I Can't Believe it's Another Chronic Illness

Dear Reader

Hello and sorry I haven't written for a week.  I have had a lot of stuff going on.  Have I told you that I'm at university.  I'm doing an Open Degree with the Open University which is amazing as I can do all my work and lectures from home.  For someone who sometimes can't get out of bed for days at a time, this is a big deal.  Anyway, my final assignment for the year is due in on Thursday and I have been working very hard on it.

Also, I've been in hospital.  After a very long winded situation involving grumpy radiographers, being bounced from pillar to post several times and a brilliantly eccentric GP, I ended up seeing a pelvic pain specialist and I have been diagnosed with endometriosis.  It's a super common thing and (although my mother did not mention it) it apparently runs in my family.  The problem is, it's causing adhesions (sticky tissue that forms a connection between parts of the body that don't usually touch) that have attached my left ovary to my bowel and let me tell you, it hurts like a bitch.  You think I'd be used to living with near constant pain by now right?  Well I'm not.  I'm not sure it's a thing anyone ever gets used to but I am not and will not ever let it stop me from living my life. So, I might need surgery to remove the adhesions.  And that'll be an annoyance but I will deal with it.

This reminds me of something I mentioned to my friend T the other day and something I think enough people need to be aware of.  She was sad because some of her old clothes didn't fit and then apologised for complaining about it because it wasn't a big deal.  Well, you know what?  Listen closely now.  Problems are relative.  There is no grading scale for the seriousness of your problem.  Your problem is not made trivial by the fact that other people are going through worse.  If you are upset because a top you used to love doesn't fit you any more, you do not need to cover up that sadness because your best friend has a chronic illness.  Be sad, be angry, be miserable.  On the flip side of that, you're allowed to be happy about things even if your friends are suffering.  Do you really think your friend wants you to be sad all the time because they're having a tough time?  I guarantee they don't, because they are your friend and they love you.  Be happy, be excited, be ecstatic.  All your emotions are valid.

On a somewhat lighter note, I'm refurbishing my entire bedroom soon and I'll treat you to some pictures because I am very excited about this.

I hope you've had a wonderful day, have a wonderful week and I'll talk to you soon!

Emma
xoxo