I have had multiple tele-health visits the last couple of weeks, and I have to say, of all the yuck the past couple of years has brought us, one thing that I love is the access to tele-health, and the willingness of doctors offices to embrace and encourage it. At least my doctors office has. I love not having to drag myself out of bed and across town to the doctors office when it can be handled via video. I can stay in the comfort of my bedroom, with my snacks and my crochet while I wait for the doctor you ping my phone that she is ready for me. Then I can chat with her, without a mask and the inevitable white coat syndrome that hits every time I go to the doctor, and just talk about what is going on and come up with a plan. This is a fantastic thing for those of us with chronic conditions, and I hope it stays forever!
As I thought about this bright spot in the midst of a pretty dark year or so, I decided to think of other things that I can be thankful for and have noticed are improving in my health situation. For one, my mental health is so much better. Going to therapy was one of the single best things I have done for myself. Using the tools Megan and I have talked about helps me to avoid those deep pits of depression that used to catch me off guard, and the negative self talk that would bring me down, and the guilt i would feel because i can not do what I used to do.
Another is my physical health, in general. I am still quite a mess, but over the past 6 months or so I have begun to see improvements there as well. The protocol of meds and supplements I take daily have allowed my body to calm down a bit, Most the symptoms that were ranking 10 out of 10 for causing daily and nightly disruptions to my life have been dialed back to something like a 3 or 4. Migraines are less frequent, Fibromyalgia flares are less frequent, and the symptoms of MCAD/Histamine intolerance are manageable over all. Still dealing with some gut issues, but we have a plan to see if we can improve those over the next few weeks.
The chronic pain from my wreck 8 or so years ago is quite diminished to the point that I can stretch one "good pill" prescription out for months, and not have to increase my tylenol or advil dosing too much.
All these are good things, improvements, and changes for the better. Though each condition has to be managed daily or things can start to tip in the wrong direction and I can end up in a mess again. And sometimes it just happens regardless of what I do or don't do. Weather and other things I can not control can take me out very quickly. But when I can I get back up and keep on fighting.
I still have a multitude of issues to deal with that are not well controlled yet, but I continue to work on them. Issues with my gut, my feet, hip, and neck still flare up more than I would like, but we have a plan, and unfortunately that plan has a lot to do with time. Consistent attention to stretching, walking, wearing inserts in my shoes, major diet adjustments etc. But despite all this, today I have thought about the improvements and the good things that are happening.
Tomorrow the fight begins anew, and I am thankful for the progress I have made that I can reflect on and remember when things get harder as they always do.
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