Living with Chronic Illness is Like Living with an Invisible Lion

 I have Periodic Paralysis (plus nasty migraines and Celiac  Disease). Recently, a friend of mine, who also has Periodic Paralysis, said, "It is humiliating to not even be able to microwave your own food, because even the single pound of the plate is too much for my weak muscles."

Perhaps you have never been that ill, but I have been there, done that and don't want to do it again! Sadly, over the course of a lifetime, this type of pain and disability comes to most of us, at least at one time or another. Dealing with Periodic Paralysis can be a horrible, run-a-way-ride on a roller coaster of pain, confusion, weakness, good days, bad days, terrible days and mood swings all mixed together with the same crap that everyone has to put up with. Whooo-boooy!

Usually, when I have a bad day, life just sucks! Other times, it's barely okay. Sometimes, being in an attack is okay. I just sit quietly with the weakness and make friends with it. To get an idea of what this feels like, Imagine resting your back against an invisible lion. This is the same invisible lion that stalks you always and sometimes trashes you with invisible wounds, but right now, the lion lays peacefully in the sun licking his fur. You're leaning against his back and everything is okay. Strangely, this is not a betrayal--after all, you can't kill the invisible lion, even when it's back is turned. These moments of peace are a blessing.

I'm sorry to have to tell you, but one day, you may have to live with a chronic illness. Certainly, we all grow old and weak. One day we all fade away. I just thought you might like to know it will be okay.