BlogHer - BlogHers - Living, Coping, and Blogging with Chronic Illness - Comments

Blogging About Your Illness

Sherrillynn — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:05:20 -0500

I have a blog called The Invisible Chronic Illness Experience, http://theiciexperience.blogspot.com. It's about the experience of--you guessed it--living with invisible chronic illness. I was flattered to be asked to present a program on the subject of "Blogging About Your Illness" for the National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week Conference (http://invisibleillness.com), on September 12. The guest lineup is truly awe inspiring. If you can't make it to the conference as it is happening, transcripts of all of the sessions will be available online a few weeks after Awareness Week. The transcripts will be available long term. The ones from the 2006 conference are still posted. I hope you will find something interesting on the site or at the conference, which is September 10th through the 14th. It's all free!

Finding the humour

Donimo — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:28:35 -0500

I'm sure most women living with chronic illness have been told about a million things that they should be doing to get better. I've had chronic pain/illness since I was 16 and believe me, I've got quite a collection of better do's, should's and ought to's. I've just started a new blog wherein I post these words of wisdom in a greeting card fashion. The statements lose their weight and become quite amusing. We have to laugh, right?

www.chronicholiday.blogspot.com

Please drop by and add your own doozies!

Thanks for these listings, Catherine!

Thanks for sharing your experience with heart disease...

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:43:14 -0500

Hi Sandy - Thanks for sharing your experience with heart disease, and the link to your blog. It's so important that women understand just how "at risk" they are, I think there are still many who don't. I'm adding a clip from the first paragraph of a post I did on this subject, most troubling of the statistics to me is this bit of information...Women are less likely to survive a heart attack than men.

You should know thatâ€¦Women are at a very high risk for heart disease and heart attacks. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women over 65. American women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer. Women are also less likely to survive a heart attack than a man. -- This is from a post of mine at Women 4 Hope - Women and Heart Disease--Knowing The Facts Could Save Your Life.

Thanks again for your comment Sandy.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and CatherineBlogs.com

Living with Heart Disease

sandylevin — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:51:44 -0500

Add me to the statistics of women with heart disease. I had a heart attack in July, 2006. Before that time, I thought I was a healthy 54 year old who ate the right foods, exercised, had low blood pressure and normal cholesterol. But my Type-A personality got the better of me. My chronic stress, resentment and anxiety sent my arteries into spasm.

It's been a year of rehab and examining every facet of my life. I've started blogging at: Living With Heart Disease

I share my own insites with others and talk about issues surrounding women and heart disease. Stop on by sometime.
Sandy

Well, that is just great.

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 23 May 2007 22:48:28 -0500

Well, that is just great. Thanks for sharing this. I think we all believe that we can't really make a difference on a political level. But it seems from what you are saying, that maybe we can. That's a good thing to know.

Catherine Morgan
Women 4 Hope and Be The Change You Want To See In Yourself

Yes, My State Senator helped

jrtjosey — Wed, 23 May 2007 22:30:33 -0500

Yes, My State Senator helped me get my soc. sec. disability. His office called SSI every week asking the status of my claim, so it never got buried. I also wrote to my local Senator on the State level about dead beat dads getting heat assistance from the government when they owe their children thousands of dollars. She immediately introduced a bill, it didn't go anywhere, but it was nice to have someone agree with me. She also points me in the right direction when I have other questions about what resources are available to my family and friends.

jrtjosey
Everyday I wake up is a gift from God!

So do you find these agencies helpful?

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 23 May 2007 20:29:27 -0500

So do you find these agencies to be helpful, or have you been frustrated? Do you find writing to your State Senator for guidance to be helpful?

Catherine Morgan
Women 4 Hope and Be The Change You Want To See In Yourself

political side

jrtjosey — Wed, 23 May 2007 19:34:48 -0500

I too like to stay on top on the agencies that are out there for assistance. I have had work experience with Medicare and Medicaid, and I love writing to my State Senator for help and guidance.

Not at all...

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:04:36 -0500

Not at all Laurie. I understood exactly what you meant, and I appreciate your comment.

