Disabled - Blog Posts

So far just for my LUQ pain I've had

2 urgent visits

1 online visit

2 ER visits

1 primary visit

2 urine tests

2 Blood Draws

1 IV

2 X-Rays

1 CT scan

2 wrong diagnoses

1 antibiotic that didn't help

And they still don't know what it is. This has been going on for almost a month and it's exhausting. I'm in pain

accommodations

knowing something to be true and feeling like something is true should logically be things that always go hand in hand together, but frustratingly enough feelings aren’t things ruled by logic and so this doesn’t always happen. one of these things that I can’t achieve any kind balance between is me knowing that I deserve accommodations and me feeling like I absolutely do not deserve them.

it’s just that when you have been taught your entire life that if you have the ability to do something on your own, you do not deserve any help making it easier to achieve, it becomes very hard to let go of that lesson even when you know it wasn’t factual. it’s too deeply hammered into you that only the helpless deserve help, so if you can do anything without help you’re obviously not helpless and obviously don’t ever deserve help.

but I now know this to be wrong

and as for what I know to be true is that there is no point in suffering.

there is no merit to taking a perilous road to reach a place you could have reached with another path that won’t force you to pay the toll with anguish.

exhausting yourself to the point of not even being able to appreciate the view of the mountain you climbed is pointless. 

pain is not a virtue. 

not only the mythical helpless but everybody deserves and needs help sometimes. you needing help more than the majority needs it isn’t a moral failing. 

always giving everything 101% of your best is not the rent you pay for being alive. 

living is hard enough without disabilities and illnesses, you shouldn’t make it harder on yourself by not grabbing onto infrequent given opportunities (and unjustly infrequent might I add!) to level the playing field.

I feel wholeheartedly that you deserve accommodations for your disabilities and illnesses be they mental or physical or what have you. I'm looking forward to day I feel wholeheartedly that I deserve them to.

but for now knowing is enough.

Hello,

My name is CJ and I’m a trans man. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina and I still live there today. My dad is a Chilean immigrant and he came to this country when he was only 8, spending most of his life in the beautiful land of Puerto Rico. My mom grew up in Florida (where I was born) and has mainly Irish ancestry. I have two older brothers, both in college. One attends Juilliard, the other UNCC. Most of my friends are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I also have friends who are children of immigrants, just like me.

When I was born, it was induced by medication and I was born 8 weeks early due to a disease my mom had contracted while pregnant with me. We both survived thanks to the doctors and nurses who helped my mom deliver me safely. Due to my premature birth, I have struggled my whole life with chronic illness and disability.

I am telling you all of this because I am scared. Tomorrow is November 5th, Election Day, and depending on who wins I may be in serious danger.

Please, for the sake of me, my friends, my family, the trans community, the chronically ill, the disabled community, immigrants, immigrant families, women who need access to healthcare, and EVERY. SINGLE. American citizen…

💙VOTE BLUE💙

I don’t want my rights to be taken from me.

This is a longshot, would you be willing to help me get my insulin? I'm down to my last pen and its pretty much close to being empty.Nt asking for much only need $370 rn to save my bloodsugar. please help me with a small donation or share any help can save my life.Please help & Blessings ❤Thanks.

I'm so sorry but I'm unable to donate but I will spread the word so that maybe others can help you!

hi!  I am desperately in need for help. I need my insulin to bring my blood sugar back down. It’s $300 That’s all I need. I’m not asking for a windfall, just a little help, please.

Be blessed 💓🙏🙏💓

            DONATE AND SHARE.

Sorry, I can't donate but I can totally share this around! I hope you can get the donations you need soon :)

(tw : brief mention of faking mental health issues)

I think it's valid.

There are many people who can't access an official diagnosis of their mental disabilities for various reasons such as, poverty, being part of another marginalised group (women/poc etc), being a minor with unsupportive or unwilling parents and the list goes on. Some people simply don't want to and I get why. An official diagnosis can limit you in many ways such as travel, healthcare, education etc. An official diagnosis can also make you more prone to ableism from the government, schools and workplaces.

Either way, self diagnosis is extremely important whether you choose to pursue an official diagnosis or not.

(Side note : I don't think it matters in the grand scheme of things if someone fakes a mental disorder for attention. Of course, it is disrespectful and you shouldn't do it but people with mental disorders barely get support anyway so what would they exactly be taking away from us? Stim toys? The only thing I can think of is therapists but there aren't many that specialise in disability so 🤷 I think the only time it could be considered a bad thing is if they're spread harmful misinformation like if you're gonna fake something, at least make it believable. To be honest, I feel bad for those who fake a disorder / disability because they might be so attention starved that they would do that.)

