Chronic Illness
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Chronic Illness

Being chronically ill is a unique experience to each person. Here's my story.

45
Chronic Illness
Megan Kimball

After years of struggling, I am just now coming to terms with the fact that I am chronically ill, and everything that comes with that. For six years I have fought against my own body expecting to get better, when there was, unfortunately, no getting better for me. My goal of living a conventionally "healthy" life was recently crushed in my most recent trip to my neurologist, where it was confirmed that my migraines were never going to just go away. They are something that I'll have to live with for the rest of my life, and quite frankly, that doesn't seem appealing.

For those of you who do not know what migraines are, they are a type of headache that usually effects one side of the head, and can cause nausea and effect vision. This causes severe sensitivity to light and sound. Now I know that doesn't sound too bad, but what if I told you the nausea and blurred vision is caused by the brain swelling against the skull, or that I have these three times a week? That I had one on the night of my senior prom? That I had one the morning of my college orientation? That I have to sit through classes in bright lecture halls in fear of falling behind, trying not to open my eyes too wide to feel the needles pierce my eyes? The days I do take off aren't much better.

Days Off

Days off from school are few and far between, and they aren't beautiful. They look like me sitting in the dark with my head pressed against the cool, concrete wall of my dorm, with tears streaming down my cheeks, trying to relieve the pressure in my head. It looks like me laying on my back with a cold cloth on my forehead, humming one note because focusing on keeping the pitch keeps my mind off the pain. It looks like me telling my room mate I'm going to stab myself in the forehead if my emergency medication doesn't kick in soon, because I can't handle feeling of the burning pain in my head. Ignoring phone calls because my phone is too luminous, even on the lowest brightness setting, to look at. Chronic migraines and chronic illness don't take days off. The migraine doesn't care if you have your Senior awards night, or a choir performance. The migraine expects you to take those nights off for it, and it expects others to understand your pain, but that just doesn't happen.

Being confined to your room starts to feel more like a prison, and your body is the warden, your illness is your punishment and your sentence is life, but that doesn't mean I am doomed to suffer.

When you are sick, others love to send you love and attention. They like to send you get well texts and flowers. They understand when you're not feeling up to going out, but when it's the sixth time in three months that you've declined a dinner invitation because your own body has betrayed you, it's suddenly your fault, not your illness.

When your new normal is laying in the dark with your head against a wall, a good day just seems like a day where it's not "one of the worst days." Being confined to your room starts to feel more like a prison, and your body is the warden, your illness is your punishment and your sentence is life, but that doesn't mean I am doomed to suffer.

Appreciating The Good Days

Although my body has given me this illness for what seems to be no good reason, there are still many wonderful things that I can enjoy even while battling the pain. Some of these things include the hugs from friends and family members and the quiet music that I can play when I'm trying to make my migraine go way. I can enjoy my days off from migraines, and appreciate them more than others might, and I think that is what makes being chronically ill the most special; Your good days are really, really good.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51241
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32853
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955918
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180901
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments