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There is a new Event at the Suite: The Pain Management Event. As soon as I heard about this Event, I knew I would write an article for it, and wondered how I might combine it with my topic, Drawing Nature. I really didn't have to ponder it very long, because it has been the healing properties of nature and art that have done more for me than all the doctoring in the world.
In 1995, at the age of 45, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and degenerative arthritis of both knees. Chronic physical pain was to be my companion for some time to come. Because of the debilitating pain and other signs and symptoms that go along with fibromyalgia syndrome, I had to give up my job as a medical transcriptionist as well as my pursuit of a degree which I didn't start until I was nearly 40. I previously had attended classes part time and worked full time.
Following the initial diagnosis, I saw doctor after doctor, in search of anything that might return me to "normal." As is the case with most people who suffer from fibromyalgia, a certain regimen of medications, exercise and massage or physical therapy would work relatively well for a while, only to become ineffective at some point. Then the cycle would start all over again. Add to the physical pain all the emotional pain that results from having your life changed so dramatically. You have suddenly become powerless over your own schedule and totally undependable, because you can never predict whether you'll be able to function effectively from day to day, never enough to hold down a job. So you continue to seek medical help and counseling to deal with both kinds of pain that now control your life.
That's where I was in June of 2000, when my husband suffered a brain hemorrhage that nearly took his life. Our life changed from being okay one second, to total chaos the next. My husband made a remarkable recovery from the hemorrhage and resulting brain surgery and rehabilitation. As luck would have it, I had a wonderful support system of friends and family in place to carry me through that time. A big part of that support system is The Loons and Larks, also known as LNL, a group of folks from all over the U.S., with the common interest of backyard bird feeding being what brought us together. We all met online in the Project FeederWatch discussion list. There are about 80 of us.
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