What's It like?

So I was recently asked (well, texted) by a very good friend what it is like to deal with a chronic illness everyday. She is dealing with some ongoing issues of her own, and having trouble understanding the everyday handling of said issues. This is usually the point in the conversation that I would refer someone to "The Spoon Theory".


"The Spoon Theory" is an awesome story written by Christine Miserandino, explaining what it is like to live with Lupus on a daily basis. The long of the short of it: those with chronic illnesses have only so many units of expendable energy. Before using any unit or "spoon" you have to think ahead through your whole day, save spoon units you may need for things you have to do, and how external forces can affect the number of spoons you have. It is a lesson on how a chronically ill person is unable to do everything at once, how to keep an extra "spoon" in your pocket for emergencies.

It is an excellent way of explaining everything: the need to constantly think ahead, the emotional toll it can take, the hidden blessing in the struggle. While it helps, it is different for those with Crohn's. And she had already read it. So how to explain it further?


This past month my beloved VW got caught in a snow bank, and in the trouble of getting it pulled out I broke the reverse gear (and as it turns out did additional damage to the transmission - but that's a different and longer story). For two weeks, while waiting for time and money to get my car fixed, I had to drive around without a reverse gear. Every time I left the house I had to think ahead to where I was going. Did I know how to get there? If I got lost, would there be places I could turn around without having to back up? Did they have parking where I could pull through the space and not have to back out? I had to cancel plans with friends whom lived in-town where only parallel parking was available. I had to use two parking spaces when going to work.


Aha! Again: constantly thinking ahead. Can I get where I'm going without having to use the bathroom? Are there clean and accessible bathrooms? At restaurants, is their food I can eat?


So, not only how many "spoons" I have on a daily basis, but is their parking for my "spoons"? Okay the analogy isn't perfect, I'm working on it, but it's a start. Just like me.

Check out the official spoon theory: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/