NaNo with chronic illness/disability http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121 Meglet I just remember what I always (try) to forget happens every Nov, as well as NaNo. I have psoriatic arthritis (kind of combo of rheumotoid and lupus, the autoimmune inflammatory diseases that affect whole system) and WHAM! as soon as weather starts to chill, my fingers swell up, redden, stiffen, and skin peels and crack so every tip stays excruciatingly painful for months. Typing is bloody (not to pun) painful and stays so!!! Not to mention the disease fatigue which is a whole other topic and consumes several hours of my life daily despite some pretty hard core drugs (legal ones......) does anyone else work and write with disabilities? Because I hurry to add, I DO write anyway. Just as I DO work and live and mush around in general, anyway. I'm 53, and not about to sit and stare at the walls ((though the depression t hat can kick in with chronic illnesses would love for me to do that.) Just wondering.... mg Sun, 06 Nov 2011 06:47:42 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_518651 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_518651 gbostic5 I have a friend who deals with this same thing, and I know when it hits, it knocks her for a loop. I can't imagine how painful that must be because I sometimes have to stop just because my osteo-arthritis acts up and fingers (as well as a bunch of other joints) get achy. I've wondered if there isn't a program I could get that would let you dictate and it would type it for you. I think there is probably something like that out there, but if so, it probably costs a small fortune. I really admire you for taking on the challenge of nano while dealing with this extra difficulty. Good luck, and take care. Gloria Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:13:50 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_519997 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_519997 Meglet There's something called dragonware software and probably a lot more, that recognizes your voice and types it out for you. One of my kids, who has some learning challenges, had a little success with it, though I think he found it more trouble than it was worth. But yes, there are programs like that. I don't even think it was all that pricey. type on! Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:32:18 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_520305 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_520305 Jamilah I can't work, or really go anywhere, because of my disabilities. So what I can do is write. This last week has been especially tough, health-wise, and I was glad to have NaNoWriMo to keep me busy. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 11:36:48 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_524027 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_524027 Meglet Jamilah, sorry you're struggling. We just got back from Lexington, visiting son in college there, ten hour trip in one day, but what a neat city. yes, writing we can do! Sun, 06 Nov 2011 11:47:58 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_524301 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_524301 raspberrymoon Hi all, I guess I come under this category because I am ‘sight impaired’. Okay, I hate these PC terms – I am pretty much blind. I lost my sight in my right eye over 3 years ago to a degenerative optic nerve disease (that I never can spell). The doctor tells me that I am doomed to lose the sight in my left within a few years. (Right now I have just lost the peripheral). That is why I started nano last year – figured time was running out. I am now on my 4th novel so life is good. I have a voice-recognition reader but it is often more trouble than it is worth; however, it is not top-of-the-line. A friend has a really good one but I think they start at about $4,000US. I know there are some voice activated programs for the computer. Some which are only in the $100’s but I haven’t paid much attention. Guess, because I don’t want to admit I might need one LOL. I know not funny. Anyone with a disability probably throws themselves on the bed in the ‘dark of the night’ and sobs. But, it is glorious when we all push through the disability and show up at nano. We are all winners in my book! Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:18:23 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_524958 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_524958 banditsrubyangel Mine doesn't compare with anything else I've seen mentioned here. I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it really kicks in when the days get darker and shorter, like in November. Sometimes I wish Nano was in another month, like June or July. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:25:15 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_525117 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_525117 3DogMike I’m know that I am far from having the most problems of anyone who is doing this, but just to add my perspective, everything that I need to do for NaNo is more difficult because of disabilities. Yet I do it anyway. One thing about November is that there is a brief period when the air gets cool and dry that breathing becomes easier for me, but then it gets cold and it gets bad again. The cold also makes the pain worse. Still, I love fall and winter, I just suffer through them now. Even with the problems I wouldn’t miss NaNo, I look forward to it all year. The year my problems all started I was in the hospital until October (not all year but I got out then) and I still had to do NaNo. I didn’t stand a chance of finishing, but it made me feel better to try. I think it’s the same reason that anyone does this – the experience satisfies something inside of me. Even when I knew that I couldn’t win, I still enjoyed being a part of it. It’s an odd sort of therapy. Good luck to everyone. I hope that NaNo treats you well. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:44:11 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_530549 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_530549 Tessen I'm classified as legally blind. I use a screen magnifier/reader called ZoomText and it has saved my sanity. I can't function without it. It does cause problems with some things, though. It can not interpret graphics-heavy websites and software very well. Plus it sometimes causes my computer to bog down, especially with pdf files. But I still wouldn't want to do without it. I just recently discovered that Microsoft Word has a speech recognition option built into it. I use Word 2003 (I'm too cheap to get an upgrade) and it's on the tools menu. If you have a different version of Word, you can probably find instructions on how to activate it on the net. I've been using it with Excel as well. It works fairly well at recognizing words and commands but it's not perfect. The output requires some editing. When I get down about my vision, I remind myself there are many people in the world who are living with far more difficult circumstances. It helps. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:58:34 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_530945 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_530945 raspberrymoon Tessen, we should start a white cane corner, next to the rocking chair corner. Anyone that comes near and interrupts our train of thought gets it with a cane. Come to think of it, a whole bunch of 50+ group have different apparatisus that we can use to chase off plot bunnies. I just got a new Win 7 and I saw something about sight impairment in the tutorial but in the rush to get ready for nano I forgot to check it out. Thanks for reminding me. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:38:38 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_533670 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_533670 False harpist-48 I need to jump in here as well. I'm a newbie. I'm 63. I have Meniere's disease (tinnitus), an impinged disc in my low back, sciatica down both legs, &amp; plantar fascitis in both feet as wll as some other lessor physical problems. (They just seem to keep accumulating.) I also experience major depressive disorder (possibly bi-polar) &amp; on October 4th I made my second major suicide attempt so I'm still pretty much fresh out the the hospital. In fact, it was one of the staff on the "behavioral health" unit who put me onto NaNoWriMo bless her heart. I don't have an outline or even much of a clear idea of where my charactors are leading me. I also don't read fiction anymore (Tennesse Williams was my favorite American author,) so I'm not even sure why I'm doing this except that it seemed like an interesting idea. I just sit down each day and bang out a thousand plus words. The rest of what's going on I just ignore. We'll see where it leads. Namaste. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:32:19 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_535074 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_535074 Meglet false harpist, glad you're with us. writing whatever it is you're writing as long as you don't go in those circles where you let yourself cycle down, down, down, should surely help to ease the transition 'back.' Glad you're here. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:51:07 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_551633 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_551633 Tessen Works for me, raspberrymoon (great handle, by the way). I have two beagles who will be the first ones to get it. If the plot of my novel doesn't straighten out, I'll throw the computer keyboard at them, too. It's a good thing blindness doesn't prevent me from drinking coffee and eating Twizzlers or I'd really be in a state. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:13:09 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_552066 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_552066 raspberrymoon Don't forget chocolate. I find that always helps. Things seem to be flowing along so I haven't had to resort to throwing things yet. LOL Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:30:52 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_552432 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_552432 Tessen Oh of course chocolate. I didn't have any candy bars in the house so I raided the chocolate chips. And the dogs are safe so far. I've just growled at them a little. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:23:11 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_559551 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_559551 Cynthus I really understand because I have a vasculitis disease called Wegener's Granulomatosis. And, yesterday I was not feeling well at all. I was worried about a flare. Thankfully the symptoms went away today - vomiting, headache, pain, etc. So I think I was just reacting to the weather changes. We had snow the last two days. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:51:19 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_561606 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_561606 QueenOfAmber I spent several months unable to see. My husband bought stuff so that I could talk to the computer and it could talk back to me. I did all of my computer stuff that way for several months. I got very used to it and it's faster than typing. I know the current version of Dragon Naturally Speaking is pretty good at cutting out a lot of keyboard use. There are some specialized programs out there for blind people that allow them to use a computer totally without anything but speaking. The one I have was rather expensive. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:30:28 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_562587 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_562587 Dixiegirl Nothing like listening to others troubles to make one thankful for small things. I have Rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, and migraine headaches. Although these have lessened in the last year or so. I now get the ocular migraine, no pain, just visual disturbances. Lot of pain all over every time the weather front moves through. I'm pretty much out of commission with pain. Since I can't take pain killers and work..... nuff said. Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:41:43 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_587205 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_587205 Cynthus Sorry to hear that Dixiegirl. 'Cause my disease affects my kidneys I am not allowed to use painkillers either. And that weather front moving in really killed me too. I use a lot of cold clothes and other things to keep the head from bursting (get migraines a few times a year now). Shingles was the worst pain I ever had. Migraines are a very close second. Hope you are feeling better. Cyn Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:08:24 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_590319 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_590319 Meglet But--we're all st ill here, and we're all still writing! type on! Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:38:59 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_595807 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_595807 Auld Soul I have great sympathy for all of you with your health issues and yet still having the determination to do this. As for me, I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, so I'm exhausted and in pain all the time. I've learned to live with it, though, and still manage to have a good life. I started NaNo with shingles, but got on antibiotics within 16 hours so the outbreak wasn't as bad as what some people experience. The residual nerve pain has been horrendous so I'm off to the doctor tomorrow to get something for that. Lying down increases the pain, thus making me even more tired than usual. So far, I'm doing okay with my story. Heading towards 30k words, I've now reached the point where I'm wondering what my characters will do next because I have absolutely no clue and can feel my fingers about to grind to a halt on the keyboard. Good luck to all of us. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:05:13 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_598149 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_598149 Sereana Wow, and I thought I was struggling with health issues. Raspberry, my mom struggled with macular degeneration the last part of her life. There are a lot of help aides out there for the blind. Contact your local Blind Association if you have one. My problem is my knees. I have such severe arthritis in both that it is hard to walk or stand. Really limits my enjoyment of life. For one thing, I used to love going to flea mkts. Can't do that. Heck I can barely walk from the parking lot into work some mornings. Went to the dr yesterday for shots in both of them of this stuff that is supposed to help cushion the joints. I'm worse today than before I went. I hate doctors. But, at least I can still sit and type. Good luck to all us old people. Growing old ain't for sissy's. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:03:02 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599049 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599049 Cynthus Sereana, Have you tried Glucosamine with Chronditin. It use it to cushion joint pain when I have to wean off of prednisone. It does a fine job. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:15:28 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599264 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599264 Cynthus I wish I could edit - I use it to.... and the forgotten question mark ARG Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:16:14 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599282 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599282 Sereana Cynthus, I'm afraid my knees are too far gone for that to help. But thanks anyway. I need knee replacement surgery but because of my weight they don't want to do it. And because I've been unsuccessful in every attempt I've made to lose weight, I just have to suffer through. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:24:51 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599468 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599468 raspberrymoon Sereana, greetings. I am lucky to have help from the Blind Association. That is how I got the reader. Sure wouldn't have been able to afford it on my own because they start at $2,000. When I need an audio recognition system I will have to see. I know there is help but the total system that I would like is over $4,000 (of course what I would like and what I will get are two different things LOL.) I hate, hate, hate losing my sight because everything I love is visual (like writing and needlework), but I have arthritis and banged up my knee this year. After that I decided that I was probably one of the lucky ones. Living with chronic pain is the pits! By the time my knee healed I was so exhausted that I was crazy. Sight impairment is an inconvenience but the stuff you are all dealing with is truly life altering. With blindness there are a number of organizations to help. No one expects us to get around without assistance. But, with other less 'visable disabilities' there are fewer option. All too often even the medical world expects you to keep functioning without help. