#igg4

Beyond The Surface

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I dropped to my knees one night and I cried out, “Lord, use me.” HE has. I’m a voice for people with chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases.

My will proves that determination trumps shortcomings. My constant gratitude proves being thankful for what you’ve been given rather than lost can turn a smile into a frown, pain into understanding, frustration into action, immobility into bonding time and poverty into appreciation for the little things.

On the outside, without my cane, I look just like YOU. On the inside I am a warrior fighting for every day. I have an invisible illness (igg4-rd) and so may someone else you know may have one of the more than 100other autoimmune diseases like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or sarcoidosis. So please look beyond the surface.

#chronicpain #chronicillness #spoonies #igg4 #autoimmunedisease #invisibleillness #disability #noexcuses #diabetes #sarcoidosis #rheumatoidarthritis

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My Pain Has Purpose

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Years ago I decided my pain must have a purpose. And, I’ve made it my mission to use it to the benefit of others rather than allowing it to use me up. Two days ago, a writer at Bustle solicited stories about chronic pain. I opted to share mine. This article, published online today is the result:

Bustle article

#chronicpain #chronicillness #igg4 #invisibleillness #spoonies

Rich In Other Ways

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I’m not a rich woman at all, at least in a monetary sense. I’ve worked hard for more than two decades and earned more than most but I’ve also shelled out the vast majority of my cash to stay alive. Medical bills due to my autoimmune disease, igg4, sapped my account more than once. Yet, I’ve consistently come up with enough money every week to keep the candy basket on my desk full.

Sometimes, my co-workers contribute to the candy fund. But, the task of picking up the treats usually falls to me. Despite this, getting something that provides my colleagues with a little piece of happiness each day has been my joy. At times it’s given me a reason to get out of bed when I don’t want to in order to fill my “responsibility.” It has motivated me to walk further and get stronger.

Last week, as my mental and physical exhaustion reached a point when I couldn’t make another candy run I was given a gift. The candy in the picture was dropped off to my co-workers/ friends. Money was also left to pay for the next batch of sweets too.

No, I’m not a rich woman when it comes to money but I am when it comes to love and support.

#FoodForTheSoul #candylove #chronicpain #disability #invisibleillness #spoonie #igg4 #autoimmunedisease #chronicillness #coworkers #nyc

Live Today, Rest Tomorrow

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Remission doesn’t stop the pain from the prior damage from my autoimmune disease from occasionally threatening my Independence. Saturday, I could barely move. Swelling in the vertebrae in the top of my spine near the end of my neck made it difficult to move, threatening my planned birthday trip with my “stepson.” Every movement sent an electrical shock through my spine and across my shoulders. My limbs tingled and my head was throbbed. But, I refused to let my condition stop me. I swallowed pain meds every four hours, iced, took a nap and I rose for our drive to Pennsylvania nearly three hours off schedule. But, I was present.

I couldn’t do any of the rides at Kalahari the first day. However, I could float in an inner tube beside my family. Then, I watched from a chair as they climbed stairs to go on ride after ride. I was embarrassed and depressed that I was sidelined. So, just before we decided to head to our room for the night I dragged my badly battered body up five flights of stairs to a raft ride. The whole way I wished there was an elevator or some other way for a disabled person like me to get to the top of the stairs but I made it. We laughed, we screamed and we made a new memory; that was worth the pain that kept me up until nearly five in the morning.

It will take me days to recover from just walking, climbing, swimming and doing basic things with my loved ones. I am frail. But, I am also fierce and unflinching. I determined not to fail myself or my family. And, my faith tells me I won’t. So, tomorrow I rest and today I live.

#chronicpain #noexcuses #spoonie #chronicillness #invisibleillness #autoimmunedisease #backpain #disability #kahlahari #poconos

Worth The Ride

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Yesterday, I smiled hearing a friend’s story about Oktoberfest in Germany. I laughed walking to two former co-workers. I rejoiced over extra time with my fiancé. But I grimaced on the walk home from pain in my hip and lower back. When I got in bed, I saw a new 5 star review for my memoir: Misdiagnosed: The Search For Dr. House on Amazon. Lesson: life is full of high and lows but it’s worth the ride.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Beamon does a good job at describing the utter agony, frustration, and day-to-day struggle of her search for the answer. Misdiagnosed… is a great read and comes with great resources so that others will not fall victim to being misdiagnosed.”

 
Full review:
A guide for folks to find the right doctor.

