As Well As Possible, Thank You

I intended to post this a while back, but something got in the way :O!

Megan Oltman’s post about this was music to my ears. I have been looking for an answer to my friends’ inquiries about my health that would be upbeat, but wouldn’t dismiss or invalidate my illness. I usually swing from one extreme or another: “I am fine”, which is a lie or by saying, “Terrible” or “Yuckky” even if that is not entirely the truth. So, as well as possible fits like a glove!

As well as possible: My garden is beautiful (even if I didn’t pull any weeds today); movies make me laugh (Ledgend of Bagger Vance); my hubby is very understanding; I am making progress on the socks I am knitting (I LOVE to knit socks, but that’s another show); and I got some editing work done. That is a long list! So, be as well as possible (AWAP).

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The Invisible Disease: Explaining it To Others

This was intended to be for the Blog Carnival hosted by http://somebodyhealme.dianalee.net/2008/08/august-headache-blog-carnival-when.html#comment-form at Somebody Heal Me.

Eduating others can be an arduous task that is usually done one-on-one. The most effective tools I have for explaining migraine disease are my blog and the interview on WegoHealth. Both have a comprehensive descriptions of migraine disease. I am in the process of educating my friends at church. When I post something on my blog that they may be interested in, I send an email. I also have my blog URL in my email signature.

The other tool I have is myself; I need to speak up and take advantage of the opportunities I have to educate others. It is ironic that the inappropriate comments people say can be used to educate someone. For example, the comment “But you look so good” can be a perfect time to explain that migraine is an invisible disease. What they see on the outside is definitely NOT what is going on in the inside. I have yet to try this, but there are other diseases that are invisible: diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, some forms of multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and depression. I plan on using these better known and “more legitimate” diseases as a comparison. I think MS and epilepsy are particularly good parallels.

There are other comments that can be seized as opportunities for further education. “You are too stressed. You only need to relax.” can be used to explaind the difference between cause and triggers. “How’s your head?” can be used to explain that migraine is more than a headache. I will have to remember to say, “My head is fine, but the rest of me is not.”

In the end, I can only educate those who want to understand. The others may come around with time, but for now, I can only deal with those who are interested.

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