slo’s THURSDAY 7/10 poll - Chronic Diseases

[slo]

I was all set with the topic of my poll and then I heard on the TV that today is National Chronic Disease Day. I checked it out, and sure enough it is. So, I decided to make this the topic of today’s poll. Now you could say….Sandy, this isn’t a fun topic. And you’re right, it’s not, but it’s a topic that’s good to discuss sometimes. Others can learn from what we talk about, and others may feel better when they realize they are not alone - that others have to manage chronic diseases too. Many chronic diseases are invisible, so you don’t realize that someone has to manage a disease unless they tell you. I really don’t like to say suffer from a disease, because that sounds sad and negative. We have what we have, it’s not going anywhere, so we have to manage it in order to live our best life with it/them.

So….what is a chronic disease? If you don’t know, here ya go…..



After reading that, let’s discuss our chronic disease(s). If you need to complain/vent about what you’re managing, then we’re here for you. If you’re able to provide some hugs for people, that would be lovely. If you’re able to answer questions that others may have, that would be appreciated. Here we go…..

Do you have a chronic disease?
If yes…..how many?
(multiple choice)



For Me……Yes, I have 3 that I know of. I have severe Ulcerative Colitis , Raynauds’s Disease and Sjorgren’s Syndrome. I am seeing a new Rheumatologist at the University of Chicago in September because my family doctor is concerned that I may have Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus.

I get infusions for my UC and I’m very very very strict with my diet and I’ve been in remission for almost 3 years. I don’t take the medication for the Sjorgren’s, because my eye doctor said it could ruin my eye sight, so I decided to just manage the joint pain that I have without the meds. Unfortunately the Sjorgren’s is advancing causing me a lot more joint pain these days. I also don’t take the medication for the Raynauds because it’s blood pressure medication, and when I tried this medication, it made my blood pressure drop a lot and I fainted. I’m looking forward to discussing all this with my new doctor.

I don’t get to down in the dumps with my issues. Sometimes I may have a pity party, but it’s not to often. These are my crosses that I must carry, and if I stay positive and upbeat then the crosses aren’t as heavy. I don’t pray that my issues are lifted from me, but I do pray that I’m given the mental strength to manage them and I feel that my prayers are answered every day.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Oh dear heaven on earth, it’s official: I’m a crone!?!

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Hugs SLO
I have macular degeneration from a medication I took I think I probably will not go blind but there’s no guarantee my eyesight is horrendous I am now no longer comfortable driving at night it’s made a major hindrance in my everyday life it is not like regular macular degeneration because this one was caused by a medication it’s a little bit different There’s nothing they can do for it I try not to let it get to me but some days it does I like to stick with the hopefulness that I will not go blind my fingers are crossed and I’m praying the last three years it’s not gotten any worse so that’s a really good sign

They are starting to figure out that I probably have rheumatoid arthritis so I’m in the process now trying to find a doctor here there’s a shortage of these doctors in my area but I need to start getting that addressed after years of complaining they’re starting to listen to it and the reason they never did is because I have a spinal cord injury and they kept blaming it on that

My spinal cord injury is not a chronic disease but it is a chronic problem that requires ongoing management and sadly surgeries I would consider it just like a chronic disease because it is a chronic problem that affects my whole body I’ve had this problem since I was 22 I will be 60 this year I consider myself extremely blessed I am not paralyzed because they keep telling me I’m going to be

Am I younger days I had endometriosis and I had countless surgeries for that and was on medication for it most of my reproductive years it is a horrible chronic disease that impacts your everyday life I am one person that was very grateful to finally hit menopause


I’m not gonna lie there are days the pain is unimaginable there are days it gets me down but I tell myself you’re not paralyzed you still have use of all of your limbs you can still see not really well but you can you’re blessed there’s somebody else who has a lot worse in you and you need to remember that because there’s always somebody that’s a lot worse than I am so I count my blessings I am not saint don’t get me wrong I do have days where I get down in the dumps about this but I tell myself don’t do this count your blessings it’s just some days are hard
I learned over the years a lot of things I can do and I can’t do to help manage my pain I try really hard not to take any kind of pain medication and I limited to the extreme because I don’t wish to get addicted to drugs so I seek out remedies That do not involve pain medication I do like talking to people because you never know what you might find out that may help you because it is helping them
I will say I was on a cruise and tried to acupuncture and it was one of the best things I ever did that brought me immense relief and I actually talked to seven other people on that cruise and they tried to acupuncture and it brought them immense relief so I thought that was a really amazing thing ymmv

I am sending hugs and well wishes to all my fellow DIS Peeps in your journeys dealing with the things life hands you and may you have the best outcome possible

 

[Wood Nymph]

I don't have any chronic diseases. Overall, I'm pretty healthy.