Spoon theory is great, I'm glad it was created <3333

Please reblog if you can so I can get a larger sample size

Feel free to put any clarifications in the tags (I’d be very grateful) <3

Rant time

cw : ableism, school system

The school system here in the UK is so fucking ableist istg. So basically me and my younger sister have health issues which cause us to be off school for appointments and bad sick days. Our attendances are lower than average because of this. My high school has a policy of having 95% attendance or over, ours is about 88%. The school is hounding our mother with constant letters and meetings despite our absences being authorised. I hate being an inconvenience to my mother and feel bad about it but I know it's the fault of the system.

I'm just really annoyed that I'm treated as such a burden just because I'm disabled.

A loving reminder that if you are so disabled that you cannot work, and especially if you are getting some kind of government assistance because you cannot work, and especially if you feel guilty because other disabled people have to work: You are not lazy. You DO deserve to indulge in things that bring you joy.

You are a government employee and your Full Time Job is to keep yourself at a minimum baseline of Alive and Not Miserable.

Your job is to watch videos that entertain and engage you.

Your job is to play video games so you can keep some kind of joy in your life.

Your job is to rest as much as you physically can to conserve energy.

Your job is to cook for yourself and take joy in it if you find it joyful, even if that's the only thing you can manage in a day.

Your job is to make yourself as comfortable and stress-free as you can, even if that means bed-rotting.

It is what you get paid to do. Because being disabled IS a full time job. And it's hard work.

Be kind to yourself.

Your teachers wants you to succeed? Bro my teacher just wants me to survive the semester without being admitted to hospital again 😭

[ID in alt]

Tutorial on drawing characters/OCs who have some sort of facial paralysis. It doesn't cover all possible variants because I was using mirror as my main reference lawl

Keep in mind that this is an introductory drawing tutorial and has some generalizations in it, so not every “X is Z” statement will be true for Actual People 👍

Consider supporting me on ko-fi if you find this to be helpful.

How do u make friends in communities?

I know this is a heavily asked question & I know making friends takes time & effort but like- any tips even?

I've been on the internet for a while & only have made 1 friend ovr the whole time, I understand no one owes me friendship or anything, but it's hard not to feel lonely. I love my friend(/p) with all my heart. & I've tried so many ways 2 make new friends but my efforts never work :c Is there something I can b doing better? I want friends like me ig? (alterhumans, xenogender users, alternative ppl & j-fashion enjoyers ect ect) But like- how??? .·°՞(¯□¯)՞°·.

Why does ADHD have to be so hard?

I just wish I could study without chronic procrastination!

Or get myself up in the mornings without assistance.

Or have people understand that ADHD isn't just "quirky little gal" disorder.

It's funny, I get kind of surprised when my diagnosed disability disables me-

PSA

If you have chronically ill and/or immunocompromised friends, you have to tell us when you are sick. Not just with COVID or the Flu. Even a cold can be a massive deal for us. This is not optional.

And if we tell you we cannot be around you for a while for our own health and safety, you should know it's not you, but you also do not get to be offended.

Also, unless you have a really good reason not to, wear a mask when you're sick. It's a small sacrifice to protect those around you, it's really not hard.

Thank you.

triggers for dysautonomia flare-ups ✿

these are some things I have noticed, either in myself or in other people, which tend to make symptoms of dysautonomia worse or even cause a flare.

environmental / external:

heat

cold

humidity

changes in barometric pressure

not meeting body's needs:

dehydration

hunger / low blood sugar

sleep deprivation

poor quality sleep

not taking breaks

other bodily-related stressors:

stress

exercise

being upright for too long

drugs / certain medications

raising arms above head

lifting heavy objects

squatting / bending over

strong emotions

standing up too fast

period / menstrual cycle

dietary:

caffeine

sugar

carbs

dairy

alcohol

fatty foods

artificial sweeteners

eating too much / too little

eating too quickly

what abled ppl think is a massive problem for disabled folks: 13 year old on the internet faking something

what is actually a massive problem for disabled folks: "well you don't LOOK disabled, are you sure you're not faking? I'm not giving you accommodations until you PROVE you're not faking. Please give me, a stranger, your medical info and explain your condition to me in detail so I know you're not faking and only then will I respect or take you seriously"

Weird kind of validation to having to call a physical therapy session early for the third time in a row. I got a cold a couple weeks ago so my heart rate is still being even stupider than usual. It's incredibly frustrating obviously, but it's also honestly nice to see some stats clearly representing a problem after my doctor refused to refer me to a cardiologist for more testing because he ran a preliminary test wrong 🙃

Also got told I should be walking less to recover unfortunately. I need to PACE and go for WALKS. Real stupid I think.

Reminds me of when I went to a Renaissance festival with a big wooden staff and I was so excited because I didn't have to worry about my balance so much. And then it still took me months to start using a cane even just at home

A reminder that if you didn’t need a mobility aid you wouldn’t be day dreaming and fantasizing about how they would help you navigate the world and that no matter how much internalized ableism you hold it won’t change your reality about your conditions and you SHOULD do what is best for you because no one will punish you more than yourself if you keep ignoring your needs

“Chronic illness warrior!”

