browser life

Came across this excellent blog post in a roundabout way through the Hummingbird's Guide. It is about modern day society avoids acknowledging death and chronic illness unless one is stoic and brave about it....

The Silence of the Dying

What I have never understood is the fear of death. Somehow, we think that by not mentioning its inevitability (we ALL will die eventually), it won't happen. That if we are not continually upbeat, death will "win".

I am not afraid to die. I will probably not die anytime soon. But I intend to be honest about how I am feeling at any given time, even if it bores or makes people uncomfortable, because I already do that and think that false stoicism, for me, anyway, is a waste of my energy.

I may have posted this link before, but it contains new material (about halfway down the page) about art and pet therapy as well as segments from online forums. Courtesy of the Hummingbird's Guide:

Practical Tips

One thing that is difficult to convey to healthy people is that just because I have accepted the daily reality of being chronically ill, it doesn't mean that I have given up on experiencing any improvement. By the same token, when I engage in distractions such as watching funny movies or taking photos, it doesn't mean I couldn't possibly be sick if I am doing things I enjoy. What may look like laziness or delusion can simply be a sick person coping.

Got this in the latest Hummingbird's Guide newsletter. It is VERY well-researched....

Magnesium and M.E.

I personally can vouch for the effectiveness of magnesium glycinate for chronically twitching and sore muscles. I tried topical magnesium oil for about a month, but it burned my skin so badly that I stopped using it. After reading that it can be washed off after 20 minutes and still be effective, I may try it again. And I am considering asking my primary care doc about supplementing with an oral liquid or powdered form.

This recipe appeared in my Celiac.com newsletter. I'm printing it out so that I can try it sometime....

Thai Noodle Salad Gluten Free

I made Korean chicken yesterday and substituted Thai rice noodles for the Chinese noodles that were supposed to go with it. Gotta keep things interesting.

Hilarious parody of the "Twilight" series featuring the cast of "Jersey Shore". Aired on Jimmy Kimmel's "Eclipse" special last night....

Got this off of But You Don't Look Sick. I'm wondering if she was misquoted or her comments taken out of context?

Lady GaGa Needs Better Lupus Information

By the way, the site is accepting new articles again, so I may be posting something soon. Have lots of ideas.

Time for some much-needed funniness. Humor courtesy of Pete.....



I was in the express lane at the store quietly fuming. Completely ignoring the sign, the woman ahead of me had slipped into the check-out line pushing a cart piled high with groceries. Imagine my delight when the cashier beckoned the woman to come forward looked into the cart and asked sweetly, 'So which six items would you like to buy?' 

Wouldn't it be great if that happened more often? 


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Because they had no reservations at a busy restaurant, my elderly neighbor and his wife were told there would be a 45-minute wait for a table. 'Young man, we're both 90 years old, ' the husband said ..'We may not have 45 minutes..' They were seated immediately. 


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The reason congressmen try so hard to get re-elected is that they would hate to have to make a living under the laws they've passed. 


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All eyes were on the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle. They reached the altar and the waiting groom; the bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand. The guests in the front pews responded with ripples of laughter. Even the priest smiled broadly. As her father gave her away in marriage, the bride gave him back his credit card. 


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Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. 


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Three friends from the local congregation were asked, 'When you're in your casket, and friends and congregation members are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?' 
  
Artie said: 'I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.' 

Eugene commented: 'I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who made a huge difference in people's lives.' 

Al said: 'I'd like them to say, 'Look, he's moving!' 



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Smith climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord...'God, what does a million years mean to you?'   
The Lord replies, 'A minute.' 
Smith asks, 'And what does a million dollars mean to you?' 
The Lord replies, 'A penny.' 
Smith asks, 'Can I have a penny?' 
The Lord replies, 'In a minute.' 
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John was on his deathbed and gasped pitifully. 'Give me one last request, dear,' he said. 
'Of course, John,' his wife said softly. 
'Six months after I die,' he said, 'I want you to marry Bob.' 
'But I thought you hated Bob,' she said. 
With his last breath John said, 'I do!' 



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A man goes to see the Rabbi. 'Rabbi, something terrible is happening and I have to talk to you about it.' 
The Rabbi asked, 'What's wrong?' 
The man replied, 'My wife is poisoning me.' 
The Rabbi, very surprised by this, asks, 'How can that be?' 
The man then pleads, 'I'm telling you, I'm certain she's poisoning me, what should I do?' 
The Rabbi then offers, 'Tell you what. Let me talk to her, I'll see what I can find out and I'll let you know.' 
A week later the Rabbi calls the man and says, "I spoke to her on the phone for three hours. You want my advice?' 
The man said yes and the Rabbi replied, 'Take the poison.'


---Hope your relationships are better than his----

Stumbled across this while looking for something else. I'm gonna add it to my Links list because I find such stuff fascinating.....

World Records Academy

When I was a kid, I came across an early 1970's edition of "The Guinness Book of World Records". I read through it so many times it fell apart. Guess that would explain in part why I know so many useless things, heh heh.

I should clean out my e-mail in-box more often. I got this funny in March from Joan:



Things I Learned in the South


A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.

There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in the South.

 
There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in the South, plus a couple no one's seen before.


If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.


Onced and Twiced are words.

 
It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy!


Jaw-P? means Did ya'll go to the bathroom?


People actually grow and eat okra.


Fixinto is one word. It means I'm fixing to do that.


There is no such thing as lunch. There is only dinner and then there is supper.


Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.


Backwards and forwards means I know everything about you.


The word jeet is actually a phrase meaning Did you eat?


You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is, you work until you're done or it's too dark to see.

 
You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH em.

 
No, Jew? is a common response to the question, Did you bring any beer?


You measure distance in minutes.

 
You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.

 
All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect, or animal.

 
You know what a DAWG is.

 
You carry jumper cables in your car - for your OWN car.

 
You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Tony's, Tabasco and ketchup.

 
The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local high school sports and motor sports, and gossip.

 
You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.

 
You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit a bit warm.

 
You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.

 
Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite pastime known as goin Wal-Martin or off to Wally World.

 
You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chicken stew weather.

 
Fried catfish is the other white meat.

 
We don't need no dang Driver's Ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive dag-nabbit.

Was cleaning out my e-mail in-box when I stumbled upon this gem from December. Giggles courtesy of Pete....


GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge....mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.


SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is . . . . Not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . Having friends.
At age 17 success is . . . Having a driver's license.
At age 35 success is . . . Having money.
At age 50 success is . . . Having money.
At age 70 success is . . . Having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . Having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . Not piddling in your pants.


Take the time to live!!!
Life is too short.
Dance naked. Woo-hoo!

From the Celiac.com newsletter. A good article from someone with multiple food intolerances who managed a healthy vacation abroad....

Travel Fears Disappear with a Safe Gluten-Free Trip to the Abacos Bahamas

I understand all too well the panic that arises when leaving home to a place where you won't know what food is available. I am getting better at figuring out what safe food to take along that is non-perishable and doesn't crumble in a suitcase. And I agree with the author that whenever possible, get accommodations with a kitchen.

Latest article from the Celiac.com newsletter. It addresses why some celiacs aren't symptomatic until later in life and whether healthy bacteria production will become a routine treatment....

Probiotics A Future Answer To Celiac Disease?

I am one of those who did not have a major reaction to gluten until my late 30's. I wonder if I delayed the onset by all the yogurt I eat?

This was just begun by Stacy, a Facebook friend and high school classmate. I especially like the title:

Microcosm

Many of us with chronic illness find that because we must limit our activity so much, our world becomes tiny. But the upside of this is that we find ourselves with the time and awareness to notice the things that many miss, such as local wildlife or the qualities of flora. I will be adding this blog to my Links list (which I am aware is in desperate need of editing).

Got this link from the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation. This site has been up and running since April, with more improvements to come:

Living With Dryness

I do wish this site covered extra-glandular (beyond dry eyes and mouth) involvement more in-depth. But I think this is intended more as a starting point for those newly diagnosed and those wanting more info on dry eyes and mouth, which is cool. I tried to download the results of a survey they did of Sjogren's patients, but it didn't work due to my outdated software. I did find links in their Resources section to two Sjogren's forums that were to me, so I am pleased about that.

