up that disabled people are terrified of going to the doctors

[lifewithchronicpain]

If you don't need a cane, but you get one to signal disability because sometimes you get faint and need to sit, or whatever, as a cane user for years, go ahead. Please, if it makes claiming accomodations easier for you, even if you don't need it to walk, I don't care. This is your permission if you needed it.

Can I suggest that you can get a foldable one at CVS (they're great) so it's there when you need it? Shits fucked up, do what you need to do. Just beware there are assholes that won't care about the cane. But overall, it does make things easier and is easily purchased. Go for it.

[geometric-bs]

"Doing your best" (with chronic illness)

My doctor (bless him) straight up went "don't" when I said "I'll do my best"

Because what I think "my best" is, is completely draining myself for this One Thing and going above and beyond

I guess this goes for people w/o chronic illness as well, but "your best" shouldn't mean you end up hurting yourself in the long run. "Your best" is as much as you are willing to devote to something proportional to how much you care about it within the confines of what is healthy for you AND considering all the other stuff you have to do

Please just- holy heck we're already struggling so much please don't devote your precious energy to something that doesn't deserve it

don't do your best, do whats best for you

[4spooniesupport]

[spoonful116]

"Have you considered that depression is causing your pain?"

"Have you considered that constant pain is depressing?"

[slveepyscwrs]

studying medicine as a disabled chronically ill spoonie be like:

WILL I END UP BECOMING THE DOCTOR OR THE PATIENT!?!? STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT!!!!

[affixjoy]

Thinking today about how fucking BORING chronic pain is. In the last few months my endometriosis pain has been ramping up again, and I’ve been having more days with pain than without. Most of the time, like today, it’s just enough to be annoying, sap my energy, and distract me from whatever I want to actually be doing.

And yeah, it sucks to be in pain and be tired all the time. But it’s also so so boring. It’s boring for me and it’s boring for everyone around me. It makes me feel bored and it makes me a boring person to be around.

[disabled-bug]

disabled people when their disability disables them

[tumble-tv]

*yawns*

*dislocates jaw*

*immediately sneezes*

*sneeze causes jaw to go back to normal*

[chronicillnesshumor]

[doresworld]

Favourite things about being disabled - part two

Closing your eyes whilst on the toilet because you’ve exhausted yourself to get there

Forgetting to take pain meds, even though you’ve been in pain for hours, but it might pass, so why take the pain meds

Sitting down and realising you forgot to do something important (get more water, or your phone charger) and realise that you’d rather suffer without than move again so soon

Thinking about doing something exhausts you, let alone doing it

No position is comfortable, so you just rotate constantly

[cherryblossomforest]

Why is there so much guilt...

[hellyeahsickaf]

Cooking While Disabled

One of the things I miss most about being less disabled is cooking. It was one of my favorite things to do and something I've always been good at.

On good days there are things I can do that make it easier. It's not the same as before, but I hope that sharing what makes it possible for me to cook helps others who struggle with it.

Tips for cooking while disabled:

You can incorporate precooked food in your meals. For example, stir fry with precooked rice with the ingredients of your choice, or taking frozen pasta (like the ones with maybe sauce and a couple other things) or plain microwave pasta (I prefer these, but heat it first) and putting it in a pan adding other ingredients like vegetables, cheese, garlic, etc

If it comes frozen or canned that can really help. Frozen rice you can just microwave, frozen cut veggies and garlic and onions are good as well

Buy a chopper with different shaped blades, spiralizer, electric slicer/grater, food processor, or any appliance that will save you energy. Ideally machine washable. Stand mixers are also better than manual ones. Especially helpful if you have joint/wrist issues

You can always prepare ingredients ahead of time. I find that sometimes it helps to prep (chopping or mixing ingredients, etc) earlier in the day or even a day before. Then you can put it in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to cook the full meal

Look up easy recipes or recipes for elderly/seniors. With the latter you may find more nutritionally balanced food but an unbalanced easy meal is better than none

You can sit while you prepare ingredients.

You're allowed to take breaks. You can turn the stove off, maybe put a lid on it to retain the heat, sit down, maybe take something for your symptoms. Some things you may not be able to stop in the middle of like making pancakes or deep frying something, but if you're making soup or curry or chili or something, often you can turn it off for a bit and take care of yourself.

If you need help and can get it, please ask for help. I know many of us need to work on asking for help including myself. Even if it's just washing the pots and pans or chopping something. You are not a burden you hear me?

Stretch before and after cooking just as one would before a workout. It will likely lessen any joint pain or stiffness as you are still exerting yourself

Listen to your body. Just as you're allowed to take a break, you are allowed to decide you won't be able to finish what you're doing. You may put away your food before it's done (if this won't ruin the meal). You are allowed to leave a dirty pot in the sink and come back to it later (just make sure you or someone else does before it gets gross). You can wash them in the dishwasher. I know this is bad for the seasoning on pots and pans but you can reseason them to be nonstick again and use nonstick spray

You can buy seasoning mixes rather than using individual seasoning. Instead of parsley, oregano, basil, etc you can buy Italian seasoning. Instead of paprika, pepper, cumin, oregano, salt, etc, you can just get taco seasoning. This may sound obvious but it can save a lot of time and energy

An issue I have is buying perishable ingredients thinking I can use them, having a bad week or two, and the ingredients have gone bad. Try to plan out your meals before shopping and ask yourself if there's an easier alternative for any ingredients. Maybe pre chopped fresh onion instead of a whole one, sliced mushrooms instead of whole, frozen vegetable blends instead of individual, powdered ginger instead of the root, bullion instead of stock that you may not be able to use all at once. I know this is like one of the other points but these are what I find most helpful

Use supercook.com! You input the ingredients you have on hand and you'll get a list of recipes you can make with what you have. Often there's a wide range of complexity and difficulty

Make enough food to freeze or refrigerate leftovers. It helps if you can portion it into single servings in Tupperware or freezer bags. You can prepare frozen burritos for your next few lunches or dinners, separate portion sizes of spaghetti, portion salads, etc

Feel free to add any additions!