Bro we were drafted

I'm thinking about chronic illness and wondering if others can relate. And I'm thinking this might sound strange to able bodied people, but it's something I wish I had more help with. My brain fog won't let me phrase it well, but I still want to write it down.

i had a long flare there, something mysterious, left me w brain fog and migraines and fatigue for a few weeks. I'm sitting up today clearheaded enough to do some work and I'm struck again by how it's scarier to be recovering than really ill sometimes. Being really ill is horrible but it's simple and straight forward. When you feel better you're hit fully with what you missed out on and how far behind you are and trying to prioritize which part of life to pick back up with the little strength you have. N it could just be a fluke - maybe I'll be back in bed tomorrow - so if I pick something to do that can't be finished and important TODAY, if I can't pick the one single thing that's worth doing this one good day that mightn't come again, I will feel like such a fool! I'm trying to be excited to feel better, and I am excited, but there's something so simple about the acute phase... "I just have to endure" is so simple. "What if I never get better" is a simple fear. When I'm properly sick I can't even torment myself with what I would do if I felt better, because I'm too tired. "oh, I could see my friends, I could work..." but I'm too tired to want that. "If I was well again"... I can't even picture it when I'm really sick, so my life doesn't look so bad because I can't compare it. When your strength comes back, your wants come back beyond the immediate and it's overwhelming. The fears are more complicated. I have the energy to compare again, and it really sinks in how much time I've lost to this. It's like the difference between being a child and being a grown up. I don't miss being a child, I don't want to go back to that ever, but my life felt simpler then and I could kid myself (pun intended) about so many things. It's not nice that recovery is such an anxious grieving time. Especially since I never know how long it will last, I feel like I don't have the time or energy to spare feeling frightened and sorry! I should be grateful to feel better, i should be excited and grab the opportunity. But it is a grieving time and I can't help it.

I think if providers laugh at us while we’re explaining our concerns we should be able to turn them into piñatas for precisely 40.3 seconds

me when my disabilities disable me:

Hiii, I thought I'd make a post where I write some stuff about myself:) my handle used to be "trapped-in-a-burning-body"

So, intro facts:

▪︎ Danish

▪︎ 24 years old

▪︎ Nobinary lesbian

▪︎ My pronouns: they/them

▪︎ Disabled, lived with chronic pain for most of my life

▪︎ Studying medicine

I'm navigating going to uni while attempting to have a personal life and respect my body's boundaries. It's challenging on the best days, impossible on the worst. I've just learned how to bind books, and I've made a few too many already. I'm trying and failing to watch less netflix AND I've just started watching anime, which is very exciting. I love reading, mostly random medical books or fantasy, and I write poetry, mostly about being disabled.

I would love to connect with more people on here, so feel free to dm me:D

I know this is for artists and writers, but it's also just really helpful if you're considering beginning to use a cane or researching which one to buy. It gives a really nice overview of the most common types of canes. I have used a cane for a little over 6 months now and I would have loved to see something like this, when I was trying to figure out which cane to buy and how to walk with it. I usually use the cane with my dominant hand and didn't even realise that I can obviously just switch hands so I have my dominant hand free for stuff😂 I ALSO HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU CAN BUY A TIP FOR ICE!?!?!! I'VE BEEN SLIPPING AND FALLING AROUND FOR MONTHS AND DIDN'T EVEN QUESTION IT😭😭

A general cane guide for writers and artists (from a cane user, writer, and artist!)

Disclaimer: Though I have been using a cane for 6 years, I am not a doctor, nor am I by any means an expert. This guide is true to my experience, but there are as many ways to use a cane as there are cane users!

This guide will not include: White canes for blindness, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs as I have no personal experience with these.

This is meant to be a general guide to get you started and avoid some common mishaps/misconceptions in your writing, but you absolutely should continue to do your own research outside of this guide!

This is NOT a medical resource!!! And never tell a real person you think they're using a cane wrong!

The biggest recurring problem I've seen is using the cane on the wrong side. The cane goes on the opposite side of the pain! If your character has even-sided pain or needs it for balance/weakness, then use the cane in the non-dominant hand to keep the dominant hand free. Some cane users also switch sides to give their arm a rest!

A cane takes about 20% of your weight off the opposite leg. It should fit within your natural gait and become something of an extension of your body. If you need more weight off than 20%, then crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair is needed.

Putting more pressure on the cane, using it on the wrong side, or having it at the wrong height can make it less effective, and can cause long term damage to your body from improper pressure and posture. (Hugh Laurie genuinely hurt his body from years of using a cane wrong on House!)

