15 juni 2014

My life as a spoonie

I don't really talk about being sick much anymore here on the blog or in different social media networks. About being a spoonie. About having a chronic illness that effects everything about my life. Absolutely everything. But recently I've felt an increasing need to write about it again, to come to terms. 

So here we go again.

To delete or not to delete
After I got my first diagnosis, Cushing's Disease, in 2011, I wrote a whole lot about it here. I used this blog as a platform where I could inform my friends and loved ones what was going on when I was too tired to meet up or even call. I also used it as a tool to help myself understand what was happening. Writing about how I felt was therapeutic - until it wasn't anymore.

Me in 2010, before the Cushing's
started to show. 
Sometime during 2012 I suddenly felt incredibly tired of writing about Cushing's Disease. I felt as if all I wrote about was visits to the doctor's office, different symptoms and general confusion about the future. I really didn't want to run one of those whiney blogs that made people miserable, so I stopped updating alltogether.

During 2013 I posted sporadically about completely different things in my life - like crafting and geekery and motherhood, but I didn't feel as if the blog had any purpose anymore. I even considered closing it for a while, but decided to just keep it as it was since there are so many posts from when my son was a baby. I really didn't want to risk losing those memories, so I chose not to delete.

To make a really long and agonising story short
This isn't going to be a story about my Cushing's. That part of my life is over, I don't have it anymore. (If you're curious you can browse through the posts from 2011 and 2012, they are in Swedish though.) In June 2012, on the day after my 30th birthday, I underwent the surgery that cured me from Cushing's Disease. But that did not in any way mean I was now well, or healthy. And that is what I will be writing about. Being "cured", but still chronically ill.

Me in 2012,
with active Cushing's Disease.
Hooray, I'm cured! Now what?
Shortly after the surgery the doctor's broke the news to me that being cured from Cushing's comes with a few surprises: withdrawal and neuroligical damage. Well, for 50 %v of the patients anyway. Bummer.

During the first six months after the surgery I felt worse than during the time with active Cushing's. My body had to be weened off the extremely high levels of cortisol it had been used to for years and years. I felt like crap to be honest, and spent most days in bed or in front of the tv. 

This sucked, I was supposed to be cured! I was supposed to go back to work, hang out with friends, play with my son and be a loving wife. Instead I was trying to survive another day - every single day.

As the months passed I started feeling better, little by little. But I was still incredibly tired, both physically and mentally. Slowly I started to suspect that life after Cushing's Disease wasn't going to be anything like life before it. 


Me now, 2014.
I'm a spoonie now
It has now been almost exactly two years since the surgery, and I have officially been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), as a result of my Cushing's. This makes me a Spoonie, a person who lives with chronic illness; theoretically measuring personal daily abilities much as one would measure the proper amount of spoons needed for an event or occasion. Sometimes having an abundance, other times coming up short. 
And boy do I come up short. 

Don't get me wrong, my life is in no way a black pit of total darkness and misery. I have good days and bad days just like everyone else. I just have a different definition of "good", and a higher tolerance for "bad" than a person not suffering from chronical illness. And herein lies the problem; I don't look like a sick person. I always try my absolute best to keep smiling and to look on the bright side of life. You can't tell on the outside that something is wrong on the inside. I either have to expain everything to people, or just let them think that I am lazy, or stupid, or ignorant. 

So what is CFS anyway?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue worsen with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest. 


The symptoms are:

  • A new onset of severe fatigue for six consecutive months or greater duration which is unrelated to exertion, is not substantially relieved by rest, and is not a result of other medical conditions. Check!
  • Impaired memory or concentration Check!
  • Post-exertional malaise, where physical or mental exertions bring on "extreme, prolonged exhaustion and sickness" Check!
  • Unrefreshing sleep Check!
  • Muscle pain Check!
  • Pain in multiple joints Check!
  • Headaches of a new kind or greater severity Check!
  • Sore throat
  • Frequent or recurring tender lymph nodes 
  • Brain fog (feeling like you're in a mental fog) Check!
  • Difficulty maintaining an upright position, dizziness, balance problems or fainting 
  • Allergies or sensitivities to foods, odors, chemicals, medications, or noise Check!
  • Irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhoea and nausea Check!
  • Chills and night sweats
  • Visual disturbances (sensitivity to light, blurring, eye pain) 
  • Depression or mood problems (irritability, mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks) Check!
There is no cure for CFS. Treatment focuses on symptom relief. I know, it sucks.