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:48:05 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599915 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_599915 Dixiegirl Oh, my aunt said the same thing about shingles. They say they are terribly painful. Chicken pox virus cause them. If you ever had chicken pox you can get shingles. Kind of a double whammy! Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:08:26 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_601346 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_601346 Dixiegirl And because of the joint problem you can't exercise to lose weight! It is so frustrating! Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:10:06 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_601384 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_601384 Cynthus Ouch - I can imagine the pain... (of course cause I am a writer)... Take care of yourself. Cyn Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:00:28 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_610349 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_610349 Cynthus Yes, the "less visible impairments" don't get much help. The groups I work with (vasculitis patients) are one of those groups that don't look ill, but are immune suppressed and need to be isolated. It is extremely difficult to get any help including disability social security. Even worse, the meds and the disease are expensive. I agree that the pain crowd and the fibromyalgia crowd probably are treated worse than we are; however, when the druggie crowd can get the help that the chronic disease crowd can't, I don't think it is fair. Need to step off my box now. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:04:43 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_610449 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_610449 3DogMike Sereana, hello. Of course I am not a doctor and I don't even play one on TV, so please take this with a large grain of salt. If the shots were hyaluronic acid they can take a while to work. From what I know of it, it can sometimes take weeks for the first shot to work and you may need more than one. Good luck with your knees. And good luck to everyone here. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:12:08 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_612720 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_612720 BRuth Hi all. So great to see you're all writing. This is my first NaNoWriMo. I was really questioning if I could do it. I completed 2 novels decades ago and for a long time really have believed I could no longer sustain the concentration to write another due to cognitive impairment (epilepsy.) I am so thrilled to be doing so well! My partner says she hasn't seen me this excited and energized in years. In addition, I have multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome, osteoarthritis, very stubborn (I like that better than refractory) hypertension, fibromyalgia. I take lots of supplements and meds and need assistance on a daily basis. I'm writing a fictionalized memoir about disability based on a near-death experience I had in and out of hospitals a little over a year ago- is anyone else writing about disabilities - their own or others? The questions of how we take care of each other when people in community are mostly disabled is of great interest to me, not only practically, but also philosophically. When I was in the hospital in Sept. of last year and not getting on well with the docs, I SAID I'd be getting the last word. After all, I'm the writer. And aren't we all! Write like you mean it! Barbara Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:33:41 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_615530 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_615530 Kataja Oh no, that sounds like a vicious circle... Overweight does not do good for your knees, either, and it is real hard to ge weight down when you cannot move (BTW swimming, possibly cycling, some gym machines are good...) I had arthritis in one hip, and when it started to really limit my moving, I started to put on weight, too... Tried just swimmng and cycling to the end... It was operated two years again with excellent results - now I can just joke about my "peg leg". Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:04:51 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_615735 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_615735 raspberrymoon Barbara, Your numbers are impressive. Congratulations! Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:58:18 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_617515 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_617515 BRuth Thanks, Raspberrymoon. Disclaimer: no job, no kids. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:29:30 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_621442 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_621442 Meglet My spouse keeps reminding me of the woman who wrote SEabiscuit and I guess just came out with another one. He said she has chronic fatigue syndrome and wrote the book a few paragraphs at a time in between resting, all on her couch. It can be done..........we are doing it. type on! Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:07:00 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_626803 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_626803 Pashtun I am very reluctant to talk about what ails me because it seems after that the conversation ends up being about the disease, or diseases than about life and I find that depressing, however listening to some of your stories, I am thinking perhaps my tale may give some one encouragement to "take up arms" against their own particular brand of demon. I have Ekbom's disease which until recently was commonly referred to Restless Legs Syndrome but when it became fodder for late night television comedians the Institutes of health decided to change the name of this awful and debilitating disease after the doctor who first identified it. - In addition I have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder/Disease and as a consequence - after thirty years - now suffer from Chronic pain. This disease is not fatal it just cause acute sleep deprivation. A sort of life time of seeking to sleep. The other part of talking about illness with others-with-illness is that I get this uneasy feeling that I am competing in a game of "Who is the sickest of us all?" lol Well I also have TMJ disorder and broke several teeth through my mouth guard! That was pretty tough, not being able to eat for a while. As I see with some of the other posts, when ill health strikes it starts on the vicious downward spiral. I am constantly surprised when people politicized such misery, other peoples misery. Makes me like animals better. Have you seen elephants take care of each other on Animal Planet or National Geographic? With the TMJ comes tinnitus and other issues, a laundry list of illnesses. Who is sicker than I am? no I don't want to play that game, just visit any children's cancer ward and one is cured of any such notions. So in reality I am writing this in response to the dare to write about the meaning of life - does life have meaning when you are so sick your thoughts actions money are daily spent in pursuit of ending or at easing your affliction? And how mysterious are God's ways to have his children suffer such? Clearly we all have far more questions than answers and the answers we do get are the ones we tease out of the system ourselves. After I have been awake for a week, it give me little solace when I am told " at least your disease is not fatal" - spending my life in a sleepless daze is one heck of a life. Even when awake you are cranky irritable wanting-to-sleep, so, guys, will you be my friend and stay awake, I have heard people always 'depend on the kindness of strangers', or is that just for whores? Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:10:33 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_637189 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_637189 Cynthus Well, I am not impressed with your doctors when they say it is not fatal. Ugh. You need sleep. And if you are deprived too long, then you can go insane and possibly die. Anyway, it took me awhile to find a good doctor. And it is common for people with my disease to be misdiagnosed as hypochondriacs. So good luck to you. And, I hope you can control the symptoms eventually. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:52:23 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_641829 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_641829 Kopiluwak You can take a vaccine for shingles, called Zostavax. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:06:28 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_642069 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_642069 Kopiluwak I don't have any chronic illnesses, but I've lived an exciting and hard life, so I have some permanent injuries. I was never Evil Knievel, no publicity surrounded my stunts, but I am famous at the local ERs. The benefit of this is that when I come in, I get VIP treatment because they can hardly wait to hear how I caused the latest injury. Some of them were acquired in very funny ways, so when I die, I want a comedian to MC my memorial service so people had have a hearty laugh at my life. There was the time, when I was 54, that I broke both arms and a knee teaching tandem skateboarding tricks to the teens at the high school during winter break - drat that section of ice hidden in the shade! My grandfather died of a skateboarding accident when he was 104, and that memory was HUGE in my mind when I went down in agony. But, unlike my grandfather, no stairs were involved and I survived. But I have a glitchy knee as a result. There was the time I fell through the ceiling and got flail chest - but was saved by my ridiculously huge boobs from falling to the floor beneath. I was never so glad to be big-breasted in my life! There was the time I got a duck stuck in my thigh. That sentence alone is hilarious and I both cringe and giggle when I say it. There was the time we were playing Water Balloon Wars in the woods at night (it was a full moon) without realizing the trees were honey locusts, and I caught a 3 inch thorn on the side of my mouth and ripped it all the way to my ear. And all I have to show for it is a faint pale line if I get too dark of a tan. There was the time I shattered my hand in an epic battle with a cockroach - the cockroach won, by the way. I had to have 2 finger joints replaced. And then, nearly 2 decades later, I shattered the same hand and had to have several bones removed so now that hand is 80% disabled and I can only type with one finger and a thumb with it. There was the - well, I'll save it for my memorial service, all the other idiotish things I've done. The end result of these adventures (and many more) is that at 66, I now have a host of teeny scars (I don't scar well, more's the pity , because if I did I could point to them and tell their tales. Instead, I can point to vaguely paler sections of skin and say, "That's really a scar...and this is how I got it") and a few permanent injuries, like the glitchy knee, and the artificial shin bone, the rivets in my ribs, the plate in my skull, and the artificial joints in my hand and shoulder and the brace I have to wear because they can't replace the missing bones in my wrist because I am now allergic to every known anesthesia and analgesic and antihistamine (yes, antihistamines!) so they couldn't finish the surgery when they removed the bones because I kept dying on them as they frantically switched from one anesthetic to another to another to analgesics and in despair to antihistamines (which can function as a pain killer - who knew?). So, all my aches and disabilities are all my own fault for living life. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:32:57 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_642473 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_642473 Auld Soul Kopiluwak, it's not nice to laugh at the misadventures of others, but I just had to! A duck in your thigh? Really?!?! Have you ever considered writing the story of your life as your NaNo novel? If you do and it gets into print, please let me know because I'll buy a copy, for sure! Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:45:55 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_643767 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_643767 Kopiluwak Yes, really. My poor kids! They were there and far too young to drive to the ER (and it was pre-cellphone days!). That one left a small pale dimple for a scar - and a glitchy leg. I've considered writing an autobiography, but no one would believe it, so it would have to written as fiction, if I could just find a plot in it somewhere. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:39:03 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_649495 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_649495 Kat Gentian Those Water Balloon Wars - was Keme there, too? I seem to remember he has a scar from something involving water balloons... Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:12:48 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_666170 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_666170 CandiceC Wow, can't believe I'm the first one here with "The Big C," unless I missed someone while I was skimming through the replies to-date. I was laid off last year, lost my job as well as my insurance, spent 10 months trying to find a job, then became seriously ill during April of this year. I was hospitalized for the month of May, underwent major surgery and finally was diagnosed with Stage 3 endometrial carcinoma and appendiceal carcinoma. Began chemotherapy during August, just had chemo #5, 1 more to go in 3 weeks, then possible radiation treatment 5 x a week for 5 weeks. BUT ... I can honestly say this is the best thing that ever has happened to me. It has totally changed my life in so many positive ways which I know sounds weird, but it's true. The best thing is that it forced me, finally, to pursue what I have wanted to pursue my entire life: writing! And it taught me to wake up and smell the roses :) I have cancer, but it does NOT and will not have me! Chemo has some interesting side effects, not the least of which is a "post-chemo steroid high" that lasts 3-4 days. They pump you full of steroids when you receive your chemo treatment -- the same stuff that olympic athletes have used when they're accused of "doping." After my first chemo, I didn't/couldn't sleep for 4 days and nights! Sure adds to the productivity and when you're trying to make a word count, it's a nice little bonus LOL Bless each and every one of you on your individual journeys through NaNo and through life. Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:37:57 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_670654 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_670654 Meglet Candice, I think you are the first to post with cancer. how odd is that. Having had family deal with cancer and chemo, I am super impressed that you are also writing. And writing so much. yay! type on. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:14:10 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_675622 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_675622 CandiceC Meglet, thanks for the encouragement ... and for confirming that I don't yet have chemo brain ;) Looks like we're just about neck and neck with our word counts! I''m going to add you as a buddy so we can follow one another over the river and through the woods :) Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:14:13 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_683623 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_683623 magic-mountain I skimmed through all the posts before finding there is someone else with cancer writing this year. Hi Candice. I had, and am rapidly healing from breast cancer (a very rare one), which perhaps made it to stage 2 before we got it to turn around. (I wouldn't let the conventional docs do anything else to test for staging, after biopsies.) This is my third NaNo, and despite having a duller than normal brain, I couldn't resist trying. It's taken me till today to catch up, though. I am not doing traditional treatment. I want to say that because people don't realize there are alternatives and that conventional treatment is more a scam than they realize. It's all about money. Ask Big Pharma if they want to give it up. Seriously. It costs anywhere from $350,000 to over $1,000,000 to treat one cancer patient. I was diagnosed in February. I began high dose IV vitamin C in March, then mistletoe shots in May. I also use acupuncture (for stress releif and balancing the immune system) and kinesiology (energy/emotional balancing). I began to feel better, not realizing I hadn't been feeling well until "better" came along. In August, we found we hadn't slowed the cancer enough, so I am currently away from home (hating that) having Insulin Potentiated Therapy with Low Dose Chemotherapy (IPT), which has shrunk my very large tumor to less than half it's size in one month, and gotten most of my blood tests to be back where they want to see them. They use insulin to drop your blood sugar, then give you only 5-10% of normal chemo, which goes straight to the "starving" cancer cells (cancer LOVES sugar), and nowhere else. Side effects are quite mild (no hair loss, thank goodness), and my results have been amazing. I'm sure, in part because we boosted my immune system so much beforehand. Anyway, it's good to see others willing to work at this when they have problems. I figured I was an anomaly, but guess not. I wish all of you well--physically well. And happy writing. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:59:38 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_684370 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_684370 lettiesghoast Thanks to everybody here and especially Candice and Magic-Mountain for your C-word shares. It's not exactly that "misery loves company" - I hope I'm not that petty and selfish! - but somehow it's reassuring as well as inspiring to hear how others are charging ahead in spite of (or in some cases, even because of) their disability/illness issues. I was diagnosed in January 2011 with stage 3 colorectal cancer. It's my second cancer (first was a rare form of uterine cancer, also stage 3). I had intensive radiation for the first one 10 years ago, so I've already receiving my "lifetime zap max" - no more radiation for me, which means they're giving me twice as much chemo instead. Oh, joy. Had chemo until May, then surgery (which I am STILL recovering from, the wound was intensely large, and I still have visiting nurses coming three times a week to "dress" it), and now I am back on chemo again. The plus side is that I'm on medical leave and this should give me lots of time to write. The minus is that I can't seem to concentrate. My brain is having trouble kicking into gear. And I'm so bloody tired. I'm taking the post-surgery chemo in pill form daily, which, alas, means I don't even have that periodic steroid rush that I had when I was getting it IV early in the year. I did NaNoWriMo last year and won easily. I was always at least a step ahead on my wordcount, even though I was working a demanding fulltime job. This time, although my time is ostensibly my own, I feel like it really belongs to the cancer and the treatment. I find myself at a palty 11,000 at the end of my writing day on Nov. 13. Trying not to panic, but in the last couple of days it has occurred to me that I might arrive this year at the finish line with fewer than 50,000 words. Hoping this won't be the case, but if on Dec. 1 I have 33,000 or 40,000 or 45,000 words that I would not otherwise have written, that's still a victory of sorts. I guess I just have to think of this as my version of the Special Olympics.... Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:52:12 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_686480 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_686480 Lynne M-S Seasonal Affective Disorder - yup, that's one of mine. For me, November is the start of summer. If I had to do serious writing in Summer's heat I'd keep dozing off at the 'puter. Sympathise over SAD - I worked with it for Years before a great (new for me) GP spotted it. Best wishes with 2011 NaNoWriMo Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:58:15 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_689072 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_689072 ruwth Hello, everyone! I have not been able to work since I suffered a complication from a surgery in June 2009. I have been without an income since then. I have applied for disability and have a court date scheduled for next month. I had some health issues that pre-dated the surgery but I was still able to work part-time. I was a nurse and so was making enough to keep my head above water. This time last year, I was homeless. I prayed and asked GOD how I could support myself . . . what I could do to earn a living. I believe that the answer that I received was: Write! I could be wrong but I have been pursuing the goal of becoming a freelance writer for a while now. I really don't know if I write well enough. I don't know if I have anything to say that hasn't already been said. But I keep plugging away. I am not used to being stuck at home. No one visits. I was always the one to go places. I seldom had folks over and now don't know how to get folks to come over. I want to go the library. I want to walk the Appalacian Trail. At this point, I can't do either. Aaawwwggghhh!! I am not dealing well with these limitations but I did participate in NaNowrimo this year. I don't have aspirations to write a novel so I joined on as a NaNo Rebel. My primary goal was simply to write 50K. I succeeded in doing that. My secondary goal was to write a bunch of articles. My dream was to have fifty rough drafts. I failed to accomplish that. A good thing that came from my NaNo experience was that I have silenced that pesky internal editor! Never can tell, this might be a turning point for me! I am also in the process of creating a business plan for myself as a freelance writer. Interesting . . . very interesting. Anyway . . . here is am: a NaNo Rebel dealing with chronic illness and disability. AND . . . <strong>a NaNo WINNER! </strong> . . . :-) ~ ~ ~ ruwth ~ ~ ~ Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:15:07 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_874019 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_874019 TessaBlue My sister, GabbyGanzel (also a NaNoWriMo author) has Eosinophilic Fasciitis (EF), an autoimmune