Author: Crew Dog

Desert Storm era veteran. SAC trained warrior.

Curating our lives

We’ve still got too much stuff for our small house. So we’re sifting through it, piece by piece, item by item. To use a current buzzword, we’re “curating” our lives, winnowing down to the essentials. The things that are beautiful or useful, as William Morris said.

‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be beautiful or believe to be useful.’

William Morris

It’s difficult *not* to accumulate stuff in America, given our consumerist, capitalist society. Manufacturers and merchants use psychology to manipulate us, to entice us to buy more, to spend more. Growing up in a soup of advertising, we assume consumption is what one does and we influence each other to do it, reinforcing the messages we see every day.

In the early Nineties, Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin challenged us to figure out what our personal “enough” was. Their book, Your Money or Your Life, was more than just a challenge to figure out how much money you need in order to pay your bills without working. They were also challenging us to figure out how much “stuff” we really needed to be happy, and how we can focus outward instead of inward, sharing with others when we have more than enough.

How much stuff do I need to be happy? The first time I went to Saudi Arabia, we stayed in 10-person tents in very basic conditions. We each had a cot and a foot locker (to keep the rats and spiders out of our stuff). The tent had one light bulb – the entire tent was either “light” or “dark.” And the tent was an open bay – no privacy.

But over time, as we returned to this base on future trips, the accommodations gradually got somewhat upgraded. We each got a nightstand. Then we each got a small lamp for our nightstand. That felt like a huge luxury – we could each have light when we wanted it, without having to negotiate with the entire tent’s inhabitants! It felt like such a luxury. Eventually, we even got dividers for our tents, so we could each have a small private section of the tent. That meant we could grab naps when we needed them, without being disturbed by other people’s lights or noise.

We really had very little, but it felt like enough. In fact, it felt like luxury. (Those lamps – a big deal!) And when I came home from these trips, the amount of stuff I had in my house felt overwhelming. SO MUCH STUFF! Far more than the basics plus a little luxury. Far more than “enough.” Rather than making me happy, my stuff was stressing me out.

Every time, I’d vow to get rid of extraneous stuff. I wanted to have that same feeling at home as I did overseas – that I had the amount of stuff that made me grateful. But American life is also overly busy, and I’d get distracted after maybe giving away a box or two of stuff or selling a few things.

So here we are, many years later, still surrounded by too much stuff. We’ve been able to give away some things this past year to people who could really use them, which feels good. But we still have a ways to go.

Wish me luck as I use this No Spend January to reflect on my spending and face the fact (again) that I already have more than enough.

Feeling Resolute

What can I say? After years of no New Year’s resolutions, this year I’m overflowing with them. Mostly because I seem to have gotten an energy bump this January, so I’m taking advantage of it.

This particular resolution, if that’s what you want to call it, is to spend no money in January. IOW, this January I am reigning in my discretionary spending. I tend to be perhaps a little too generous/spendy during the holidays, so I find being intentional about my spending in January helps me reset that spending mindset (which is strongly encouraged and reinforced by all the holiday marketing!).

I find that I get into a mindset of not being as critical of my spending during the holidays, and this helps me reset so that I stop and think before I spend. Plus, an uber frugal January helps offset the excesses of December and get my budget back on track.

Although I got the idea from Mrs. Frugalwood’s “January Uber Frugal Month Group Challenge,” I don’t participate in her groups when I do my January reset. For me, it’s enough to know that it’s January and I’m on a spending fast. However, if group support would be helpful for you, consider joining her group challenge next year. (I don’t know if this year’s groups are still open.)

I acknowledge that it’s a privilege to have discretionary income (money left over after paying bills, buying gas & groceries, etc.). And that it’s a privilege to be able to spend freely (however one defines that) during the holidays. When I was young, my family did not have that privilege, and I am grateful for it now.