So what now?
I don't know. Time will tell how much I will improve. Perhaps I will wake up one day and feel almost normal. Perhaps this is what life will be like from now on. My plan is to make the most of what I have regardless. At the moment I am working half-time and loving every minute of it. Sure, I am as good as dead when I get home, but it works thanks to my angel of a husband.

It feels pretty good to have written this introduction to my life as it is. Now I can tell you about it a bit more freely. So make sure to come back and hear me compain, it will be a hoot!

LLAP!

08 maj 2014

New Pattern: Tiny Dogs mittens

They are here, the Tiny Dogs mittens! For all you lovers of dogs in general and chihuahuas specifically.

Knitted with a fingering yarn on needles US 2½ - 3.0 mm. An easy peasy knit for anyone familiar with stranded knitting.

As of now available on Ravelry.

03 maj 2014

Exclusive Pattern Preview: Tiny Dogs

Yesterday a good friend of mine kindly asked me if I could help her with a gift for her sister's 40th birthday. She wanted to custom order something pink or purple, with chihuahua dogs, since those are her sister's favourites. Said and done! As I'm pretty sure the sister doesn't read my blog I now present you with a sneak preview of my latest pattern: Tiny Dogs mittens! I have really good feelings about this one...


02 maj 2014

New Pattern: Blue is For Science mittens!

... or Spock Quote Mittens Mark 2, as I also like to call them.

I've been working on this design since the beginning of this year, and even finished test knitting Mark 1 before I decided I wasn't 100 % happy with the layout. Back to the drawing board I went, and now I am finally happy to announce the arrival of a pattern I absolutely love!

The Blue is For Science mitten pattern can be bought through Ravelry (here) and is meant to be part of a Star Trek pattern set of six.

Already on the test knitting needles are another blue pair (Blue is For Medical with a McCoy quote), and in my mind awaits two yellow pairs (Gold is For Command with quotes from Kirk and Chekov) and two red pairs (Red is For Engineering and Red is For Security with quotes from Scotty and Uhura). So keep a look out for more Star Trek right here!

10 januari 2014

The apple that didn't fall far from the tree

One of my favourite things is to take Theodore to the local sci-fi bookstore. It's filled to the brim with toys, t-shirts, board games... and yeah, books. I love to hear him walk around and sqee with excitement (like mother like son):

"Darth Maul! Look, mommy, Robots! Harry Potter! I want this Ironman! A Storm Trooper! Who's this dragon? Can I have this book about space? It has stickers!"

And of course we have to ride the TARDIS every time (or the lift, as it is).


And yes I bought him the book about space. And yes it was because I also wanted it.

31 december 2013

If at first you don´t succeed...

I am currently over the moon in love with my latest design, the Firefly inspired #BetrayalMittens. But that has not always been the case. I've struggled with every little bit of the process so far, but now I finally feel the pieces all falling into place.

It all started when I, as the last sci-fi lover in the 'verse, binge watched Firefly over a couple of days. Of course I fell madly in love and knew right away I had to make a mitten pattern.

Said and done, I took my idea and sat down in front of the computer. A few hours later I had... nothing. It just didn't click. At all.

A few days later I gave it another try and came up with a design I kind of liked. I went out and bought the yarn and cozied up on the sofa to start test knitting. I took one look at the pattern and it just felt totally wrong. Sigh!

So back to the drawing pad I went and changed the design and colouring. Bought some new yarn and put the whole project on the shelf for a while. I was already sick of it and I hadn't even knitted a stitch.

