Review: Organic Aromas Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser

I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift from Organic Aromas, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company itself or by Chronic Illness Bloggers.
Y’all know I’m not into the essential oil thing too much. I have a few oils that I picked up after visiting a medium back in 2014. Because of my fibro symptoms, it’s been too much to utilize the oils directly on my skin unless I’m really desperate. Plus, I got avocado oil as the main oil… without remembering that the guinea pigs are super allergic to avocado.
All in all, it’s safe to say essential oils haven’t been my thing. That’s actually why I’ve been excited to try this product. I received my Essential Oil Diffuser shortly after coming back from the JA Conference East in Philadelphia (a blog post on both JA Conferences is coming, I promise).
Before we dive into what I thought of the product, you may be wondering how this fancy-looking dealamabobber works. For that, I direct you to Organic Aromas’ page on the matter. The biggest thing is that this diffuser doesn’t need water or heat, meaning that you have the ability to receive the awesomeness of the oils and scent. If, like me, you wouldn’t mind getting more information about essential oils, check out their page on that as well.
The box itself was pretty cute, and I really liked the simple design of the diffuser itself.
It also CHANGES COLORS.

 

At first, I had an issue utilizing the diffuser with the oil sent to me with it. The blend, meant for serenity, actually was an overload of smells and I had some migraine-like reactions to it. I’m sensitive to smells and, ironically, that oil wasn’t giving me serenity. This blend contains cedarwood, yiang yiang, lime, and lavender.
I’m familiar enough with lime and lavender, which have never had an effect on me like this, but the other two are scents I’m not normally exposed to. Since I have some funky plant allergies, I’m chalking up my reaction to those.
To test if this was the issue, I popped in my cinnamon essential oil that I already had. Things went from uh-oh to YES. Plus, my apartment smelled amazing. I wish that the scent reached a little further, but the reach is easily adjustable with the ‘volume’ button. When that is increased, it does increase the noise a little bit from whisper-quiet to phone-vibrate, but this is an easy noise to deal with and drown out. After about five minutes, I didn’t notice it anymore.
At those higher ‘volumes’ there was also some fog coming out the top that was super cool.
I am excited to see how much I’ll be able to make my apartment smell like fall shortly.
 
So, Organic Aromas Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser: Yea or nay?
Definitely yay, but with some personal tweaks.
You can learn more about Organic Aromas at their site or check out their Amazon page.

 

Featured on Kids Get Arthritis, Too!

Hey hey hey, guess what? Yours truly was just featured on Kids Get Arthritis, Too!
PS I seriously cannot believe the company I am in. Check it out:
Jen Horonjeff is pretty much the bomb dot com and runs the Young Adult track at the conferences with Jenn Ziegler (additionally, also the bomb dot com). Ana? She’s on Broadway, starring as Gloria Estefan in On Your Feet. Todd is a badass racer. Elizabeth has done a lot to raise awareness of arthritis. Margo is a talented and amazing musician who also wants to be a doctor. Liz is a clinical social worker who works with those of us living with chronic illnesses.
It’s fine. I’m totally not crying right now at being included with this group of amazing people.

 

9 quotes to inspire you to bounce back

One of my favorite words in the English language is resilience. Merriam-Webster defines resilience as:

1:  the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress;

2:  an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

When I think of resilience, I think of myself and other patients facing lifelong illness-related issues. Resilience is the perfect word to describe what traits we possess without using words like strength, which are too commonplace and far less meaningful.
Here are a few of my favorite resilience quotes – enjoy!
“I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.”
-Carl Jung
“My scars remind me that I did indeed survive my deepest wounds. That in itself is an accomplishment. And they bring to mind something else, too. They remind me that the damage life has inflicted on me has, in many places, left me stronger and more resilient. What hurt me in the past has actually made me better equipped to face the present.”
-Steve Goodier
“Resilience is, of course, necessary for a warrior. But a lack of empathy isn’t.”
-Phil Klay
“Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep going.”
-Yasmin Mogahed
“Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles.”
-Alex Karras
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!”
-William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”
-Margaret Thatcher
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”
-Nelson Mandela
“It takes courage to grow up & become who you really are.”
-E.E. Cummings
What are some of your favorite quotes?