So far, it’s January 10th and I haven’t spent any money. But I will be making my quarterly trip to the VA hospital for medical Botox injections later this month, and I plan to stop for Mexican food on the way home – my quarterly treat. (AKA, one “cheat day” from my spending fast.)

Otherwise, no restaurant meals this month. (Which we’re still getting to-go, because COVID.) We’ve got plenty of food in our pantry and freezer (also a privilege), and of course we can buy groceries as part of our normal monthly expenses. And no rationalizing other discretionary spending.

Hopefully after a month of resisting the urge to spend, I can break the holiday-inspired attitude of “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.” The January uber frugal money fast usually does the trick.

[This approach works for me because I am an abstainer, not a moderator. If you are a moderator, perhaps a different approach would work for you. Or perhaps you moderate your spending during the holidays and don’t need to get back on track after the holidays because you never got off-track.]

Do you splurge over the holidays? What techniques/tricks/hacks do you use to get your budget back on track in January? Or do you set a spending budget for November/December and stick to it? Please comment below.

2023 New Year’s Resolution

You probably don’t remember me saying that I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions, but it’s true. I make maybe one a decade, and then I usually forget all about it.

But what the heck. I feel like making one this year, however futile it may be. This year I resolve to be less hard on myself.

I’m not the person I used to be. My physical limitations prevent me from doing the things I’d like to do – the things I used to do.

I’m no longer as organized, as squared away, as I used to be. And while I still aspire to continue downsizing until I have less stuff to wrangle, I also need to find a way to be okay with the clutter in the meantime.

My memory is shot to hell. I just don’t remember things. It’s alarming and discouraging, but I’m finding ways to deal with it. I try to do things as soon as I think of them, so I don’t forget. This means that I don’t necessarily do things in an orderly fashion any more. It’s more like I see something and remember what I meant to do, so I do it right then. Then I sit down and rest. Next time I get up and move around the house, I see something else I meant to do, and then I do that. No coherence, but at least I’m still getting things done.

I also don’t batch as many errands as I used to do. I just don’t have the executive function or the energy to deal with a long list of things to accomplish in town. So I do one or two as soon as I figure out what I need, and resign myself to the fact that I’ll have to do fewer things at a time and ultimately make more trips in order to get everything done.

One of things I did in the past year or two to help with my forgetfulness was to get a password manager. I resisted getting one for a long time, but I’m finding it very helpful and I’m glad I did it. [Although I got a family account, Spousal Unit *hates* using it. That’s fine. They don’t have to use it for their stuff, but at least they know where to go look for our joint passwords if it’s an account I set up and I can’t remember the password.]

I also created a morning checklist and an evening checklist to help me remember to take my meds and do health and hygiene tasks, but I need to get into a daily practice of using them. I also should probably get a whiteboard calendar and start logging doctors appointments and such where Spousal Unit and I can both see them and keep track of them.

I hate chaos. I hate disorder. I hate clutter and untidiness. And I intend to keep working to bring order to the chaos that is our small house still overflowing with items from our larger previous house.

But, in the meantime, and from now on, I resolve to be less hard on myself about it. I am no longer the person I used to be. I cannot continue to hold myself to standards I can no longer meet. It accomplishes nothing aside from making me feel bad about myself and my situation.

I can continue to learn, to discover new hacks and accommodations that help me deal with my limitations. I can implement these techniques and use these aids. But I can also give myself grace. I can accept that I am no longer the person I was. Accept that I can no longer do the things I used to do, in the ways I used to do them.

People like to argue that anything is possible if you just believe and try hard enough. “You just need the right attitude!,” these people like to say. In the chronic illness/disability community, this is known as “toxic positivity.” The truth is, you can’t necessarily change reality through hope and hard work. Especially if you’re from a marginalized community.

I can’t become healthy and abled from wishing it so – I know, I’ve tried for years. I can’t become healthy and abled through eating right, exercising, or taking the right supplements – I’ve tried that for years too. But the toxic positivity people are right about one thing – I *can* control my attitude.

