#chronic fatigue

Hello everyone! As many of my followers already know, I started a program called Chronic Readers Club in April of 2018. Chronic Readers Club is a program that sends care packages to young people who are chronically ill containing a book from their personal wishlist, as well as many other goodies!

The good news is that the program has been incredibly successful, in that I’ll be sending out our 50th package in September, and more applications for packages are constantly pouring in! Unfortunately, that’s where the bad news comes in.

Chronic Readers Club needs your support! I run this program all by myself, and I am also chronically ill. I’m only able to work about 10 hours per week, which leaves me with little extra money. I’m so fortunate to have the support of the current patrons on the Chronic Readers Club Patreon (shoutout to Kaiti, Kathy, Mary, Stephanie, and Kerri!), and they have truly kept this program up and running!

But they can’t do it alone! And with the program’s consistent growth, I’m just not anywhere near keeping up with the applications coming in. As of now, everyone who applies for a package receives one, and I want to keep it that way. But some people have had to wait up to 6 months to receive their package, and in that time more and more people are applying! I may have to close applications again for a time, but I’m trying to avoid that!

I’ve been too ill this year to consistently keep up with advertising ways to help Chronic Readers Club, but I’m doing my best and will continue trying as best I can to provide different ways to support this program, because it’s something I deeply enjoy doing, and it’s something that’s truly helping people. One sweet chronic reader was kind enough to reach out after receiving their package to say “this cheered me up when I needed it most.” And that’s why I do this!

With that being said, one of the most helpful things you can do to support Chronic Readers Club is to become a patron on Patreon! When you become a patron, you get all kinds of cool benefits along with knowing that you’re supporting an awesome program! For more details on the benefits you get, check out our Patreon page!

Another way to help Chronic Readers Club is by donating either bookstore gift cards or small items! This can be done in a few ways. If you’d like to donate a gift card or small items you have (new items such as notebooks, stickers, erasers, pens, pencils, sticky notes, socks, lip balm, face masks, nail files, etc.!), please email me at [email protected] or feel free to message me on here! Or, you could purchase something from our Amazon wishlist!

Another way to support the program that’s super fun for everyone is by buying a Chronic Reader shirt! Any proceeds go back into the program, and you get a cool shirt!

Any and all support is appreciated, even if it’s something as brief as sharing this post! Thank you to all who have supported this program so far! 

Wishing you low pain and peaceful reading,

Megan <3

A post for when you don’t know what to say. 

https://www.warriorgoddessmusings.com/blog/dont-know-what-to-say

NEW BLOG POST!

Top 10 Drugstore Beauty Products Under $10 Each:

1. Yes To Cucumbers soothing eye gel [$8]
2. Batiste dry shampoo [$8]
3. Garnier Fructis strengthening treat hair mask [$3]
4. Queen Helene cocoa butter face and body cream [$3]
5. Wet n Wild makeup remover towelettes [$3]
6. Noxzema classic face wash cream [$4]
7. Nugg hydrating face mask [$4]
8. Herbal Essences tousling spray gel [$3]
9. Garnier skinactive miracle anti-fatigue sleeping cream [$8]
10. Formula 10.0.6 on your mark blemish mark fader [$9]

https://www.warriorgoddessmusings.com/blog/10-drugstore-products-under-10

I was recently yelled at by a man driving by as I was walking into a Starbucks after parking in a handicap spot. “Liar! Liar!” My first thought was “you weenie come back and say that to my face!” Then the shame set in. For awhile I felt guilty of…something. I know I’m sick but I know I don’t look sick, so maybe I don’t deserve my placard? It’s confusing and I understand. But then I reminded myself that 96% of chronic illnesses are invisible. Just because I look fine doesn’t mean my illness goes away or isn’t serious enough to be disabling. It’s not me that’s somehow confusing or misleading, it’s society and our expectations and stereotypes. Sick doesn’t have a look and neither does disabled. This idea that to be valid your illness or disability must be visible is ludicrous when you learn how many people are suffering from something unseen. Society needs a major reform in many ways, but especially with respect to its treatment and expectations of chronically ill and disabled people. What we really need is to just stop being so dang judgmental in general! Was it ever any of his business where I parked or if I “deserved” my license plate? No sir! All that I ask of people at this point isn’t even kindness, just neutrality or even indifference! Let me be! Can I just get my chai in peace?!

Me, the introvert at the beach

Walks to the left away from the crowd

My friend, the extrovert

Walks to the right straight towards the crowd

I spent so many years fighting

Fighting for my body
Fighting for my mind

Fighting for the right diagnosis or at least one that made sense and treatment worked

Fighting to be seen and heard by doctors

Fighting for validation

I’m finally at a place where I can rest

The “right” diagnosis finally came and a year later im improving

No more fighting
No more surviving

I’m living

I’m living small but I’m living a beautiful life

Don’t ever give up

You will heal and keep healing

When you have a mixed bag of chronic conditions and are flaring but not sure which one is flaring so you take a medication hoping it will alleviate all 12 invisible illnesses

Travelling with chronic illness is no joke

Where do you stay?
Is there mould?
Smells? Chemicals? Loud noises?
Stairs?

Not to mention all the planning, actual movement, packing, unpacking, activities.

And the money side of it too

So much goes into it that I took for granted before that now is just wow. Fun stress but stress

pureholistic:

Who are you?
Who cares?
Do we really have to define ourselves?
Sell ourselves?
Everything and nothing, I just am.
I have likes, dislikes and interests but have learnt that this elusive identity isn’t even important for me anymore.
I just am who I am.
And I’m always changing.
I recognise my triggers and patterns and I heal.
I just keep following my energy and overcoming blocks and celebrating triumphs and loving myself unconditionally.
It’s magic.
I’m magic,
You’re magic
And magic can’t be defined

Me, still, 3 years into chronic illness diagnosis despite living with symptoms daily

What is this?
What’s happening to me?
Is it all in my head?

Wtf?!

When you have a flare, know that you will be extra sensitive the following days and don’t be so hard on yourself.
Wear the eye mask
Put in the earplugs
Avoid the crowds

Look after yourself and be kind

Going to the beach but not putting your head under the water because you don’t have enough spoons to wash your hair

I’m so tired of my own mother not taking my health seriously. Shes my sole source of income right now, and she uses it to get me to move heavy objects (I have mystery weakness in my legs and back) clean out dusty rooms (Ive recently developed some moderate asthma) and be my older siblings caretaker (I have chronic fatigue to the point where sometimes simply sitting up is too much) . Don’t forget tricking me into eating food I’m allergic to, and guilting me about medical costs!!!

How many times can I say something’s wrong and that I’m in pain before I’m heard? Teachers, therapists, friends, they all agree and suggest I go to a neurologist or rheumatologist but my mother insists I’m just inactive and need to exercise more– even as I’m so fatigued and in so much pain that the two miles home from school leave my legs in so much pain I can barely bend them without wanting to cry. I’m just given vitamin d pills and iron pills because she swears I’m just deficient, even as my migraines last 4 days and are so bad I can’t open or close my eyes– the light hurts and my eyelids put too much pressure on the eyes.

But sure. It’s normal. I’m dramatic, even when I’m so fatigued I need a brace to keep my hands up because they’re just too heavy and I haven’t been able to do schoolwork or hobbies at all.

I wish she’d listen to me so I can find out what the hell is wrong with my body. I just want an answer and help, why can’t she stop blaming me for it and start helping me.

sleazyowl:

It’s so funny when you’re chronically ill and ppl tell you to “get well soon” and you’re just like… Thanks, I won’t.

catmat:

Not to be dramatic but chronic pain eats away at my soul.