ByJason L Huffon October 6, 2017

“Misdiagnosed: The search for Dr. House” by Nika C. Beamon is a story about a young, successful, African-American woman who by her mid-20s/early-30s was falling apart on the inside, and no doctor could tell her exactly what was wrong with her.

Each doctor seemed to not want to state that they had no idea what was going on, instead they continually misdiagnosed Nika until she finally lead a search to find someone who could tell her what was going on.

The book is a mildly paced, interesting, and often times heart-breaking tale. It goes through highs and lows battling one diagnosis after another with different medications, treatments, and surgeries. Beamon does a great job at leading the reader on the chase with her to find out what is going on and doesn’t reveal too much too soon.

A couple issues I had was: the time jumps, they seemed to not be too coherent as to when exactly things were happening as we fast-forward through some major events in her life. Like one minute we are with Bryce in Harlem with a near-death scare to a book signing some odd time forward that was never clearly defined. However, it doesn’t really detract from the book as a whole, it was just mildly distracting trying to place ‘when’ we were.


I did enjoy reading about how her lovers helped her, and how they supported her and her battles with one of their infidelity. I also enjoyed figuring out what was going on with Beamon. I shared her frustration at a boyfriend who was unfaithful, her struggles with wait times, finances, and wasting time.


Beamon does a good job at describing the utter agony, frustration, and day-to-day struggle of her search for the answer. Misdiagnosed… is a great read and comes with great resources so that others will not fall victim to being misdiagnosed.

Reason To Smile

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It shouldn’t take a day on the calendar like today, #worldsmileday, to get each of us to smile every day. There’s so much to be grateful for that should cause a grin.

Every morning I thank God for my ability to walk, talk, see hear, breathe and just be because I know I didn’t have to wake up. This morning, I smiled when I woke up next the man I love, realized it was Friday, I wasn’t in a lot of pain for the first time in 3 days, and my family and I were about to take a weekend trip together.

Yesterday, a co-worker I hadn’t seen in a while brought candy in the shape of a happy face, my mother told me she loved me, I wrote about happy news and I made it through another day. Those were all great reasons to smile.

It’s hard for me to find my smile some days but I try. I smile through the pain caused my condition, the procedures its triggered and the difficulty walking because faith tells me suffering only lasts for a day. I smile through the loneliness because with God in my heart never alone. I smile through the aggravation and stress of life because the alternative, frowning or crying, wouldn’t make things any better. A smile on my face gives way to joy in my heart.

So, can’t you find a reason to smile today?

#chronicpain #noexcuses #worldsmileday #chronicillness #invisibleillness #autoimmunedisease #igg4 #faith #smile

No Day But Today

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Author Napolean Hill says “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” I believe that’s true. Instead of saying someday I will, I’ve decided to set goals to reach for the next 90 days. Why? The alternative would allow my fear of relapse to keep me from moving my life forward. And, it would enable the fact that I have an autoimmune disease (igg4-rd)to limit my future. No way!

1. Set a publication date for my book, Chronic (formerly named Healed) in March (Autoimmune awareness month). I’ve submitted to publishers and gotten notes that ‘memoirs by people who aren’t famous don’t sell. Even one copy is a victory to me. I will release it so that all people who live with an autoimmune disease, relapsing disease or chronic illness/pain will know that it is possible cope with a medical ailment that cannot be cured.
2. Register for a course to complete another degree I started a long time ago (pave the way for a new career as a teacher/professor or whatever I chose). I’m certain not to old to learn. I read and share newly acquired knowledge every day at my present job.
3. Plan a trip that’s more tha a week long with my family (time is precious and want to spend it with those I love.)
4. Begin the adoption application process (I’ve always wanted to be a mom and this maybe the only way for me to do so)
5. I’ll stand on my own two feet and take a long walk without the assistance of a cane for the first time in two years. January 15th is the end of my chosen 90 day period. All of my restorative procedure will be complete.

When I finished my list the lyrics to one of my favorite songs from the musical, “Rent,” popped into my head:

“There’s only now, there’s only here
Give in to love or live in fear
No other path, No other way
No day but today”


There is no way I can justify not accomplishing my goals. I prayed for this respite for decades. I had procedures, saw doctors, and took pills to get to this point. I fought for the chance to succeed, to thrive, to live my dreams. And, I will. No Excuses.


#spoonies #disability #invisibleillness #autoimmunedisease #igg4 #aarda #chronicillness #chronicpain #noexcuses #rent #NapoleanHill #stephenhawking