So I choose to give myself grace for my circumstances and my state of being.

Rather than chasing a pipe dream of restored health, I choose to pursue adaptation to my current health. I choose to pursue acceptance, to seek a zen-like acceptance of my reality. I choose to walk the path of the Serenity Prayer: To accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can, and to be able to tell the difference.

That is my resolution for 2023.

A New Year (2023)

It’s New Year’s Eve, and here is your reminder that not only is tomorrow a new year, but it’s also a new quarter. So do whatever you usually do on the first day of a new quarter – start using a new toothbrush, change your HVAC filter, check your smoke alarms – whatever.

This is your reminder to do those things.

Happy New Year! Here’s hoping 2023 will be a calmer year.

Chronic Illness: What’s in the Bag?

A popular topic of conversation on Disability Twitter is what we carry with us when we leave our homes to help manage our conditions. Recently, my cousin asked me the same question, so I thought I’d show you all what I take with me whenever I leave my house.

[Note: I try to find small containers to use inside my bag/pack whenever possible, because ounces become pounds when you’re carrying a bag/pack for a long time.]

Safe soap. I repurposed a small spray cylinder by emptying it, cleaning it, and filling it with a soap that is safe for me to use. I react to the commercial soaps available in public bathrooms, so carrying my own soap with me allows me to wash my hands when I’m away from home.

Alcohol wipes. These have a multitude of uses, including sanitizing my hands and inhaling the vapors as an anti-nausea technique. Since I am allergic to hand sanitizer, this is what I use as an antiseptic. They’re also useful for cleaning my hands/face when I have been exposed to an allergen.

Water bottle. I actually carry two. An 800ml (27 ounce) bottle filled with filtered water for drinking, and a 12 ounce bottle filled with 8 ounces of filtered water for mixing with a medicine that requires diluting. [An 8 ounce water bottle would be more efficient and take up less room, but I couldn’t find one.]

Tissues. For runny noses, etc.

Lip balm. For dry lips.

Sunscreen. A small container of safe unscented sunscreen, meaning I don’t react to any of the ingredients. I use a mineral/barrier sunscreen for my face.

Foam ear plugs. Good for loud movies, etc. I keep a pair in a purpose-built container My Boomer Parent got at an air show. You could find something similar online. Ear plug holders are also often available at military uniform stores.

Rescue medicines. I always have migraine rescue medicines in my bag in case I have a migraine flare while I am out. I also carry Epi-Pens with me due to the risk of an anaphylactic reaction that comes with my MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.) Additionally, I always carry Benadryl liquid-gels to treat mast cell reactions.

I wanted other people to be able to easily find my Epi-Pens in an emergency, so I found this clear case online and added a sticker I also found online.

Daily medicines. If I’m going to be gone during a time I need to take my daily medications, I make sure I have them with me. If there is any chance I might be delayed and be out when I am due to take my evening meds, I take a dose of them with me.

OTC (over the counter) medicines. The basics: NSAID; pain reliever; antacid.

Safe snacks. I carry raw almonds because they are good for a long time and don’t have to be temperature-controlled. A protein snack helps when I am getting a migraine flare. If I’m going to be gone all day, I’ll often take an RxBar as well. The carbs give me an energy boost.

Electrolytes. I often find that taking electrolytes helps reduce a migraine flare or mast cell symptoms. I prefer a brand that comes in capsules, which I can easily wash down with water. No muss, no fuss.

Ink pen. I carry an ink pen with me that has a grip that I can comfortably use.

Small notepad. So I can write things down, because my memory’s not as good as it used to be.

Sunglasses. A necessity for migraineurs.

Face mask. I carried (and used) face masks long before the pandemic, to help avoid inhaling fragrances. I use a cloth N-95 mask.

Cefaly. If I’m going to be gone all day, I take my Cefaly device with me in case I experience a migraine flare. This device stimulates the vagus nerve and helps reduce or eliminate migraine pain. I have a Cefaly Dual, which is much smaller than the original. It’s easy to take it with me in its protective case.