 

[Meriweather]

I have diabetes and arthritis
Diabetes is manageable with medication and diet. It doesn't stop me from doing anything.
The arthritis is in my back and hands the most. The hands can be troublesome at times. I didn't know I had it in my back until getting xrays for something else.

 

[easyas123]

I have two chronic illnesses, thankfully one is generally controlled with a daily medication. The other, while not yet severe does rear it's head once in a while and I don't take any meds for that yet.

 

[leebee]

I am so fortunate to not have any chronic diseases. I have my aches and pains, but I am going to be 69 in a couple of weeks so I expect that. It's frustrating when medical personnel first evaluate me. They look at my weight and pretty much assume I have diabetes and/or high blood pressure, but I don't- but I can live with the judgement of the uninformed. I am grateful to be healthy, for the most part.

 

[MIGrandma]

I’ve been diabetic since 2003.

 

[CGB]

I don't have any chronic diseases, but my husband has a couple. Nine years ago he had a quadruple bypass. He recovered well; he's probably healthier today than before because we made a lot of lifestyle changes (exercise, diet, etc.). In the midst of all of the bloodwork, we also discovered he is at stage 3 chronic kidney disease. We tweaked our diet again and have kept his numbers steady (a tad bit improved) over the last few years. He's only on a couple of prescriptions for his heart, so we count that a win.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I have ITP, which means a low platelet count. (Platelets are the cells that make your blood clot after a cut.) I bruise easily because of it, and have a few restrictions, but it's stuff like "don't go bungie jumping" and "get platelets checked before any surgery" - so I'm really fortunate in that it doesn't feel like a constant worry ruling my life.

It was scary when I was pregnant (and that's when they found it) because it gets worse then. But I made it through and my numbers bounced back to my version of "normal" - so now my GP just monitors it at my regular yearly physical.

 

[Kitty 34]

I have Alpha 1, a lung disease. Receive infusions weekly and have for over 8 years. I have what I call good and bad lung days. I do get around better in summer.

 

[Micca]

Several, but I take the meds and try not to dwell on it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have neuropathy that affects my balance, and I have had a stroke. Walking is getting harder, but using a walker keeps me going. Riding an adult tricycle keeps me upbeat!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Arthritis (already had one hip replaced), cataracts, acid stomach, hypertension.

 

[tvguy]

Five......I think.......that I know of. Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Stage 3a Kidney Disease and higher than the Doctor would like Cholesterol. And I have had an ablation and a cardioversion for afib. And cataracts

All complicated by a body that seems to thumb it's nose at traditional treatments.

My LDL Cholesterol is 89, well below the acceptable level of 120, but my Doctor wants me at 50 to reduce the risk of a heart attack! And statins lower my HDL (good cholesterol) and RAISE my LDL (bad cholesterol).
My kidney disease was triggered by medicines I was given to lower my high blood pressure. My treated blood pressure was considered acceptable at 125/70, but now they want you below 120. Kidney Doctor put me on a medicine to get me "a few points lower" and it triggered afib.

 

[lovin'fl]

High BP and Chol and sugars are also creeping up. But I have Trigeminal Neuralgia, somewhat newly diagnosed. Started 1.5 years ago. I selected 1 in the poll though. Forgot about the heart stuff. That's pretty under control, with meds. The TN is a tricky business and hard to get under control.

 

[citruscurtis]

I have a special form of skin cancer in my head that kills 99 of 100 people. Dr put me on new infusion drug that coats the cancer cells. It worked.. my face is covered in cancer scabs pushing out into gum drops form and not sending deadly roots... which it didn't do 7 years ago which is why I am number 100

 

[citruscurtis]

I have neuropathy that affects my balance, and I have had a stroke. Walking is getting harder, but using a walker keeps me going. Riding an adult tricycle keeps me upbeat!

.. a lot of upbeat folks here in the Yuma foothills

 

[clappyclaps]

Big hugs to everyone who has or is suffering, whether chronic or not!

Technically I have 2 chronic diseases, although I'm fortunate enough that they have not been debilitating or massively impactive on my life to date. One is IBS which I know isn't uncommon, and historically I've just managed this via diet or simply dealing with it although it seems to be triggering more often of late on things that it never used to. The other is an unknown allergy that affects my eyes and sinuses on a daily basis all year round, where my doctors have been unable to identify the allergen and no antihistamine or allergy medicine seems to work.

But considering what everyone else appears to be dealing with, I'm certainly not complaining!

 

[tvguy]

My chronic illnesses are really no big deal. I have a former co-worker who had to have a lung transplant, a fraternity brother who had a liver transplant and a friend's husband had one kidney removed and is awaiting a kidney transplant. THOSE are chronic illnesses that ARE a big deal.