Chronic Illness

Like many people my age I suffer from a chronic health condition which got me to thinking about how a lot of Americans suffer from chronic conditions but they aren't all physical health related...for example:

Chronic....

  • The world evolves around me and my beliefs. Perhaps this isn't specific to Americans but having lived just about everywhere including overseas...we have more than our share of these self centered clods. Most likely symptoms include inability to learn from mistakes, history, minorities, schooling or to understand common sense...
  • Although I'm a member of a large well-off group, I am a victim. This group seems to have more than it's share of 1%ers, those who believe they will become a 1%er, and white males. (read my lips not all fit this group but it is a sub group with a chronic victim issue)...But the good news is this group has their own support group called 'wall street', 'NRA' "teabaggers' although I don't think it helps

Causes...
  • Greed, hate, envy, fear, anger, laziness, lack of empathy...

The Cure...
  • Learn by doing, join others in real life settings like volunteering at a women's shelter, soup kitchen, hospital, food bank...
  • Get out of your comfort zone. Growth is possible only if you recognize change.
  • Be positive. Instead of always blaming, complaining, pointing a finger, learn to laugh, compliment strangers, see the world through their eyes, interact, smile. We all have dark moments but we can make efforts to let the light shine in...flip that switch and allow yourself to be happy.
  • Don't ever mistake material wealth for success...spend time doing things without expecting a return on investment...tip your toes into the Mississippi river, eat cotton candy, ride a camel, climb/plant/study/draw a tree...

BTW...Ignoring warning signs will lead to death ...the difference is how you want to die...I suffer from chronic calculus of the kidneys caused by enteric hyperoxaluria...(yeah say that ten times fast!). By treatment and diet, I can avoid most pain and live a productive and longer life...isn't that the goal for all of us? To create, learn, expand, imagine, and love...ignoring is never the solution.

Comments

Holly Cairns said…
Hi, ouch, painful crystals are formed. Oh dear. Can you eat a low oxolate diet? I see salicylate is measured too. Is that an anti inflammatory (aspirin)? I'm having trouble walking after knee surgery (routine arthro) - swelling and scar tissue formed (not common). I notice eating shrimp helps me move easier (maybe thus is in my head tough since I read about the substance that makes shrimp pink helping w issues). Yes, so, that is astaxanthin I'm talking about (I just looked it up again). The algae that some crustaceans eat causes them to turn pink... I wonder if astaxanthin would help?
6:03 AM
truthsurfer said…
I take nothing unless it's been okayed by my doctors (yes I have more than one)...As for astaxanthin, I believe it is very good for you...but so are veggies and I can no longer eat them due to the leaky gut issue... I am on a low oxalate, low sodium diet...I can eat shrimp but they are high in cholestrol so you have to be careful and not eat them everyday...
9:18 AM
Holly Cairns said…
Ah! I was hearing it was a wonder drug that helped pick up free radicals, etc. I wonder if it is worth asking your doc about... Anyhow, I'm glad you are taking care of yourself!!!
2:35 PM
Holly Cairns said…
Ok, so to get down to your "egocentric" claim, I think it might not be "egocentric" to worry about illness - even if it is a critical matter and a critical illness. I think a serious illness is best handled after serious thought. and We all experience angst, fear, strife, irritation, fatigue, etc with illness so with serious illness it is even harder to keep eyes on some dumb prize other than what we determine is important. And what is important? Normalcy? Financial stability? Less world suffering? People that live you factor in for some... People we love and love us make a difference. Sigh. Where am I going with this. My favorite existentialist is Frankel. And I was always amazed by your wisdom and kindness! Now I am amazed at your strength. Such eloquence.
6:21 PM
Holly Cairns said…
I'm glad you are so upbeat about it :-) doesn't sound good at all.
5:52 AM
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