The Basics: phone; wallet; keys

{I would have included more pictures, but Word Press wouldn’t upload more than one for some reason.]

What do you take with you when you leave the house?

Now We Are Six: On Reaching My Sixth Year of Blogging

Image of a birthday candle in the shape of the number six with colored dots inside a red outline .

Today is the 6th anniversary of my first blog post. I’m still here, but the blog has not grown at all. I have a lot of complicated feelings about that.

Anyway. I originally intended this blog to be a source of scientifically-supported wellness information. I wanted to provide the information I couldn’t find on the internet about what specific medical procedures were like from the patient’s point-of-view. As I lost faith in traditional medicine, I wanted to know whether alternative therapies were scientifically tested, and whether they were worth the time and money. I still do want to know these things and to provide this information.

But, over time, I stopped thinking of myself as someone who was temporarily ill and who could be healed if I could just find the right cure. I realized that chronic illness is not the same as acute illness – often there are no cures and there may not even be effective treatments (traditional *or* alternative).

In my search for answers, I found online chronic illness/disability groups. They helped me improve my quality of life. And they taught me that it was okay for me to identify as chronically ill and disabled. This identity shift, in turn, has changed my perspective on many other things. I now see the ableism that is present in so much of the wellness industry, and the internalized ableism within myself. American society strongly preferences the abled. In an age of advanced medicine, Americans are no longer accustomed to death or disability, and they’re not comfortable acknowledging it. Even during a global pandemic, death and disability are being ignored.

The reason I bring this up is because you may notice a change in this blog from a perspective of someone who is striving to return to being abled to that of someone who is learning to accept that chronic illness and disability are (typically) permanent. In the beginning, I tried to be generic, thinking I could be all things to all people – that an impersonal, objective blog would appeal to the greatest audience. Obviously that didn’t work.

So, going forward, you’re going to experience more of who I am on this blog. Who I am is a military veteran who was accustomed to being highly competent, fit, and exceptionally healthy until several health conditions disrupted my entire life. I’m still coming to terms with that. In fact, dealing with waves of grief and frustration as I attempt to find meaning in my altered life may be the work of a lifetime.

So, if you want to read about the experiences of a person who transitioned from well to chronically ill and disabled starting in their thirties and accelerating in their forties and who is struggling with all that that entails, then please stick around, or hello and welcome. Even if you’re still healthy and abled, there might be more for you here than you think. And if you, yourself, are chronically ill/disabled? Well, you might not like all of the content either. After all, some people have been chronically ill/disabled from birth, or from early childhood. Listening to me whinge about having been fit & healthy and mourning its loss may not appeal to you either.

But what have I got to lose? My handful of followers? My zeros of earned income?

It’s not going to be easy for me to be more transparent about myself and my journey. The internet can be a harsh place – especially for marginalized community members. And some people will argue that I am not marginalized enough – that I still have many areas of privilege, which I do not deny. Hopefully some people will decide that they are interested in my journey and want to follow along.

Bottomline: In year six of this blog, the content is going to change a bit. You’re welcome to join, stick around, or wander off.

Updated Morning Checklist

Almost 6 years ago I posted a morning checklist. Back then it was a bit more wellness-oriented, but after a recent Twitter conversation I decided to update it to reflect my current chronic illness/disability lifestyle.

Morning-Health-Checklist-UpdatedDownload

I intend to print this one out and use it to help me to remember to do the important things I need to do to care for myself.

Currently, I find that I sometimes forget to take my famotidine (which I offset from my other morning meds because I find my H1 blocker is less effective if I take famotidine at the same time. [And yesterday I forgot to take ANY of my morning vitamins/supplements/medications!]

