My Story – Hesitant Warrior

Waypost #1 – Medication

Published on June 5, 2019June 6, 2019 by Sally KempLeave a comment

I’ve been thinking of the different milestones in this journey of mine as “wayposts”. You know, kind of like Rivendell, the last homely house east of the sea. Stopping points, if you will, to look back and assess the journey so far. Sometimes, one has to change the game plan to reflect a new situation, or in light of new information. The Fellowship was formed, after the true nature of the ring was revealed. Dumbledore began giving Harry more information, when he realized that He Who Must Not Be Named was getting stronger. Michael Corleone went to the bathroom in a pasta joint and retrieved a gun from the toilet tank, after his father was shot. You get it, I know.

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That Sly Cricoarytenoid…

Published on May 17, 2019May 18, 2019 by Sally KempLeave a comment

Do you remember the movie Terminator 2? Poor Sarah Conner. She knew that there was an alien shapeshifter prowling around, and no one believed her. Actually, they thought she was a bit off-balance, and locked her up.

One of the most puzzling (and scary) symptoms that I’ve experienced since my foray into the world of autoimmune disorders has been my continual sore throat. I now know that it is an inflammation of that sly cricoarytenoid joint, oh so elusive, but like an alien shapeshifter, hiding in plain sight.

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Costochondritis

Published on May 17, 2019May 18, 2019 by Sally KempLeave a comment

I don’t have a catchy movie analog for this one (although any good scavenger hunt movie will do). But it’s worth mentioning because it’s a fairly common symptom in the world of autoimmune disorders, and it can closely resemble a heart attack, so awareness is key.

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Find Your Tribe

Published on May 14, 2019May 16, 2019 by Sally KempLeave a comment

I know it seems kind of obvious, but could Luke have succeeded without Han and Leia? Could Frodo have accomplished his mission without Sam Gamgee? Harry had Ron and Hermione, and Thelma had Louise. Everyone going on a journey needs some friends.

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Believe Yourself

Published on May 14, 2019May 16, 2019 by Sally KempLeave a comment

If I’ve said it once…I’m not a doctor. So I actually have no idea what it takes to diagnosis person “x” with illness “y”. But after 10 doctor visits and 6 diagnostic procedures in the last 4 months (I know, it’s crazy math), I was beginning to feel like Ingrid Bergman in the 1944 movie Gaslight. You know, the one where the main character is being convinced that she is imagining things, and that she is insane. She sees the gaslights in her house randomly dim and brighten, with no explanation, and begins to doubt her grip on reality.

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What is a “Reluctant Hero” and what the heck does it have to do with my immune system ?

Published on May 13, 2019May 18, 2019 by Sally KempLeave a comment

I love stories, and story-telling. My heroes have always been the characters in my beloved books. I’m not an author, but I love studying the art of crafting a good story. As it happens, this is a fundamental trait of humans, this love of story. It’s deeply rooted in our collective consciousness, a part of who we are.

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