Stories
Anecdotes and thoughts about life with arthritis and chronic illness
My exercise adventures, post-diagnosis
By the time I finished high school, I knew what was wrong with my body, and I had a better idea on how to manage it. “Better” meaning having an idea where to start, instead of not doing anything because who knows what would work. Exercise is important for helping pain from inflammatory arthritis, but finding exercise that I can do and feel motivated to fit into my schedule is, of course, a challenge. And more recently, it feels like I have to get a lot of exercise to get any benefit for my joints. I still roller skate in the summer, when I can, but it can take a lot…
My exercise adventures, pre-diagnosis
For awhile I dreaded that a doctor would tell me I needed to exercise more to help my arthritis. I envisioned miserable jogs or feeling forced to find time to go swimming. Exercise is an important part of being healthy, though, so why do so many people feel that way? For me, the problem was this idea that the exercise had to be a certain type, and that’s not true at all. I’ve been able to get myself a lot healthier by finding things that I genuinely enjoy doing, even if they’re not typical exercise options. That may seem obvious, but it’s been harder to accomplish than I thought. I’ve…
A problem with medical stereotypes
I recently saw a question on The Mighty asking people to share what others think their condition looks like versus what it actually looks like for them. It seems intended to be an empowering question about breaking out of stereotypes, but I think of something more dangerous when I think about this question: stereotypes about conditions that are used in a professional medical setting. Sometimes, these stereotypes are backed up by scientific evidence, but sometimes, these stereotypes are perpetuated even though they may not be true. Either way, they can be harmful for people trying to find diagnosis and treatment. For example, I have spondylitis, a type of arthritis where…
Why I’m writing
I never thought I’d be one to start a blog. Really, it’s all because of pants that I am. My interstitial cystitis (IC) makes it hard to wear pants that sit low or tight, and I had a bit of a crisis recently when I realized that the only way I could be comfortable was to wear basketball shorts or leggings. I couldn’t take it anymore. I felt sloppy all the time. I tried my best to find answers on the internet, but the best info (a Reddit post) was old enough that the links were already broken. Plus, I’m a college student. I don’t have money for $100 pants.…
