Receiving a Fibromyalgia diagnosis can be overwhelming since there is a lot of controversy and there is no cure, but here's some tips on finding the right treatment for you

The ultimate guide to Fibromyalgia and how to treat it

Receiving a Fibromyalgia diagnosis can be overwhelming, but don’t worry, while there is no cure there are Fibromyalgia treatment options. I’m fairly confident that in the last ten years I’ve tried most of them! Some work better than others, and each answer is individual, but a Fibromyalgia diagnosis is not a death sentence. So here’s…Continue reading The ultimate guide to Fibromyalgia and how to treat it

In honor of Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Awareness Day here's a list of 6 influential disabled women with chronic fatigue syndrome or ME

6 influential women with disability from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME

There are so many women in history who lived with disability and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Unfortunately, there is little information about them available so they can’t individually be a part of my Disabled Women in History series. However, in honor of chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis awareness month and…Continue reading 6 influential women with disability from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME

Florence Nightingale is famous for her nursing during the Crimean War, but many don't know she also a disability and spent much of her life bedridden. Was her illness Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or Myalgic Encephalitis?

Disabled Women in History: Florence Nightingale and Fibromyalgia

Florence Nightingale and Fibromyalgia seem like an unusual parring, but May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month and it’s time to raise awareness of Florences’ Fibromyalgia like symptoms that disabled her for most of her life. She was a hero and inspiration to many women through nursing, but no matter how hard she worked, doctors still said…Continue reading Disabled Women in History: Florence Nightingale and Fibromyalgia

Barbara Jordan was the first African American since reconstruction to be elected to the Texas senate. And that was just the first barrier that she crossed.

Disabled Women in History: Barbara Jordan breaking barriers

Today’s badass disabled woman is Barbara Jordan. Her story includes so many “firsts” it’s hard to keep track of them all.  A not exhaustive list of Barbara Jordan’s firsts: First African American to give the keynote address at either party’s political convention First African American to serve in the Texas State Senate since Reconstruction First…Continue reading Disabled Women in History: Barbara Jordan breaking barriers

It's always hard to know how to help or support someone with chronic pain. You might feel clueless and helpless and you want to do something about it. Here's 6 tangible suggestions to help someone with chronic pain.

6 tangible ways to help someone with chronic pain

I’ve written before about supporting someone with chronic illness by believing them and validating what they’re going through. Today though, we’re talking about tangible ways that can help someone with chronic pain and make a difference in someone’s day. My love language is food. I love to bake bread and share it with people, because…Continue reading 6 tangible ways to help someone with chronic pain

Wilma Mankiller was the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma

Badass Disabled Women in History: Wilma Mankiller

Today, I have an extraordinary story of Wilma Mankiller, a badass disabled woman. She participated in the occupation of Alcatraz, was the Time woman of the year, was the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, won the medal of freedom in 1998, and lived with polycystic kidney disease.  The first thing you notice…Continue reading Badass Disabled Women in History: Wilma Mankiller

How the opioid crisis can lead those with chronic pain to suicide

1 out of 10 suicides is due to chronic pain, and yet the link between chronic pain and suicide is often ignored. Furthermore, no one connects the opioid crisis to chronic pain suicide even though they’re all related to each other. Society demands that pain be concealed I’ve long struggled with finding the words to…Continue reading How the opioid crisis can lead those with chronic pain to suicide

There are many parts of coping with chronic illness that people just don't tell you about. Maybe because they're embarrassed, or maybe because they think they're all alone.

What no one tells you about coping with chronic illness

When you get diagnosed with a chronic illness there are some things your doctor will never tell you. Coping with a chronic illness is a complicated topic that even your friends with chronic illness may not approach. Sometimes because it’s not a “polite” topic of conversation, sometimes people think they’re the only one experiencing something,…Continue reading What no one tells you about coping with chronic illness

The devastating impact of Covid 19 on disabled people

Covid and disabled people feel like a topic that has been touched on many times. Somehow though, it feels like the news articles miss the mark. So today I want to talk being disabled in a pandemic. In February 2020, I didn’t know I was disabled. Hard to believe, right? I knew I was in…Continue reading The devastating impact of Covid 19 on disabled people

Losing friends to chronic illness is a frequent occurrence. Sometimes it's because people are afraid, they don't know what to do, or they just don't want to deal with it.

Where did everybody go? Losing friends to chronic illness

Someone once told me that losing friends to chronic illness or disability was not a thing, and if I felt alone it was all my fault. Words failed me. Years later, I have a better response. It struck me that this is what people don’t understand about chronic illness or disability. In their lives, if you…Continue reading Where did everybody go? Losing friends to chronic illness