[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Spend so much time in bed without earrings in, piercings close up.”]

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Be pain-free and not able to leave the house or be in pain and able to leave the house. You choose.”]

Everyone knows that you shouldn’t drive while on narcotics. In order for me to be pain-free, or somewhat pain-free, I have to take Vicodin. So everyday I get the choice of: being able to leave the house while in an extreme amount of pain or not being able to leave the house while having relief from the pain.

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Start taking new medication for fibro, lose short term memory”]

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Tell doctor about new symptom. “I bet you read that on the internet.””]

Oh my rage. Recently, I’ve been taking hot showers and I’d get out and my body would just shut down. I’d throw up, I’d feel weak and dizzy, and I’d have to go lay down, followed by sleeping for 8 to 12 hours. I took a hot bath (trying to relieve pain) and I slept from 5 PM to 7 AM.  One of my specialists told me (didn’t say WHY other than my pain) to talk to my primary about getting an MRI done on my spine, so I do. And while I’m there I mention my shower issue and she goes “Oh, I bet you read that on the internet or something didn’t you? And now you want an MRI.” What. I got so angry I was in tears. I just. No. I told you because I think I should be able to shower without dying, I kind of thought that was important, since I’ve been sick for the past year with something undiagnosed. Silly me.

Even better, she didn’t want to give me the MRI because she didn’t want to have to deal with my insurance, she told me point blank. I’m sorry for making you do your job.

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat. Text reads: “Oh God can’t sleep why… Oh. Pills.”]

I’ve been having hell getting to sleep and finally started melatonin to help and everything was going so, so well until this one night. Couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t fall asleep, but then realized that I forgot to take my evening pills… one of which if I forget I don’t sleep at all. Oops.

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: TOP: “Get engaged” BOTTOM: “Can’t wear ring because of joints”]

My fiance thinks I’m joking, but I really want the one ring so I can wear it around my neck and tell people “I can’t put it on, the Nazgul will find me. Duh you guys.” 

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat. Text reads: “Stairs and stares”]

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Christmas gift from Grandma: box of Celebrex samples”]

It really sucks having arthritis and little-to-no money for doctor appointments, but sometimes there’s a benefit to having the same disease as your grandma.

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Need food to live. Can’t cook due to pain.”]

And no mircowavable food in the house. ;;

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Get physical therapy for relearning how to breathe”]

Went to my DO because I’ve been having costochondritis on and off for the past year. He explains that I keep re-flaring it because I’ve lost the ability to diaphragmatic breathe after a year of on and off asthma crises, and gives me PT for it. 

I noticed when I was leaving that instead of costochondritis my diagnosis said “Tietze Syndrome” which is a little different. My joint between my ribs and costal cartilage is swollen. Now that it’s been pointed out, I constantly notice it, because the tissue is SO swollen I can feel it by touching near my sternum.

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Focus on work for more than two minutes at a time / SUCCESS”]

Or more like 30 seconds at a time, amirite

chronic pain + finals = a giant bowl of nope soup 

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Top: Orthopedist tells you to see a rheumatologist, rheumatologist tells you to see an orthopedist.  Bottom: Lather, rinse, repeat”]

I wish that House hadn’t invented the “diagnostition,” because it’s getting a little old being shuffled from doctor to doctor, and never getting answers.

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “PEOPLE AT PHARMACY KNOW YOU BY NAME AND MEDS”]

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Orgasm as an analgesic”]

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat. Text reads: “Need cane to walk - Cane hurts back: Can’t walk anyway”]