Information and opinions on Chronic Pain from Kat Updike at ChronicPainConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580 http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580 http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/51173/view-heaven Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:38:25 -0500 Kat Updike VIEW OF HEAVEN KAT UPDIKE 11-01-08    I WOKE UP EARLY TODAY AND LOOKED OUTSIDE, I AM A STRANGE DUCK, I LOVE RAIN AND CLOUDS. SOMEHOW THEY BLANKET ME IN COMFORT AND EASE THE SHARPNESS OF LIFE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY BAD DAY, A MIGRAINE AND FIBRO FOG KIND OF PUSHING ME INTO BECOMING A HERMIT. I FINALLY GAVE INTO TAKING A NAP AND MIGRAINE MEDICINE. WHEN MY NAP ENDED I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND WATCHED AS THE CLOUDS SETTLED ON... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/51173/view-heaven http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/51172/wandering Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:37:22 -0500 Kat Updike LOST KAT UPDIKE 10-17-08    I WALKED ALONG THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN, WANDERING, THINKING TO MYSELF HOW LOST I AM. GOING UP AND DOWN STREETS I RECOGNIZE BUT NOT BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GO. MY BODY AND MIND SEEMS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF LIKE A FAULTY LIGHT SWITCH. I THINK TO MYSELF IF NOTHING ELSE THIS IS GOOD EXERCISE, I KNOW EVENTUALLY I WILL FIND A BUS OR BART THAT WILL TAKE ME HOME. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS THAT... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/51172/wandering http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/51171/holidays Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:27:10 -0500 Kat Updike HOLIDAYS KAT UPDIKE 11-25-08    I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS, THEY SEEM TO BRING THE BEST OUT OF PEOPLE. EVERY YEAR I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MY KIDS AND OF COURSE MY GRANDCHILDREN. THERE LITTLE FACES ARE BRIGHT WITH EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION. MY THOUGHTS GO BACK TO A MORE GENTLE TIME WHEN I LOOKED AT THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS WITH JOY. IT SEEMS MY MIND STILL FINDS THIS PLACE HIDDEN SOME WHERE AMONG THE FIBRO CLOUDS. I TRY TO PREPARE... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/51171/holidays http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/50299/recuperation Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:19:45 -0500 Kat Updike RECUPERATION KAT UPDIKE 10-22-08 I LOVE MY LIFE AND THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL, TO EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO GIVE HAS BEEN SUCH A BLESSING. TO SEE NEW PLACES AND VISIT THE PEOPLE I LOVE MEAN SO MUCH TO ME. IT GIVES MEANING TO MY EXISTENCE AND RESTORES MY SOUL. TO SEE MY GRANDKIDS IS SORT OF LIKE A VITAMIN B... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/50299/recuperation http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39886/masquerade Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:25:37 -0400 Kat Updike MASQUERADE    I AWAKE EARLY, MY MIND RACING AND NOT ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN. I FEEL SICK, MY STOMACH HURTS, MY HEAD ACHES, WITH A STIFFNESS WHICH RUNS FROM THE BACK OF MY RIGHT EAR TO MY SHOULDER. LAYING IN BED, I LISTEN TO MY HUSBAND FAST ASLEEP. I QUIETLY SLIP OUT OF BED SO I DO NOT WAKE HIM. IT IS BAD ENOUGH I CAN NOT SLEEP. I FEEL OLD TODAY, I CAN NOT PRETEND TO ACT LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. MY PRETEND FACE, MY MASK DOES NOT FIT... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39886/masquerade http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39885/early-morning Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:23:00 -0400 Kat Updike MORNING   I WAKE EARLY THIS MORNING AND TRY TO GO BACK TO SLEEP. BUT I ACHE SO MUCH I CAN NO LONGER LAY IN THE BED. IT IS A RELIEF WHEN THE DOG BEGS TO GO OUTSIDE, ANY REASON TO GET UP IS WELCOME. I AM AT A LOSS, MY HANDS TINGLE BUT IT IS MY BACK AND HIP THAT IS KILLING ME. IT SEEMS EVERYDAY I WAKE UP TO THIS PAIN. I CAN NOT TELL IF THE PAIN IS FROM ARTHRITIS OF ONE OF MY MANY FALLS, OF MAYBE JUST ANOTHER FUN EFFECT OF MY... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39885/early-morning http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39884/pain-life Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:18:48 -0400 Kat Updike THE PAIN OF LIFE      TODAY IS A DAY TO WHINE AND I GIVE MYSELF THE PERMISSION TO COMPLAIN. I AM FINDING IT HARD TO WRITE FOR EVERY WORD, EVERY SENTENCE, IS BLURRED. LONG AGO I USED TO HIDE ALL THE PAIN WITHIN MY SOUL AND THE CONSEQUENCES WERE TRAGIC . I DID NOT WAKE UNTIL 10:00AM, I DID NOT SLEEP BECAUSE I WAS TIRED, BUT BECAUSE THE PAIN IN MY BODY WAS TOO MUCH TO BEAR. I HAVE ACCEPTED THAT PAIN WILL BE A WAY OF LIFE. IT IS... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39884/pain-life http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39883/pain-life Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:13:43 -0400 Kat Updike THE PAIN OF LIFE   TODAY IS A DAY TO WHINE AND I GIVE MYSELF THE PERMISSION TO COMPLAIN. I AM FINDING IT HARD TO WRITE FOR EVERY WORD, EVERY SENTENCE, IS BLURRED. LONG AGO I USED TO HIDE ALL THE PAIN WITHIN MY SOUL AND THE CONSEQUENCES WERE TRAGIC . I DID NOT WAKE UNTIL 10:00AM, I DID NOT SLEEP BECAUSE I WAS TIRED, BUT BECAUSE THE PAIN IN MY BODY WAS TOO MUCH TO BEAR. I HAVE ACCEPTED THAT PAIN WILL BE A WAY OF LIFE. IT IS DURING THE... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39883/pain-life http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39880/masquerade Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:00:09 -0400 Kat Updike MASQUERADE     I AWAKE EARLY, MY MIND RACING AND NOT ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN. I FEEL SICK, MY STOMACH HURTS, MY HEAD ACHES, WITH A STIFFNESS WHICH RUNS FROM THE BACK OF MY RIGHT EAR TO MY SHOULDER. LAYING IN BED, I LISTEN TO MY HUSBAND FAST ASLEEP. I QUIETLY SLIP OUT OF BED SO I DO NOT WAKE HIM. IT IS BAD ENOUGH I CAN NOT SLEEP. I FEEL OLD TODAY, I CAN NOT PRETEND TO ACT LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. MY PRETEND FACE, MY MASK DOES... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39880/masquerade http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39878/early-morning Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:56:49 -0400 Kat Updike EARLY MORNING KAT UPDIKE 12-23-05    I WAKE EARLY THIS MORNING AND TRY TO GO BACK TO SLEEP. BUT I ACHE SO MUCH I CAN NO LONGER LAY IN THE BED. IT IS A RELIEF WHEN THE DOG BEGS TO GO OUTSIDE, ANY REASON TO GET UP IS WELCOME. I AM AT A LOSS, MY HANDS TINGLE BUT IT IS MY BACK AND HIP THAT IS KILLING ME. IT SEEMS EVERYDAY I WAKE UP TO THIS PAIN. I CAN NOT TELL IF THE PAIN IS FROM ARTHRITIS OF ONE OF MY MANY FALLS, OF MAYBE JUST... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/36580/39878/early-morning