Without a checklist, I find that I often forget to do important parts of my health and hygiene routine – especially on bad brain fog days. So I am attempting, once again, to develop a habit of running checklists to make sure I’m accomplishing the important items. I plan to have not only a morning checklist and an evening checklist, but also weekly/monthly checklists that cover important items like washing my sheets, changing the air filters, and making sure the batteries in the smoke detectors are still good.

What do you think about using checklists as a memory aid? Have you ever tried it? Would you? Please share in the comments.

Flying While Chronically Ill/Disabled

The question comes up from time to time on Twitter: How do you fly while chronically ill/disabled? I can’t speak to flying with a wheelchair, as I am not a wheelchair user, but this is how I fly while chronically ill/disabled:

First, I pack all of my medications in my carry-ons. You should never pack meds in your checked luggage in case the bags are lost, leaving you with no meds. Plus, the passenger compartment is temperature-regulated, whereas the baggage compartment is not; temperature-sensitive medications may be ruined by flying in the baggage compartment.

Most airlines allow a free carry-on for medical devices/medications, as long as it meets the carry-on size requirements. I have a small bag that sits on top of my wheeled carry-on, in which I place all of my medications (and ONLY my medications). You cannot place any non-medical/medicinal items in your free bag – don’t mix-and-match, or you may be charged for an additional bag or prohibited from having it.

I typically travel with my medications sorted into weekly pill caddies, which I place in clear zip-top bags so that if a compartment accidentally opens, the pills are still contained. Some states/countries do require prescription medications to be in labeled containers; in which case, I place my non-prescription medications & supplements in the caddy and leave my prescription medications in their original containers. You are not required to declare medications in pill form to the TSA.

I have some liquid medications which exceed the TSA 3 ounce maximum. I pack all of my medications in a separate carry-on, and I let the TSA agent know that I have liquid medications in that carry-on, as per TSA guidelines. You are not required to put liquid medications in a clear, zip-top bag. I leave mine in their protective packaging. I *do*, however, bring a copy of the prescription with me, in case there are any questions. I have never needed to show it. But I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Especially when traveling internationally.

I also have a medication which uses a syringe. I declare that to the TSA agent upfront, when I declare my liquid meds, as per the TSA guidelines. They are permitted to be in carry-ons.

After I have packed all of the medications I will need for the duration of my trip in their carry-on (plus one or two extra days, in case my return is delayed), I pack my “personal item.” Typically, my personal item is a backpack.

When I fly, I make sure I have foam ear plugs, because planes are noisy (I place them in my pocket after clearing TSA so that they’re easily available for flight). [Some people prefer specialized ear plugs that help you equalize your ear pressure during the pressure changes that happen in-flight.] I also pack lip balm (flights are very dry), safe snacks, an empty water bottle (I fill it once past TSA), an eye shade (for sleeping on the plane), sunglasses (for looking out the window), an inflatable back pillow, a light layer (jacket, sweater, etc.; flights are often chilly), facial tissue (Kleenex), and all of the medications that I will need for the entire travel day (if I get delayed and need more meds, they’re in the meds carry-on). If you intend to sleep during the flight, you might want to pack a neck pillow. I also wear a hat, to shield my eyes against artificial lights and reduce that migraine trigger.

I pack fragrance-free soap and alcohol wipes so that I can clean my hands often (I am allergic to hand sanitizer), and I also use the wipes to clean the surfaces at my seat on the plane (seatbelt buckle, arm rests, tray table, etc.). Perhaps this is no longer necessary in the age of COVID, since most airlines spray disinfectants throughout the plane.

Even before COVID, I wore a face mask when flying due to my fragrance/chemical allergies. People are increasingly inconsiderate of others in public spaces, spraying all kinds of fragrances. [I once flew with someone in the row behind me spraying a different essential oil into the air about once an hour.] And public spaces are increasingly fragranced – like the inaccessible bathrooms at the Denver airport (DEN) which have artificial pine fragrance pumps.