disease caused by Celiac Disease. We both signed up last year for NaNo, but she got very ill about a week into it and was hospitalized. In just a few days, she was on a respirator and not expected to live. However, my sister is a very stubborn woman, and she not only survived, but signed up for NaNo again this year and we BOTH hit the 50K! I'm so proud of her. She doesn't let the disease get her down. She just hangs in there, and makes the best out of life. I definitely learn from her. Keep writing, everyone! Tessa Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:00:17 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_877535 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_877535 Cynthus That's a woot Tessa - And congrats to all the cancer patients... I understand chemo-head and pred-head because I have been using both to keep my disease under control for almost nine years in January. So I am always happy when I can write coherently. Cyn Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:56:29 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_881163 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_881163 pinetree Hi. My novel deals with traumatic brain damage, multiple chemical sensitivities, and regular allergies. I have MCS, and have had multiple concussions so I am using some of my experiances combined with research. I have other health issues but won't bore you with them. I was encouraged reading over your comments. Thank you. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:51:03 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_893484 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_893484 Maureen Harrington What! There's a disability group! What!! NOW I find out!!!! Any chance of keeping this going? I have post-polio quadriplegia. I love to write and think that Dragon Dictate is god's gift to writers with disability. My computer went the way of all bad computers, and just got a new one a few days ago . . . still waiting for my new copy of Dragon! So I'm draggin' -- ewwww bad, I know. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:32:23 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_910943 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_910943 Maureen Harrington Congratulations! Brilliant, really! Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:34:28 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_910975 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=1#forum_thread_comment_910975 Silverwords I have immense admiration for everyone who posted here about the illnesses and disabilities that they live with and yet keep trying to write and in many cases hit or surpass the winning line - but then we are all winners for taking that crucial first step of being inspired to put fingers to keyboard (or in some cases getting their dragon to listen and perform). Well done all of you. I have secondary progressive multiple sclerosis which as it got worse forced me to give up being a journalist. But I tried to keep writing although it wasn't until I got married for 2nd time in 2010 that I completed a proper draft of a novel thanks to my wife - who also got me out of my wheelchair. I get tired and stiff which limits the amount I can do each day although I am lucky that my spasms, dizziness and need for bio breaks don't create as bad problems as they could - cats can do more damage to a novel than my body!! Mind does have moments when it struggles but got used to that (except when trying to understand Scrivener writing software tutuorial today!!). So I am lucky that I can still write something - although not to publication deadlines. Anyway this is my first NaNoWriMo and despite starting few days late, managed to make it. Admit to advantage of having established routine over summer of 2,000 + words per day (or max 6hrs writing) which led to another draft novel in September/October. Also lucky that autumn here in England has been drier than usual so all symptoms have remained low level - humid or damp weather makes them worse = hot wet summers or cold wet winters. (Given my main character some of main symptoms but not said MS just old age &amp; unamed disease.) P.S Can't use Dragon speech software as I have problems talking clearly - an MS side effect. When it comes to reading aloud, my wife reads far better than me and is my No 1 critic. Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:11:00 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_923936 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_923936 ruwth Congratulations on Winning this years NaNo! Write On! Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:03:37 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_927458 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_927458 Maureen Harrington Silverwords, congratulations! That is so fantastic! I have PPS and on disability leave from my work as a counselor/advisor for medical students. I didn't get very far with NaNo this year. My computer gave out on me, and I didn't get my new one on time. In fact, I'm still waiting for the compatible Dragon software to arrive! It's supposed to arrive on the 5th! Oh well . . . . I tried the free trial of Scrivener, but found it very complicated so reverted back to MS Word for Mac, which I found brilliant and almost intuitive. The latest version does outlining and chapters - all of that - very easily. The organizing capabilities are there as well. After trying to figure out Scrivener for two NaNos in a row, I've decided to stick with Word's organizing features. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 01:11:32 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_930900 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/age-group-50/threads/27121?page=2#forum_thread_comment_930900