 

Bracelets!

I had been toying around for a while with the idea of creating bracelets in order to raise awareness and show off how strong us patients are.
The other day I felt really adventurous so guess what?
Bracelets!
They’re stretchy and made of rainbows! Okay, that’s what I tell myself, but the rainbow color is really nice. They say ‘Not Standing Still’s Disease’ on them.
If you take a look at the sidebar to the right of this post, there’s a spot to purchase them. They’re $5 each with a $1 charge for shipping in the US and a $5 charge for shipping around the world. The shipping costs do not go up if you order more than one.
Right now I only have 30 bracelets, but will get more if there is a lot of interest in them, so please keep me updated! And I’d love to hear if you have other items or products you think would be fun to have.

 

Why I’m Leaving Pillpack

About this time last year, I was ecstatic about sharing information regarding PillPack.
PillPack basically takes your medications and puts them in timed packets you can just rip off a roll and take with you easily. I was excited about this while traveling so that I didn’t have to take up a carry-on with my pill bottles.
At first, they were great with getting things set up. I enjoyed the freedom of being able to just rip a packet and go in order to travel more easily, etc.
Everything was going alright – until I needed to get a refill.
It took two weeks for them to get on top of the situation and, in the meantime, I was not updated on what was going on. I tried to send my specialist’s information several times, sometimes as a photo simply because I have mobility/typing issues at times. Five different people emailed me over five days. They had the nerve to think the photo version of my specialist’s information was a prescription and told me they could not accept it.
I groaned on social media and someone fixed it. I was cautious, but kept using them.
Then, recently, the situation happened again.
This time, only one person emailed me but I never heard back from them. It’s been like 2-3 weeks and I’ve now not received my allergy medication in the last shipment I got. It may not matter to them, but I’m choking on mucous over here.
Nope.
I just transferred my scripts to a local pharmacy and will be picking them up this week and abandoning PillPack. The irony was, during the transfer process, it only took an hour to get a reply from the same person verifying the transfer and canceling my account… when it took FIVE DAYS to get a reply from someone about one of my medications.
The biggest issue seems to be the utilization of a generic hello@pillpack.com email address for EVERYONE. This, combined with no singular person handling someone’s scripts, leads to mass confusion and disorganization.
They may be great for people who don’t have multiple chronic illnesses and need scripts on time, but for those of us in that category? Stay away.
Since I’m at Target all the time anyway, I’ll be utilizing the new CVS at the Target by our apartment. One of the things I’m already liking is that their app allows me to request refills, shows me which medications are currently filled for pick-up, and even allows me to control T’s scripts (note to self: have T sign up for a CVS account).
Hasta la pasta for now, PillPack. I hope that, one day, you can get the customer service issue pulled together for your clients. Personally, I don’t know that I’ll feel comfortable trying your services ever again.

 

How to act to have your doctor take your pain seriously (sarcastic post)

how to act to have your doctor take your pain seriously
Physicians are supposed to be able to navigate around emotional situations and decisions to solve issues and provide care for people. Sometimes the way we act can, apparently, still influence thoughts regarding our health. This is especially true for those of us dealing with chronic health issues and invisible disabilities.
 
This post is, in part, a sarcastic piece but also a piece in which we discuss the often ridiculous experiences patients have due to looks, actions, and assumptions.
 

1. Do not smile. Ever.

I went to my a former general practitioner knowing, essentially, that I had a dental abscess. I was looking for antibiotics to help treat the issue or some guidance on what to do. When I arrived, my doctor was less than compassionate. Because of the fact that I’m a bubbly person who is polite and smiles, I wasn’t taken seriously. He literally laughed in my face and said it was a pimple when my reaction upon him applying pressure to it (which, btw, is a no-no) wasn’t as horrible as he expected. I replied that I deal with very high numbers on the pain scale fairly often and that it’s pretty ridiculous to expect every person to react the same. Long story short: it took my (now-former) rheumatologist’s office seeing me two weeks later for someone to treat me for the abscess.
 