In addition to packing the daily medications I will need on my travel day, I also pack all of my rescue meds in my backpack (“personal item”). If I have a reaction to an environmental allergen or a food, I need to have my rescue meds readily available. I also pack over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that can treat various potential maladies during my trip: pain reliever; NSAID (anti-inflammatory); indigestion meds; etc. When traveling abroad, you might want to pack an anti-diarrheal medicine. Also consider packing/wearing medical braces to support injury-prone body parts.

Because my feet/ankles swell when I travel (edema), I wear compression socks and comfortable/adjustable shoes [such as Teva sandals with adjustable velcro straps]. They are also easy to slip on/off at the security checkpoint. In fact, I make sure my entire outfit is comfortable – why be uncomfortable while you travel? When I am waiting near the departure gate, I prop my feet up on my carry-on to try to reduce swelling. I don’t subscribe to slipping off my shoes during flight. Air travel is very safe, but I don’t want to be shoeless like Tom Hanks in Castaway if we *do* need to egress in a hurry.

As mentioned earlier, I use a wheeled carry-on so that it can carry its own weight, rather than me having to do so. If you cannot lift a carry-on up to the overhead compartment, make sure you get a carry-on that will fit under the seat in front of you.

When flying, I do as much as I can to streamline the process, like checking in online. When possible, I only take carry-ons – no checked bags. If you struggle with carry-ons, you might want to check as much as possible. I build lots of slack into my schedule, making sure I arrive with a generous cushion of time to get through bag check, security screening, gate changes etc., knowing that it will take slightly longer for me to process through security, and longer for me to walk through the airport.

I also try to eat as clean as possible on travel days to try to prevent flares. As I mentioned, I pack safe snacks and a water bottle so that I always have *something* I can eat and drink. It is important to stay hydrated – airplane air is very dry, and it can be easy to forget to drink as much water as necessary when traveling.

I also make sure I have notified my credit card company that I am traveling, and I carry some cash in case I run into any problems using my credit/debit cards. I also streamline my wallet, cleaning out and leaving at home anything I don’t need during my trip – that way, in case my wallet is lost or stollen, I don’t have to cancel/replace as many things.

If you require extra assistance (an airport wheelchair, an airport guide, a ride on the airport shuttle, or special procedures at TSA), be sure to contact the airport/airline/TSA ahead of time to coordinate. For example, TSA Cares helpline for chronically ill/disabled is 1-855-787-2227.

If this post hasn’t addressed your specific concern, there are answers to many other questions about flying with disabilities and medical conditions available on the TSA website. Go to their page and select the relevant situation from the pull down menu in the box.

Travelers with chronic illness/disability: What are your tips/tricks/hacks? Please share your knowledge in the comments.

10 Minute Micro Physical Therapy

It’s hard to start/resume a good habit. I’ve been struggling to resume my home physical therapy (PT). And then I remembered my 10 minute micro walk hack. And I realized I didn’t have to do an entire hour-plus of physical therapy. My exercise ball therapy consists of 5 exercises that are 2 minutes each – a perfect 10 minute micro PT session.

I don’t have to start with the whole routine; I can start with 10 minutes on my exercise ball. That’s not daunting. All I have to do is 10 minutes of exercises – while sitting on my exercise ball. I can even do it in front of the TV. All I need are the exercise ball and a timer. I don’t have to wear exercise gear – I don’t even have to wear shoes. Nothing special, fancy, difficult, or time-consuming.

Hopefully it’ll be a building block, and I can eventually add back other exercises and work my way up to a longer PT session. But even if all I do is resume a regular practice of 10 minutes on the exercise ball, it’s still strengthening my core muscles, which are essential for a healthy back and probably help keep my shoulders in their sockets as well.

And it’s so much easier to commit to a daily 10-minute routine. So that’s where I’m starting. I know PT is essential for maintaining/improving my health. But I also know that pacing is important for maintaining my health. And I know that it’ll be much healthier, psychologically, to try to take it one baby step at a time and amass a series of small victories than to attempt to resume an hour-plus-long physical therapy session all at once and fail.

