Most people have no idea what true fatigue is. I thought I did until I was faced with acute and chronic pain, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome after a serious back injury.
Fatigue is like the elephant in the room. It's always there zapping my energy, it's like a silent leech. I type this as a healthy outlet for myself and to give hope to others.
I'm grateful for my faith in God, my Doctors, my family, my positive optimistic disposition, my amazing friends (new & old) and supportive colleagues. I'm also grateful for alternative therapies such as physical therapy, acupuncture (HUGE help), CBD oils, magnesium and the many alternative modalities I've encountered in the last two years.
Today was a difficult morning for me, so I decided to live one spoon at a time. Sometimes you just have to put one foot in front of the other.
Journaling and reflection has proved a VERY healthy outlet for me too. I can remember in the beginning (when my sacrum was collapsing, I had a hematoma and newly herniated discs and one painful disc extrusion) that I was in so much pain that I couldn't even formulate written phrases. So I gave myself permission to celebrate what I could and couldn't do....I made a good 'ol fashioned list. I drew a line down the paper and I put "I can" in one column and on the other column I put "I can't". I gave myself permission to celebrate what I could do (including get mad or cry) and I wrote basic things. You see at that time I literally couldn't put my underwear on. I had to use a dressing stick. Although that was hard to admit, it allowed me to accept where I was and now it allows me to celebrate how far I've come.
The biggest challenge is that although I don't look sick, I have several chronic conditions. Most days I do my best to push through it, but it wears on you.
Why the spoons you ask? Well Christine Miserandino came up with a great theory, called "The Spoon Theory". Here is a wonderful article on what it's like to experience a chronic condition which explains "The Spoon Theory". Thanks for reading!
Have an aloha filled day!
