Welcome! ... What is it like to live with a chronic illness?

Dealing with any chronic health condition, and/or illness, can be a daunting task in-and-of itself. While there are numerous aspects that affect one's everyday functioning and survival, one of the greatest frustrations is the lack of understanding, compassion, and tremendous judgement experienced by an individual struggling with any chronic health problem. While it may be difficult to relate to someone who battles a chronic illness, it is so important for those on the outside looking in to make their best attempt to understand their loved one's challenges.


Several years ago my mother stumbled upon a wonderfully written document called "The Spoon Theory." This piece details what it is like to live with a chronic health condition in simple and relatable terms. In my opinion, it is a must-read for anyone whom is seeking to better understand what it is like to live in a body which is chronically ill.

Trust me ... this piece is enlightening and extremely insightful.


This blog is a commentary on my own very personal, and sometimes very painful and challenging journey, with chronic health conditions (including the auto immune diseases Psoriatic Arthritis & Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's Disease, Hyper-Mobility Syndrome, PCOS, as well as a spine condition called Spondylolisthesis), and the medical system. While I am not a doctor nor a medical professional of any kind, I am most definitely one very experienced patient! My hope is to share my gained knowledge and experiences with others who deal with similar issues.

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About Cat


I would venture to say that I have the classic redhead personality, as I am full of fire & passion. My astrological sign is Libra, and without question, I fit the various characteristics, both positive & negative, to a T. The Libra is typically someone who loves beauty, seeks harmony & love, thirsts for knowledge &  justice, is enticed by psychology, cares deeply for others (humans & animals alike), is both intuitive & highly sensitive, prefers the finer things in life, and, is thee best procrastinator you will ever meet! I, without a shadow of a doubt, own all of these character traits, many of which are reflected throughout my life. 

While I have a BA in psychology, along with some experience in the worlds of counseling, law, & various healing modalities, I am presently focusing my energies on two main topics: writing &  art. My interest for all things related to health & illness arises from my own struggles with chronic health conditions. I have found it most therapeutic & empowering to write about my many experiences within this realm. Through education, my own research, and personal experiences, I am teaching myself how to become my own best advocate. 
Reaching, and hopefully, helping others, is one of the main reasons I created this blog page. I want desperately to help those whom are facing similar challenges. Support, education/information, understanding, and compassion are all key to surviving and functioning with any given chronic health condition. 
I have learned a lot as a result of my long journey - nearly 20 years - with Spondylolisthesis (as well as my time spent dealing with the auto immune diseases Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, FibroMyalgia, Hashimoto's & PCOS  *note that FM is not considered an auto immune disease and PCOS is more relevant to endocrinology & reproductive medicine, although there appears to be some connection between the two worlds). My main wish and intention is to pass along all of the knowledge I've acquired to anyone interested and willing to listen. 
I encourage any readers who are dealing with this spine condition, or a chronic illness of any kind, to please feel free to ask questions and share your stories. That's why I'm here! 
If you'd like to learn more about me, or if you have any questions and/or comments regarding my history and related subject matter found on either blog page, please contact me through my Blogger Profile or contact me directly at healthandillness@gmail.com.
Blessings of health, energy, peace & joy! 

2 comments:

  1. DebbieAugust 7, 2011 at 3:58 AM

    Hello Cat I am doddlebug (Debbie) i saw that you had this site and have been reading about you i know how you feel living with chronic pain. Living with Fibromyalgia is hard plus i have bulging disc's in my neck and lower back my spine is curve more than most a birth defect i didn't know about until this year. I am 48 years old "NOW" i know why my back hurt for years and years. To top that off i have under active Throid,Liver disease, Acid reflux and several other things but most of all i have panic attacks which makes driving a nightmare. I just put my live in the hands of the Lord. I have enjoyed reading about you and your problems

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  2. CatAugust 11, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Thank you Debbie for sharing your struggles with me. I am glad you have some answers now .. that's half the battle without a doubt. Without answers we know something's wrong but we begin to lose trust in our own body's & mind's .. sometimes even questioning our own sanity, which is certainly not a good place to be! Thank you for your compliments, that means a lot to me. You are the kind of person who inspires me to continue writing and sharing my story. Blessings, Cat

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Please feel free to share your thoughts, stories, comments or ask questions here regarding your journey with chronic illness.

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About Me

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My interest for all things related to health & illness arises from my own struggles with chronic health conditions. I have found it most therapeutic & empowering to write about my many experiences within this realm. Through education, my own research, and my ongoing personal challenges, I am teaching myself how to become my own best advocate. To learn more about me, please see the page entitled "About Cat" located at the top of the page. If you have any questions or comments, you are welcome to contact me through the "about" section listed above, or email me at healthandillness@gmail.com. Please note that this address is also linked through my profiles. Blessings of health, energy and peace.

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