(some people elect to use a cane wrong for their personal situation despite this, everyone is different!)

(an animated GIF of a cane matching the natural walking gait. It turns red when pressure is placed on it.)

When going up and down stairs, there is an ideal standard: You want to use the handrail and the cane at the same time, or prioritize the handrail if it's only on one side. When going up stairs you lead with your good leg and follow with the cane and hurt leg together. When going down stairs you lead with the cane and the bad leg and follow with the good leg!

Realistically though, many people don't move out of the way for cane users to access the railing, many stairs don't have railings, and many are wet, rusty, or generally not ideal to grip.

In these cases, if you have a friend nearby, holding on to them is a good idea. Or, take it one step at a time carefully if you're alone.

Now we come to a very common mistake I see... Using fashion canes for medical use!

(These are 4 broad shapes, but there is INCREDIBLE variation in cane handles. Research heavily what will be best for your character's specific needs!)

The handle is the contact point for all the weight you're putting on your cane, and that pressure is being put onto your hand, wrist, and shoulder. So the shape is very important for long term use!

Knob handles (and very decorative handles) are not used for medical use for this reason. It adds extra stress to the body and can damage your hand to put constant pressure onto these painful shapes.

The weight of a cane is also incredibly important, as a heavier cane will cause wear on your body much faster. When you're using it all day, it gets heavy fast! If your character struggles with weakness, then they won't want a heavy cane if they can help it!

This is also part of why sword canes aren't usually very viable for medical use (along with them usually being knob handles) is that swords are extra weight!

However, a small knife or perhaps a retractable blade hidden within the base might be viable even for weak characters.

Bases have a lot of variability as well, and the modern standard is generally adjustable bases. Adjustable canes are very handy if your character regularly changes shoe height, for instance (gotta keep the height at your hip!)

Canes help on most terrain with their standard base and structure. But for some terrain, you might want a different base, or to forego the cane entirely! This article covers it pretty well.

Many cane users decorate their canes! Stickers are incredibly common, and painting canes is relatively common as well! You'll also see people replacing the standard wrist strap with a personalized one, or even adding a small charm to the ring the strap connects to. (nothing too large, or it gets annoying as the cane is swinging around everywhere)

(my canes, for reference)

If your character uses a cane full time, then they might also have multiple canes that look different aesthetically to match their outfits!

When it comes to practical things outside of the cane, you reasonably only have one hand available while it's being used. Many people will hook their cane onto their arm or let it dangle on the strap (if they have one) while using their cane arm, but it's often significantly less convenient than 2 hands. But, if you need 2 hands, then it's either setting the cane down or letting it hang!

For this reason, optimizing one handed use is ideal! Keeping bags/items on the side of your free hand helps keep your items accessible.

When sitting, the cane either leans against a wall or table, goes under the chair, or hooks onto the back of the chair. (It often falls when hanging off of a chair, in my experience)

When getting up, the user will either use their cane to help them balance/support as they stand, or get up and then grab their cane. This depends on what it's being used for (balance vs pain when walking, for instance!)

That's everything I can think of for now. Thank you for reading my long-but-absolutely-not-comprehensive list of things to keep in mind when writing or drawing a cane user!

Happy disability pride month! Go forth and make more characters use canes!!!

First day of med school some of the older students "dress up" as and pretend to be first years. I spotted four of them within 15 minutes and one of them was in a wheelchair with a leg and an arm in casts and a neck collar on. So basically, he was pretending to be disabled. And most of us knew that he was a fake first year and I overheard people joking about pushing him out of his wheelchair to prove he was faking it. I don't understand how a group of future doctors sat around a table and decided it was a good idea to have a fake disabled person there. It just perfectly sums up the attitude of most doctors.

My and my mom’s cats pt 8 A tribute to Sid this is Sid vicious he was A handicap cat His back leg didn’t work due to accident he was in when he was  if you week old I love him so much and he’s going to be greatly missed  I was doing updates on TikTok about him this is the one I made of a compilation of all his pictures and explaining what happened

I’ve decided I’m now asking people if they have a cane kink every time they ask me if I hit people with it.

After all, why else are you asking a perfect stranger how often they use their mobility aid to cane people?

The sun is a deadly laser, I am high as a kite, and this man in WalMart stopped me to ask if I’ve ever hit someone up the back of the head with my cane.

I wanted to.

Instead I replied, “No way! I only go for the back of the knee,” and mimed a swinging motion.

Transitioning to being a full time cane user, and one of the first things I’ve noticed is now the bus doesn’t start moving until I’m sitting.

That was very much not the case before.

I decided to fix this problem by walking 30 minutes in the rain, so I could go sit in a coffee shop

Soaking wet

Leaking misery and Tiger Balm

(I do actually feel better.)

I’m popping pills left and right

(It’s ibuprofen)

(The rain makes my joints ache)