I believe that every person/being, even place, has been in my life for a reason. It’s a stretch to call these relationships a team, but all these people (even saying people is a bit of a stretch in some cases) have served a purpose for me to come to terms with my chronic illness. Yep, they are all on my team because they touched my life.
Is it necessary to illustrate the cause and effect and the function of each team member? Probably not…but for the same reason I blog, I can share bits and pieces.
Here’s a few members of my team…
- That person who was my bff at work. I was “head cheerleader” at her wedding because her mom wasn’t interested. This is the same person who tried to get me fired from my job. It’s understandable. I was no longer me. I guess that made me the enemy?
- My (former) coworker, who also had fibromyalgia, was always trying to share information with me about fibromyalgia. I avoided her like the plague. “I DON’T HAVE THAT CRAZY DISEASE!”
- The other work friend, the one who nicknamed me “Fibrochondriac” because I was obsessing over my health. Funny, he always obsessed over what people thought of him. I never gave him a nickname. Should have.
- Work, the place I wanted to please, but couldn’t
- Bed, the place I always tried to get out of, but couldn’t
- The heart-and-soul friend I lost for 20 years and then found again. Not because she does not have fibromyalgia. But she gets it.
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss (she matters)
- The nurse practioner who tried drug after drug to try to help me get better. Define better.
- The new (and I mean brand new—pretty sure the ink was still dry on her diploma) doctor. The one I went to for a second opinion who told me “you take too many pills”. Thanks, I knew that; why do you think I’m here?
- The psychologists and therapists and other mental health care workers. Especially the one who wrote that beautiful letter describing what a nutcase I was. It helped.
- The pill-mill doctor who got it
- The naturopath who didn’t
- All those other doctors who pre-diagnosed me before I even opened my mouth. I tried to talk the insurance company into not paying you. But you’d already wasted my time and your diagnosis fit neatly in the chart.
- All the alternative health care providers that I just knew, just hoped, just prayed that this time it would work…
- So many bloggers who taught me that I’m not the only one. You are my hero. Every last one of you.
- Jennifer Jaff. A True American Hero. I’d say international but nobody else has such a stupid health care system.
- Jenni and Danette who let me help and let me flake
- The wonderful friends I made online. In forums, in chatrooms, Facebook! Social Networking for chronics. We never would have met in person. We couldn’t have made it out of our small little safe corners of the world to do that. But we make each other feel more normal than “normies”.
- All those flesh-and-bodied friends that bailed. The kids, too. But that’s to be expected. I wasn’t me any more and I wasn’t able to keep up with you any more…doesn’t mean you love me any less.
- The Fibro and Fatigue Center. And all the other snake oil sellers. I tried it all. Had to find that magic bullet. Still looking.
- The psychic who told me that I’ll know when I’m healed. She said it’s when I wouldn’t give up any of what I have experienced in this life. It’ll be a while.
- The husband. Boy did you get sold a bill of goods. And you’re still here?
I got lucky.
- And The Dog. Best.Damned.Dog.Ever.
Much loved dog
