How does you disability or disease encumber you life?

I do not allow my disability to dictate to me.

I have fallen on my butt getting out of my car..lol!

I have gone through periods when I thought I was legally insane!

I put up with a lot of pain and a lot of disbelief.

Have you ever been walking in public and your leg let go under YOU?Yup! fun isn't it.

I have Lyme Disease and if anyone is interested they can look it up and you can find a lot of information but I found the information too late and have had it for so long, that is very hard to exterminate it from my body.

I leave spaces between rows of words as otherwise they all go together on the page and are difficult to read or understand.

Meaning that, those who post lengthy unspaced diatribe are overlooked by myself and others who have this problem.

My motto is what does not kill me will make me stronger and as long as you keep a healthy sense of humor you will survive!

The more chronic the condtion, the more life altering (and distressing) it will be. Even temporarily disabilities can cause long term or permanent pychological distress, so it's easy to see how much more a chronic condtion affects a person.

In any case, the better the disease or disability is understood and tolerated by society and the people around, the easier it will be for the sufferer to cope with it or conquer its limitation (there is more support for it available, too, that way).

It can get really tough, then people around are ignorant or unknowledgable (not understanding, or thinking people fake things - this is happening most likely with mental illness and some more rare problems). So people with more "common" problems such as obesity, diabetis, cardiac problems will have less additional external stress stress factor (although their internal stress factors may be just as high as anybody else).

I believe that everyone has a disability one way or another, at some point in their life, so everybody should be carefull how they treat other's disabilities...

I have had Crohn's disease since the age of 12. I've endured many surgeries but have gotten through it w/my sense of humor and the support of family and friends.

I had a stroke 3 yrs. ago due to a 12" clot on my brain that left it 1/2 baked (as I call it lol). My short term memory is shot but I do remember my hubby and family (Praise God), I can't do math anymore, my grammar skills including speaking before others (I use to run an ostomy support group for Crohn's pts. but had to step down) aren't that great but I can still counsel IBD pts. & ostomy pts. over the phone. I was partially paralyzed for a short time on my entire right side but through the grace of God, I am able to walk, talk, and regain most of my strength back. It took me many months of intense physical and occupational therapy 3 x a week but I didn't care. My goal was to be there for my 3 nieces, 5 nephews, husband, family, and friends.

I am truly blessed to have an awesome support system & someone up there watching over me.

Since December 1997 when I had to file for disability, Life has been a road of struggles. It started out way before 1997, Actually in childhood. I have severe migraines which are disabling as I can not go outside in the heat, be in the sun, Storms affect my head, like I have a barometric gage in my head. I can tell my family and friends we have a storm coming sometimes two days before it hits. When in highschool I would pass out in class and wake up in nurses office, not knowing how I got there.

After I got married one day at work I had a migraine hit so hard and fast my boss had to call my hubby to come get me and take me home as my nose had started gushing blood. I was referred to a migraine clinic where they started me on meds, then I had my first major breakdown and was diagnosed as bi-polar.

Next thing that happened was the dotors told me I was diabetic. Then the arthritis hit me, in my hands, knees, ankles, shoulders, and back. when I thought things could get no worse I had a bout of bells pailsey where it paralized the right side of my face, which all of the problems from that was supposed to go away in a week. I still have the facial paralisis 8 years later.

Now for the fun part. Everything in my medical history I have they are now finding that it is gentic. At least one family member or more has the same problems I have or had them before they died.

Filing for diasability was a royal pain, as we went bankrupt waitng for the govement to decide if I was disabled, even though their dotors told me there was no way I could work in the shape I am in. I took the 18 months to fianally cave in and pay my disability. When they gave me my determination it said mental. So I tell everyone I am certified crazy by the goverment.

As for life never judge a book by its cover. Walk a mile in their shoe's. Treat others how you want to be treated. Those are my guides in life. The good Lord up above watches over me.

So when I fall down when getting out of my car, laugh with me not at me, lend a hand and help me up. If I am walking to slow in front of you be patient as I am moving as fast as I can. I will do anything for you as long as you understand my body has limits on what it will let me do and when it will let me do it. If I jump from subject to subject, bear with me I will eventually get back to the other subject soon. My memory is shot so forgive me if I forget something you told me last week or a month ago.

My life has changed so much, but it is also richer in many ways too. I have found the true friends that I have. I have learned there are doctors that are good But there are also doctors who care and are good. I know how to tell who is using me, but I will still give you a meal and a place to sleep if that is what you need. I spend lots of time alone and found other outlets for my creativity. I write poetry, teach my neices to sing silly songs at the top of thier voice. While swinging on the swing or grab a spoon and sing silly songs to my dogs like I am singing into a mirophone. My dogs will give me unconditional love and never judge me.

The only thing I want is others to open thier eyes to what other people go through on a daily basis. Life is not easy for anyone, but the disabled people I know, live for their family and loved one's. We all share the common bond of struggling to make it day by day and I think we are all that much stronger for it.