It’s Thanksgiving week. This is now my 15th Thanksgiving without my father. Fifteen years ago, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, my life was irrevocably changed by my father’s traumatic brain injury(TBI). What happened He slipped. While climbing a ladder. He fell less than 10 feet, but just landed on the back of his head. The…
Yes, I’m still sick, and it looks likely that my bronchitis has shifted into reactive airway disease. I did want to write about another aspect of being sick while managing a chronic condition(and the medications that go with it) – namely drug interactions with over the counter medications, unexpected side effects or complications, and the…
Once more, I am participating in A Chronic Voice’s monthly linkup. For reasons that will become apparent as you read, this is also my post this week! Prompts: Meeting, Advocating, Tweaking, Working, Curating These prompts together make me think of the fight so many of us with disabling conditions and chronic illnesses have to consistently participate in to properly…
With many conditions, medication is often part of the treatment process. There are risks and rewards to medications, but at times those risks feel huge, and the rewards feel distant and difficult to reach. So many medications are now being advertised on TV with a message of hope, followed by a seemingly unending list of…
Going to doctor’s appointments alone can be frightening and overwhelming. Bringing a loved one with you to the appointment can often reduce that stress and help you get the most out of the appointment. There can be friends and family who just are not the right match for this task though, so you want to…
Doctor shopping is the process of seeking multiple doctors in the same specialty. If you fear misdiagnosis, doctor shopping may be a powerful tool for you.
There is a lot of information out there about what you can’t do – working after you have applied for disability is risky. Furthering your education is also a dicey proposition. During those months to years of waiting for a decision to be reached, what can you do? What should you do? Do you really…
So you are going to college! College is an exciting experience for anybody, but when you are managing a disabling condition, it’s vital that you consider your school’s willingness to provide accommodations to you based upon your disability. Accommodations research to help you decide where to go If you are going to need accommodations in…
The question of attending school is an important one, as education is an important aspect of personal development. Students with disabilities who are under 21 Children are always expected to receive schooling, including children with disabilities. Most children with disabilities have an Individualized Education Plan(IEP), which spells out parent and teacher expectations for the…
Traveling on disability is simultaneously an attractive idea and a serious challenge. The idea of not needing to live in one place and developing a nomadic lifestyle feels appealing to me, and I am sure to many others as well. Once you’ve gotten over the initial shock of your condition, and once you have…