But skam den som ger sig, as we say in Sweden (it means something like "shame on he who gives up"). During Christmas I started the test knitting. And of course the size was way off on the lined cuff. And of course the base colour and the green didn't work together. I stuffed the knitting back on the shelf and considered never knitting another stitch in my life.

But that was never going to happen. Obviously. After a day or to I frogged the cuff, found some more fitting yarn from my stash and started knitting with different numbers and colours. This time it felt pretty good. I kind of liked it a little!

Now, after tweaking the design some more, I am convinced this is a new favourite. I just hope the feeling lasts all the way to cast off.

26 november 2013

Free Crochet Pattern: Repulsor Ray Mittens (Ironman Tribute)

I love doing things together with my son. Playing Ironman for example, and for that you need repulsor rays on your palms. Obviously. I faintly remembered seeing a homemade pair somewhere online, but when I could not find the pattern, I made one up. And here they are!


Now wouldn’t you like to make a pair for your favourite kid? Or why not for yourself? I knew you would! Grab that hook… 

This is what you need 

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in: Red (less than one ball for the smaller size, slightly more than one ball for the bigger size), Yellow (a small amount) and Light Blue (a small amount) 
Hook: 3 mm/US 2.5 
Also: Needle for fastening repulsor rays and weaving in ends 

Sizes 

Childrens medium 4-7y – (ladies medium/large) 
Width: 8,5 cm /3.3” – (10,5 cm/4.1”) 
Length: 12,5 cm/4.9” – (16 cm/6.3”)

Gloves (make 2)

Chain 38 – (48) with yellow yarn and join with a slip stitch to work in the round. Place a marker to mark beginning of round. 

Single crochet in every stitch for 1 – (2) round(s) (38, 48 st) 
Change to red yarn and singe crochet for 14 – (24) rounds 

Now it’s time for the thumb hole: 
Single crochet 2, double crochet 2, chain 8 – (12) skip next 8 – (12) stitches, double crochet 2, single crochet until end of round.

Single crochet for 10 – (8) rounds.

Change to yellow yarn and single crochet for 1 – (2) round(s).

Cut and secure yarn 

Now make the thumb: 
Single crochet 18 – (24) st around the thumb hole 
Single crochet for 2 – (3) additional rounds 
Cut and secure yarn. 

Repulsor rays (make 2) 

Smaller size:
Chain 2 with light blue yarn 
Round 1: single crochet 6 in 2nd chain from hook. Slip stitch in first sc to join 
Round 2: chain 1, single crochet 2 in each stitch around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (12 sc) 
Round 3: chain 1, (single crochet in next stitch, single crocket 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (18 sc) 
Round 4: chain 1, (single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, single crochet 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (24 sc) 
Round 5: chain 1, (single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, single crochet 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (30 sc) 

Change to yellow yarn 

Round 6: chain 1, (single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, single crochet 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (36 sc) 

Cut yarn, secure and leave a long tail for attaching the Repulsory ray to the glove 

Bigger size: 
Chain 2 with light blue yarn 
Round 1: single crochet 6 in 2nd chain from hook. Slip stitch in first sc to join 
Round 2: chain 1, single crochet 2 in each stitch around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (12 sc) 
Round 3: chain 1, (single crochet in next stitch, single crocket 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (18 sc) 
Round 4: chain 1, (single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, single crochet 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (24 sc) 
Round 5: chain 1, (single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, single crochet 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (30 sc) 
Round 6: chain 1, (single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, single crochet 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (36 sc) 
Round 7: chain 1, (single crochet in each of next 5 stitches, single crochet 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (42 sc) Switch to yellow yarn 
Round 8: chain 1, (single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, single crochet 2 in next stitch) around. Slip stitch in first stitch, to join. (48 sc) 

Cut yarn, secure and leave a long tail for attaching the Repulsory ray to the glove 

 Weave in all ends and sew the repulsory rays to the palms of the gloves. Go play!