So here I go (partly inspired by @bennnesb and her PT streak). I’ve done my 10 minute micro PT tonight, and I hope to do it again tomorrow. Baby steps. Micro hacks toward better core strength and muscle strength, which is so crucial when one has connective tissue issues.

My First Podcast Interview: No End In Sight Podcast

The thumbnail image that appears on my episode of the No End In Sight podcast: One Sick Vet logo [the text One Sick Vet in white letters on a variegated blue background] overlaid with the hexagonal Möbius logo of No End In Sight, also in white

Another first for this blog/blogger: I was interviewed by Brianne Benness for her No End In Sight podcast! Brianne has founded and fostered a great community for chronically ill/disabled ppl on Twitter (#NEISVoid), and I was excited to have the opportunity to be interviewed by her for her podcast. The interview is fully transcribed, so you can listen to it or read it, whichever works for you. And then you can check out all the other interesting personal stories featured on the podcast.

NEIS Interview: 7 NOV 2020

Episode 74, posted 19 JUN 2021

[CONTEXT: This interview was recorded in the U.S. during the COVID pandemic, before any vaccines were available.]

74 – Crew Dog

Items Referenced During the Interview:

Applying for VA disability – My story of applying for VA disability benefits many years after separating from the military – a guest post I wrote for The Military Guide.

Privilege, Hard Work, Luck – Tread Lightly Retire Early “We’ve been so privileged, but we’ve also worked hard and with intentionality. Privilege, hard work, and luck go hand in hand, and just because hard work is true doesn’t mean you can’t also acknowledge the parts in play that are out of your hands.”

Secondary Gains/Primary Losses – Laura Elliot @TinyWriterLaura “The secondary gains theory makes no sense when compared with the primary losses. Like, sure, 5 years after becoming disabled & after 16 months fighting the DWP I now get £500 a month! I lost: a lucrative career in journalism and the ability to leave my house ever! Such gains!”

Allergic Reaction to Chlorhexidine – My blog post about discovering a severe allergy to the antiseptic Chlorhexidine while pre-op at a VA hospital

Lisa Klimas – Founder of MastAttack, a website that features scientific information about Mast Cell Activation Disorders, and the MastAttack Facebook group

Mold Elimination Diet – Dietary advice I received from my allergist due to my diagnosed mold allergy; this is the exact handout he gave me

Low Histamine Diet – This one is a bit trickier. Histamine levels in foods vary depending on a number of variables, such as how they were transported and handled. There is no one definitive histamine-in-foods list. Many people use the Swiss list, which may not include popular foods from your culture/country/region.

Micro Walks – My exercise pacing blog post about my technique of taking very short, manageable walks, which I call micro walks.

Brianne melting: No End In Sight podcast, Episode 1 (around minute 51)

Crip Camp Virtual – A series of summer workshops in 2020 about disability activism/advocacy, inspired by the movie Crip Camp. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the entire series, which was offered online.

Applying for VA disability – Here are some resources from people who successfully applied as they were separating from active duty, rather than years later, like I did. Here’s a guest post done for my blog. And here are a bunch of posts on VA disability from Doug Nordman‘s blog, The Military Guide.

Health Conditions Mentioned:

Migraine

  • American Migraine Foundation (AMF), What is Migraine?
  • Migraine with Brainstem Aura (formerly known as Basilar or Basilar-type migraine): NIH resource; AMF resource
  • Vestibular Migraine (formerly known as Migraine-Associated Vertigo): Johns Hopkins resource; AMF resource

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

Connective Tissue Issues/Ehlers-Danlos (EDS)/Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS)

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS): NORD resource; Ehlers Danlos Support UK resource
  • Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS): NHS resource; Hypermobility Syndromes Association (HMSA) resource

Dysautonomia/Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

COMMENTS? Please let me know what you thought of my first podcast appearance.