Are You Suffering Post Traumatic Stress Unknowingly?

You don’t have to be a soldier to have post traumatic stress. Karlton shares how one with a chronic illness may suffer from PTSD.

“When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place” (Psalm 118:5).
http://restministries.com/2015/04/are-you-suffering-post-traumatic-stress-unknowingly/

Walk A Mile In My Shoes

To the next doctor that questions my pain, I will simply ask him to "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"


To the next friend or family member who questions my pain, my condition or my sanity, I will say: "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"


For all the people who make stupid and insensitive remarks like "It can't hurt that bad", I say to them, "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"


To the pharmacy where I have to go every 28 days to keep my pain from pushing me over the top, I say to you, "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"


  Once you have walked in my shoes, felt my pain, lost everything, then come back to me; we'll talk.

From today forward, I refuse to have my honesty, integrity or character demeaned by people who have not walked in my shoes; who have never experienced such excruciating pain that you would cut off the offending limb if you had a sharp enough knife. I will no longer allow myself to be treated like a drug addict, pathological liar or an emotionally disturbed person seeking attention.

 I do not ask to live in pain. I never asked to be struck down with an incurable condition. Nor, do I believe it is somehow my fault because the doctors can't cure me. That does not give them the right to treat me like a failure; or insult my intelligence with fancy words thrown around to make themselves feel better or try to make me feel like an addict looking for my next fix.


You cannot measure a person's pain. It is many times invisible. Does that make it any less real? What is pain suposed to look like?


Education is the key. It is time to take a stand against the ignorance, misinformation and misguided intentions of a society that started a "War Against Drugs" that morphed into a "War Against People Living With Chronic Pain".


We need to change the mindset of the population that does not understand and never will without our help. I am going to start the dialogue; over the coming months I will be putting together a coalition of professionals and patients, patient advocates, family members and anyone who wants to take a stand.


A stand for reasonable treatment; to be treated as individuals, to have our medical needs met with both standard or non-traditional therapy's. To not be dismissed, denied or discouraged.

The Spoon Theory written by and spoken by Christine Miserandino

What is an Invisible Disability?

What is an Invisible Disability

In general, the term disability is often used to describe a physical or mental challenge. This could be a bump in life that can be managed or a mountain that creates serious changes and loss. Either way, this term should not be used to describe a person as weaker or lesser than anyone else! Every person has a purpose, special uniqueness and value, no matter what hurdles they may face. READ MORE

Living with Lupus

Have you ever woke up feeling hung over, but you didn't have a single drink? Woken up feeling nausea, but you aren't pregnant? Ever been so fatigued that no matter how much sleep or coffee you get/have, you can barely lift your head off the pillow?

Personally, I never know how I'm going to feel on any given day, or even every hour. I can cycle through feeling fine and terrible multiple times a day.
I often feel like I've been hit by a mac truck, every part of my body is effected.  I get that feeling the minute I wake up in the morning, before I am even out of bed.
And some days, I just want to stay curled up in bed, but I know that on most days, not even that will make me feel better as the pain of laying there is so great I have to get up take a shower to help with the pain.
I have to pace myself , which is a hard thing to do when things start to pile up around the house.
It's hard to make plans as I usually have to cancel them. But I do make them and thankful when I can make it.
You can probably talk to 100 different people with lupus, and get 100 different lists of symptoms and complications.....No two cases of lupus are exactly alike.
Patience is need so much with chronic illness. It is a daily fight that I must endure and I had to learn patience to cope with it . I trust God with the process and know He is with me all the time, to help me cope.

Stress is a NO no!! I really have to watch out for it. I know from past experiences it throws me right into a flare. click to see Signs and Symptoms of Lupus Flare

A tell-tale sign of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and bridge of the nose. Other common skin problems include sensitivity to the sun with flaky, red spots or a scaly, purple rash on various parts of the body, including the face, neck, and arms. Some people also develop mouth or lip sores.

I Started out yesterday fine and by night fall I had a rash above both eyes. Today as the day went on I got a rash on the side of my nose.

Sometimes I get it above my lip and I also get sores inside my mouth.

It took MANY years to finally get a diagnose. I knew since I was in my 30's something wasn't right. I've been to so many Dr's I lost count. I was told so many times it is all in you're head.  I was told I had so many different illness's i think to get rid of me. But along the way i found a few Dr's who willing to help e. I was finally diagnosed In 2011. I went on disability in May 2011. I miss working and doing the things I use to love, but acceptance was something that i had to get with. I lived so long living in my health , that i finally had enough and I LIVE LIFE today to the best of my ability!!

I also suffer with other disorders along with the Lupus. Fibromyalgia, Sjogren's Syndrome, Chronic IBS-D, Bursitis/ Arthritis , Degenerative Disc Disease & bulging disks in neck and lumbar, Chronic pain.
I am going through a batch of tests right  now ( 4-2012) for the chronic IBS as I have lost a lot of weight. Ive been sick with it since  June 2010. I will having a Breath test May 1st .

If you suffer with any Chronic Illness , My prayers are with you! I know I just focus on all the good I  have in my life today! I am thankful for so many things and I have a wonderful family and support system.
I love knitting, reading, all kinds of crafts, music, cooking/baking, watching movies, baseball ( METS), football ( Miami Dolphins) the beach and the country. We have a cat named Honey Kitty, she is the Queen of our house.

God Bless Donna S.         OH and drink plenty of Water!

~Fear not the valley that you are going thru, for you tredge it not alone, God has sent Grace and Mercy to walk it out with you~
"Heavenly Father, Please give me the strength I need to meet each challenge I will face today.Thank You that You promise never to leave me or forsake me.I know that You are always there. You are always for me."

Feeling on my health

I have to admit that I am still not used to this journey through life with chronic health issues. I go along and have a week or 2 feeling pretty good and then wham I am hit with a flare or chronic pain so bad I can't do much of anything .

I guess I somehow think that I will keep on feeling good, even though I know that is never the case. It is hard some times when days go by and i am stil not feeling good and I sit and think of all the things I could be doing. It gets depressing at times and frustrating.
I sometimes have to force myself to simply do something. Anything. Pray, read my bible, or write. These are the lonely times for me.

These are the times I need to remember, “Fear not, I am with you.” I repeat to myself over and over “This too shall pass,” “I'm going to be ok.,” “God is in control.”

Hard to believe at times? Most certainly. Do I always believe the words I say to myself? To be honest – no – at least not at first. But as I repeat them to myself, as I focus less and less on me and more and more on who is in control, it gets easier. Easy? No. Easier. Yes.
I find that the place I chose to focus gets the most attention. Do I focus on the pain, the things left undone, the difficulties? Well, if I do, it doesn’t help. I have found that out for sure.
If I focus on God, His promises, turn on music, read something positive, talk to someone who knows how I feel, and then just reassure myself that God is in control, it makes all the difference in the world.

Father God, I praise You that we have a friend who is always there and always cares: Even when the bottom drops out, Your everlasting hands are there. Amen and Amen. So be it, Lord!