Comments on: Orange Dots

By: Jodi

Jodi — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:34:40 +0000

It’s Sunday night and I wanted to see how you were doing. I think about you often since I am in chronic pain due to the severity of my migraine headaches. You know my story and how many decades I have been in chronic pain so I won’t go into it here. When is the next double blood patch? I hope soon enough where you can have it done, rest and make it back to school a new person. Your attitude is inspiring. I am so glad you will get some (maybe a lot) of Versed for the procedure. That’s nice of them. Could they go one step above and do twilight? Then instead of loving Versed and cake you can love Twilight and cake. I sure hope this is the answer to your HORRIBLE pain. I will pray it is and this will be the end of your suffering. Take care!

By: Elizabeth Kaylene

Elizabeth Kaylene — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:36:27 +0000

Being able to point out those orange dots makes you pretty awesome, you know that? Things will get better; just take it all a little at a time, step by step.

I also want to say that your husband should be able to pick up the slack. You would do the same if it were the other way around, so don’t feel guilty!

By: Snappz

Snappz — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:39:58 +0000

Thinking of you, Katie. Always.

By: terrifik

terrifik — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:47:08 +0000

Your faded-orange dots are what I have learned to call a “normalized deficiency”. I have lots of those – they are items that have needed correction or work for so long that I have ceased to notice them any more. At first, when something is put in the middle of the room as an obstacle to remind to do something it sticks out like a sore thumb. Eventually though, I don’t even notice it anymore. The corollary to this is that “nothing is temporary” in the sense that patching something up temporarily is in all odds going to be more or less permanent because I will intend to do a better job later until I no longer notice this new “normalized deficiency”.

Now, the good news, by your inventory of orange dots you are not allowing the deficiencies to become “normalized” and accepted.

I think the next step is to prioritize those dots. Given that some will likely sit and fade anyway, which ones are truly important in a time and energy limited world?

By: Allison Zapata

Allison Zapata — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:14:40 +0000

I’m so sorry you have to go through this. THINKING OF YOU and wishing you PEACE! XOXO

By: McSpicy

McSpicy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:06:38 +0000

Hi! I found out 7 years ago that I have chiari malformation. I have Fibromyalgia and CFS, they were testing me to make sure that I didn’t have MS or Lupus and that’s how they found it. They haven’t mentioned anything about surgery though. I have migrains every now and then but nothing like (it sounds like) you have!

I hope everything gets better for you!

By: Michelle Pixie

Michelle Pixie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:24:35 +0000

My best friend has chiari malformation and is looking at having brain surgery this summer. I stumbled upon your blog and I am so glad I did…I hope she comes here to read your struggles because I think she could really benefit from your words. Thank you for your honesty.

By: infiniteknot

infiniteknot — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:56:14 +0000

I can totally relate to this post. I have CDH/migraine and I struggle to get more done than work. I can keep up with the housework, barely. And keeping my marraige well is a priority. But other things have fallen apart. I hope that you get well b/c this feeling is not good.

By: Mary Jo

Mary Jo — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:29:10 +0000

I can identify so closely with this post. There are orange dots too for me. My health, and my marriage being the two most important ones… honestly for almost the very same reasons.

HUGS

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:14:04 +0000

I want to give you something. A shiny gold star. A shiny gold star for courage. It takes real strength to honestly take measure of things in your life that could use improvement. I’m sitting here ticking off things in my head that I need to work on. Thank you for the inspiration Katie.