Professional Patient

You Might Be a Sjogie If...

You might be a Sjogie if, every time you pass a mirror, you don't check your hair, or your makeup, or straighten your shirt. That would be too normal! You might be a Sjogie if every time you pass a mirror, you check your smile for food stuck in your teeth, white saliva crust on your lips, and gook in the corners of your eyes.

It's a sexy life, but somebody has to do it!

Patients for a Moment: Humor Round-Up

Hello! My life has been a lot sideways, lately. But I finally have a healthy-enough moment that I can use it to post something.

Patients for a Moment is a weekly round-up of blog posts written by people like you and me - patients fighting through one crazy illness or another.

The week of May 5, Chronic Babe hosted PFAM, with all articles focusing on this question:

What's your most laugh-out-loud illness-related experience?

We can all use a dose of funny, so check these great articles out.

Tired... so Tired

Ever since I went to the ER on Sept. 22 with low blood sodium, this has been me.... going,... going,... gone. So tired! Muscle cramps, feeling shaky and wobbly, poor fine motor control (I've dropped so many, many things), muscle pain and fatigue, and burning/tingling sensations in my hands, feet, legs, and arms. But overwhelmingly, it's the fatigue that's getting me. I'll be back, I promise... maybe after a little nap.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Kids Say the Darndest Things

People sure do learn early in life that when someone says "I can't because I'm sick", the right thing to do is to ignore that excuse and push them to try harder, feel better, and generally stop being a pain in the ass. So, in the spirit of the "Sick Humor" section of Butyoudontlooksick.com, I'm going to give in to a fit of snarkiness for a moment. Last week, I flew 800 miles to spend a week with my stepmom, 12-year-old sis, 9-year-old sis, and 9-year-old brother. And on my last day in town, I had a migraine. All day. Couldn't get out of the house for the fun, all-day, outdoor activity they had planned. It broke my heart, and it broke the kids' hearts. But man, was I surprised at how relentless the kids were in trying to get me to feel better fast so I could come out with them. In real life, I was patient with them. But now, I've thought of all the things that would have been fun to say to them instead. 

Kid: Are you feeling better now? 

Me: Why yes, the last five minutes since you asked made me all better. I'm so glad you checked in with me to find out.

Kid: Dad told me that if you think positively, you can make your headache go away. What's wrong with you that you can't do it?

Me: Oh well, I guess I've failed the positive thinking cure once again. It must be my suicidal tendencies creeping out. Or maybe I just don't have any positive thinking cells left in my brain - they are all burned out from overuse. 

Kid: Can't you just come anyway, and stand in the shade? 

Me: Yes, because being out in 95 degree heat on a sunny day is just *lovely* when you have a migraine and nausea.

Kid: Can't you just force yourself to do it? It can't be that bad, can it? 

Me: Sorry, but yes, it can. 

Kid: Did you take medicine? 

Me: Why no, I hadn't thought of that!

Kid: Can you take more medicine? 

Me: Of course, I've been waiting for your permission to max out my dosage. Now I will, and I will be all better in another minute or so.

Kid: Is there anything else you can do to feel better? 

Me: Sure. I'll pray, stand on my head, and think positive thoughts. And get back to you later if it works.

Kid: Mommy always throws up when she has migraines. You aren't throwing up, so you must not feel that bad. 

Me: She's just a wimp.

Kid: Do you know how long you'll be feeling this way? 

Me: Yes, but I'm not telling you. It would spoil the surprise. 

Things Not to Say to a Sick Person with a Genetic Disorder

Wow, doctors can say ridiculous, insulting things. Two real winners I heard about from friends:

1. "In spite of your genes, you seem quite intelligent."

A doctor said this to a patient. Can you imagine? The patient should have replied "In spite of your medical degree, you seem profoundly stupid and ill-mannered!"

2. "If I saw you on a bus, I wouldn't be able to tell that there was anything odd or wrong about you."

A doctor said this to a patient. Again, can you imagine? The patient herself commented that she should have put her hands around the doctor's neck and asked "Can you tell now?!?"

I've got to add these horrible examples of bedside manner to my list of reasons to change to a new doctor.

Got any winners from your own experiences? Leave a comment!

Snappy Answers to "What Do You Do All Day?!?"

Yesterday, I officially applied for U.S. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. SSDI is the U.S. government program that pays you a meager monthly stipend if you become too sick to work at any job. It was a major pain in the ass to apply (more on that later), and made me realize one basic truth. I DO NOT WANT to be on government disability income. I DO NOT WANT to have my life up-ended by my neck problems. (Ask anyone who really needs disability income, and they will all say "NO, I don't want it, but I do need it." It's the people who are 100% pleased to get it who are the scammers!)

Earlier, I posted about how people don't know what to say when you explain that you are on medical/disability leave from work or school. "So, what do you do all day, anyway?" they ask. Some smart-ass answers to this indelicate question:

Dance naked and eat nothing but Twinkies… there’s no one around to see me do it, and I’m sick anyway, so who cares?

I'm a government spy. But I can't tell you that, or I would have to kill you.

I'm a professional TV watcher. (Thanks Tiffany, of Sick Girl Speaks for this suggestion!)

Lure small children to my house and cook them up for dinner.

Try and keep the voices in my head from killing each other.

Wish for superpowers.

Eat bon bons and get hot Chippendales guys to massage me all day.

I'm training for the Iron Man Triathalon.

Run a brothel.

I run a email spam empire. All those "bigger" "harder" "richer" emails are from me!

Use the power of positive thinking to “fix” me.

Memorize the entire TV guide.

Memorize every episode of every Law and Order (and L & O spinoff) show.

Hurt myself and get sicker so I can stay home and enjoy the “easy” life.

Devise a solution for peace in the Middle East.

See if I can watch every single title Netflix has to offer.

I own a moving business… load and unload trucks all day.

I help the Jehovah’s Witnesses go door-to-door.

I run a dog-fighting ring.

Exist just to make career-obsessed people nervous, to make healthy people nervous, etc.

The real answers are less exciting, but still important:

I rest. A lot. It takes a lot of energy to get well or be sick.

I email, write, and call family and friends. I wave to neighbors and sometimes have a quick chat.

I teach my dog new tricks.

I watch the Food Network and try and become a better cook (they make it look so easy).

I grunt through shitty exercises and PT!

I exercise more than I would like to!

I collapse midafternoon for an involuntary nap.

I try and put my story out there in case it might help someone else.

I read and meditate.

I take medications no fewer than four times a day.

I appreciate the many blessings in my life: good health insurance; a loving, helpful, and loyal (and sexy) husband); friends and family who haven’t forgotten me; a place to lay my head at night; disability insurance payments to keep the mortgage paid, put some food on the table, and keep the lights on.

And You Think YOU Need Your Medicine!

This is about how I get when I need my medicine. Haven't we all been there!?!

If you like cat humor, you will enjoy the I Can Has Cheezburger? site. It makes me laugh everyday. And that's good medicine, too. :)

"My Wife is Like a Jaguar... "

Last night, my husband was instant messaging with his best buddy from college. They were discussing how my dh had taken the afternoon off of work to cart me to two different doctor's appointments (each on opposite sides of town). The friend made some comment about "Wow, she's got a lot of medical appointments, doesn't she?" To which my dh calmly replied "My wife is like a Jaguar... great to look at, fun to drive, but always in the shop!"

If I had heard this conversation first-hand, I might have given my dh a punch in the shoulder for talking about me like this! However, on reflection, I figure two out of three isn't bad... my hubby still finds me attractive and sexy, even if I do require constant maintenance.

What kind of sexy, expensive sports car are you? Go babes, go!