Tip: Always look pained while at the doctor for a pain-related issue.
 

2. Do not be fat.

I have so many stories I could share here. One friend had tonsillitis that a physician refused to do anything about, despite the obvious diagnosis, because she was overweight and that would eventually cause breathing issues. He also did no actual exam to look at the tonsils. Another friend was told that her rare neurological headache condition was caused by her weight. The most frightful thing about this situation is that the physician seen is one of the top experts in this type of condition. One of my favorite patient people was told that her abnormally heavy period (menorrhagia) would be solved by losing weight. She was told this at 15 and then was instructed on ways to lose weight, especially withholding food from herself, by the doctor. I could keep going, but then I might break my laptop out of anger.
 
Tip: Don’t be a part of 36% of Americans within the overweight or obese guidelines, even if that’s due to muscle or an issue related to your illness, disability, or pain.
 

3. Do not be poor.

Not only do those living in poverty have to deal with issues related to access to food and medical care in the first place, but when they do see a healthcare professional, they’re basically dismissed. One friend, also dealing with Still’s, was told that his abdominal pain was being caused by a horrible diet – a diet that one keeps when one is poor, by the way. In the end, his gallbladder had to be removed via emergency surgery with a long course of antibiotics. Another friend’s specialist asked if she had an exit strategy to get off of welfare. She’s not on ‘welfare’ as she works, but does receive some forms of public assistance. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you can expect to not be fully treated or even fully evaluated for an issue… even one as fairly obvious as a staph infection in a patient with a history of them.
 
Tip: Pick yourself up by your bootstraps and stop being poor already.
 

4. Do not be a woman.

There is so much to say here – especially for those of us who fall into additional marginalized communities such as those with disability or people of color. If you suffer from any pain related to your reproductive organs, you may be misdiagnosed with sciatica, not even treated, or told to ‘suck it up’ because all women have pain ‘down there.’
 
Tip: Struggle to be more masculine to please HCPs.
 

5. Do not have a mental health issue (or fibromyalgia).

If you have a mental health issue, real or perceived, you can expect for misdiagnoses to follow you around. One of my favorite people in the entire world was being treated for some thyroid issues and depression with the thought that the vast majority of her issues were related to her depression. Fast forward almost ten years and she has been diagnosed FINALLY with Hashimoto’s Disease, an autoimmune condition. Fibromyalgia is often seen as a mental health issue due to the lack of belief by many physicians in the disease. This is despite the fact that it’s been proven to be a malfunction in the Central Nervous System. Many women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia to shut them up and give their perceived hypochondria a diagnosis.
 
Tip: Do not ever wind up with a controversial illness that has a stigma associated with it.
 

6. Do not dress up for your appointment.

I have learned the hard way that dressing nicely when I say I’m in pain is only beneficial is I have come straight from work. Doctors do tend to take other ‘professionals’ seriously. That said, if I dress up too much, then there are questions about how I would have the energy while in pain to do so. This isn’t the case anymore but has been in the past.
 
Tip: Rags are too dressed-down, but high heels are too dressed-up. Try sweatpants with a minimum of one hole but no more than two to illustrate that you’re not poor but you also hurt enough to not give a shit about looks.
 

7. Do not let your pain control you.

Be in enough pain for the pain to be more obvious, but not in enough pain that it alters how you talk to or interact with healthcare peeps. They’re trained to deal with these emotions. It should not be that hard for them to look past the emotions related with, say, a cluster headache in order to ask the right questions to provide the right treatment.
 
Tip: Learn to be a Vulcan.

 

Meditation Monday: How to Get Started

Last Monday, we talked about some of the benefits of meditation for chronic pain. Today, let’s take a look at ways to start a meditation practice.
First off, let’s talk about what meditation doesn’t have to involve:
  • Sitting on a pillow on the floor
  • Crossing your legs
  • Being 110% silent
  • Staying still
  • Closing your eyes
  • Certain hand movements
What does meditation involve?
  • Being mindful
  • Allowing thoughts to arise
  • Being non-judgmental to yourself
  • Rest and relaxation
  • Personal insight
  • Compassion
The most important thing in meditation is to have compassion for yourself. It can bring feelings and thoughts up that we don’t often experience – or, rather, let ourselves experience. In meditations that ask us to focus on the breath, for example, it can be easy to think about how we aren’t doing well if our attention drifts elsewhere.
Self-compassion is at the heart of meditation.
Getting comfortable is probably the second-most-important key to meditation. If you’re uncomfortable positionally, it’s difficult to focus. That said, meditation with chronic pain is totally a go, though it can be a little difficult with higher pain levels.

 

There is no right way to meditate, from using guided meditations like those on apps to sending compassion to others to focusing on rough events and more. Some things can help, though, like aiming for meditating at the same time each day. Meditation before sleep can be quite helpful, provided you choose a meditation that doesn’t wake you up too much. Some people feel like mantras or chants help, but these are also not required for meditation.
You do want to try to aim for a quiet place free of most distractions. You also want to make sure you’re not too full because you might fall asleep – though, that’s totally cool, too. Conversely, meditation when you’re hungry isn’t a great idea for focus, either.
When you’re first starting meditation, using apps can be incredibly helpful. I’ve talked a lot about much I enjoy Buddhify because of how helpful their guided meditations are so helpful. They are one of the best apps out there. Other apps include Headspace, Calm, and Stop, Breathe & Think. These are all available for Android and Apple products, which is awesome!
If apps aren’t your thing, get in a comfy, quiet place. If you want to achieve anything – specifically, to think of anything in particular – think of this just before meditating. For this first time, since it may be difficult, it’s helpful to set a timer. Just make sure it’s not a super alarming noise. Choosing a screamo song as the alarm to come out of meditation may ruin the mood.
Take some deep breaths and focus on those breaths. Count them in a way that’s comfortable for you – out loud or in your head. You can count the ins and outs or just the full cycle of breathing as one.
You will naturally think of things during this time. Don’t fret! Simply recognize your thought and let it pass, then begin to count your breath again. Feel free to move as your body requires. As we talked about last week, walking meditation is also super common.
When your timer goes off, address it. It is helpful if you use a timer on your phone that you can easily silence without moving too much.
Focus on your breath again and slowly come back to the world. If you are sitting or in bed, make sure that you get up slowly. Like a visit to a masseuse or a physical therapist, this time can be rejuvenating so take it slow.
It can be helpful to keep a journal or diary about your meditation. Think about how you felt this time went. Would you do something different? How are you feeling now? Did it help you to feel rejuvenated? Did it help with your pain?
Again, I definitely suggest Buddhify. They have a great section on pain and illness that help us to deal with the stories that we create about our pain, our self-esteem issues related to pain, and similar issues. It has completely helped me to change how I address and see my pain.
Did you try meditation as a result of this post? How did it go?

 

Join Me For #Rheumchat Next Week

Exciting news!
I’m co-hosting #Rheumchat next week with the American College of Rheumatology‘s Simple Tasks division.
If you pop over to the #Rheumchat site, you can read all the questions we’ll be discussing. You can also join the event’s Facebook page which will kindly remind you of the chat here.
What: #Rheumchat: Becoming an empowered patient
When: Thursday, August 18 at 1 pm Eastern (NYC) Time
How: Follow the tag #Rheumchat on Twitter (or click here) and make sure to use the tag #Rheumchat in any tweets you put out into the Twitterverse so others can see your thoughts!

 

An Update on The Invisible Disabilities Situation

Invisible Disability Project has this statement for our friends in the disabled community, activists, bloggers, and the press in response to the overwhelming support they’ve received from the disability community and allies regarding the Invisible Disabilities situation. The story has also been featured in The Daily Dot.
We mourn the loss of the Invisible Disability Project (IDP) Facebook community. The IDP Facebook community—disabled people and our allies—grew to 51,000+ members. Our community members mostly identify along the spectrum of disability, including “Invisible Disabilities®”* —broadly characterized as “hidden” or “non-visible” physical, emotional, or mental impairments.
Our community was administratively removed by Facebook on July 30, 2016, because of claims of trademark infringement filed by the “Invisible Disabilities® Association” for their trademark of “Invisible Disabilities®” (US Trademark Registration No. 4315808, April 2013).
While we mourn our community, we are also outraged by the silencing of disabled voices that this trademark commits upon all people who identify as having an “invisible disability”. Can you imagine the trademarking of racialized, gendered, sexualized, or classed identity categories?  “Invisible Disabilities®” is an identity category that belongs to people, not to a consumer brand.
At this time, we are certain of one organization shut down as the result of trademarking “Invisible Disabilities®”, but others are now coming forward. We must ask the questions: “How many activist organizations committed to disability justice will be shut down next as a result of a now-owned disability identity?” “How does trademarking disabled identities affect the world’s largest minority and the resources an already vulnerable population needs?” And, “Should an identity category ever be owned?”
 
A change.org petition calling for the cancellation of the trademark, “Invisible Disabilities®”, was created by Jane Doe Crips (a collective of many existing communities coming together to speak out against this injustice).
-The Invisible Disability Project Community
@EndInvisibility
 
*We have included the “®” symbol throughout this press release since this is an identity that we recognize belongs to “Invisible Disabilities® Association”, and fear that its omission could result in further repercussions.
 
 
Make sure to check out the IDP mission statement to learn more about them. As of this posting, facebook has reinstated the IDP facebook page. Go over and give it some love.
I have tried to reach out to some people on the Board of Directors at the IDA for comments but, despite supposedly welcoming comments, they refuse to respond. The same can be said for IDA in general as they have posted nothing at all anywhere regarding this situation and, in fact, have gone to the point of blocking people on social media who have questioned the trademark.
In speaking with some of the other activists on Twitter having conversations about this situation, we have all agreed on many things. For the sake of our identities, I have chosen not to reveal who was involved in these conversations.
  • IDA is cishet, heteronormative, and exclusionary to those who want to open up more conversation about sexuality and illness if that sexuality is non-heterosexual
  • They’re super white and not really opened to advancing the cause of our disabled friends of color, and this is represented in their board
  • This organization echoes white savior theory
  • IDA refuses to discuss mental health issues as invisible disabilities
  • On a personal note, up until recently I was friends with someone at the organization until she started using her account tied to them to spout white supremacist hatred, which completely goes against what our organizations should be working towards
  • Any organization that needs to block those who criticize them should not be running
    • The fact that the IDA does this is an example of infantilization or showcasing those of us with disabilities for funding – play nice, be the gracious, grateful pet we expect you to be, and you’ll be allowed in the dogpen, you may even get a squeaky toy– as long as we approve it first
  • How the board members on the IDA have handled this crisis situation (from a social media and brand management perspective) shows they’re not ready for the big time
  • What in the world gave the USPTO the right to allow an org to trademark/servicemark a term that’s been around since the early 1900s?
  • The ONLY reason to TM “invisible disabilities” is to stop other groups using it, including on educational & fundraising material and the fact that IDA has used this to shit on people they know are unlikely to have the means to fight back is incredulous
  • By listing blogs as part of services covered by TM, meaning they could get blogs BY us pulled down
  • This is a US trademark/servicemark, meaning that IDA cannot touch organizations abroad at least so thank goodness for that

 

There is a big lesson in this for those of us looking to help others – intersectionality and not being ableist and exclusionary to those you’re trying to ‘help’ with your services.