Author: Reflections Of A Bear

Just a bear thinking deeply about chronic illness...

Wheelchair “miracles”

~ Reflections Of A Bear ~ 17 Comments

I finally gave in and bought a wheelchair last year, when a local store had them on special.

It’s not something I need every day, thankfully. Not even most days. In fact, I’m pretty sure my Mum has borrowed it and used it for my grandmother more times than Mr Happy has used it for me! But thanks to my Dysautonomia and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, I suffer from debilitating fatigue, I’m unable to stand for long periods / walk long distances, and I have a propensity for dislocating body parts. So Mr Happy kept prompting that it would be handy for us own one, and after missing out on several events where I could have gone if we’d had one, I gave in.

That’s why things like this BuzzFeed post hit me really hard.
Because I know, that could have been me.  Continue reading “Wheelchair “miracles”” →

Brain Fog Files 3b – U.S. version Rissoles

~ Reflections Of A Bear ~ 8 Comments

My original comic featured ‘rissoles’ and ‘singlets’. But a dear reader contacted me to let me know that there’s no such thing as ‘rissoles’ in America (my condolences to you, because they’re delicious!), and that you don’t call the things you wear under your shirt in the wintertime ‘singlets’ either. So I made a U.S. translation of my comic, and popped the American ‘Mom’ in there, so my friends in the States can share too!

Brain Fog Files - Rissoles US web

xx S.

Brain Fog Files 3 – Rissoles

~ Reflections Of A Bear ~ 1 Comment

Brain Fog Files - Rissoles web

NOTE: A dear reader contacted me to let me know that there’s no such thing as ‘rissoles’ in America (my condolences to you, because they’re delicious!), and that you don’t call the things you wear under your shirt in the wintertime ‘singlets’ either. So I made a U.S. translation of my comic, and popped the American ‘Mom’ in there as well, so my friends in the States can share!
You can find it –> here <–

 

Little Things

~ Reflections Of A Bear ~ 1 Comment

Bug
Day to day, it’s the little things that bother me the most about my life with chronic illness.

Don’t get me wrong, the big things hurt too; not being able to have kids, not being able to drive, not being able to eat proper food. Those definitely hurt.

But I tend to pack the big things away into a box, squash the lid down as best I can, and tuck it away in a corner of my heart. They hurt too much to let them just roam free. Continue reading “Little Things” →

I’m a minimalist hoarder…

~ Reflections Of A Bear ~ 7 Comments

When it comes to ‘stuff’, there’s an interesting dichotomy in my nature.

I’m the kind of girl who, if healthy, would happily spend hours browsing op shops and garage sales for interesting and beautiful things. I love repurposing objects; filling up an antique tin with freshly baked cookies for a gift, reusing part of a birthday card to make a cute tag, or turning an old piece of furniture into something attractive. Like these old pallets, turned into a glossy, colourful, visually textured table!
(No, sadly, this is not my table…but I can dream…)

recycled-hardwood-flooring-table

Continue reading “I’m a minimalist hoarder…” →

Happy New Year!

~ Reflections Of A Bear ~ Leave a comment

It’s the 1st of January.
*Cue all the motivational quotes about the new year being a clean slate, a fresh start, a new day, the chance to seize your dreams…*

But my 2016 was ushered in by our neighbours loud, drunken partying, complete with obnoxious music turned up to 11. We had the bedroom door, windows and blinds closed, and put the air conditioner and fan on for white noise. I had headphones over my ears. But I could still feel the bass thumping, and the shrieking and hollering made it impossible for me to sleep until after 1.30am.¹ Continue reading “Happy New Year!” →

Blooming in the storm

~ Reflections Of A Bear ~ 3 Comments

The second pacemaker surgery went well, and the leads are back in place. As of Friday last week, the pain in my chest was almost gone, as long as I moved carefully, didn’t use my arm too much, and was gentle with the pacemaker site.

But on Saturday, I sat up in bed to eat lunch, and there was an almighty tearing sensation in my chest. Excruciating pain. Panicked thoughts: What just happened? Did I just tear out a lead? Oh please, anything but a lead! The pain was overwhelming, and it was a struggle to breathe. Cue a hurried car trip to the local hospital (hubby driving). They don’t have the equipment to interrogate my pacemaker, like the bigger hospital thirty five minutes away does. But I honestly didn’t know if I’d make it to the bigger hospital, so we headed for the nearest place.  Continue reading “Blooming in the storm” →