The Chronic Elephant blog by hellytheelephant

'Looking Forward' to Another Year of ME....

This Chronic Elephant Blog is about how coping with the daunting prospect of another year of ME:

https://thechronicelephant.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/hippy-pants.html

 

I started the year by planning all manner of self improvement. So far so good. On Valentines day I have a date with my dentist...

...In his chair under a light so bright you gotta wear shades.

 

Good on you @Frogger - That is showing yourself some self love! I keep having to cancel my check up as not well enough....Since the hygienist told me that she regularly sees ME patients with mouths full of decay, I am making it a priority!

 

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MY 4TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DISABILITY....AND TRYING TO 'CELEBRATE'.

Check out my new BLOG post, which is about the 4 year journey I have been on in accepting my disability.
https://thechronicelephant.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/the-end-of-beginning-my-4th-disability.html

Please SHARE on your favourite social media, and don't forget to leave a comment.

 

If it isn't about just not being able to get out of bed, it is about not having money.

In California, if you are on MediCal, you can now get so many more dental services than ever before and they are all absolutely free.

 

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10 PODCASTS TO MAKE YOUR EARS SMILE

My latest Blog is a list of 10 lovely Podcasts to entertain/inform you. Click on the links to find out more about each.

https://thechronicelephant.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/10-podcasts-to-make-your-ears-smile.html

 

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HEAL ME: REVIEW OF BOOK ABOUT PAIN AND CHRONIC ILLNESS BY JULIA BUCKLEY

My latest Blog is a review of the book HEAL ME, by Julia Buckley. The book is ostensibly about Chronic Pain, but I think it will be of great interest to Me patients also.

https://thechronicelephant.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/heal-me-book-review.html

 

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BLOG about Spiritual journeys, Pain and Creativity

https://thechronicelephant.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/a-tale-of-3-cities-part-one-brighton.html

 

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BLOG, A TALE OF THREE CITIES PART 2- LA PAZ< BOLIVIA: Spiritual journeys, Pain and Creativity-

PART TWO OF MY 'TALE OF THREE CITIES' BLOG TAKES US TO BOLIVIA...

https://thechronicelephant.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/a-tale-of-3-cities-part-two-la-paz.html

 

@hellytheelephant

Sounds hairy.

 

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Eeyore at the Beach

After a rather tough Summer, I'm back Blogging...and ever so slightly grumpy...(!)



https://thechronicelephant.blogspot.com/2018/10/eeyore-at-beach.html

Thanks for reading and sharing on social media.
Please feel free to leave a comment.

 

Welcome back @hellytheelephant

I'm delighted to discover your excellent blog.

I'm so sorry your health has been so awful this summer. Living with chronic illnesses is a never ending struggle, and a lonely one. You've made me feel so much less alone today, just when I really, really needed it.

 

This was me, till 4am last night:

"New Year's Day: I cracked. I had the mother and father of all crying jags of self pity. There was sobbing, breathlessness and hair stuck on my face from the floods of saline. It was like a dam bursting: one minute I was fine, then my stoical resources washed away in a nano second. Small animals ran for cover, and I wondered if we were going to need sandbags."

"The plucky Dunkirk spirit has been alive and well and in a bed in Dorset, UK. Having said that: Christopher Nolan will not be making a film of my last weeks anytime soon."

https://thechronicelephant.blogspot.com/2018/01/hippy-pants.html

Yes.

I can't express just how much this helps. Today. Exactly today. From my lonely bed in Manchester, overwhelmingly frustrated, sad, defeated, scared, isolated, envious, angry...

"Sometimes we put all our energies into keeping relentlessly positive, when what we need is to have a 'hang on a minute...' moment, and to admit we feel rubbish."

 

Gentle to both of you.

Sometimes you need a friend to just sit with you and listen. Keep you company as you plumb the depths rather than beating you about the head with rope ladders made out of clichés. Perhaps, sometimes people need try to push positivity on others to make themselves feel better, less uncomfortable. So it easy to find yourself acting all positive to save their feelings.

One of the things I love about this place - we can discuss the reality without putting a gloss on it. You might be typing in isolation but others will be out there nodding quietly.

to everyone feeling low today.

 

I am so sorry your having a rotten time@Squeezy. Thank you for your comments, which have definitely brightened up my day,much appreciated!

I hope tonight is a better one. Helly
Hello

 

@Invisible Woman - so beautifully expressed.
I especially love:

Exactly how it feels. Exactly.

@hellytheelephant I nodded quietly, laughed, and cried some more at things you've written. And I picked up a piece of charcoal and drew for the first time in years.

 

That is brilliant news@Squeezy! How did it feel to draw again?

I am also in bed and drawing today- it all looks not the best work, but that is never the point, without drawing I would be going even more crazy than I am. had 20 years of no drawing or painting, so I know how hard it can be to start doing it again.

 

It felt lovely I'm no great artist, and it hurts me to concentrate, so no drawing from life for me. I just picked up a charcoal pencil my son has and started drawing a spiral. I just let my hand do what it pleased. Shading and shaping, enjoying the sensation.

I think and worry too much. This is the opposite. No words, just drifting. You're right, @hellytheelephant. It's the doing of the art that's important, not the finished product.

Maybe I'll splodge some colours on a page tomorrow. See what appears. It's a lovely thought to go to sleep with.

 

Those rub on transfers are new to me. And I was around in the 70s.

The closest I come to being an artist is adult coloring books. I colored a page this week-end and enjoyed it.