Happily married, mother of 2 (7 & 9) very precocious children. I have several physical and mental health issues I am dealing with, while trying to maintain a good relationship with my family. Which in and of itself is so difficult, when every day is a new day of pain. I recently got a brand new team assembled - including an Advocate - to re-evaluate my health and wellness, and to get a good care plan established. And they actually communicate with each other. I am interested in natural pain management - I do meditate, stretch, and walk lots, but the effort leaves me exhausted.

I am a Labile Type 1 Diabetic, with unusual complications (while I've only been on insulin for five years, I was "pre-diabetic" since 11 - now they don't use that term anymore, and my childhood fasting sugars of 7-9 would be considered diabetic with today's diagnostic criteria) After a 4 week bout of DKA (this is how I was diagnosed - I thought I just had a really bad flu, and two doctors sent me home saying this WAS a flu) I ended up in intensive care for a few weeks.

I have had a lot of problems with caregivers in the past - the worst experience so far was having a nurse give me my insulin dose in CCs instead of units - she gave me 60 units of rapid and 120 units of long acting, instead of the prescribed 6 units and 12.

As a result of the physical stresses my body went through, I developed Fibromyalgia - which I find is as hard or harder than the Diabetes to handle somedays... The aching, burning, exhausted feeling that takes over your entire body... and weird interpretations by the brain of pain; I've stubbed my toe and had my elbow cramp up, which is just messed up.

I also suffer from migraines & cluster headaches, GI issues (both from the Diabetes and the Fibro), burning, tingling pain in my hands and feet (early stages of peripheral neuropathy, or a left-over from having had Shingles, I don't know) Severe issues with yeast infections too - consistantly high blood sugars give the yeast a buffet to feast upon, and I have one pretty much monthly.

I also have anxiety issues, Generalized Anxiety and Social Anxiety... My whole life I've felt like people were watching me, talking about me, judging me... I became outwardly aggressive and inwardly isolated - forming healthy relationships is a huge challenge to me, and I tend to keep all people at arm's length, or further if I can. I worry about EVERYTHING, have panic attacks, sweating, shaking, or I am easily provoked. This has also unfortunately given me a bad attitude, one which I am working on daily to improve.

My biggest concerns are actually not for myself - I worry all the time about how MY issues impact my husband and kids, and they affect them a lot. We're working as a family to get through it all, but I can't help feeling that my poor health has prevented me from being the mother and wife I want to be, and that makes everything that much harder.

BUT - I know there's a way, there always is. I'll always have days that suck. But I'm learning to appreciate everything about the good days, and that's the real secret to dealing with illness. Acknowledge your weaknesses, appreciate your strengths, and never be afraid to ask for help when it all seems to be too much.