HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What You Have Learned Whlie Being Sick

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/28/2017 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all,

I'm constantly trying to learn from my battle with chronic illness. One thing I have definitely noticed is how resilient, intelligent, and insightful, the chronic illness community is. I was wondering if any of you would be willing to share what some of your biggest life lessons have been while being sick.

Personally I have never taken my health for granted and was an avid athlete almost from the time I could walk until I got sick 3.5 yrs ago. This is truly my own personal hell. As a result I have tried to focus on other areas of my life that I didn't value as much (such a relationships) and just grow as a person. Although I have definitely grown and enriched other areas of my life my heart is still broke and I honestly just feel like crap. I feel like I cant replace the old me and my old lifestyle. I'm just not that happy, which makes me feel like I'm missing the bigger picture or not enlightened in some way. It would be great to hear how some of you have dealt with this challenge if you can relate.
Posted 4/28/2017 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Not to procrastinate. Sometimes you cant count on feeling well later. Take an active role in your healing journey and learn as much as you can. Share what works for you with others without expecting something in return. Be grateful for what you do have.
Posted 4/28/2017 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
You cannot change what people will say, think or do. It's all in how you react to it.

And attitude is a very big part of healing

Xoxo
Posted 4/28/2017 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have learned about chronic pain...and chronic illness in general....through experiencing my own.

I have a better understanding what people who have a chronic illness go through...and am more empathetic.
Posted 4/28/2017 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
The biggest things I've learned have been more about self empowerment. Things like I speak up in doctors offices now - if it's wrong, it's wrong, and I'm not worried about being able to get back in to one if I know more than they do - and to realize that their personal insults to me are just because I frighten them with my own knowledge and ability to deal with my situation.

As far as my 'old life' - I didn't have much of one, as I've been sick nearly my whole life with these infections, so I don't have that. What I can say is to expect this situation to change you!! It should change you!! We are having our eyes opened up to possibly a great deal of things that we never took time to notice before - like you said about relationships. From my point of view, life is about relationships, not about work and what we can accomplish so much, but our relationship with people and with things. We need to be careful to see more value in relationships with people than with things.

And as CA said - sharing with others without expecting anything in return. That alone has released me from quite a bit of misery, to be honest.
Posted 4/28/2017 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes, and this is going to sound a bit negative, but I feel like I've learned nothing at all. I forget so much! Either that, or I don't have the executive thinking ability to apply the lessons I've learned.

You're very in the moment, at times, with Lyme. I'm here, doing this thing, and I react however I react, given my state of emotions or whatever. There's not much higher thinking going on.

Sometimes.

Other times, I remember some of what's been mentioned already.

I can't wait to see what sort of person I am when I get better. I want to be beautiful. :D
Posted 4/28/2017 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bmoberg. I can totally relate. I, too, am (I'm keeping that in the present tense, even if it's on hiatus) an avid athlete and have had to stop doing so many of the things I love. I know that all of us have, regardless of our symptoms. So, I have learned to find joy in the little things. Honestly, a smile from the CVS pharmacist when I pick up a refill ... I have to find joy in that.

And, like Girlie said, I am more empathetic. My symptoms are primarily neurological (with severe headaches my worst). I don't "appear ill" to most, except my family and closest friends. So, I now look at others differently and ask, what are they going through? We are all dealing with something. I try to practice those random acts of kindness (even when I feel like my brain is too large for my skull).

I've also learned this is a long journey, but so many have found success along the way and made it to the other side. I believe we can all get better. We can! And, I know that the many people with whom I've communicated on the forum have pulled me along when I was feeling stuck.

I've learned that even the most well intentioned family members and friends will never really know what you're going through. How can anyone, if they haven't dealt with this. So, I've turned to the forum in certain moments, and been supported by those who say, "Yep, been there, hang in there, you will get better." You will.
Posted 4/28/2017 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
All I've learned is to not trust the medical community. Nothing positive changed in my personality because of this disease. Other outside sources have had much more positive influence on me than getting sick with this.
Posted 4/28/2017 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
bmoberg337,
I understand now that a lot of what I used to think was people just being asses is that they likely have some underlying disease or medical issues, that they might not even be aware of. And they might probably feel just as crappy as I feel, causing them to act awful. In my own family and my husband's, there are so many with health issues, taking all sorts of prescription meds, and many are functioning alcoholics. I just wonder how many of them actually have chronic lyme?
Posted 4/28/2017 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Traveler,
You are such an inspiration smile

KB69 and Girlie, ditto what you said!!

Big hugs to you all.
Posted 4/28/2017 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing guys. Definitely has given me some things to think about.
Posted 4/29/2017 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi bmoberg337!-

I am so sorry to hear about your struggles. Chronic Illness is a tough thing to deal with. Everyone's healing journey is different.

