CW: mentions of eugenics and ableism Warm greetings from your friendly neighbourhood SpAN editor! I just wanted to say I’m aware that many of us Spoonies are feeling tense right now because of the pandemic. I definitely am. But the Spoonie Authors Network is a forum of caring and community, and we want it to … Continue reading
Tag Archives: self-care
Internalized Ableism, Week 4: Solution to Being a Terrible Patient, or, How I Learned It’s Okay to Need Help
I had surgery recently on my foot to remove a bone chip and arthritis bone spurs. The pain in my foot wasn’t terrible but it had changed my gait, adding to the workload in my lower spine and making one hip pop out of joint daily. I have arthritis and degenerative disc disease, so I … Continue reading
Internalized Ableism, Week 3: All Better Now
I feel better these days. I’ve done and am doing a lot of things for myself: I’ve moved to a position with less stress and fewer hours at work; I’m seeing a lot of doctors; I’m finally on the right meds after years of trial and error; and, I’m eating better. My good mental health … Continue reading
Internalized Ableism, Week 2: DIY
Editor’s note: This is Pat Flewwelling’s first post with the Spoonie Authors Network. Welcome, Pat! Grampa used to park his car umpteen kilometers away from work and then bike the rest of the way. By then, his hip was about 75% disintegrated, and he used a cane. In his off-hours, he worked for Gideons and … Continue reading
Do you have a fatigue budget?
The other day, a buddy of mine and I were discussing how the slightest medical procedures or even routine vaccinations can greatly impact our chronic fatigue symptoms. We can lose spoons just like POOF! I told my friend that having more time alloted to their fatigue budget would really help. Then I explained how in … Continue reading
chronic fatigue / chronic pain / Getting support / Living fully / Spoonie Challenges / Writing journey
Writing Through the Summer from Hell
Disclaimer: The following article is based on Laurie’s personal experiences with managing chronic pain. Always consult your own medical professionals to ensure you’re getting the best advice for you! Don’t get me wrong, summer is my favourite season. Usually. It’s hot, so the cold doesn’t make my bones ache. It’s dry, so the damp doesn’t … Continue reading
You must write every day—my favourite BS notion.
I have been trying so hard to stay out of social media arguments these days, stopping myself from reading or writing comments. Mostly because I find it comes to nothing in the end and drains my spoons. But then a thing happened this week I couldn’t ignore. A quote appeared on my Twitter timeline from … Continue reading
chronic fatigue / chronic pain / Fibromyalgia / mental health / Spoonie Challenges / Writing journey
“Winning” NaNoWriMo as a Spoonie
So, yesterday I got this fancy thing: This November I participated in my first-ever National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) adventure. Now, I’ll confess right away that I have not been a fan of the concept for years. The win-or-lose thing did not appeal to me (because writing 35,000 words in a month instead of 50,000 … Continue reading
It’s Not Just a Headache
When I was thirteen years old, I went blind. It happened suddenly, with zero warning, and as bad luck would have it, it was just at the end of a gym class when it was time to get changed. At first, I thought I’d gotten something in my eye, but when I rubbed it, the … Continue reading