Here's a good article from But You Don't Look Sick (no, I can't take credit for this one). It's about coming up with your own set of "rules" for what you want to accomplish each day:

Surviving Becoming Permanently Disabled

Some days, my motto is: "I'm up and dressed, what more do you want?" But most of the time, I also manage a shower and might even cook one of my four daily meals. I read daily for mental exercise, and six days a week I do water therapy and my non-impact glider machine as able.

This was a link I got from the Hummingbird's Guide newsletter. It lists the concerns regarding the new psychiatric listing regarding somatoform disorders:

Submission to APA Re: "Complex Somatic Symptom Disorder", DSM-5

I personally find the new listing insulting and dangerous. Psychiatric testing is skewed to find psychological reasons for physical illness without any regard for the symptoms involved. If you fill out the questionnaires honestly that your physical symptoms interfere with the normal function of your life and that you have to limit your activities due to illness, the result points to somatoform disorder. What a psychiatrist may interpret as obsession with one's health may simply be seeing several doctors to get a proper diagnosis, or if already diagnosed, altering one's lifestyle to achieve the best quality of life possible.

Recently, it has come to light that much of the population, particularly those with chronic ailments that keep them indoors, are deficient in Vitamin D. Here is a thorough article from The Hummingbird's Guide to M.E.:

Research: Vitamin D and M.E.

My levels were good when I lived in Colorado, where it is sunny 300 days a year, but by the time I had lived in South Dakota two years, I was deficient. I now take a daily supplement in addition to what I get from diet.

Many people who think they have IBS may in fact have celiac disease. Article courtesy of the Celiac.com newsletter....

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Could Be Tied to Gluten Issues

IBS is so common amongst fibromyalgia patients that doctors often assume is the cause of any digestive symptom. I know my doctors did. It wasn't until I voluntarily went on a gluten free diet that I discovered there was such a thing as life without abdominal pain.

Link courtesy of a Facebook friend. Apparently, a mural depicting people of color caused such an uproar that it is being "whitewashed"....

Art Attack: Elementary school mural getting a "lighter" facelift

At least one of the figures depicted in the mural was based on an actual student. The racist comments by the adults are appalling. It sets a HORRIBLE example for the children.

Still more from "America's Cutest Dog". In this one, a true workout:

Border Collie Aerobics

Even though he cheats a little, I'm still amazed this dog's back legs are strong enough to pull this off. Most PEOPLE don't even do this well.

More from "America's Cutest Dog". Here, two have discovered their own form of entertainment:

Bulldogs on a Trampoline

Most dogs I've seen on trampolines either freak out when bounced or get bored and just lie down for a nap. This looks a lot more fun.

Another good clip from "America's Cutest Dog". This beagle has a unique take on a popular trick, and he seems to enjoy it:

Play Dead

I swear, that dog looks almost boneless, heh heh.

Just watched part of "America's Cutest Dog". Here is my pick for the winner:

Cuddle Bunny

I could watch this one a million times and wouldn't get sick of it. Guess I'm a sucker for the fluffy, heh heh.

Link courtesy of Robert. Yep, Ms. Palin opened her big mouth again, and while I'm disgusted by what she said, I am unfortunately not surprised....

Sarah Palin Blames Environmentalists For Gulf Oil Disaster

I try my best to ignore anything this woman has to say, but this is outrageous. This ranks right up there with blaming Haiti's earthquake on the practice of voodoo.

My friend Robert provided me with this link. It's a good blog piece about my fave author:

Harlan Ellison: The Original Hollywood Rebel

I first discovered his work when I picked up my dad's copy of "Strange Wine" in high school and was just blown away. It's not just the intricacies of the language, which are considerable, but the imaginative concepts that are so original as to leave one flabbergasted. When you read one of his stories, you GO to whatever world he has created no matter how outrageous, and if even for a brief time, nothing else exists.

This is the first in a series concerning post-exertional malaise. Article courtesy of the CFIDS newsletter.

Unraveling Post-exertional Malaise

I must admit the quote at the beginning is a pretty fair description of what I experience. The main thing that varies is the intensity of it. A mild flare-up might occur for a day or two after something minor like greeting people at church for a half hour. A major flare-up can go on for months, like after I moved from Colorado to South Dakota. My description of this phenomenon is the sledgehammer of fatigue, because it comes on as suddenly and as painfully as though someone had smacked me in the face with a sledgehammer.