There are times that I have complete emotional meltdowns. Feel disconnected from family and friends because they don't understand.

If you ever need to talk or vent, we are here for you!

Sending you many ((Hugs!))

Best Wishes!
Posted 4/29/2017 12:30 AM (GMT 0)

julymorning said...
All I've learned is to not trust the medical community. Nothing positive changed in my personality because of this disease. Other outside sources have had much more positive influence on me than getting sick with this.

sometimes its a cool breeze ,a soft caress or a gf goat chz pizza but i have learned to appriciate ...
conversely i have become more cynical as my health is directly propotionate to my finances as the health system continues to abandon and string people out on things to mask their symptoms .i have taken up arms of truth with science and hope eternal for fighting this engineered super syphalis that is threating humankind
Posted 4/29/2017 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Yes Traveler, you do a great deal of sharing on this website, and we all very much appreciate your help and guidance!
Posted 4/29/2017 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
LOL, Blue!! "a soft caress or a gf goat chz pizza" - I'm going to have to try that!!!

Well, thank you all blush I needed to share what I was forced to learn, as I thought it might help other avoid the pitfalls I had landed in. You all have been here to help me with my questions as well!!
Posted 4/29/2017 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I have been extremely healthy all my life. I learned how a tiny tick (and it was my first ever tick bite) can change all that dramatically.

The biggest lesson I learned was patience. I can't think of anything that made me more patient, than healing from lyme disease. I have learned foreign languages, many musical instruments, accounting/bookkeeping, many crafts, painting, photography, self taught on many difficult computer programs (Photoshop) and am still learning the piano. But being patient with lyme was my challenge.

I am all about hard work and consistency and reaping rewards from that. Lyme rewards took months and that was not easy to accept.

Now life is back to normal for me but always on the lookout for a lyme symptom to appear. I know it is still in me and just a slight tip of the scales would make that balance bring about symptoms.
Posted 4/30/2017 3:48 AM (GMT 0)

1000Daisies said...
There have been many things I've learned in this journey:
* These diseases can rob a child of the innocence of childhood.
* The medical community is extremely broken.
* There are major issues in both allopathic and alternative medications.
* There is a lot of conflicting information and/or lack of information on many things related to this.
* Functional medicine is definitely a viewpoint that I embrace.
* I really didn't know anything about lyme/etc disease, and now I know more than I ever thought was possible (and yet, I still don't know anything).
* Enjoy the "good" moments when you get them.

Well said Daisies.
Posted 4/30/2017 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Life is short and certainly not always fair, use healthy time wisely.

As far as coping, I looked at it like one very long endurance event. Half way some people might want to drop out, try your best not to.

My brother always said at least you have still two arms and two legs, it could be worse. I'm a lot better, but not 100% after roller coaster decades of this.

Post Edited (astroman) : 4/29/2017 10:21:12 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/30/2017 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Also agreeing with what Daisies said!
Posted 4/30/2017 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
I've learned to be patient. I am very type A and like to be in control of everything. I want to take the abx, get well, and get on with it. But that's not how this works. I can't control anything about this disease. It's taught me that I can't control everything.

It's taught me to not sweat the small stuff. I used to want everything done in a certain way, at a certain time, etc. (see above). I've learned that things like how the dishwasher is loaded doesn't really matter.

I've never been a wallflower, but I've learned that I am stronger than I thought.

I've learned to appreciate my family and friends. I have been blessed with a very supportive family and "village." It's been very humbling. I've learned to appreciate how wonderful my husband, kids, mom (who I've had a rocky relationship with in the past), and friends are. I've learned that my marriage is stronger than I thought it was.

It took me a while to get to this place though.
Posted 5/2/2017 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Please give this a watch.thanks if you contributed.
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXrZSajlZhwo
Posted 5/2/2017 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I learned that a great deal of patience, endurance, strength, and determination is needed to fight this illness.

I learned what it really feels like to be clinically depressed, and I now empathize with those who are experiencing it

When I was at my worst, I looked back at my life and all of the mistakes I made - it changed my view of myself and life and I became a better person because of it.

It made me no longer take my health for granted, bc I did in the past.

I learned what severe pain really feels like, and I also learned that understanding my body and symptoms was the most important part of healing - if you can't tell the difference btwn toxicity, side effects, or herxing - it is very difficult to know what path to take.

I learned how incredibly wonderful the moderators and members on this forum are, they helped me by sharing their experiences, educating me, and emotionally supporting me. Now I give back as much as I can.

I learned how diet can make all the difference in one's health.

In Jan of 2014 I was not able to push a shopping cart or lift anything heavy - after I got better, I started exercising little by little, and now I believe exercise is keeping me in remission, and I can lift 20lb dumbells when doing bicep curls. I am not at all saying this to brag, I am only trying to provide encouragement~!!

I also learned how little doctors and the public know about lyme
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply