September 17, 2012

Slacking: it's not a diet; it's a lifestyle

You know those times in your life when you're just completely exhausted?  When it's all you can do to get through the day, bargaining with yourself over what you have to do versus what you can let go?  That's me lately.

I'm dealing with some recurrent health issues, mostly vitamin and mineral deficiencies caused by Crohn's disease.  I also have an autoimmune form of arthritis.  (A quarter of folks with Crohn's disease develop it as a secondary issue.)  And I have fibromyalgia.  You know, for those times when none of my other chronic or episodic health problems are flaring up.  Fibromyalgia steps in and is all, "She's feeling good lately.  I got this!"

Stupid fibromyalgia.

Actually, fibro's just a grunt.  The big boss, autoimmunity, is the one pulling the strings.  Autoimmune diseases tend to cluster together, like a group of annoying, gossipy preteen girls.  Being diagnosed with one autoimmune disease magically makes you more likely to be diagnosed with another one.  Or two.  Or five.  Our overzealous immune systems are like, "I AM ALL POWERFUL.  I SHALL VANQUISH MINE ENEMY AND SMITE ALL INTERLOPERS."  Only, it ends up smiting perfectly normal tissue and causing disease.

Both of my parents are also the lucky recipients of autoimmunity.  My mom has hypothyroidism and that sneaky bastard fibromyalgia.  My dad was recently diagnosed with diabetes.  I guess autoimmunity is the downside to my otherwise stellar genetic inheritance.  (Except for, you know, the whole mental illness thing and the tendency to collect belly fat.) 

Anyhoo, my goal in sharing this is not to garner sympathy.  Rather, it is to give an explanation for why I've failed to return to regular blogging now that my summer hiatus is over.

I'd planned to resume my thrice weekly posting schedule this month.  But I'm tired.  And the truth is, I liked just posting when I felt like it.  When I had something to say.  So that's what I'm going to do from here on out.  That means some weeks I'll post 3 or 4 times, and some weeks I won't post at all.  But I won't go away forever without giving you the heads up.  So don't give up on me, y'all. 

And if you haven't already, you might want to subscribe to my blog by email.  That way, all my erratic, unpredictable gems will show up in your inbox as they're published--which you will most definitely not want to miss, as I have a new Afro wig and some fresh raps in the works!



2 comments:

  1. I know you weren't posting for sympathy...but I'm sorry to hear of your current ails. Ugh.

    We'll pray for your uplifted spirits and body.

    And I don't subscribe -- because I like that moment while your blog is loading -- "Today? Will there be soemthing today?" (;

    Love,
    Mama

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  2. Oh man, Danielle. I know you didn't post this to garner a collective "Awwww!", but I had to let you know that I really feel for you. My friend has fibro and watching her struggle with it has been so heartbreaking and also maddening because nothing seems to help her! It seems like it's winning the battle.

    You take your time, get lots of rest, and don't worry about us. Your true fans will be here! I'm an email subscriber, so I'm not going anywhere. And if you ever need anything, even if it's just an outlet to vent, you have my email address. I'm always here for you!

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