But I did go back and forth on whether to include cancer in this particular post, and I did decide not to. I just wanted anyone who might be wondering why, that it was because I didn't think one or two links on cancer would have been enough.

I thought it would be better to wait and do a separate post on how cancer has in many ways become a chronic illness - This way I could include more bloggers, and essentially make a more complete post.

In-fact since we are on the subject - I would very much like any input on other women that are informing and inspiring by blogging about how they are living with their disease. If anyone knows of specific blogs I should check out, please drop me an Email or add a link to this comment. Thanks.

Catherine Morgan
Women 4 Hope and Be The Change You Want To See In Yourself

i hope you didn't take my

laurie — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:35:30 -0500

i hope you didn't take my comment as a criticism...I meant it as "yeah! This really speaks to me!"

Thanks for sharing all these great links.

laurie
www.notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com

I agree that cancer is also a chronic condition...

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:19:50 -0500

I agree completely that cancer is often times also a chronic condition. And, I didn't mean for it to appear that I overlooked this condition for this post on chronic illness.

I actually considered putting a link to breast cancer, and then I thought it might be a better idea to do a whole post (in the near future) on cancer as a chronic illness. This way I would be able to feature many more bloggers as well as types of cancers.

So I apologize if it seemed I overlooked this important condition, and I promise that I will be doing a post on the issue of cancer as a chronic illness in the very near future.

Catherine Morgan
Women 4 Hope and Be The Change You Want To See In Yourself

I'm happy I was able to bring attention to your blog...

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:05:57 -0500

Hi Kerry - I'm happy I was able to bring attention to your blog and to the condition of diabetes. Too often people suffering with chronic illness feel alone and uninspired, your blog and others are working to change that...and that is commendable. Thank you.

Catherine Morgan
Women 4 Hope and Be The Change You Want To See In Yourself

Thanks Nordette...

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 23 May 2007 12:58:38 -0500

Thanks Nordette...I'm happy you found the post to be resourceful, that is exactly what I was going for. I agree that these blogs are both informative and inspiring. Thank you for the recognition.

Catherine Morgan
Women 4 Hope and Be The Change You Want To See In Yourself

This post is a resource

Nordette — Wed, 23 May 2007 12:40:44 -0500

Thank you for listing these informative and inspiring blogs, Catherine. I consider this post to be a resource.

"Love is liquid. Brew and be drunkards!" ~~Nordette And here's a link to the blog.

I completely agree that

ratherbesailing — Wed, 23 May 2007 08:22:13 -0500

I completely agree that cancer can be seen as a chronic illness. One of my aunts has MS and the other suffered from breast cancer. Each of them had had their own health issues to watch carefully, their own embarassments and their own frustrations. I just wish I had the power to make everything ok!

BlogHers - Living, Coping, and Blogging with Chronic Illness

Catherine Morgan — Sat, 19 May 2007 00:26:08 -0500

Millions of women suffer from chronic illness, and many of them courageously blog on how they are living and coping with their disease. Whether you suffer with chronic illness or you know someone who does, these BlogHers have much they can share with you.

Being sick is like being on a roller coaster -- you can be up and hopeful one minute and down and doubtful the next. Your illness can take unexpected and unpredictable turns. One disease can dispose you to or give rise to another. This can be frightening as well as exasperating. Finding medication that works, being committed to following a good treatment plan and maintaining honest, direct and open communication with your healthcare providers takes time, energy and skill. But this is only part of the picture. Living with illness affects every part of your life and every significant relationship you have. -- living with chronic illness

So let me introduce you to some of our courageous BlogHers...

Vicki has Multiple Sclerosis...

I became a single mother when my two boys were 1 and 3. Now theyâ€™re in their 30â€™s. For years I was in Marketing with the travel and hospitality industry. I have a bachelor of journalism from UT and a masterâ€™s in marketing management from UTD. Iâ€™ve been disabled with MS for about 15 years. I love blogging. -- Down The MS Path

Alix was diagnosed with Lupus...

A lifetime of athletics failed to keep me healthy. At 30, I became disabled. I was diagnosed with lupus after meeting 7 of 11 diagnostic criteria. -- more

A Thirty-something who is Living with Migrains

My migraines tend to be hormonal and related to my cycles, although changes in pressure (weather) and stress are also big triggers for me. Iâ€™ve found that staying very well-hydrated and getting regular (and enough) sleep help a great deal, as does eating regularly. I suspect that too much sugar and too much caffeine are also triggers for me.
This is my migraine blog. I hope youâ€™ll find it interesting and helpful. In addition to my own thoughts, Iâ€™ll post links to articles I find that are relevant to the study and management of migraines. -- read more

Kerri writes about how Diabetes may not define her, but it helps to explain her...

I have been living with type 1 diabetes since September 11, 1986 - over 20 years. I write this blog because I felt alone with diabetes, and blogging helped to make the burden a bit lighter. That means more than comments or stat counts or emails. Just knowing people are out there, living a life with diabetes that is so like my own, makes a world of difference. -- six until me

Catherine has Celiac Disease and she is blogging on Tips and Tricks on Living Gluten Free...

While most foods marketed as "whole grain" include a gluten-containing grain, there are a few whole grains that are delicious and safe for the Celiac diet. Quinoa (pronounced â€œkeen-waâ€) is one of my post-celiac discoveries. It is an ancient South American grain that also happens to be a great source of plant protein. It is available at Whole Foods, Trader Joeâ€™s, and other well-stocked supermarkets. -- see recipes

Joan and Rosalind both suffer with chronic illness, and they write a blog that helps and encourages women to continue working - Keep Working Girlfriend...

For the past 30 years, Iâ€™ve lived with chronic illness: the daily questions, the self doubt, the pain, the fatigue, and the fear. I know, from experience, how tough it can be to get out of bed each day and get a job done, whether you work for yourself or someone else, whether you make just enough to get by or your salary is fat, whether it takes a one hour commute or you never have to leave home. And I know, from experience, that it can be hard to keep working, especially if youâ€™re a woman, if you live with a chronic illness. The work world, a tough place for women who are â€œhealthyâ€ can feel impossible when youâ€™re managing an illness, too.

May is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month, and on my blog Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome I posted on a statement that I gave to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee that met on May 16th and 17th.

Take a few moments and view a video that aims to help the friends and family of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) sufferers understand the illness and what their loved ones are going through. From sleepydust.net

Also see: It's Not Easy...To Be...Me

Since May is the month for bringing more awareness to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, here are some other BlogHers blogging on this invisible disease.

Sandy has a blog called Fighting Fatigue. She suffers with Chronic Fatigues Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Interstitial Cystitis...

My personal journey with chronic illness has been a difficult one, but a journey that has taught me a great deal about life, understanding and compassion.

I am here to let you know that if you suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and/or Interstitial Cystitis, you are not alone! There are many of us who are where you are and have felt what you are feeling.

According to some medical journal articles, 24.6% of I.C. patients show symptoms of Fibromyalgia, compared to 3.2% of the general population. The theory is that â€œI.C. might be a disease within the spectrum of chronic fatigue and pain syndromesâ€. -- read more

Ellie says on her blog Life ,Not Just Existence...

It's frustrating when a chronic illness interupts your life (in my case Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), but everyone loves a challenge and at the moment mine is to keep enjoying a fulfilling life, not just existing.

Vicki is learning to live with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at Manchester M.E.

I've been sitting around waiting to be well enough to work and that hasn't happened, so instead i'm being pro-active, I'm going to try and find a job that works around me instead of it being the other way around. -- read more

Well these are just some of the many bloggers that are blogging on their personal struggles with chronic illness. If you are a BlogHer who is also blogging on your trials and triumphs with chronic illness...I hope you will leave a comment and a link to your site, and tell us how blogging is helping you cope with your disease.

One more thing...I just found out that it was also National Women's Health Week this week. I did a quick post on it at Women 4 Hope.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at Women 4 Hope and CatherineBlogs.com